A Shadow Over Shemran

Here's your translated and enhanced version with a more novel-like feel: 

Hours later, my eyes fluttered open. The room was quiet, the soft rustling of leaves outside the only sound breaking the silence. 

It was time. 

I stood up, stretching the stiffness from my limbs, then willed my clothes to change with a simple spell. The fabric shimmered, shifting into an elegant black and gold robe—something eye-catching yet refined. Satisfied, I stepped outside. 

The cool evening air carried the scent of blooming flowers as I wandered through the garden, the gravel crunching softly under my boots. But just as I took another step forward, a shiver ran down my spine. 

Something was wrong. 

A deep, primal instinct screamed at me to move—to get away. Every cell in my body burned with urgency. I looked up. 

A massive shadow loomed over the city, descending from above like a beast of nightmares. It moved unnaturally fast, streaking toward Shemran with a terrifying force. 

Then, a sharp voice echoed in my mind. 

Absolute Insight Warning: A powerful magical force is approaching. Evacuation is advised. 

The message continued, each word colder than the last: 

Analysis complete. Estimated survival rate: 0%. Emergency measures initiated. Attempting teleportation via Reset Ability… 

Error: User lacks sufficient control.

Attempting energy manipulation override… Warning: Overload may result in soul disintegration. 

Solution: Sacrificing Magisynthesis to stabilize process. 

A sharp, burning pain shot through me as I felt something inside me break.

A vital piece of my power was gone. But in return, the spell activated. 

Reset Ability: Successful. Returning user to a location from two days prior. 

And just like that—everything blurred. 

When my vision cleared, I found myself back near the ruins of the bandits' hideout, the one I had destroyed. The lifeless remnants were still there, untouched by time. 

Then, the realization hit me like a crashing wave. 

The city— 

I turned toward Shemran and took off at full speed, pushing my body to its limits. The landscape blurred past me as I raced forward, a desperate hope clawing at my chest. 

But when I arrived… 

There was nothing. 

The city was gone. 

In its place lay an enormous, gaping crater, stretching endlessly into the earth. The streets, the buildings, the people—erased without a trace. A suffocating silence hung over the land, broken only by the howl of the wind. 

My breath caught in my throat. Images of the people I had met flashed before my eyes—the kind innkeeper, the little girl, the laughter in the tavern. 

All gone. 

My fists clenched. Anger, grief, helplessness—all of it swirled inside me like a storm. 

Why? 

Why wasn't I strong enough? 

But there was no time to drown in despair. If even one survivor remained, I had to find them. 

I closed my eyes, expanding my energy outward, searching—thirty kilometers, nothing. Forty kilometers, still nothing. 

Fifty kilometers. 

A spark. 

A presence. 

Without hesitation, I channeled my energy into light, bending it around my body. In an instant, I surged forward at near-light speed, the landscape warping around me. When I stopped, I found myself in a dense forest. 

And there, tied to a tree, was a man. 

He was tall and muscular, his long black hair tangled and unkempt. His violet eyes snapped open the moment I approached. 

"Leave," he growled, his voice hoarse but firm. "If you value your life, walk away." 

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why would I do that?" I smirked, crossing my arms. "You don't exactly look like you're in a position to make threats." 

He scowled, his face darkening. 

"Listen to me," he warned. "If you untie me, my father will kill you." 

I paused. "Your father?" 

He exhaled sharply. "Yes. The ruler of this land." 

A realization clicked into place. The scenario was too familiar. 

"…So you're the prince." 

I had heard about him before—the tyrant's son, the one supposedly cruel beyond measure. But looking at him now, bound and weakened, he didn't seem to match that description at all. 

Instead of responding, I crossed my arms. "Alright, before I do anything, you should know—your city is gone." 

Silence. 

His body stiffened. 

"…What?" he whispered. 

"I don't know who or what did it, but Shemran was hit with a powerful spell. The entire city was wiped out. No survivors." 

For a moment, he didn't move. Then, his entire frame trembled. 

"No…" His voice cracked. "I failed… I *failed* to stop them." 

Tears welled in his eyes, though he quickly clenched his jaw, trying to suppress them. 

I sighed. "Alright. Now tell me—who did this?" 

He took a deep, shaky breath. "It's a long story, but I'll make it short," he muttered. "The city was dying—suffering from a brutal drought. Then, a sorcerer came to my father and promised him salvation. He said he could summon a god to restore balance." 

I felt my stomach drop. "And your father agreed?" 

He let out a bitter laugh. "Of course he did." 

I exhaled. "Well… judging by what happened, I'm guessing that *god* wasn't pleased." 

He met my gaze and nodded grimly. 

I walked up to him, placing a hand on the ropes. "So, you want me to free you or not?" 

"…Please," he muttered. 

With a single motion, the bindings snapped apart, and he slumped forward, catching himself. 

I stepped back, giving him space. "By the way, name's Darius. You?" 

He hesitated, then nodded. "Ario barzanes." 

And just like that—our journey together began.