Mistress Of The Evil Forest

-A 1: An aspiring heroine.

chirp—!

chirp—!

The sky is clear. The birds are singing, and the green leaves of the tree I'm under sway in the gentle wind. Lying on the soft grass, I look at the sky blankly.

''Today as well, huh...''

It's a view I am well familiar with.

I slowly get up and look around the plain that I'm in. Vast landscape and beautiful scenery. An ordinary town and ordinary people. It's my hometown.

''Phew...''

I let out a small sigh before walking toward the town. With each step, the unsettling feeling inside me grows stronger and stronger, even though I know exactly what will happen next.

As I pass through the fences, the guards greet me normally. Inside, children are playing blissfully, while adults are having conversations about their ordinary lives.

After a while of walking, my home is right in front of me.

My heart is beating like it wants to jump out of my chest. A terrible headache hits me in strong waves like tsunamis. When I open this door, the nightmare will begin again.

No, this entire world is my nightmare, I'm sure.

But I have to continue. If I don't, it will never end. Experience confirms it. Stop hesitating. Stop...

I muster all my courage and grab the doorknob.

clack—!

A normal scene greets me.

My mom is doing the dishes in the kitchen, while my dad is sitting at a table nearby, reading his newspaper. They soon turn to me and smile briefly.

''Claire, you're back—''

———————!!!

Before dad can finish his sentence, a deafening explosion coming from the side engulfs both of them. The house is completely blown off, revealing the tall sky, which has turned blood-red since God knows when, and a town drowned in fire.

''...''

I instinctively frown and divert my eyes. I don't want to look at this nightmarish scene anymore...

As if laughing at my attempt, my sight is quickly fixed forward, my eyes forced open.

''...''

The city is in chaos. People are running for their lives while being chased by abnormally creepy creatures, buildings collapsing, fire rampaging, and heavy bolts of magic raining from the clear sky, causing even more explosions.

I grit my teeth and glare at a single figure floating in the sky—the root of all this.

From appearance alone, it looks like a peaceful priestess who is praying to god, but underneath that mask is a disgusting demon. I can feel it in my bones; that bastard... Is my nemesis.

So I gather all of my magic into my hand, creating a spell of light, and aim at it.

''Die.'' I mutter.

SWOOSH—!

Before I can launch my attack, a spear of blood finds its way piercing through my chest. The demon stares at me.

My vision is getting blurry.

As my body loses strength and collapses, I can faintly hear the hysteric laughter coming from above.

''...!''

My eyes shoot open. This time, I'm staring at the usual ceiling.

The nightmare ended.

Looking to the side, I see the sun is already up, pouring light into my room through the window. 

''It's time to wake up.''

My body sure is sweaty, jeez.

So I get up and go straight to the bathroom. Do a quick shower, then brush my teeth.

''Phew...''

I let out a sigh after wiping my face clean. Looking at myself in the mirror, I once again steel my determination—to prevent the tragedy happening in my dream.

I didn't even remember when it started, but at this point in time, I am convinced that the repeated nightmare is a prophecy of sorts. Something is telling me the future, and it's not far away.

Judging from the date on dad's newspaper and my own clothes in the dream, I am pretty sure it will happen at the start of my sophomore year.

A year.

I have only a year.

But it's fine. It has to be fine.

Aurora told me the other day—if I don't step up, everyone will die. I am the holder of the rare light element, people's lives depend on me.

''Good, let's do this!'' I slap my cheeks a few times before exiting the bathroom, buck naked.

Today is Sunday, so there's no class, but there are some club activities that I signed up for. So I get into my uniform and leave the dorm, heading straight to Sylph Hall.

The combination of snow and sunlight creates a strangely beautiful harmony, I'd say. I wonder what Aurora and Nydia are doing today. It's such good weather, they should go out and play.

While thinking like that, I arrive at the building.

Walking up the stairs, I find myself suddenly more motivated than usual. The reason is probably...

clack—!

''Good morning, everyone.''

I greet my fellow Media Club members after opening the door to room 503.

''Good morning, Claire.'' A female senior greets me back, while everyone else nods at me with a smile.

''How is the progress, senior?'' I ask.

''Come in; we have compiled all the witnesses' descriptions of her.''

Stepping into the auxiliary room, I see a few people are already discussing her.

On the wall is a blackboard. On the blackboard are numerous sticky notes filled with descriptions from eyewitnesses of a certain person—the heroine who single-handedly defeated a disastrous demon appearing during the joint practical class—code name 'Miss G'.

Well, the code name thing is just what I made up, but people actually gave her the nickname 'Miss G'; the G is probably from her galaxy mask, if I have to guess.

Either way, it's the truth that she also owns the light element, just like me, and even crazier is that she can teleport. People are speculating that she is a hidden Master or Grandmaster, only now revealing herself because of the sudden spike in the appearance of demon-related cases.

She is just like a heroine in the adventure tales that I've read.

In fact, she is the entire reason for me to join the Media Club. I want to closely watch her steps so that I can become someone just like her—a heroine.

Looking at the portrait of Miss G on the board, a smile blooms on my face.

I wonder... When will I get to meet you, my idol?