Celia's Perspective:
4/10/2017 - 10:41 AM
Just another morning of training, and today was no different—apart from last night, of course.
Yeah, I think I went a little too far.
Challenging Evelina? That was so me. And it turned into a seven-hour stalemate. Seven! My legs were jelly, and I don't even remember how I fell asleep in a dream. But still… it was necessary. I needed that fight. Not just to get stronger, but to remind myself why I started pushing so hard in the first place.
I made a promise—to myself and to him.
The sun was shining over Levinton today, gentle and warm, like it was trying to apologize for how rough yesterday was. I was at my usual spot by the river. It's quiet here. Peaceful. No noise, no pressure. Just the sound of the flowing water and the feel of my heartbeat pounding through my limbs as I moved through my routine.
I wiped the sweat off my brow, letting out a small breath as I pushed through another set. My body still ached, but I liked it. That soreness? That's proof I'm growing. Every little pain, every drop of sweat… it's me slowly becoming someone who won't break so easily.
I stretched my arms back when I caught movement from the corner of my eye.
"Hm?"
Three people. One of them, I recognized instantly—Arius.
Oh great.
He looked the same as always—casually confident, a little too smug. There was always something off about his smile though. Too polished. Too perfect. The kind that makes you want to smile back… but also step two feet away.
Beside him were two people I didn't recognize. A man and a woman. They were dressed like travelers or maybe adventurers. I narrowed my eyes slightly, my body still in motion as I watched them.
I turned fully and tilted my head. "Arius?" I called, brushing a strand of hair away from my cheek. "Who're your friends?"
He approached with a calm smile. "Celia," he said, like he'd been rehearsing the name all morning.
"You're up early," he added, eyes scanning the area before settling back on me. "Hardworking as ever. Not everyone would be out here this soon in the morning."
I gave a small nod, adjusting my sleeve. "Couldn't really sleep in. Habit, I guess."
His smile didn't falter. "Discipline like that tends to stand out. It says a lot."
I glanced at him, unsure how to take that. "I just don't like sitting still too long."
"Understandable," he replied smoothly. "You seem like someone who moves forward no matter what."
There was something in the way he said it. Not flirty. Not exactly warm either. Just… well-placed.
I gave a short laugh. "I met you yesterday. You already analyzing me?"
"Observation is part of who I am," he said, a trace of amusement behind his calm eyes. "Plus I do like looking at beauty time to time such as you."
I raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. Just met his gaze for a second longer before looking away.
He smiled before gesturing casually to the two behind him. "These are my friends. Met them last night during a lovely... dramatic turn of events."
The man looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here, and the girl had this stiff, polite expression like she was trying really hard not to say what was on her mind.
Arius continued, "This is Isaac Velgrin. And the one next to him is Sophia."
I stepped forward with a smile, wiping my hands clean on my tunic. "I'm Celia. It's nice to meet you both."
...Nothing.
They just stared. Eyes slightly wide, lips parted, but no words.
I knew that look.
I hated that look.
They don't like me because I had similar looks to the queen of curses from 500 years... right?
There was something about me—something left over from her. That damned resemblance. That quiet voice in people's heads whispering, Isn't she the one? The Queen of Curses. The girl who destroyed celestine. The reason people sleep with their eyes open.
But I'm not her.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and kept my smile up. Even if it hurt.
Arius noticed the tension, of course. And like clockwork, he stepped in—voice smooth, calm, reassuring. The kind that wraps around your mind before you realize it.
"No need to worry," he said, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. "Celia's no queen of curses, no threat. Unless you hurt someone she loves, then…" He tilted his head, eyes flicking to me for just a second. "Well, let's not imagine that version. Celia's probably the kindest person I know."
There it is again.
...I still don't know if that's a compliment or a trap.
The two exchanged glances—hesitant, but eventually they nodded.
The man was first. He cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Isaac Velgrin. D-Rank Adventurer. Uh… it's good to meet you."
Then the girl. "Sophia. I'm A-Rank," she said shortly, her tone clipped but not rude. Just… careful.
I smiled again, softer this time. "It really is nice to meet you both."
