Chained Soul

"ᛉᚤ, ᛉᚤ. ᛆᚱᛂᚿ×ᛐ ᚤᚮᚢ ᛆᚿ ᛆᛒᚿᚮᚱᛉᛆᛚ ᚮᚿᛂ?"

Huh? What's going on...Who are they and what are they talking about? I don't understand a single word of what they're saying.

First of all, why am I here? The last thing I remember is that I was studying at my desk.

"ᛑᚮ ᚿᚮᛐ ᚡᚮᚱᚱᚤ. ᛁᛐ ᛁᛍ ᚮᚢᚱ ᛉᛁᛍᛐᛆᚴᛂ ᚠᚮᚱ ᛒᚱᛁᛜᛁᛜ ᚤᚮᚢ ᛡᛂᚱᛂ."

"ᛍᚮ ᚡᛂ ᚡᛁᛚᛚ ᛌᚮᛉᛔᛂᚿᛍᛆᛐᛂ ᚤᚮᚢ."

Ack! What is this? Huh? I can't see anymore, is this a dream?

Ow. So it is not a dream. Is someone playing a trick on me? Is this a joke, a prank? Hey! Show yourself-!

Wait, I can't speak!? Where's my voice? My mind is growing blank! Even if this is a joke, it's gone too far. This is not funny anymore! Please stop.

"ᛁᛐ×ᛍ ᛉᛂᚱᛂᛚᚤ ᛆ ᛍᛁᛑᛂ ᛂᚠᚠᛂᛌᛐ ᚮᚠ ᛌᚮᛉᛔᛚᛂᛐᛁᛜ Þᛂ ᚱᛂᛍᛂᛐ ᚮᚠ ᚤᚮᚢᚱ ᛍᚮᚢᛚ. ᚿᚮᚡ, ᛂᚿᛁᚮᚤ ᚤᚮᚢᚱ ᚢᛐᛐᛂᚱᛚᚤ ᚿᛂᚡ ᛚᛁᚠᛂ!"

Ah-

Now he has no sense of himself, he doesn't know who he is, he is now completely "new". With a completely new soul, a fresh world awaits him.

… It's warm. As he thought.

One day, a sudden light emerges, as if he is going to be blinded. As the lights dim, he is now lying in someone's arms.

"Hahh… Ha… My child, Cairn… Cairn Helleve. Welcome home, sweetheart."

"Darling, I think it's time for you to rest now. I'll take our child."

I feel so safe.

Am so tired, I want to sleep.

"Hm, I think Cairn is tired too, Darling!"

The lights of joy illuminate the house, as the proud husband carries the child to bed and the grateful wife prays to Goddess Hestia for the child's safety and wellbeing.

Seven years have passed. It's now late summer.

A person opens the front door of Helleve's house, taking a deep breath, wiping away the sweat on his forehead and giving a big smile like he's rushing to show something.

"I'm home!"

"Dad! You came back!"

"Haha, your father is too strong, no one can beat me"

My name is Cairn Helleve, I'm six years old and living a happy life with my great parents, even just a commoner. We are still known as the happiest family in the South Town of Aderis!

"Welcome home, Edric."

"You're still beautiful as always, Adelyne!"

"You can't flatter me, no matter how hard you try, I won't buy you a new sword, think about our child."

One more thing, our family has a special trait, every person in the bloodline has yellow hair and cyan eyes. I have heard people say that our family resembles the appearance of the First Hero, but when I asked my Dad, he said that the Hero is not included on our family tree. I guess it is just a coincidence.

Hmm? Dad seems to have brought something home. Uhm, I am so excited to see what it is!

"Dad, what's on your hand?"

"Hehe, I guess I can't hide it anymore! Behold, the book you wanted for so long, ' The tail of the First Hero'!"

"WoooaaaAA! Yey, thank Dad, I forever love you!!! Mom!"

"Hm?"

"Can you read it for me tonight?!"

"Let's see…"

Oh my, look at his sparkling eyes, no one can resist this cuteness. Thank you, Goddess Hestia, for giving me a wonderful child.

"Hah… I guess I can't help but read it to you tonight."

"Yey thanks Mom! I also love you forever!"

Chuckles~ I'll do anything to protect Cairn's lovely smile.

"Cairn, want to explore the town with Dad?"

No way! Am going to explore the town, and especially with Dad! Today is so lucky!

"Yes, I want to!"

"That's the spirit! Now get ready to go for an adventure, my little adventurer."

Time flies, and after a fun adventure around town, little Cairn takes his dinner before getting into bed, eagerly awaiting that moment.

"Alright, alright. No need to rush. Now shall we start? Hm~? My cute child?"

"Yes please!"

"Once upon a time…"

In a distant land, There lived a young boy. He was an energetic and kind-hearted child, a great friend to everyone, always there to help and save the day, everyone called him a Hero. He lived a peaceful and happy life in his village, everything was fine until one day, an ancient dragon thought to be dead arose by the hand of Demon Lord and destroyed everything on its way, including the Hero's home. Thought will fall under its hand, suddenly a sword from the sky falls down beside him. No questioning of what happened, he grabbed the sword, a power surge went through his body, with it he could defeat the dragon. It was a furious battle, the Hero had to both fight the dragon and protect the villagers. The battle continued for 2 days. In the end…

"Hm… How about we continue tomorrow? It's late now"

"Nooo… I want to hear it all! I want to know what happens next!!"

