The Tale Of The Red-Eyed Princess

"All members of our family are Divine Knights, including you, your mother, me, and even your father," Granny Takiko said, her voice serious.

As soon as Shizuka heard about her father, her face contorted into a displeased expression, revealing the deep-seated resentment she harbored towards him. Her ruffly bangs fall over her eyes, casting a shadow over her face, making it difficult to discern the exact emotions that lie beneath her exterior. Despite this, there is an unmistakable aura of disapproval and bitterness that emanates from her, conveying the intensity of her feelings towards her father.

"The point is, you're not normal. You have ki in your body, kid." She added, revealing the truth to Shizuka.

As Shizuka went through a transformative experience, she came to the realization that she possessed an unusual strength due to the ki that flowed through her body. She was able to easily overpower gangs and handle situations that would be difficult for an ordinary human being. Her extensive training in kendo and mixed martial arts only served to further enhance her abilities, allowing her to become a formidable opponent to anyone who dared to cross her path.

With that in mind, she couldn't help but feel like she had been given an unfair advantage all along, almost as if she was playing the game of life in a cheat mode.

Shizuka muttered her discontent, "Why was I not informed about this?" She seemed unsatisfied and disappointed with the lack of information in her life.

"Your parents' decision to keep you hidden from the world was motivated by their love and a deep sense of responsibility towards you. They knew how precious and valuable you are, and that's why they went to great lengths to protect you."

"Precious? What do you mean?"

Takiko's eyelids slowly shut, and she inhaled deeply, allowing her breath to escape slowly as she released the tension from her body.

"You are suspected to be the reincarnation of the Red-Eyed Princess, Shizuka."

Hakken and Ayashiro were caught off guard and taken aback upon learning about it.

Hakken's eyes widened in shock as he struggled to process what he had just heard. "Wait a minute...are you saying THE 'Red-Eyed Princess'? The one that was mentioned in one of Nostradama's prophecies?" he exclaimed, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself before continuing. "How did I know about it?"

Ayashiro's voice was filled with disbelief as he exclaimed, "That's ridiculous, Sensei! I can't believe it! How on earth could this insignificant, puny human possibly be the legendary Red-Eyed Princess?!" His shock was evident, and he seemed to be struggling to come to terms with the idea.

Shizuka looked frozen, gazing at her grandmother with a blank expression on her face, utterly perplexed by what she was hearing.

Shizuka was puzzled and a bit taken aback by the term "Red-Eyed Princess". She couldn't quite grasp its meaning and wondered whether it had anything to do with the color of her eyes or something else entirely.

With serene composure, Granny Takiko gently opened her eyes, fixing her gaze on her eager grandchild.

"First, I'll tell you about the tale of the Red-Eyed Princess of Eden years ago. . ."

During the time period of C400, the land of Eden was ruled by a terrifying and formidable species: the Dragons. Their numbers only continued to grow, while the human population dwindled in comparison. The Dragons possessed a fierce and fiery Red ki that shone brightly in their malevolent eyes, making them the most lethal and dominant beings in all of Eden Land. However, the Divine Knights were not willing to stand idly by and watch as the Dragons completely overtook the land. They bravely engaged in a battle against these fearsome creatures, hoping to take back control and ensure that humanity would prevail as the most powerful and influential species in Eden.

Throughout history, the Dragons had been a menace to humanity. Their immense power and strength made them nearly unbeatable, and even the Divine Knights - the mightiest warriors ever known - were unable to stand up to them. Countless lives were lost in the ongoing conflict, until humanity was on the brink of extinction. Faced with such overwhelming odds, the people were forced to retreat to a remote and isolated island, where they could live in relative safety away from the Dragons' destructive wrath.

Amidst the vastness of the ocean lay an island, protected by a colossal cubic barrier, that was home to a mighty empire. The kingdom was ruled by a wise and just king and queen who, with their leadership, ushered humankind towards its supposed final days as they willingly accepted their fate.

It was evident that they had lost the war.

As the years went by, the illustrious Queen of the Eden Empire gave birth to a healthy and radiant princess. The Princess possessed an extraordinary feature that set her apart from the rest - her striking crimson-red eyes, which glimmered like rubies in the sunlight. But what was even more remarkable was the reddish ki that flowed through her body. It was a rare and powerful energy that only the angels of God and the mighty Dragons were believed to possess. The monks who witnessed her birth prophesized that the princess was a divine being, sent by the heavens to protect humanity from its impending doom against the dragons. Her unique power was thought to be the key to defeating the dragons and restoring peace to the land.

