Spoiler Alert: This much is obvious, I feel, if you're reading fanfiction of the series, but I intend to broach topics that will creep past the story the anime has covered with a mix of light novel and web novel touches. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim to own any original works from Rising of the Shield Hero. This work is purely a fan project intended to improve narrative skills.

Authors Note: When I decided to write fanfiction as a practice piece before I started writing my own stories, my main goal was to create a narrative that I could be satisfied with, which is more challenging for me to accomplish when playing around with someone else's literary universe. I needed a playground where I could spread my wings, so to speak, and my interest was sparked upon learning just how much untapped potential the Shield Hero series has as a whole. This gave me free rein to explore unanswered questions within the series, such as what Syne's world was like and what the legendary weapons, mentioned but not shown throughout the story, could do.

My rendition is meant to explore a "what if" scenario, with the question being, what if a legendary weapon from Syne's world had survived? Much of this story will try to fill in the gaps for what Syne's world might have been and the history lost to the waves. When writing this plot, I wanted to stay as true to the source material as possible without rewriting the exact same story from Shield Hero, just with some new faces tossed in. To tackle this problem, my solution was to change the type of story being told here, and if I do my job well according to my vision, this story will be more of a supernatural thriller with mystery elements rather than a pure fantasy story with revenge/redemption as the central theme.

The main reason why I chose the legendary ring over the legendary armor was because I wanted to write about a mage. Most of my inspiration for the legendary weapon's powers, the protagonist's origins, and Syne's world come from tabletop roleplaying games such as Ars Magica, Chronicles of Darkness, and Fabula Ultima, so if you're familiar with any of these games, chances are you'll probably notice some similar themes. Don't be surprised if you find darker aspects to this story with that in mind. That being said, I don't plan on writing any scenes that are only edgy for the sake of it. I feel that that would miss the point of the story I'm trying to tell.

Now, I must acknowledge that this story falls into the category of a fifth-hero fic despite my desire to avoid that kind of scenario. This is a problem I took seriously, as the protagonist isn't meant to be an addition to the Four Cardinal Heroes but rather a hero from Syne's world marooned in a land foreign to the legendary weapon. If I do my job right and well, this difference will be apparent in how they operate throughout the story. There were a few things I tried to toss in to make the character stand better on his own two feet, like giving him a disposition similar to Itsuki, where he has supernatural aspects to his own home world to further build upon the mystery.

With that out of the way, I'll stop droning on. This is the first story I have ever posted to the internet like this, so don't be surprised if it screams amateur. For what it's worth, I hope you like it.

Summary: Colin Watts finds himself out of his element; what was supposed to be a mere scouting mission in his latest paranormal investigation has turned into something much more sinister. An abandoned lighthouse housing a winged woman on her deathbed had been jarring in itself, but what made things worse was the fact that Colin felt he knew her. She claimed to be royalty from another world that no longer existed and offered her only treasure, begging Colin to save her. Colin couldn't turn a blind eye, so he was handed the title of savior and stripped of his memories as a result. Equipped with a magic ring and struck with confusion, he was flung into the dregs of a world where not even ashes remained and summoned again to another world where he was not supposed to exist. A great ruin is approaching, and enemies lurk in the shadows who want heroes like him out of the picture. Colin will have to find a way to stop it and find it fast, and while he's at it, find a way to help himself in the process.

Prologue

Colin's boat rocked steadily over the darkened Maine waters, and as he moored his vessel, stepping onto the rocky crags that lined the coast, a prismatic feather drifted past his ankle, radiating an iridescent glow. The spire of a lighthouse illuminated a path along the shore, one paved in feathers with a radiance like the sun. Colin bent down to scoop up a few, comparing them to descriptions in his battered journal. He was on the right track but had no clue where the path before him would lead. The creature that bore these feathers was only seen a few times by the water, never leaving any identifiable traits beyond its prismatic glow. All the sightings seemed to point to the old lighthouse before him, an abandoned building that had long since withstood the test of time, finding a new purpose as this creature's roost, or so Colin believed.