Isaac's shoulders dropped just a bit after the introductions. His eyes flicked between me and Arius, and he gave this small, nervous smile like he was standing on a frozen lake and wasn't sure if it was about to crack.
Sophia, on the other hand, stood with the same poised posture—arms crossed, gaze quietly sharp, like she was dissecting me with her eyes. Not cruel. Just... cautious.
I didn't blame them.
When people stare at you like you're the devil with a smiley face drawn on it… it's kind of hard to take offense.
The silence hung between us awkwardly. A little breeze passed by. Somewhere in the distance, a bird chirped like it was mocking us for how weird this was getting.
I turned toward the river and sat on a nearby stone, patting the spot next to me. "You guys can relax. I don't bite."
Isaac blinked. "Wait—so, you're not gonna curse us for standing weird or something?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like I do that?"
He stared at me a second too long, then suddenly laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "No! I mean—no, you don't! It's just… you know… rumors. You glare and the wind stops. You walk into a town and everyone leaves. That sort of thing."
I smirked. "Wow, I sound really cool in those rumors. I should start charging for appearances."
Isaac chuckled nervously. "Yeah, you'd probably break the market."
Arius, who had sat on a nearby tree root like some king lounging in his crooked throne, finally flicked the ash from his cigarette and spoke casually, "Oh, speaking of appearances—Isaac and I stalked you a few days ago."
…
I blinked.
"You what?"
Sophia turned sharply toward him, brows raised so high they almost left her face. "Arius—are you serious?"
Isaac was already mid-panicked wave. "N-No! Wait, okay yes—but not in a creepy way! It was his idea! He said it was, uh, for research. Observation. Totally professional."
I stared, mouth slightly open.
"Research?"
"Yeah!" Isaac grinned, the kind that screams I'm totally lying but I need to save myself. "You see, you were training at the cliffside a few nights ago, and Arius was like 'Hey, let's spy on her for a bit' and I was like, 'Bro that's wrong,' but then he said something about gathering data and I just kinda… went along?"
Arius gave a lazy shrug. "You looked beautiful under moonlight. I couldn't resist."
"Stop talking," Sophia muttered to him, hand over her face.
But I…
I laughed.
Like, actually laughed.
"Oh my god," I said between giggles. "You two are such idiots."
Isaac blinked. "Wait—wait, you're not mad?"
I shook my head, wiping a tear. "Nah. If I got mad every time someone spied on me, I'd probably die from high blood pressure."
Sophia let out a quiet breath and finally sat down nearby, her arms still crossed, but her stance less… cautious.
"You don't act like I expected," she said finally.
I tilted my head. "What were you expecting?"
"A serious threating person." Her tone was flat, but not rude. "You're calm. Normal, even."
I smiled at that. "Trust me, I've had enough disasters to last a lifetime. I don't need to be one."
Sophia didn't smile exactly, but her eyes softened just a touch. "Good. The world's got enough of those."
Isaac sat down too, crossing his legs like a kid at story time. "So, uh… you always train near the river?"
"Yup," I nodded. "It's quiet. Peaceful. I like hearing the water when I'm tired. It's kinda comforting."
"That's… actually really nice." Isaac glanced at the water, then back at me. "I thought you'd be training in hell or somewhere with the devil. Y'know, like one of those dramatic stories from 500 years ago."
I grinned. "Too hot. And dramatic people are exhausting."
Sophia looked up at that, raising an eyebrow. "That's rich coming from someone who apparently glows under moonlight and makes the wind stop when she glares."
"Okay, that one might be true," I smirked. "But the wind started it."
Even Sophia chuckled at that—quiet, barely-there, but genuine.
Arius stood and walked past us slowly, cigarette between his fingers, giving us all a side glance. "You three look good together."
Sophia turned her head. "We just met."
"And yet," Arius said with that familiar sly grin, "you're already sitting next to each other, laughing. That's got to count for something."
I blinked at him, then looked at the two beside me.
Huh.
I didn't even notice how close we'd gotten.
I looked back to Sophia. "You really thought I was that scary?"
Sophia hesitated, but then nodded. "Yeah. But I think I get it now."
"Get what?"
She looked me in the eyes. "You're not the monster they talk about… you're just someone trying to live."
That hit harder than I thought it would.
