I adore this idea
The series Library of the Sapphire Wind by Jane Lindskold is similar, but the three chosen are women in their 60s and 70s… and they were the chosen ones.
The world needed wisdom, not more muscle.
Comedy and crack
Did they mean craic?
That looks good, I don’t know anything about anime but I love to read plot ideas!
An ocean. That’s what it felt like, as though I were standing on the edge of a ship in the middle of the sea. Darkness all around me, the sea a giant disk, no one else nearby, the countless stars above me, each their own world, each one twinkling like tears falling from eyes, and then myself; alone, in a void so dark there was no telling where sea ended and sky began, and yet, it was strangely comfortable. Their voices faded away, like distant sailors whose calls fell behind the crashing of waves. Their faces blurred and obscured the stars like clouds swiftly moving past, laden with rain water. The pain faded into nothing more than the strange back and forth rocking of a ship in water, and as my eyes closed shut for the last time, all I could see was the face of the boy whose life I had saved, stars falling from his eyes as he begged for me not to die. Even that, too, faded into the abyss, until all that was left was myself, alone in the dark, swaying in the waves, like standing on a ship in the middle of the sea.
This was it. The end. I am not afraid of death; rather, I welcome it. I’ve lived a good long life, and I have no regrets. Except one; I wish I could have said a proper goodbye to my husband. Told him I loved him one last time, before the end. It doesn’t matter much now, I suppose. My thoughts drifted from place to place, slowly dwindling as I fell into the long sleep from which there is no waking, until something broke the void. A single star, in the distance. What was it? It grew brighter, as though it were drawing closer, slowly, imperceptibly at first, but then faster, larger, stronger, until it washed over me with its warmth and radiance, a feeling I did not even realize I missed, and then I opened my eyes.
An ocean sprawled out in front of me. Not the dark, abyssal one, but a deep, regal blue, brilliantly twinkling with the light of the sun over it. The wind struck me from behind, a warm wind that smelled of salt. I breathed it in, felt the grass beneath my feet and the wind at my back as a smile sprawled on my face. It was peaceful, but in another kind of way than the peace I woke up from. I enjoyed it for a while, but something was deeply amiss. I had died. I experienced death, I knew this much, but for whatever reason, I was here. My heart was beating, my lungs were breathing: I was alive. Could this be the heaven the christians spoke of, their life after death?
I was broken out of my thoughts by a scream from behind. A young girl, screeching for help. Whatever this was, I couldn’t sit here ruminating on the metaphysical for much longer; someone was clearly in trouble. I turned to see a girl in strange flowing garb that somehow revealed entirely too much skin and a much too short miniskirt, fleeing from… a yokai? Some kind of beast on two legs was chasing after her!
My body moved faster than my mind. She tripped and fell down; the monster loomed over her, raising a giant club to strike her down. It swung down and then crashed against the earth, spraying a cloud of dust and grass in all directions, but no blood. I made it in time. I scooped her up right before impact and dodged out of the way, but the situation was no different. The beast, armed with club and horns, turned its focus to me now.
“Eh? What? Who…” The girl sputtered in confusion in my arms, but there was no time to answer her questions.
“Can you walk?” I asked, as the beast stared me down, examining the new threat.
“Um, I, I think so!”
“Good, I’m going to put you down now.”
“Huh? Ahh-!”
I dropped her on the ground and sized up my opponent. He was tall, taller than any man I had ever seen, with arms the size of a full grown adult. I had taken self defense classes before, so I knew something of fighting; I knew this was an opponent I had no chance of defeating, but something stirred in my heart. My chest grew warm, like a fire was burning through my heart. I knew I had no chance, even if I were to flee, and yet… something spurred me on. Maybe it was because this time, I was fighting to protect someone, but despite everything I knew screaming that I stand no chance…
“I’m going to win.”
