Chapter 1 A "Hero" IS Born
“HERO" IS BORN
Ruti's POV
I recall little from my previous existence, a world now distant and elusive. The fragments that occasionally rose to the forefront of my consciousness reveal a life that was utterly ordinary and unremarkable.
A life so ordinary, it blended seamlessly into the fabric of everyday existence. The sun rose predictably, casting its golden hues upon the familiar streets of the city. Morning routines and work schedules unfolded like clockwork: toasted bread, a hurried sip of black coffee and a glance at the newspaper before heading where I slave away for your average office worker's pay-all part of the mundane choreography.
I had been born a woman named, Majima Hatsumomo in a country known as Japan.
After graduating from college, I became part of a small general contractor firm based in Tokyo. At the age of 39, I found myself living alone, devoid of any romantic partner and very few friends. My interpersonal connections had dwindled to almost nothing-I hadn't spoken to my family in nearly twelve years. Strangely, this absence of familial ties didn't evoke remorse; instead, it left me with an unmistakable void, gradually draining me of all emotions.
I had never been what you would describe as 'pretty' or 'beautiful', nor was I what one would label as 'ugly' either.
Heh, to be candidly forthright...if I were to depict myself in terms of physical appearance, I'd characterize myself as a fairly average woman-neither short or tall in stature. My countence is rather unassuming, with a fit and toned physique.
While I might claim a preference for solitude, it's worth noting that I've successfully cultivated a tight-knit cicle of companions.
***
In my past existence, recollections remain hazy, but one vivid memory stands out: I instinctively pushed someone aside, diverting them from an imminent knife attack. The blade swiftly penetrated my abdomen, rupturing my spleen and severely damaging blood vessels, immediately causing my lungs to fill with crimson life.
As I plummeted onto the unforgiving, icy concrete sidewalk, time itself seemed to decelerate, each second quickly stretching into an eternity. Amidst the chaos, a searing question blazed within me: Why? why had I forsaken caution, flinging myself into the abyss to safeguard another life? Was this person known to me, or merely a faceless stranger? In the end, such distinctions blurred into insignificance. The bitter truth clung to my my fading consciousness: I was slipping away, as I lay rigid upon the frigid ground, my lifeblood pooling around me.
my motor cognitive functions were the first to slip away, like a fading echo. Next, my senses followed suit, each departing in turn. My hearing and eyesight clung on, reluctant to yield, but eventually, they too succumbed, leaving me in a silent, dim world.
The last thing I can remember is a faint and seemingly distant-sounding voice calling to me…but it was too vague…too far away as I quickly felt all the energy and warmth suddenly vanish from my dying body.
Who's voice was that? Was it the person I had saved-or maybe it was someone else, was a person that was standing right next to me before I had acted? I can't remember...I guess ultimately it didn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
The surrounding world gradually dissolved, immersing me in in complete darkness.
***
I cannot recall the exact moment when my eyes fluttered open, emerging from the abyss into which I had willingly surrendered. Nor can I piece together the events that led me to this peculiar void-a place devoid of discernible light or tangible warmth. Yet, inexplicably, the air enveloped me in a comforting imbrace, it's temperature defying logic. There was no sun, no luminescence, and yet I reveled in the cocoon of security it provided. In this enigmatic sanctuary, I found solace, and perhaps that was all that mattered.
In the abyss of eternity, I drifted-a mere whisper in the cosmic expanse. Memory eluded me, like a forgotten dream slipping through my ethereal grasp. And then, a revelation: I was not alone. A presence, faint yet undeniable, danced on the edge of perception. A silhouette, veiled in gossamer threads of existence, emerged-a nascent life cocooned within this womb-like abyss. 'it' seem to resemble a growing fetus...but that wouldn't make any sense unless I was in actual womb?
In the shadowy expanse, I sensed the presence of another fetus, it's form gradually taking shape alongside mine. Yet, I could instinctively know that it harbored no malevolence-perhaps it remained unaware of my existence. As for myself, I grappled with uncertainty. Who was I? The answer eluded me, slipping through the ethereal veil. Though my reflection remained elusive, an innate awareness whispered that I was somehow distinct, from the being and set apart from the void that enveloped us both.
I raised both my hands, and instantly, I observed that they had transformed into something small and stubby-not quite resembling a baby's, but something more akin to the delicate appendages of a developing fetus still within it's mother' womb.
In the murky depths of existence, one truth remained unwavering: uncertainty. The surroundings were oppressive-a constricted, flightless space devoid of any discernible markers of time. After what felt like an eternity, a sudden brilliance pierced the inky darkness. A blinding flash intensified, revealing two colossal hands soon reaching out toward me and the sole other denizen of this void- who now fully resembled a newborn babe than before.
Emerging from the abyss, I heard the fellow presence that drifted alongside me, immediately release an unsettling and oddly childlike wail of distress. The inky blackness quickly yielded to this abrupt newfound illumination, and sure enough as if a jagged shard of bright light had punctured the very fabric of our joint existence. propelled by an unseen force, I hurtled forward through the seemingly ethereal expanse-the very fabric of existence yielding to our inexorable movement. The womb-like void, once a virtual cocoon of obscurity, now pushed us out and toward what seemed like a moment of reckoning. There, two colossal hands, almost seeming ancient and expectant, their fingers were like thin and bendable twigs that had reached out to cradle us-it almost felt like a fragile convergence of light and lament were taking place, and the cosmos itself seemed almost hold it's breath as though eagerly anticipating our emergence into this strange new reality.