I nodded, quietly. "Yeah… that's all I want."
Isaac smiled, leaning back on his hands. "Same here, honestly. Just wanna get through this mess of a world without screwing up too bad."
"And you're doing a great job," I teased.
"Thanks," he grinned. "That means a lot coming from the moonlight goddess of the river according to Arius."
I groaned and buried my face in my hands. "Stop giving me weird titles!"
Arius just smirked, smoke curling from his lips.
Sophia was quiet for a long moment. The earlier laughter had faded. Her posture straightened again—not rigid, but thoughtful, like she was lining up pieces in her mind. I didn't miss the glance she gave Isaac and Arius.
Then she looked at me. "I wanted to speak to you about something, Celia..."
I blinked, caught off guard by the shift.
So much for small talk.
Still, I nodded. "Go ahead."
Her voice lowered, but stayed steady. "Last night, I overheard Isaac and Arius talking... Arius mentioned Kaiser's name. That you knew him."
I didn't move. The mention of his name dropped like a weight in my chest.
Even now, it still carried that much weight.
Sophia's eyes watched me closely. "Is that true?"
I let the silence sit before I answered.
"Yes. I know him," I said. "I am his friend."
For the first time, Sophia's mask cracked a little—eyes widening, lips parting slightly like she didn't believe what she heard.
"Kaiser... called you his friend?"
I opened my mouth to speak, but the moment shattered as I noticed the two EARS not far behind us, watching with very subtle interest.
Arius leaned slightly closer like he was tuning into a gossiper. Isaac had his hand on his chin, like this was the most interesting show he'd seen all month.
I narrowed my eyes at them. "Seriously?"
Arius gave a half-smile. "We're all ears."
I sighed. "This is personal. I'll speak with her alone."
Sophia nodded silently.
Isaac groaned and nudged Arius. "Give it up, man."
Arius exhaled dramatically, like a kid being told to leave the theater before the climax. "Fine. Let the princesses gossip in peace."
I ignored that and started walking along the riverbank. Sophia followed.
The sound of water brushing against the stones was steady and quiet, like a heartbeat for the earth. We walked for a few seconds in silence before I spoke again.
"I meant it. I really was his friend."
Sophia looked ahead, eyes narrowed slightly as if she was watching something that wasn't there. "I don't think you were lying. It's just…" She hesitated. "Hearing that Kaiser has a friend—it's hard to believe."
"…Why?" I asked, my voice soft but edged with curiosity.
She paused, then turned slightly to glance at me. "Because I know him. And that version of him… doesn't seem like someone who calls people his 'friends'."
That stopped me. I looked at her properly now. "You knew Kaiser?"
Sophia nodded slowly. "We went to the same academy. Solerenne Academy of Sorcery. In the Asura Empire."
I stopped walking. "You're kidding."
She didn't smile. "I'm not."
That hit me harder than I expected.
Kaiser never told me. Not once. Not even in passing. No stories. No pride in being part of the most prestigious school on the continent.
I should've known… but he kept it from me.
Why?
Why would he hide something like that?
Sophia kept walking, her tone now quieter, but still clear. "I knew him there for three years. Long enough to understand how he was."
I caught up to her and glanced sideways. "What was your relationship with him?"
She stopped walking again.
There was a small breeze. Nothing dramatic. Just stillness—and something unsaid hanging between us.
Sophia turned to me, her gaze distant. "My relationship with him… wasn't anything normal."
That phrasing made me blink. "…Not normal? How?"
She hesitated, looking down for a moment.
"I promised Kaiser I wouldn't tell anyone," she said quietly.
I stared at her.
A pause.
I pouted. Really? I was this close to hearing something juicy and that guy had to ruin it.
In my head, I was already cursing him.
Damn you, Kaiser. You could've been an academy heartthrob, a secret prince, or a criminal student mastermind and you made her swear silence?
I let out a breath. "He always does this. Hides things. Keeps people at a distance."
Sophia looked at me again. This time… softer.
"You sound like you care about him."
I did.
But I didn't say that out loud.
Instead, I kicked a pebble into the river. "He is my friend. And as his friend I also care about him.."
Silence settled between us again. Not heavy. Not hostile.