Adelyne gave Cairn a menacing glare beneath her smiley face.

"Uh… I mean, yea great idea Mom. I'll go to sleep now and listen to the rest of the story next evening…"

That was scary…

The next morning, at the Grand Church of Fides, Graceia of the Lania continent.

The grand church of Fides, located at the center of Graceia or the capital itself, where all the blessings converge and the First Hero was born. A holy and somber place, it is the heart of the people and the center of the faith, providing sanctuary, guidance, and hope through the blessings of Fides, the Goddess of Faith.

The holy Lady Saint Anne is now praying at the altar, as the goddess Fides wants to speak directly to her. The Goddess has something important to tell the lady saint, and Anne listens with reverence and attention.

". . . !"

Oh wow, this is such surprising news! I have to run and tell the Minister right away!

He's there. Quick! No time to waste… Maybe I'll get a special treat after this, teehee~

"Hm…? Oh Anne, what the rush?"

"Hah… Huff… Hu… Grand Minister!"

"Heh? What is it Anne, you seem to have more energy than usual."

"The Hero has been chosen!"

Oh my, what wonderful news!... But wait.

"Doesn't that mean the Demon Realm is starting to act and the Demon Lord has been born?!"

"Yea yea! Goddess Fides told me that. Hmph, I have done my job proudly, and… uh… can I, you know. Teehee~"

"Alright, you can eat some meat, but make sure to change clothes before you go out or else people will see you and spread rumors. Am too old to deal with untruth rumors."

"Yey!"

"By the way, Anne. What does the Second Hero look like?"

Lady Saint Anne was surprised by the Minister's question, as she had forgotten the important detail. She paused for a moment to remember, before providing the crucial information to the Pope.

"Um well… Uhh… Oh! I've heard that he lives in the south of Aderis, on the Enola Continent. And, uh, he's got yellow hair and cyan eyes, just like the First Hero. And...um...his whole family, like his parents, well...they look like him too! Yeah...so, um...is that, uh...what you wanted to hear?"

"Thank you, Anne. You can go now."

Upon hearing that the chosen Second Hero had been found, the Grand Minister immediately sent word to the Holy Knights, asking them to kindly escort the Hero to the Grand Church. It was a request, not a demand or order, but due to the gravity of the situation, the Grand Minister clearly wanted the Hero and the Holy Knights to reach him as soon as possible.

The Grand Minister tries to investigate the Hero's background. It appears that he is simply an ordinary six years old boy. His father, Edric, 37 years old, works as a Soulen Adventurer, and his mother, Adelyne, 26 years old, works as an owner of a small herbal shop.

On the day after the message was received, the General of the Holy Knight Army came and met with the Grand Minister.

"Dear Great Minister, may I have a question?"

"You may."

"Is it true that The Hero has been chosen?"

One of the Grand Minister's loyal Holy Knights, a personal guard of his Holiness, spoke up.

"How dare you not trust the Great Grand Minister's words!"

The Minister raised his arm, as if signaling the loyal guard to stay silent and stop speaking. And he speaks.

"Yes. It is true that The Hero has been chosen. That is what the Lady Saint informed me, or rather, I would say that it is what the Goddess Fides herself told me."

"Thank you for answering my question. Now I'll bring The Hero to you."

"May Goddess Nikke bless your trip, General."

The General returned to the Holy Knight Army to prepare for the journey.

Meanwhile at the southern town of Aderis.

"Cairn! Do you want to go buy vegetables with me?"

"Yes, Mom!"

Humming~

"Oho~ it seems today you exist, right?"

"Mhm! Mister Roger promises he will give me an alphabet board for me to learn to write!"

"Hm… after you receive the alphabet board, if you are able to remember all the letters there within 3 weeks. I promise I'll make a super big celebration for you!"

"Ohh! Hmph, don't worry Mom. I'm a smart kid! I'll remember them all faster than you expected!"

"What a spirit!..."

Maybe I'm too easy on him.

"Are you well prepared? If not, I'll go first."

"Ah! Wait for me~!"

After some walking and buying vegetables and fruits, we went to the town gate, since Mister Roger works as a gatekeeper there.

"Ah! Long time no see, Adelyne. And you too little cute Cairn!"

"Wawawah~ Mister Roger… Stop pulling my cheeks!..."

"Oh sorry. Haha, it's just too soft. Oh right, here is the alphabet board and pencils for you. These thing are rare in here, so keep it safe okay?"

"Okay! Thank you Mister Roger!"

Neighhh.

Clanking sounds of armors and the clattering of chainmail mixed with the tapping of horse hooves hitting the ground.

Some flags are shown on the carriage.

"Huh?! Isn't that the Holy Knights Army? What are they doing here?"

A person exits the carriage, revealing a bulky and powerful man dressed in elegant clothes emblazoned with a logo that resembles a flag like the one on the carriage on the back.

The man seems to be approaching Cairn. And he asked.

"Are you Cairn Helleve?"

"Um, yes I am. But how do you know-"

The man kneels down.

"Please, Hero. We need your help to defeat the Demon Lord!"