The Prince of Prophecy and the Bladeless Sword

5.Mission

“Are you done?” Maya returned but her appearance was different from before. This time Maya was wearing a combat outfit like in a game movie. “What happened?” Maya was confused as the children stared at her.

“Maya, there’s something strange with this kid’s system,” Moe reported while pointing at Leon.

“What do you mean?” Maya asked in confusion.

“Look. His sword blade is gone,” Moe said again.

This time Maya’s attention was drawn to Leon who was still holding his sword. But Maya’s eyes widened and she approached Leon.

“A Sword Without a Blade?” Maya said in surprise. The girl then looked at Leon’s face, circling the boy’s body.

Everyone fell silent and looked at each other. They didn’t know what Leon’s sword meant.

Maya’s expression looked worried now. The girl stopped right in front of Leon and stared at the boy sharply.

“Put your sword away. Never draw it unless you feel something strange,” Maya said in a serious voice.

No one understood what Maya was saying except Moe.

“The Chosen One has returned,” Maya whispered, which of course was heard by the five children, including Moe. “Be careful,” she advised then.

A dark aura enveloped Maya, making the children afraid. But suddenly the dark aura disappeared, replaced by Maya’s cheerful smile.

“Just kidding,” Maya chuckled. “No problem. I’ll explain it to Leon. However, your arrows are fine, right?”

Leon nodded in response.

“Very good. Then, line up. I’ll reward you before explaining the mission,” Maya explained.

“Mission?” Gio asked.

Maya looked at the boy and moved towards Gio.

“That’s right. Mission.” Maya answered cheerfully. “Alright. You guys don’t move.”

Maya snapped her fingers, a system reappeared circle that surrounded each child’s body. From top to bottom, the system moved slowly and changed its appearance. Maya smiled widely, seemingly fascinated by their new appearance that had changed their respective school uniforms.

“Bravo!” Maya exclaimed happily. “Navy, white, brown, green, and red. So cool.”

Leon, Sean, Gio, Viona, and Zenata looked at each other to see what Maya meant. It was by the standing order and the aura they had this time.

Leon with a navy blue aura was dressed like a young man in the past. The man wore a long-sleeved white shirt, a blue vest, with a leather belt around his waist and a small bag on his belt. Blue leather trousers, accompanied by black boots, and a black cloak at the back with a hood. Black leather gloves that showed his free fingers.

“Wow. So handsome, Leon,” praised Maya, satisfied with Leon's drastically changed appearance.

Likewise, Sean and Gio, are the same as Leon. Only Sean with boots, gloves, and a black cloak. White leather pants with a black vest. While Gio with brown and black. Their appearances were not much different, the only difference was their skin colour and their respective faces.

Then what about the two girls?

Viona with her black hair neatly braided. The girl wore a white blouse that reached her thighs with a tendril motif on her oval-shaped neck, and the end of the blouse was on her thighs, long sleeves covered by black gloves like Leon's, green leather pants, knee-length boots with 5 cm heels, and a black robe that was not too long, only reaching her knees. Just like the men, Viona also got a small bag that was hung on her belt. Everyone looked amazed by Viona's appearance.

“Beautiful, and graceful,” Maya commented again, satisfied with Viona’s appearance.

Then they turned to Zenata. The girl’s appearance looked different from Viona’s with a bright red color.

Her short shoulder-length black hair was left loose. If Viona wore a blouse, Zenata wore a white shirt with a fire motif on the collar that was quite high with one top button open. A short red skirt above the knee with neat ruffles, with red leather pants. Gloves, boots with 5 cm heels, and her robe were black, the same as the others, except that the girl’s red aura seemed to be burning, also radiating from the girl’s arrogant expression.

Maya laughed this time.

“I like your appearance, Zena. You look seductive,” Maya commented. But it seemed that only Maya cared because the others seemed to divert their attention.

Zenata hissed harshly.

“Okay. I’ll explain something.” Maya caught their attention. “First, the robe. You have to wear it throughout the journey. Because there is a village that doesn’t show its face except inside the house.”

No one spoke, everyone was watching the black robe.