Just the kind of silence between two people starting to understand one another.
And for now… that was enough.
I let out a small sigh, brushing my hair back behind my ear.
"…So what do you want to know about Kai?"
The words left my lips casually. But the moment they did, Sophia froze. Her eyes slightly widened, like she just heard something impossible.
"K-Kai?" she stuttered. "Did you just… call him that?"
I blinked, confused by the sudden reaction. "Yeah… is that a problem?"
Sophia quickly shook her head. "No. Nothing like that. It's just… Kaiser only ever let one person call him that. Elfie— I mean, Elfina."
…Elfina?
That name didn't sit right with me.
I didn't know her, and yet hearing her name wrapped around his like that—it scratched something sharp in my chest.
Elfina.
Who was she to him?
And why did she get to call him something that soft?
Wait… if he let her call him Kai, then—
Did he have a name for her too?
A part of me didn't like the thought of it.
No—scratch that. A part of me hated it.
I tilted my head, still keeping my tone calm, maybe too calm. "And what did Kai call her?"
Sophia smiled a little at the memory. "He called her Elfie. All the time. They were best friends, really close."
I nodded… slowly.
Best friends.
Right.
So close that he gave her a cute nickname.
My smile stayed up, but it felt fake even to me. I made sure she didn't notice.
"That's… sweet," I said, tilting my head ever so slightly. "Best friends, huh?"
My tone was still gentle, but laced with a thread of something else. Something I wasn't entirely proud of.
I imagined Elfie, whoever she was, laughing beside him, standing too close, maybe grabbing his arm—
My hand tightened into a small fist by my side.
He never called me something like that.
Sophia didn't seem to notice the jealousy behind my eyes as she continued.
"In those three years, he never really trusted anyone. Maybe he smiled, laughed, talked… but if it came to choosing himself over others, he wouldn't hesitate to use them."
I looked at her. "He'd also use Elfie?"
She shook her head. "No. He only ever cared about her. The rest of us were just… classmates. Background noise, honestly."
That struck deeper than I expected.
He cared about her that much?
I swallowed the lump that was forming. "Why? What made her different?"
Sophia walked a few steps forward, voice softening as if she was remembering someone far away. "Because they were childhood friends. They arrived at Solerenne together. They had history, memories. That kind of bond… I don't think anyone else stood a chance."
My stomach twisted.
So that's why. She had years on him. A past I couldn't touch.
I followed beside her, silent.
Then, after a long moment, I asked—voice lower than before.
"…Where is this Elfie now?"
I didn't mean for it to sound so bitter. But I couldn't help it.
Sophia stopped walking.
"…She died," she said quietly. "In the Asura Crisis. Two years ago."
I froze.
I'd built her up in my head—this girl from Kaiser's past that I'd have to watch out for, maybe compete with. But now…
"She's… gone?"
Sophia nodded once, the weight of it written across her face. "She didn't make it."
I felt a strange pang in my chest—part guilt, part shock.
"I'm… sorry," I murmured.
But before I could say anything more, Sophia cut in, voice cold now, serious.
"With her… we found Kaiser's body."
My eyes widened slightly. "What?"
"He was supposed to be dead. That day. We saw his remains. We buried him."
Her gaze hardened. "And yet now… I hear you know him."
There was silence.
She stared into the river like it held answers.
"He deceived us all. Faked his death. Two years ago."
My mind stopped for a second, the words echoing in a hollow space inside me.
He faked his death?
So… that's what he was hiding from me. From everyone.
He left his entire past behind. Buried it, just like they buried him. Elfie… the academy… everything.
A part of me was angry. Another was confused.
But what dug deepest was the quiet ache of not knowing. Of not being allowed to know.
Why did you hide all this from me, Kai…?
Did you think I'd never find out?
Or didn't trust me enough?
Sophia remained quiet for a moment, her eyes tracing the wind as if she were watching something only she could see.
Then, without looking at me, she asked,
"…When did you meet him?"
I blinked. "It's… almost been two months now."
Sophia's head turned sharply. Her eyes widened—shock clear on her face.
"Two… months?"
Her voice barely registered above a whisper, like that number alone didn't make sense to her. Then her gaze turned sharp again. Serious. Curious.
