~Big Book of Fairytales~ My Hero Academia x Reader Fantasy AU

-2- The Bell Ringer of The Great City

"Monster!"

I cursed the fruit stand for selling tomatoes for two silvers.

Everyone else on stage backed away, either just escaping or even joining the crowd. My body moved without needing a command. I took the lyre I had held a moment before back into my possession, then I made my way to the girl.

Once I reached her I turned my back to the crowd, then looked the girl in the eyes, "Don't be afraid. I'm going to get you out of here."

"You!" The prophet, Chisaki, stood, "Get down at once!"

I turned back towards the crowd. They had stopped throwing the fruit the moment they realized I was the one taking the hits, "Yes, your honor. But only once I help this girl. Not a moment sooner."

He growled under his breath, "I told you to get down! How dare you defy me?"

"You mistreat this poor girl like you mistreat this city!" I moved the lyre, preparing to play, "You speak of justice, yet you are cruel to those most in need of your help!"

"Silence!"

"Justice!" I let a cord ring out, the air shook with the weight of my cord. Fruit that had been reddied to attack fell to the ground, those on the stage with me fell to the earth, and the prophet Chisaki fell back to his throne. The only one unaffected was the one I came to protect.

"Mark my words..." The prophet locked eyes with me, "You will pay for this insolence. Guards!"

"Now, let's see..." I looked at the guards approaching me, "What's a poor girl to do?" I glanced back at the child, "I'd run along if I were you. Take care," I smirked as I plucked a single note, filling the stage with a purple smoke.

"She's using Bard's magic!" Bard's magic is expressly forbidden within the city walls, Chisaki's orders. Musical magic, to put it simply.

Magic has always been scary to every race. The fairies with their incantations passed through generations, the first recipes from the gods themselves. The demons who gained their magic through the King Devil, who is basically a god in his own right. The druids who gained power from watching nature itself grow around them, and whose abilities were limited to helping that nature grow. Dragons, a race that is said to be extinct, who had the ability to breathe fire for a short amount of time after resting and could move freely between human and dragon forms. Changelings, rare beings that can only change faces; it is even rarer that they know they are changelings. And then there are sorcerers who are blessed with one singular magic ability that only they can do to the fullest extent. And there are wizards who learn their spells from books; some master many weak spells, while others perfect one magic ability.  The warlocks and paladins, the yin and yang, the dark and light. They get their magic from gods and devils.

But bards... Their magic was something else. In the hands of a bard, a musical instrument, even one's own voice, is a deadly weapon. However, even though every chord and note hold their own abilities, it is only with the right training and intent that anything can be done. Anyone can be a bard with the right training. However, many circumstances have led to the teachers dying before gaining any students. It's more of a lost art. Some people are bards, but without the magic that makes them powerful and rare.

I was one of the few magical bards in existence. And this may make my quest even harder.

"Oh, guards!" I had left the lyre in my stead, my last gift to the girl as of now was to distract the guards as she made her escape, "Over here!"

I bolted for the dressing tent. I could hear the guard's footsteps far behind me, so I didn't have much time to grab my things. The first thing I did after reaching my things was to secure my arm guard and reattach my sheath to my thigh. Next, I put my belt back on so as to not lose any items. I pulled my dagger from its sheath and cut a new hole into the tent. Then I made my escape.