Side Story 1 : A fated meeting.
In a forest in a mountain stood a girl in her teens with jet black hair and red eyes her beauty was like a fairy from the ninth heaven. She came here to explore a ruin suspected to be left behind by the Forgotten Lord from a distant era from the past. Many people entered it but none came out alive.
Currently she is standing in front of the ancient ruin.
"It should be here according to her." (?)
She mutters as she enters the ruin. After entering she made her way through the deepest parts of it.
As she was walking she heard some sounds behind her and she unsheathed her sword.
"Whos there show yourself!"
"Wait calm down!"
What appeared from behind was a young man who appears to be the same age as the girl.
"Who are and what are you doing here?" (Girl)
"Though I should ask you the same question. Im an explorer my job is to explore ruins like this." (Boy)
The girl glared at the boy clearly suspicious but she still sheathed her sword and began to walk away.
"Hey where are you going?" (Boy)
Said the boy as he ran after her but the girl just ignored him.
"This ruins looks pretty old must be from an older era."
The boy would occasionally talk and try to start a conversation but the girl would ignore him.
As they entered deeper into the ruins the girl finally said something.
"Can you stop following me?"
The girl said with a cold tone and an icy glare.
"Im going this way as well."
"Then go."
Said the girl while pointing forward.
"Isnt it fine we are going to the same place anyway why not go together."
Looking at the boy who said that to her with a smile she gave in when she saw that the boy would probably not leave.
With one final glance at the boy she starts to move forward once more.
"Is that an okay?"
Asked the boy with a smile. But towards his question the girl just ignores him and kept on walking.
"I'll take that as a yes."
The next few days the two of them traveled through the ruins along the way they encountered many dangers such as dangerous traps along the way they fought against strong golems that guard the tomb. After facing many trials and overcoming them together they both recognized each other strengths and saw that they were roughly as strong as each other.
"That was close huh the arrows almost hit you."
The boy said as he held the arrow that almost hit the girl.
"I could have dodge it."
Said the girl with a cold tone.
Towards the cold tone of the girl the boy just smiled.
"I really could have dodge it." (Girl)
Seeing the boy not believing in her the girl protests.
"Yeah yeah." (Boy)
The boy teases her a bit seeing this cute side of her.
The girl just glared at him seemingly pouting a bit.
As they were walking they finally arrived at a huge gate.
"Seems like we finally arrived at the tomb of the Forgotten Lord of the Immortal Race." (Boy)
Towards the boys words the girl nods in agreement. Unknowingly the girl started to trust the boy these past few days she felt close to him but of course she is still oblivious to these feelings.
"Lets enter then." (Boy)
After they entered through the huge door the door behind them closed and the lights in the room opened an ancient voice was heard talking to them.
"Welcome to my tomb travelers I am the Lord of the Forgotten Tombs also known as the Forgotten Lord. You should be skilled to make your way to the deepest part of my tomb." (Lord of the Forgotten Tombs)
Hearing this ancient voice the two of them put up their guard, drew their swords and went into their fighting stances.
"Should you overcome this final trial I shall impart to you my treasures and my supreme art the Forgotten arts. This supreme art of mine once looked down on the world in the past and should you complete this trial I shall give it to you both.
Now without further a due let us start the trial!" (Forgotten Lord)
With the final words of the Forgotten lord a golem appeared and gave a strong pressure towards the young boy and girl.
"This golem inherited a part of my strength although its not as strong as my full power it should be still a strong foe." (Forgotten Lord)
With his words the golem brandished its sword and swung towards the two of them.
"Tch! Radiant Sword Arts Returning star blade!" (Boy)
The boy managed defended against the strike of the golem but he was pushed back. The girl then went behind the golem and striked towards the golem's back.
"Phantom step. Darkness enchant: hellblaze." (Girl)
The golem managed to parry using its other sword unknown to when it was drawn defended against the girls blade and sent her flying.
"Shit! Hey you alright!?" (Boy)
"Im fine. I was only caught of guard he used a technique that damages my internal organs." (Girl)
Said the girl with blood dripping from her mouth.
"You dont look fine. Can you still fight?" (Boy)
Asked the boy as he defended against the golem's strikes.
"Of course I can." (Girl)
She said as she joined the battle once more.
The two of them fought fiercely for days against the golem before they managed to defeat it by joining their attacks against it.
"We finally defeated it hahahah..." (Boy)
The boy with wounds all over his body on the floor laughs exhaustedly.
"I cant believe you still can laugh at this situation." (Girl)
The girl said to him similarly exhausted seated next to him looking at the destroyed golem with a bitter smile.
"Excellent you two proved yourselves worthy of inheriting my legacy I shall now impart to you my Supreme art. You may take the treasures left in my tomb and use them as you will." (Forgotten Lord)
Blue light went towards their forehead and they received the knowledge of the different techbiques in the Forgotten Arts.
The two of them after resting for a few days for their wounds finally left the deepest part and now have arrived at the entrance.
"So I guess this is where we part." (Boy)
The boy sounded a little reluctant as this was the first time he enjoyed someones company in an adventure.
"Mhmm" (Girl)
The girl was also reluctant but it wasnt obvious with her usual expressionless face.
"...via."
As the boy was about to leave the girl said something.
"You said something?" (Boy)
"Sylvia." (Girl)
"Oh right we never introduced ourselves did we?" (Boy)
The boy then extended his hand and introduced himself.
"The names Ren Axellight" (Ren)
"Sylviana Iris Solominas." (Sylviana)
The girl-Sylvia replied with a slight blush which the boy found cute.
"I'll call you Sylvia and you can call me Ren."
The girl-Sylvia nods towards his words expressing her agreement. Unknown to her she was smiling to which the boy Ren found beautiful making him blush a bit.
Seeing him turning red the girl tilts her head in confusion but even this action was found cute by Ren.
In an attempt to not show his red face the boy Ren turned around and bid farewell.
"Well I guess this is farewell. I hope we meet again." (Ren)
"Nn." (Sylvia)
The boy Ren then left and Sylvia headed out as well.
This was the first of many meetings between the ones who later be known as the Demon Empress and the strongest and the 13th Champion of the Hundred Races.
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Side note:
This short story was set at the end of the Distant Era before Sylvia heralded the new era which would be later called as the Lost Era.
[Ren Axellight]
According to the historical records Ren was one of the 13 champions of the Hundred Races but unlike the the other 12 he for some unknown reason wasn't in the last battle against the Demon Empress. Because of this he was often forgotten and many people believed that the hundred race only had 12 champions and left out in historical books by historians.
According to the ancient records he was the strongest of the 13 heroes the only one who could contend against the Demon Empress at full power alone without any assistance.