In this peaceful world, an empire rests. The empire expands its borders to the four corners of the continent, holding them firmly for hundreds of years. With their thousands long knowledge and thanks to the Five-Great-Commander of the Nightshade Empire, they rose from the top, from technology, military, and to economy, holding the world in their palm.
But they had advanced too much, and they threatened the balance of the world. After long years of holding the world in their palm, the gods finally acted.
Why did this happen? A girl fell to her knees, tears in her eyes.
The sky burned bright red, meteorites rained from the sky and into the citadel of the Nightshade Empire, and skyscrapers fell. The continuous explosion filled the air.
Gods have descended, full of anger and jealousy. Oh, I get it now. Is it because we advanced too much? Or is it because of the prophecy?
She let out a chuckle, tears still flowing from her eyes. Her chuckle gradually turned into laughter.
"Hahaha! I see! I see! O divine being, you have graced us with your fear." Her gaze landed on the empty sky. No clouds, the burning red skies became redder.
But before she could stand up, her vision darkened. She felt no fear, no pain, no emotion whatsoever. She could only think.
Where am I?
She couldn't feel her body, no heartbeat, no sweat, no breathing, only darkness. Out of the blue, a light shine brightly in the void, filling it with light and holiness.
She woke up and gasped for air. Her vision blurred, and slowly recovering, her heart racing, beads of sweat formed on her neck.
Where am I? she thought.
Her dark, empty surroundings were replaced by a room with barely any light coming in through a half-open door. She slowly stood up, her gaze shifting from one place to another.
◯
I could smell a faint scent of smoke coming from a lantern on the table beside me. It seemed the light had been extinguished recently. I slowly walked closer to the bedside cabinet and opened the drawer.
Five playing cards rested on top of a familiar dress, and around the five cards were other important things.
"These are mine."
I took out all the things that were inside the drawer, and changed my clothes to the seemingly newly washed clothes of mine. I hid the five cards in my dress's secret pocket: The Ace of Spades, King of Hearts, Queen of Diamonds, Clubs of Jack, and lastly, the Joker card.
These cards are not ordinary as they are specially made for me. Made from one of the strongest metals in the world, Mithril. The cards are magically linked to me via my presence, thus, I could summon them or make them appear from nowhere like magic. They are magic.
"Oh, you are already awake."
I turned around. A man with unusual, ragged clothes called out.
"Please, follow me. It's time for dinner."
Before he could turn around and start walking, I stopped him.
"Wait! Uhh.... May I know who you are?"
"Oh, me? I am Vanz, and what about you, young lady?"
Young lady? I am sixty-four years old, for hell's sake, I am, wait, actually he is right. In our species standard, I am still young, maybe early teen, if we're using the human standard of age.
Thinking about something else, the natural mana in the surroundings seemed so weak, almost invisible to me. Normally, we Nightshade could sense even the faintest mana in our environment, but this, this is too weak, too faint to even sense.
Oh, I haven't answered his question yet!
"I am..." I paused momentarily. "I am Twilight Nightshade." Introducing myself with a curtsy, I lifted the skirt of my dress slightly and bowed with grace.
After the introduction, we head downstairs. This small family seems to be a family of commoners. Not to be rude, but that is what humans call their lesser-ranked people.
Also, they had no reaction to me introducing myself as a member of the Nightshade Family. From what I could observe and what is happening, it's been a long time since I had been in slumber.
Vanz said he and his wife had found me in the middle of a forest, unconscious. Afraid of feeling guilty of leaving me, they had taken me back to their house. And that was two days ago. Also, it seems the Nightshade Empire had been forgotten. I asked him about the Nightshade Empire, but he didn't know what I was talking about.
"So, anyway. What are you going to do now, missy?" I heard a thud under the table, where we are eating. "I-I mean Miss Twilight?"
Looking at her wife, she looks seriously mad at Vanz. I see. Is she jealous? No, no, that can't be.
"I'll be... exploring the world, I guess."
And also, try to find ruins of the Nightshade Empire, if there are any.
"Oh, how about some advice then?"
"Sure. I am up for any advice."
Jane, Vanz's wife, stood up, grabbed our plate, and left to the kitchen.
"First of all, if you want an easier travel, how about joining the Adventurers' Guild? By joining the Guild, you would have access to almost all places in nearly all nations. Also, you can enter any cities and towns without the gate guard needing any of your identification papers."
I hummed, holding my chin and nodding.
"Secondly, you need a horse. If you know how to ride a horse, I could perhaps sell one of my horses to you, Miss Twilight?"
"Oh, you have a stable, Sir Vanz?"
"Yes, I do."
I could use one. It is a necessity. The problem is, I don't have any money in me.
"Umm... Sir Vanz."
"Yes, Miss Twilight?" He paused and then chuckled. "You don't have money, don't you?"
"Yes?"
Feeling ashamed, I tucked my hands between my legs. I could feel it, my cheek. But wait! I can fight!
"Sir Vanz!" I slammed my hands on the table and stood up. "I am proficient in fighting, from swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, to archery., If you could tell me what I could do to get a horse, I will do it!" With a smile, I offered help.
Well, it's not truly a help when you want something in return; it's a favor.
"Oh. I see Lady Twilight." Pondering for a while, he finally answered. "This village had been attacked by bandits two times this month. If you could perhaps beat them up and turn them over to the guards in the nearest city, I might consider giving you any horse for free.
And he is in the game with me. Haha!
"I see, Sir Vanz. I, as a kind young lady, would help you and your people."
Bursting out of the front door, I activated my Mana Sense, an ability which allows me to sense and see the mana in my surroundings, even presence or aura emanating from a being, either a monster or human, I could distinguish their species based on their presence.
My vision expanded, seeing all around me at the same time makes me feel a headache, an extreme one. The ability also allows me to see three hundred sixty degrees, that is to say, in all directions.
The information I am receiving is enough to make a human child's brain go kaboom. A dangerous ability for those who can't process and comprehend them quickly.
There are roughly sixty villagers in this village, or at least currently inside the village, with few livestock. Outside, I could sense.
"Oh... I see."
Using magical beasts to pillage, eh? Pathetic.