A rock slide made traversing the dirt path impossible. So Colin stuffed his journal into his pack as he gripped the slick rock with patient motions, careful not to slip. The wind blew furiously as he made his ascent, howling loud enough to drown out the sound of the ocean hitting the shore. Colin's vessel bobbed amidst the rising and falling waves, each motion tossing it higher as the anchor creaked in protest. Grasping the ledge and pulling himself to his feet, rain began to pour over the island. Before Colin stood the lighthouse, its rusted steel door chained with several locks fitted in place. Colin retrieved a set of bolt cutters from his pack and severed the door's shackles; the chains clattered in a loud heap, timing itself with the rolling thunder. His boat knocking against the rocky shore caused him to jump. He began to have second thoughts about his trip but assured himself it would be a waste to turn back empty-handed.

The door to the lighthouse creaked open along rusty hinges, the sound echoing deep within the belly of the tower. As Colin stepped inside, a glittering feather fell from above. The floor was littered with them, far more than on the shore-side. Then the wind blew in, scattering the feathers about the room, so Colin reached into his pack to retrieve a camera. He adjusted the lens and raised it to his eye. The camera let out a loud snap and a flash of light as it captured the stairway leading up the side of the lighthouse. Colin fiddled with the lens, trying to improve the focus while he ascended, all while paying close attention to the creaking of the steps. Footsteps against the metal grating from above made him pause. Slowly, Colin peaked his head past the stairway and peered up at whatever awaited him on the third floor. He positioned his camera, and it adjusted to the light. A figure in the room's center came into view; Colin sat there, stunned.

"Gorgeous," he thought as the frame of a young woman came into focus. Her features were flawless, almost impossibly so. Her straight and long hair was black as night with a sheen akin to a metal's luster. Her fair skin had a glow that made it shine. Her face was comely and attractive in a way that ignited a man's protective instincts. Although she was small in frame, that didn't make her any less endowed; perhaps the silk dress she wore brought out such features. A set of prismatic wings protruded from her back, feathered masses of light that spanned the room's length, about twice her size.

As a strand of hair fell from the corner of her mouth, Colin could see the woman was breathing heavily. Streaks of blood were scattered along her pale skin, dyeing her shoulders and chest a deep red. A gash ran the length of her collarbone to her abdomen, and to his horror, she attempted to hold in her innards. Colin staggered, and the woman whipped her head to meet his gaze. The ethereal wing defensively moved between them, causing the air to shimmer with a haze. Colin carefully stepped out into the room, raising his hands aloft to show he meant no harm.

"Can you understand me?" Colin called out to the woman. With wide eyes, she held her breath, pausing only momentarily before responding to his words in a soft voice.

"Yes, I can... How are you here?" Each word seemed to weigh heavily on her.

"I'm here on work, but that's not important. You're hurt! You need medical treatment; I know a doctor back on the mainland. I can take you there, but we'll have to hurry. I'll carry you. The weather might not..." Colin gradually sped up his speech, trying to fast-talk his way into getting her to an emergency room. He didn't want to give her time to think about it. Those hopes were dashed the minute she cut him off, however, laughing weakly as specs blood splattered the ground from her wet cough.

"You're kind... but I have little time left." The wing shifted, allowing Colin to approach as he set down his camera and opened his bag.

"You don't know that. Please, let me help." Colin held a first aid kit he had taken from his boat and retrieved a set of bandages to seal the wound. The damage was far worse than he initially thought; a deep cut pierced through the skin, and further beyond the layer of muscle, he hoped that what he was seeing wasn't bone. It was a wonder she was still conscious, let alone alive.

The woman watched him as he tried to stop the bleeding by wrapping her abdomen. Her eyes carefully followed his gentle motions as if in a trance. Colin began to reach for another roll of bandages, cursing the fact that he couldn't do much when the woman stopped his hand. Gently, she slid her fingers over his palm before lacing them between his own.

"You're shaking," she observed. Are you afraid?" Her topaz eyes held power behind them. An overwhelming sensation washed over Colin as if the air were charged with static.

"Look, not to offend, but you're not in any position to worry about me right now..." Colin winced as a cold sweat ran down his back. "Don't think about why I'm helping. Just focus on what you need me to do."

"Perhaps there is something I would ask of you," she replied. "Would you pass the time with me?" There was nothing he could do, it was a fact that was clear as day. So upon hearing her words Colin couldn't help but nod in response. Reaching into the med kit, he retrieved a rag and wiped the blood from her chin.

