Shattered Futures

The Frozen Kingdom - Arc 4

"Am so exhausted… That snowy, cold day… I couldn't take anything. It was such a hard day. All the pain straight to my head… Indeed, I thought I gave up…"

Hiroki woke with a start, his breaths uneven and his body drenched in sweat. He rested his head in his left hand, struggling to steady himself as the remnants of the dream lingered in his mind. The vivid images of the frozen world, Ayuri, and the destruction of Yumix all replayed in his head, it was a true nightmare for him. It raced through his memories as he tried to recall what happened.

"What… was that?" He whispered while trembling with fear.

A moment ago

Hiroki opened his eyes, his mind was slow to catch up. He couldn't grasp what was happening, uncertain of why he was there or if anything around him was real.

He found himself standing on the edge of a big mountain cliff. The cold wind blew by past him, but he didn't sense its chill. Below, the vast lands of Yumix stretched out like a painted masterpiece, vibrant with life. Something about the scene didn't feel real… It was too perfect, too serene.

"Eeh, isn't the view beautiful from here?" A soft voice broke the stillness.

He turned sharply to his right. It was Ayuri, Sitting next to him, leaning her left hand on the ground. Her golden eyes shone brightly, capturing the soft sunlight that hit them.

Hiroki replied after moments of confusion, "Indeed, It is"

Ayuri smiled faintly and returned her gaze back to the horizon. "Really… This is what you see. I wish it could stay like this."

Hiroki glanced at her with confusion. Something about her tone unsettled him, the way her words carried both warmth and sadness. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Instead of answering him, she glanced forward again, and her expression changed. Hiroki followed her gaze, where his breath caught in his throat at what he had just seen. The kingdom that was brimming in peace had become a wasteland of snow and ice. Villages were buried under frozen dunes, trees were stripped bare and lifeless. The whole area has become deserted.

"What…" Hiroki gasped in shock, his eyes widening at the sight in front of him. He blinked briefly, before the scene shifted again.

The place turned into a vast, devastated red wasteland, stretching far beyond what could be seen. as if it was a war-torn scene.

"H-Huh? What's that crap? What is happening?!" His voice trembled, and his body took an instinctive step backward from the intensity of the panic. 

Ayuri remained calm, while her eyes held some distress. "This is sad, isn't it? The Great Kingdom of Yumix, devoid of life. But you…" She turned to him, and her gaze suddenly intense. "You have to become much stronger than you are now. Hiroki"

"What are you talking about?!" Hiroki shouted, he was freaking out. "Why is it like this? What's going on?!"

Rather than giving a direct response, Ayuri took a small step closer to him, and she gave him a warm smile to ease his worries, where her golden eyes met his.

"Your eyes… They're glowing, like the sun" Hiroki said as he noticed the non-usual luminescence from her irises.

Ayuri tilted her head slightly, and a joyful smile blossomed on her face. "Finally, you're starting to notice some important things, right? These eyes…" she gestured to her own. "They shine like the glow of the book. And you too… your eyes can shine just the same, Hiroki."

He took a step back as confusion etched across his face "Me? What are you even talking about?!"

Her voice softened and affirmed "Yes, to see your best future, you need to open your eyes too. After all, you're the key to everything."

A peculiar warmth spread through his chest, and Hiroki naturally reached up to his face. A faint golden light began to shimmer in his eyes—exactly like hers. Although he didn't see it, he felt an intense strange feeling.

"That… feeling," He whispered, filled with fear and awe. "But that doesn't really clear things up."

Ayuri's smile brightened back, although some sadness lingered just beneath the surface. "You're on the right track. But you still have a long way to go."

Suddenly, the ground beneath him began to tremble. The whole place shattered, and the air felt suffocating. In an instant, Hiroki was swallowed into the pitch-black darkness, leaving Ayuri standing alone above.

"W-What's Happening?! Ayuri! What's all this?" Hiroki's voice cracked, fear lacing every word as the darkness pulled him down.

"These are glimpses, Hiroki," Ayuri said in a noticeably calmer tone. "Fragments of what could come to pass. But in the end, it's you, only you the one who holds the power to change it."

Hiroki tried to reach out his hand to her, but to no avail, as the world was crumbling further into blackness. "No! Wait… What do you mean? Explain!"

Ayuri stepped back, and her figure started slowly to fade into the dark. "Unfortunately, I can't say more now, or else, everything would end up worse… Just be patient, Hiroki. Answers will come in time. But for now… be strong. Don't let what's ahead break you down."

"What's ahead? Can't you at least tell me that!"

She hesitated for a moment, her trembling voice soft but distant. "You'll know soon enough. Just listen to your heart, Hiroki. Trust yourself… And don't give up, even when the path seems unclear. I believe in you, your strength will guide you through, and I'm here with you on every step of the way!" Then with a deep breath and a determined tone, she shouted. "I trust you!"

Her final words rang out, echoing within him as everything faded into blackness. Hiroki felt himself plummeting, descending deeper into the void.

Hiroki bolted upright instantly, while his heart was pounding. The cold sweat covered his skin, and fear filled him so hard. He was trying to erase the memories that were stuck in his mind, those scenes of devastation, the frozen world, and the destruction that had befallen the kingdom.

He held his blanket tightly while breathing shallowly, "W-What… just, was that?"

Amid his turbulent thoughts, one image broke through his mind, Ayuri. Her golden eyes sparkled with warmth that filled his chest, just thinking of her soothed his racing mind and eased his panic. 

"Trust yourself… And don't give up!"

The only words he could recall were those, yet the warmth she had given him persisted. He held onto it, hoping it would remain as the dream's terror faded into nothing.

He glanced around the room. The morning light slipped through the curtains, creating shadows on the simple decor. He was alone there, no sign of Ayuri, or anyone else.

A sudden knock on the door broke the silence.

"Hiroki-Kun!"

He went still, and the voice was barely audible through the door. Was it his imagination? But then the knock came again, more insistent this time.

"Kurogane? You there?" A voice from the other side inquired.

"A woman's voice? But who?" He stepped toward the door slowly and deliberately.

He placed his hand on the handle and paused, taking a deep breath before pulling it open. The stunning light from the corridor fell into the room, revealing her figure standing there.

"Seina-sama?!"

[ To Be Continued ]