She was the beacon of hope for all of humanity.

The King and Queen, out of an abundance of caution and concern for their child's safety, took drastic measures to protect their daughter by confining her to the castle's secure walls. As a result, the young Red-Eyed Princess was forced to lead a sheltered life, shielded from the outside world and all its wonders. She grew up without ever knowing the thrill of adventure or the beauty of nature beyond the castle's walls.

One day, the tranquil island, once surrounded by a cubic barrier, was abruptly attacked by a horde of fierce dragons. The peaceful lives of the islanders were shattered as the dragons unleashed their wrath, killing scores of innocent people. The dragons' reign of terror continued, as they mercilessly dominated the world. Some tried to escape, while others bravely stood their ground and fought the ferocious beasts until their dying breath. The world had forever changed, with the dragons now holding the power.

In the wake of the monstrous attacks, the courageous king made a life-saving decision to allow the Red-Eyed Princess to leave the castle. Gathering his loyal subjects, the king valiantly fought against the fearsome dragon, creating a diversion that allowed the queen and princess to make their escape to safety. Despite the odds stacked against him, the mighty king stood firm, determined to protect his people at any cost.

Unfortunately the great king has passed away, leaving behind a legacy of hope for the unity and survival of humanity. His last wish was for the Red-Eyed Princess to continue her mission and lead the people towards a brighter future.

Following the tragic event, the world witnessed the most significant extinction crisis in human history. The Red-Eyed Princess and the Queen, who were once prominent figures, have since gone into hiding and have not been seen or heard from since. The loss of their presence has left a void in society, and their absence is felt deeply by those who once looked up to them for guidance and leadership.

Despite years of trying, the people of Eden Land could not defeat the dragons, who continued to reign supreme atop the food chain. Undeterred, they experimented with various methods in hopes of one day gaining the upper hand and emerging victorious in the never-ending battle. Despite the odds, the people of Eden Land remained hopeful that their efforts would eventually pay off.

Yet, they kept on failing. . .

Years had passed, the dragons were still the most powerful creatures and feared by all. Their fiery breath could turn entire villages into ashes. But one day, a young woman with striking beauty appeared among them - the Red-Eyed Princess. As she grew up and became a force to be reckoned with, a symbol of power and beauty that surpassed even the mighty dragons themselves. Her eyes gleamed with the same ferocity as the dragons, and her aura was tinted with a reddish hue, reminiscent of their powerful energy.

In lieu of destroying the dragons that roamed the land, she discovered a way to domesticate them with a mere glance into their eyes. She possessed the rare ability to command these fierce beasts, even when they were unwilling to submit to her authority. Fueled by her newfound power, she embarked on a journey across the vast expanse of Eden Land, determined to subjugate all the dragons that resided there. Over the course of several months, she gradually gained control over every dragon in Eden Land, compelling them to vacate the areas populated by humans and retreat to a distant location, where they would no longer pose a threat to the people.

The inhabitants of Eden Land had been living in fear of the Deadly Dragons for years, until the arrival of a brave Princess who saved humanity from their wrath. The people hailed her as a Divine Savior, and with good reason. The Princess was not only strong and skillful, but also possessed the unique ability to manipulate and summon dragons as her weapon against all forms of evil. Her fellow citizens considered her the strongest Divine Knight of all time, and they were in awe of her courage and power.

Despite winning their battle against the dragons, they haven't defeated their greatest enemy yet: their own selves . . .

In the aftermath of the Red-Eyed Princess's victory over the monstrous creatures that once terrorized the land, Eden Land was plunged into its first world war. The once-united order of Divine Knights was now divided into four warring nations, each seeking dominance over the others. However, instead of using her power and influence to stop the conflict, the Red-Eyed Princess chose to join the battle, using her formidable skill and cunning to turn the tide of the war in her favor. With the ferocious Dragons now under her command, she quickly established her dominance over the other nations, bringing the war to a swift and decisive end in just two days.

Following her victory against humans, the perception of the Red-Eyed Princess has shifted from that of a hero to a perceived threat. Her ability to command these beasts has been utilized to deadly effect against her enemies, causing many to question her true motives in acquiring this power. Some have even accused her of selfishly seeking out these Red-Eyed abilities for her own gain, rather than to benefit the people of Eden Land.

Thus, they have decided to get rid of the said threat. . .

Granny Takiko paused for a while.

Shizuka's interest was piqued, and she leaned in closer to her grandma, eagerly awaiting the details. "So, what happened?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and excitement.