At my words, at my challenge, the beast charged at me, its hoofed feet beating a violent drum against the ground as it ran, head lowered and horns pointed for me. It was fast, faster than it had any right to be! In moments it was upon me; I jumped, pushing its horns down in the process as I vaulted over its hairy body. Somehow, I survived. The beast crashed into the dirt and roared as it reared its head. Its eyes were bloodshot mad as it stomped over to me, and… wait, where was the girl? She was right behind me. I didn’t… did I?
That one moment was it. That moment when my thoughts drifted from the battle, when my eyes glanced to the side, was all the beast needed. Its club arced down, straight for my head; there was no time to react! Then, when it was mere centimeters from my face, I heard another yell.
“Great Gale!”
Suddenly, a wind stronger than any typhoon battered into the beast, blowing it away some distance. For whatever reason, though, I was left unaffected.
I turned to see the girl I had saved holding a tall staff, with a gleaming crystal on it. She was panting, as though exhausted, but she stood firm, pointing the stave at the monster.
“I hit it!” she suddenly yelled out in joy.
“What do you mean you hit it, were you trying not to hit it?!” I yelled back.
“I just… Behind you!”
I turned to find the monster, already recovered and bearing its club on me again. This time, I managed to duck just in time as the club missed me by a centimeter. Then, it lifted its leg to stomp down on me, but I dodged again, jumping backwards a few times, until I was next to the girl.
“What is that thing?” I asked. “It keeps getting back up.”
“It’s a minotaur…” she replied, narrowing her eyes and tightening her grip.
“A minotaur…? Well, whatever. That was magic you just did, right? We’ll take it down together.”
“Um, are you ok to fight?” she asked tentatively. “I don’t think the elderly should be getting involved in such a tough fight.”
“The hell do you mean elderly?! I’m not old yet!”
There was no more time for banter. The beast, this minotaur, it charged again, head bowed for another piercing attack. The two of us split, and for a moment, the beast seemed undecided who to chase; I made the decision for it by throwing a stone straight into its face. It roared, and nearly pivoted in place as it changed directions to come straight for me. I ran, until there was no where to run. I stood at the very precipice of a cliff, with nothing but a 50 meter drop straight into the water below me. Crap.
I turned to face the minotaur, bracing myself for its charge, ready to leap over it again. But then… instead, it suddenly stomped with one hoof, pivoting around and whipping the club straight for my head! I dropped to the ground, barely dodging it again, but this time I was really stuck. With nowhere to run, it flashed a wicked grin as it raised its club for the final strike.
“Great Gale!”
I heard that chant again, and then the violent wind came again, blowing this minotaur past me, straight over the cliff! I crawled to the edge, and watched it roar as it plunged into the ocean below.
My heart was pounding in my chest. I stood to face the girl who had just saved my life. She was collapsed on the ground, barely holding herself up with the staff.
“Are you ok?” I asked as I ran over to her.
“Yeah… yeah I’m fine… I just need a moment. Two great gales back to back drained me of all my mana.”
She was saying words I didn’t understand. “Do you have any water?” I asked, instead changing the conversation.
“Huh? Yeah, h-here.” Her arm moved slowly as she drew a water skin from… somewhere? I didn’t see it, but it must’ve been hidden amongst her robed.
“Drink,” I said, uncorking the waterskin and holding it to her mouth. I don’t know anything about this great gale or mana business, but you’re clearly over exerting yourself. You have to replenish your nutrients and electrolytes," I politely chided her.
“Thank you…” she said. She drank her fill and slowly stood up. “Who… who are you? I was the only one on this hill just a few moments ago. I didn’t see you anywhere.”
“My name is Miharu Ishikawa. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh? Miharu Ish… um. Miharu! What an odd name. I’m Anna Sauret. Thank you, for helping me! But, umm. what’s a grandma like yourself doing out here? Won’t your grandchildren miss you?”
“I ain’t no gradma yet! I’m only thirty six! You hear me? Thirty six! I’m still too young to even have kids!”
“Wha?!”
“And cover up some more! You’re showing off way too much, its inappropriate!”
First time writing in a long while, kind of got carried away, haha. Hope you enjoyed!