The intense brilliance of the sterile white room pierced my still-adjusting eyes. A man clad a medical smock reminiscent of the late 19th to early 20th century approached me. His face concealed behind a white mask, he gently cradled new more delicate form with the utmost care. As I bore into his deep blue eyes, they bore into my vulnerable state, scrutinizing every detail...including my groin area for whatever weird reason before quickly announcing that I was a girl.
While an elven woman, whom I later discovered was a midwife, performed a similar procedure with the other newborn, she swiftly announcing to the older-looking man that it was a boy with a small smile on her face.
‘…Congratulations…you've given birth to a pair of Fraternal Twins!”
The middle-aged man, whom I later discovered was a bona fide Doctor, addressed the relatively young couple with a friendly smile. Swiftly, he transferred my newborn twin brother and me to a bed. There, we were met by a strikingly beautiful woman. Her eyes bore a captivating hue-a deep yet luminescent crimson red-while her hair flowed in steely blue waves. the man leaned casually against the edge of the bed, a faint smile teasingly playing on his rugged face. His attire spoke of adventure:a blend of thick leather, chainmail, and lightweight plating, all stitched together into a patchwork armor.
my new mother smiling as she tenderly held me and my brother in her arms close to her bosom...her Bright gemstone like red eyes kindly looking down at the both of us with warmth and genuine affectation.
‘…Hello Gideon, Ruti!’ My mother said naming both, me and my brother.
Thus my old life ended and my new life as Ruti Grayburn began…But what I didn’t know at that time was just how complicated and amazing my life would turn out to be.
Fourteen years...
For generations, the people, nations and diverse races of this world coexisted in relative harmony, and to some extent, peace prevailed.
Thirty-five years ago, a cataclysmic menace that threatened to shift and reshape the world. In the practical blink of an eye, four continents lay in ruins, their once-thriving civilizations now reduced to ash and rubble. The malevolent Demon king and his sinister Dark lords seizing control, and establishing an unyielding empire that tightly clenched half the globe in it's iron fisted grip. The sun itself seemed to cower under the empire's might.
The oppressive empire of Baleria-also known as the 'Obsidian empire' from the shadowed continent had nearly subjugated the realms of Avalon, wielding seemingly invincible magic and military technology for a grueling thirty-five years. It's rulers wield dark magic and enforce their ironfisted will through upholding a culture of fear and manipulation.
For three full decades, the Balerian empire has reduced entire to smoldering rubble, and compelling all races to bow in submission before the awe-inspiring power of their emperor, the mighty Demon Lord Xraius Jurus Baleria.
Gone were the days when humanity and the other races harbored any hope of prevailing against the relentless tide of darkness. Yet, amidst this seemingly bleak scenario, the gods had not forsaken our world or it's inhabitants. A prophecy, that can be traced back to the late king Varys IX of the frontier kingdom of Zoltan. With his final breathes carrying the weight of all the free people of Avalon.
"The Prophecy of The Seven Heroes".
this prophecy however was later laughed off as merely the wishful thinking of the late king as the war against the war against the empire continued to drag on and With their fighting power almost gone, Their strength greatly waning and their forces unable to Repel the Demons' ever-persistent advance...it looked as though The Great Demon Lord's victory was appearing to be all but assured.
Until the arrival of the 'hero' Ruti Grayburn, who possessed a unique skill granting her divine protection, the capital Zoltan in Auromon remind uncharged. Accompanying her were two young men, both also believed to be part of the prophesized 'seven'. Among them was her older Twin brother, Gideon Grayburn, who was gifted with the divine protection of a Paladin. The other was their childhood friend, Arthure Srowa, who bore the dual protection of a saint and Dark sovereignty.
That girl...is me! And Whether I liked it, or not I am the "Hero" of this world!
The walls of the Throneroom were almost eerily silent as the three of us stood kneeling down on one knee with our heads bowed before the young woman seated on the High rise Throne at the center of the massive room overlooking everything and everyone.
'...Ruti Grayburn, Arthure Srowa, and Gideon Grayburn!'
She bellows prompting the three of us to raise our heads in near-unison with our eyes collectively fixating on the tall and slender figure that soon rose from the Magnificent Throne with a radiant and Authoritative aura that all present in the room could sense even from a distance.
The clacking sound of her heeled shoes that were solely accompanied by the light fluttery sound of the frills, of her Gold and silver Gown like dress .
'...I cannot say for center if you three are indeed the heroes spoken of in my sixth great Grandfather's prophecy-'
The young Queen says inquisitively eyeing the three of us, the woman pausing mid-thought with an almost hopeful smile beaming lightly on her face.
'...But I do pray that you are the ones, who will grant us the strength to push back the Demon King and his dark hordes!'
She said admittedly to the almost estatic cheers of all present.