"…And how has he been?" she asked, tilting her head. "How does he act with you?"
The question caught me off guard. I hesitated for a second, unsure what she meant—then answered truthfully.
"…He never got angry," I said slowly. "He's funny. Kind. Always sweet to me. Even if he's weak at fighting or low-ranked… he's always trying to protect me."
Sophia's face froze.
Not in disbelief…
But almost in pity.
Like she was looking at someone hopelessly mistaken.
"…Are you sure?" she asked quietly. "He acts that way? Towards you?"
I nodded. "Yes. Every time."
There was silence between us again, a tension growing thicker with each breath.
Then Sophia lowered her head slightly and murmured, "I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
"It's not that I don't believe you," she said softly, but her tone was heavy now, like something painful had been cracked open. "It's just hard to imagine that Kaiser. That side of him…"
"…Why?" I asked, brows furrowed. "Why is it so hard? He is like that. Kaiser's a nice person."
She looked up at me again, but this time, her eyes weren't soft.
They were dead serious.
Cold. Haunted.
"No," she said. "He's not."
Her voice was steady.
"I've seen his dark side."
My breath caught.
"…Dark side?"
Sophia stepped closer, the light behind her vanishing in her shadow. Her voice was hushed but heavy.
"The Kaiser I knew… would only ever be that kind to one person. Elfie. For her, he'd do anything. Sacrifice anything. But the rest of us…?" She narrowed her eyes. "We were pawns. Nothing more. Tools, sacrifices, distractions. And if we got in the way…"
I felt a chill crawl up my back.
"…You're wrong," I said, almost reflexively. "Kaiser isn't like that. He—"
But Sophia cut me off.
Her voice dropped into something far darker.
"There was a group," she said. "Back then… in the Academy. A student led them—A-Ranked. He had eleven followers. Strong. Smart. Influential. They ruled our entire class."
I listened, silent now. My throat dry.
"…And?"
Sophia's eyes darkened. "They bullied others. Controlled everything. But until the very last exam of the year, they never touched Elfie. Maybe Kaiser… yes. But never her."
My heart skipped. "Then…?"
Sophia's voice was hollow now, her words dipped in a quiet rage.
"It was during our finals. A mock survival exam held on a secluded island. Testing magic, tactics, everything. Students from other grades too."
She paused, eyes locking onto mine.
"…That's when they made a mistake."
My breath caught again.
"They thought it was clever," she whispered. "Targeting Elfie. Hurting her. Breaking her spirit in front of everyone."
I swallowed. The air felt too still.
"…Did Kaiser do anything?"
Sophia's eyes didn't blink.
"Do anything?"
Her voice was laced with something sharp now.
She took a single step forward.
"No. Kaiser didn't do something."
She exhaled.
"He ended everything."
I felt my breath hitch, heart pounding like a distant war drum.
Sophia's voice turned even colder—her tone now dipped in a seething disgust.
"All twelve of them," she muttered, "including their so-called leader… Milo."
She almost spat the name out.
"Human shit, he was. A tyrant. Thought he was untouchable. He deserved what happened to him. Every last bit of it."
My throat tightened.
"…What did Kaiser do to them?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Sophia looked at me with a heavy stillness. Her expression unreadable. But her eyes… they held too much.
"In their final moment, when they hurt Elfie… Kaiser didn't hold back," she said, slowly. "He ensured they were no longer part of the academy."
I froze.
"…H-How?" I asked.
But Sophia's gaze hardened.
"I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone," she said. "So I'm sorry, Celia."
My heart dropped. But then she continued.
"But I will tell you this…"
She took a slow breath—her tone laced with something dark and heavy.
"The next day… all twelve of them—including Milo—didn't even look human anymore."
I stood frozen in place.
"Beaten," she whispered. "Crushed. Their bodies mangled to the point they were left in an unknown state of coma. Not dead. Not alive. Just… barely breathing."
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Their families," she continued, "didn't even speak out. Some tried, but… they hesitated. Like someone had gotten to them first. Like they were blackmailed into keeping their mouths shut."
A pause.
"Just one day after Elfie was hurt," she said with a low voice, "all twelve of them were suspended… for a year. Due to 'inhuman levels of injuries.' Most of them—deathbeds, Celia."