"If you're fine with me, I don't mind." Colin helped her rest her back to the wall as he sat across from her.

"My name is Juno, and I'm a princess from a country that no longer exists… I came from another world. My realm was on the brink of destruction. War had torn through the land and led to a disaster of greater proportions..." Juno choked on her words but regained her composure quickly. An odd determination oozed from her expression.

"That's... I'm sorry." Colin straightened his back, and a strange sensation wormed his way into his chest. The woman seemed disappointed by his response. A shot of guilt panged his heart, but he couldn't find the words to explain it.

"I'm what's called a Skywing. My kind can conjure wings that grant us power, though their continued use drains much energy." Brandishing the iridescent wings of light, she wrapped them around him. Colin couldn't help but strain his eyes as he gently pushed past them, and something about that made Juno sigh in teary-eyed relief.

"I'm Colin, Colin Watts. I don't hold a title as grand as a prince or princess, but I help people. I'm something of an investigator or an exterminator, for lack of a better term. It's what helped me find you."

"I'm glad," Juno smiled.

"...That gash on your stomach, what happened to you exactly?" Juno glanced down at her torso in grim remembrance.

"It was a souvenir… from the monster that ravaged my home." Colin made a careful note of her words and her tone. Despite her claim to be a resident from another dimension, another world, he couldn't trust words alone. In his experience, it wasn't uncommon for spirits or unseen creatures to hold different values regarding common sense. With that in mind, there was a chance he could glean the truth of her story using context clues. Still, that type of thinking didn't explain the wings.

"Is it a Beldam's doing?" He thought.

Juno pressed on with her story, "The people had begun to lose faith in our heroes before I had realized it. By that time, there was nothing more that could be done." Juno made an attempt to move closer, shakily getting to her feet. "I wish I could have shown you where I grew up. Shown you the high peaks of the archipelago while aboard a flying dreadnought." Colin caught her as she stumbled forward, opting to shift closer to her instead.

"Pace yourself… You mentioned something about heroes, right? What kind of people were they?"

Juno laughed. "Sorry, look at me, getting all excited..." Even though her gaunt features, her smile radiated enough warmth to lighten the room. Colin couldn't help but be mystified, staring into her eyes.

Juno reached into the collar of her dress, pulling up a velvet pouch affixed to a small chain; dangling along it was a golden ring. She produced a clear marble from within the bag and crushed it, allowing the dusted shards to spill out onto the floor. Hitting the ground, they kicked into a cloud and danced in the air, then formed shapes as a scene began to unfold.

"Heroes, they were champions of the world. Chosen to guard civilization against the threat of impending doom. In my world, heroes were revered, some going as far as to become monarchs and leading the people. Heroes held great powers, capable of feats that could alter the very nature of the world." The glass sand crystallized into the silhouettes of two figures: a warrior wearing a cuirass over a chain shirt and a scholar who wrapped themselves in cloth, clutching a ring between two fingers. "My world had two. At the time, they were pillars for the two factions that dominated the continent. My people worshiped the hero of virtuosity for generations."

"This is…! Magic? How?" Colin stuttered in surprise, and the figures collapsed into themselves, returning to the cloud once more. The fragments wreathed around him in rotation. They looked like tiny stars in the moonlight.

"Do you like it?" Juno inquired. "It was a gift from said hero, I knew her well." Tracing motions in the air with her finger like she commanded a symphony, Juno guided her hand through the space between them. At her touch, clusters of sand peeled away from Colin, shaping into landmasses that rose from a sea of grains.

"It's beautiful." Colin brushed a finger through the sandy sea, watching the grains fall from his skin and curl into sandy clouds. "She must've had a good eye to make something like this. I'm without words..." Colin gently poked at a cluster that swayed with his touch before wobbling back into orbit with the others. "I can't help but wonder. You said the heroes have been around for generations. Were they products of the war between factions?"

"Yes and no. The heroes were brought about by the world, though summoned by us. An event we called The Collapse had been predestined when the heroes first arrived. Something was trying to eat away at the world. It sent monsters and beasts of great strength to weaken us, but the heroes had the strength to beat them back..." Juno's words caught in her throat as speckles of blood dotted her palm from a painful cough.