"The Red-Eyed Princess was assassinated by her own comrades"

As soon as Shizuka heard it, her eyes widened in surprise in disbelief. A wave of mixed emotions flooded over her, leaving her unsure of how to react.

"Though many have claimed that the story was fictitious since several people in Eden strongly believed that Dragons never existed," Hakken spoke abruptly, providing unexpected pieces of information about the narrative.

"We still don't know if that was true, but you might be right." Takiko let out a small chuckle as she acknowledged her student's intelligence.

Shizuka is in a state of confusion and amazement, feeling both overwhelmed and fascinated by this story.

"Anyway, During the era of the D500s, a well-known prophet named Nostradama made some remarkable predictions about the future with a staggering accuracy rate of 97%. Before his death, he made a bold claim that the Red-Eyed princess, a legendary figure from the past, would be reborn one day. According to his prophecy, she would either become a hero and save the world once again or seek revenge on Eden Land by unleashing the mighty power of Dragons and destroying everything in her path."

Shizuka made a valid argument by pointing out the inaccuracy of a certain prediction that was based on unexplainable choices. "That's not an accurate prediction if the prophet left unexplainable choices of what will happen," she said convincingly.

"The notion of the Red-Eyed Princess being reincarnated has long been a subject of controversy among people. While some ardently believe that her rebirth would herald salvation for the world, others hold the view that she would seek vengeance. Meanwhile, there are also those who regard the entire story as a baseless myth, in accordance with the opinions of Hakken." Takiko added, imparting her knowledge on the topic at hand.

Shizuka gulped hard saying, "What was the prophet's statement again?"

Long years have thy been waiting, the second coming of the Red-Eyed Divine has concluded Eden. The flaming creatures will once again rise, and therefore, thy must accept thy fate lies within the palm of the Red-Eyed Divine.

Takiko's words hung in the air, pregnant with meaning. She looked at Shizuka with a sharp gaze, as if trying to convey something important. "It's either you will save our world from something," she said slowly, her voice heavy with implication, "or..." The sentence trailed off, leaving an ominous silence in its wake.

The stillness of the surroundings was only broken by the sound of silence that lingered in the air for a few fleeting moments, stretching into an eternity of hushed expectancy.

"That was vague. No. What if I'm not the Red-Eyed Princess of the prophecy? I don't even have powers or something . . ."

Shizuka was struggling to come to terms with the truth, as accepting the fact that she is the Red-Eyed Princess, would mean taking on a huge responsibility that she wasn't sure she could handle.

Ayashiro refused to accept the speculations and retorted, "Yes, she might be right, but I cannot believe it. That girl is nothing but a good-for-nothing brat who lives in the human world."

Shizuka was feeling quite irritated by Ayashiro's remark, but despite that, she gave a nod of acceptance, acknowledging that Ayashiro's insult might hold some truth.

"At the moment of your birth, you possessed an astonishingly powerful and radiant ki, coupled with striking crimson-rose eyes. Such a remarkable ki had never been seen before. However, your parents eventually chose to conceal your exceptional abilities by sealing your ki completely before departing from Eden Land."

"Why would they hide me then?" Shizuka's inquisitive tone conveyed her curiosity as she expressed her feelings of stress.

"It was believed that you could have potentially harmful motives in the future, so the council had two options - either to eliminate you or to train you. In order to prevent any possible future threats to humanity, the council decided to exile you and your parents until they were sure that you were on their side. As a result, your parents chose to leave that world and train you here, so that you wouldn't develop any hatred towards that world and wouldn't pose a threat to it."

After listening intently to Granny's detailed explanation, Shizuka finally understood the gravity of her situation. The council's intentions to bring her back to Eden Land as their hero were now crystal clear to her. She began to grasp the weight of responsibility that would come with accepting the offer, as well as the immense pressure she would face to live up to the expectations of both the council and the people of Eden Land.

After a few moments of tense silence, she finally spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper. "Will you trust me?" Her words hung in the air, heavy with emotion and uncertainty.

A/N:

Please take note of the following information:

In Eden Land, the way they count years is different from how we do it. The format they use is as follows: The first letter of the millennia is counted in alphabetical order (A-Z), followed by numerical digits in ascending order (000). For example, document numbers 1 to 2 would have the format A001 to A999. The year after A999 would be "B001", then "B002" and so on, until "B999". After that, they move on to the next letter in the alphabet. The current year in Eden Land is Year X515, which means that Shizuka was born in the year X500. The Red-Eyed Princess folklore happened many years ago, during the "C500s".