“The second is a small bag on your waist. It is the bag of Everything. Whatever you need, just reach for it, you will find it. However, there is something that no one else has, it will detect the user’s strengths, talent, and elements. Treat it with care, and do not let it fall into the hands of the enemy.”

“Enemies?” Gio spoke up now, a little surprised.

“Yes. Enemies. Your mission is to eradicate evil in every village you pass. And the end of your mission is, the palace at the end there.” Maya pointed her finger behind her, far ahead was a palace with only a tower visible, right under the black sky.

Gio shuddered at the sight.

“Then what will we get?” Sean asked.

“Anything, even the key to return,” Maya answered cheerfully. “Well, my job is to answer your questions. I will appear when you need me. To complete the mission, you will see the results in your respective systems. Some things can be seen together, and some that only you can see. That’s all. See you later."

Maya disappeared after saying that.

"Hey, wait. How do we start?" Sean shouted.

"You guys just walk straight. The mission starts now. Have a nice adventure." Maya's voice answered without showing her appearance.

But they were silent, confused about how to start.

"What kind of crazy game is this?" Gio said with a groan. He finally realized that something might happen that they had never even thought of at all. "Look at that tower. It's so far away." Gio pointed to the palace tower that they didn't know the name of.

"We have to go to that palace? It's so scary." Zenata also spoke, sounding so scared that everyone's eyes were on her.

"What do you think? If you scared, just stay here," Gio replied. It seemed like he didn't like Zenata.

"Do you think I want to be here? No. I don't even want to wear disgusting clothes like this," Zenata said with her usual disdainful expression.

"What did you say? Disgusting. Then why are you here if you don't want to?" Gio replied as he stepped closer to Zenata and the two stared sharply, radiating dislike for each other.

"Stop it." Leon intervened, making Zenata and Gio both snort roughly and look away.

"We have to leave immediately before the sky gets dark," Sean said while observing the situation.

"How do we start? Where are we going?" Viona asked.

Leon's attention was drawn to the palace tower in the valley, feeling something inside him.

"Let's go. We have to find shelter first," Leon said after observing the tower for a long time.

"I'll show you the way," Sean said. The boy took something out of his small magic bag. A white compass with a gold needle in the middle.

Everyone gathered around Sean, also noticing the compass in the boy's hand.

"Where should we go?" Sean asked for the compass.

"There's a settlement in the north." The compass answered and then displayed a screen in the air and formed a map. There was a red arrow pointing north, their current destination.

"Come on. We have to leave soon." Leon led the way.

Before they could move, a strange sound was heard from behind them which made Zenata move closer to Leon who was immediately pushed by the boy.

Leon was the first to step forward, leaving the place following the direction of Sean's compass then followed by the others towards the nearest settlement.

Without them realizing it, after they left the place became black and dark.

Entering a residential area in a foreign area made the five children a little scared. The observant Leon observed the surroundings with the help of the system that explained the place.

"This is the Summer Village." Leon's system explained. "There are a few things you should know about this village. Summer Village is the last place in the Thousand Appearances Dimension and will be the beginning of your adventure. In this village, there are various types of food and traditions. But most importantly, there is darkness that envelops it."

"Summer Village?" Gio said a little loudly. Everyone looked at the notification from their respective systems. Gio immediately closed his mouth when Leon glared at him.

They were in front of a welcome sign. In front of them were people walking around in their traditional clothes.

"Mission begins!"

A system suddenly appeared in front of them in green.

"Your mission is to eradicate evil from the darkness in this village. If you succeed, you will get points and stars. Points for survival and exchange value. While stars are for keys to return to your real world. So, good luck with your mission."

After saying that, the system immediately disappeared.

"This is crazy," Sean said.

"Like in a game," Gio continued.

"And it sucks." All eyes were on Zenata who was standing right behind Leon.

"What can a princess like you do?" Gio teased.

"What did you say?" Zenata was not amused.

"Enough." Leon intervened again. "We should go now and find a place to stay, and then get some information," Leon ordered.

Gio and Zenata snorted again. Zenata stayed as close to Leon as possible because he was the only male who didn't stare or protest his annoying actions so much.

They stepped past the sign and began to mingle with the people of Summer Village. The adventure had begun.