"We fought tooth and nail together for generations." Juno wiped the blood clean, and Colin anxiously tugged along the brim of his cap.

"The threat of The Collapse would be sealed away time and time again, but it always came back. I was called upon to follow in my ancestor's footsteps the day I was born, and so too would my brother alongside me." The glass landscape shimmered as a twisting storm blew over the archipelago of floating islands. Wispy claws and fangs bore themselves, twisting amid the amorphous mass only to fade as the clouds funneled into the eye of the storm.

"But by then, the people had divided, and we had begun to war amongst ourselves. There was a great divide between the races as they split into factions. Humans and their Created took to their arms from within the expanses of the endless sea while the Skywing and the Primals bared their blades from the heavens. The human country of Oshenous and the Skywing country of Volara were the most significant contributors to the conflict, as they boasted the summoning of their respective heroes. Volara was my home." Two islands amidst the formation shook with purpose as tiny ships flew from their coasts. They bore wings that moved like oars plowing through the air and large cannons that ripped through ships like a needle punching through paper. Miniature explosions rippled through the sky as vessels hemorrhaged glassy sand and disappeared under the swirling sea.

"Sorry, I must've brought back some bad memories." Colin watched grimly as the ships scattered about the landscape. The thought that she might have known a great deal of those people crossed his mind.

"Don't be. Everything's in the past now. It is all gone, after all." Hugging her knees in contemplation, Juno gazed into the glass sand, and with a slight wince, she withdrew the gold ring from her necklace. The ring slid through the chain as if made of liquid, only to return to its original shape just as swiftly as it had deformed. Juno held her silence and then exhaled. She held the ring, clutching it tightly to her palm, hardening her resolve.

"I have another request... although it might sound outrageous." Juno looked Colin in the eye. He felt a deep sense of foreboding as he told her to go on.

"When The Collapse came to pass, my home was taken from me once and again after I found myself here. But even in this state, I can still leave something behind. My nation had a custom. When the hero was called upon, we would offer them a tie to our world. I cannot offer that now, but I can offer myself." Juno held out the ring, and it glowed with an inner light. The hair on Colin's arm stood on end. The air around the golden band flickered in a haze like it was simmering with heat.

"Form a bond with me so that I might grant you what power remains. Please become the hero that finally weaves a proper end to this story." The landscape shuttered, glass sand seeping through the metal grating before completely collapsing through. Juno doubled over with her hand on her belly, the blood already seeping through her bandages. Colin caught her by the shoulders only a moment before she hit the ground. Her gaze made his heart ache something terrible.

"Should I even consider this?" Colin thought. She's not human, to say nothing of how this was their first meeting, but he felt he had known her for a long time. She drew an emotion out of him he never knew he had, and knowing that she could disappear any moment now filled him with such sorrow that he held onto every heartbeat like it could be his last. "Who is this woman?" He thought.

"Colin, please. It has to be you; I know you don't understand, but you're the only one who..." Juno trailed off. With a furrowed brow, Colin wordlessly slid the ring from her hand, placing it on his finger. He flexed his palm, looking it over; the ring felt warm.

"I'll do it, though I can't make any promises. Honestly, my rational mind is throwing me for a loop here, but I feel I won't get this opportunity a second time. Sorry you got stuck with me. Considering the stakes of this and all, it seems like a big deal." He laughed dryly. Juno ran her hands along his cheeks, holding his face close. Her voice resounded in his head, drowning out the brewing storm.

"You shouldn't beat yourself up so." Juno pressed her lips to his, and for a moment, all he felt was her. "For as long as I've known you, you always find some reason to blame yourself. But you know, Colin? Because of you, I can rest, knowing that tomorrow will finally come. You've given me hope." Colin blinked, confused, baffled, and as the pounding of his heart intensified, he felt it might burst.

"Who are you?" he asked as Juno began to tear up.

"Goodbye," she said. The ring grew hot, and a blinding light filled the lighthouse; the sound of the storm fell silent, the sensation of her hands slipping from his, and then all grew dark. The only feeling now was that of the wind blowing furiously against his face. Colin opened his eyes to see himself falling into nothing. Nothing but darkness.