The cavern fell silent as Lyraea, Queen of the Dark Elves, raised her hands. Dark energy rippled through the air like a storm waiting to break. "Let it be known," her voice rang out, sharp and regal, "that this duel shall be fought without interference. Kaito and I will settle this—alone."
Her guards melted back into the shadows, faces stoic. None dared defy her decree.
Lyraea's crimson eyes locked with Kaito's. "Let us begin," she said, her voice like velvet lined with steel.
Without hesitation, the battle erupted.
Lyraea moved first, her hand weaving ancient sigils. "Dryad's Fury!" she called, and a vortex of leaves and branches exploded toward Kaito. He narrowly dodged, rolling aside just as the attack shredded the earth where he had stood.
"Too slow," Kaito muttered. Fire bloomed from his palm. "Inferno's Breath!"
A torrent of flame surged forward, forcing the queen to retreat, her dark aura flickering under the heat. She retaliated with a crackling orb of shadow—"Shadowbolt!"—which Kaito barely blocked with a fiery slash of his blade.
"Dragon's Claw!"
His sword, wreathed in flame, collided with a shimmering barrier of leaves—"Dryad's Shield." The impact echoed through the cavern, magic flaring with each blow.
They clashed again and again, spells and steel colliding in a dazzling whirlwind. Lyraea's foot struck out, infused with elven power—"Elven Strike!"—but Kaito caught it on the flat of his blade, barely holding his ground.
"Dragon's Fury!" Kaito roared, flames spiraling from his body in a scorching wave that sent the queen stumbling. But she wasn't finished.
"Dryad's Requiem."
The earth cracked, and a massive tree erupted from below, branches writhing like serpents. Kaito launched skyward, a burst of fire trailing behind him.
"Dragon's Inferno Blast!"
His flames scorched the tree to ash mid-air, blasting through to hit Lyraea directly. She skidded back, knees buckling.
Then came her final gambit.
"Darkness Descending Apocalypse."
The cavern trembled as a colossal wave of pure darkness surged forward. Kaito gritted his teeth and met it head-on, the blade burning bright.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
The two forces collided, light and shadow roaring in a chaotic crescendo. When the smoke cleared, Kaito stood tall, chest heaving. Lyraea lay before him, energy spent, her expression awash with awe.
"You… are a formidable warrior," she gasped.
Kaito lowered his blade. "I didn't come to rule. I only fight to protect."
Lyraea's eyes softened. "Then by the law of this realm… I offer myself to you—body and soul."
"What?" Kaito blinked, caught off guard.
"You have defeated me. You are now my master," she said solemnly.
"No, no! That's not what I—" But she was already beaming.
"My husband," she whispered, eyes sparkling. "I shall serve you with love and devotion."
Kaito turned crimson. "Wait! I wasn't—!"
But it was too late.
Lyraea took his hand, utterly sincere. "Let us return to the palace. We have much to discuss."
As they walked through the forested paths, Kaito hesitated. "I… never even asked your name."
"Lyraea Redwood," she said with a graceful nod. "Queen of the Dark Elves. And now, apparently, your wife."
He groaned internally. How did I get here?
On the way back, Lyraea glanced at him curiously. "You're not from this world, are you?"
Kaito exhaled. "No. I came from Japan. I was just a NEET—games, anime, manga, that kind of thing. One moment I was playing an otome game… the next, I was here."
"Anime?" Lyraea asked, intrigued. "What's that?"
"It's… like storytelling through moving art. Same with manga, but in books."
"I see," she said thoughtfully. "Your world must be fascinating."
Kaito laughed softly. "Sometimes, yeah."
But then, a shadow fell over his thoughts.
Juichi.
His son.
The reality crashed into him—he had left behind his only child, a boy who had been paying his expenses, a son he hadn't even said goodbye to.
Lyraea noticed the change in his expression. "What is it?"
"I left someone behind," Kaito said quietly. "My son. Juichi."
Lyraea gently took his hand. "Then we will find a way," she said. "To make things right."
Kaito nodded, eyes distant but resolute.
Whatever lay ahead—romance, mystery, or magic—he couldn't forget where he came from… or who he still needed to return to.
To Be Continued…