My breath hitched.
My body felt cold.
"…Is that… really true?"
Sophia looked at me, emotionless.
"That's why," she said. "That's why I'm having such a hard time believing Kaiser would protect you."
She took a step closer, her voice like a knife.
"He's known you for just two months. Two. So either he's deceiving you… or pretending. Because the Kaiser I knew never did anything without a reason."
I didn't respond.
I couldn't.
The air felt too heavy, but…
My memories—they came rushing back. His words. His warmth. His eyes when he looked at me—not like a pawn, not like a tool—but like someone he cared about. Like I wasn't just another tool for him.
He laughed with me. He listened to me.
He protected me.
And then I raised my head—and with a small smile, I spoke.
"I believe you, Sophia…"
Her eyes narrowed.
"…But the Kaiser I know—he's my friend. And I believe him… with my heart."
"…Your heart?" she asked, voice low.
I nodded—softly, warmly.
"Kaiser himself… he called me that. He said I was his heart."
My voice didn't shake this time. "So I trust him. I really do. I don't think he's lying to me… or pretending. I think…" I looked at the sky. "He sees me as someone close. And that's enough."
Sophia stared at me.
She didn't speak.
She didn't even blink for a moment.
She looked… speechless.
Like I'd just said something that cracked the ground she stood on.
We continued walking. In silence, now. The tension still hung between us, but it had shifted—like I had said something she didn't know how to reply to.
Eventually, we turned back, heading toward where Isaac and Arius were waiting.
But before we got there, she suddenly stopped.
"…Back to why I was here," she said quietly. "I wanted to meet him."
I turned toward her.
"…Can you ask him to meet me, please?" Her voice was softer now. "I just want to see him. Once."
My face fell.
"…Kaiser's not here."
She blinked. "Then where can I meet him?"
My hands curled into fists.
My tone lowered.
"…Kaiser is currently captured. By the grotesques."
Sophia's eyes widened.
I looked away, anger tightening in my chest.
"I'll save him," I said firmly. "Just wait, Sophia."
I turned back to her, fire in my voice now.
"Then you can meet him."
Sophia's hands trembled. Her eyes wide in disbelief as if the ground beneath her had just crumbled.
"That's impossible," she said, almost yelling.
Her voice cracked.
"How can bugs—I mean, grotesques—capture someone like HIM?!"
I stayed silent for a moment. Then, quietly, I spoke.
"Kaiser might be stronger than most people, yeah. But…" I looked down. "He told me… he couldn't use magic. And that he was only E-ranked. So… maybe that's why he—"
"Bullshit."
Her voice cut through mine like a blade.
I looked up, stunned.
She looked furious—like she didn't believe a word I just said.
"Kaiser being captured by lowly pests is impossible!"
Her voice echoed in the quiet path between the trees.
I stared, speechless from her sudden outburst.
But then, Sophia exhaled and took a step back, her shoulders slumping a little.
"I… I'm sorry for reacting like that," she muttered. "It's just… everything you've told me up till now—it feels impossible. Like you're describing someone else. Not the Kaiser I knew."
I gave her a small nod.
"It's okay. But it's true," I said softly. "Kai… he's captured. It happened weeks ago. When he was near the outskirts of Levinton. At night."
Sophia was silent. Processing.
Then she looked at me again, more serious now.
"…Where exactly?"
I told her. The area. The time. The only details I knew. She listened carefully, her brows furrowed like she was trying to piece it together.
After a pause, she looked at me again—this time with something… deeper in her eyes.
"Then… let me help you," she said. "To bring him back."
I blinked, caught off-guard.
"…You want to help?"
She nodded.
"Why?" I asked, narrowing my eyes slightly. "Why risk your life for him?"
Sophia looked away for a moment, her expression distant. Her voice came softer now… but still certain.
"…He saved my life, Celia."
My heart skipped.
"He did things even my parents wouldn't do for me," she continued, her voice almost… hollow. "Protected me… stood up for me… gave me a life I could live."
She looked back at me.
"So yeah. I owe him. I'm indebted to him. And if helping you brings him back—I'll do whatever it takes."
I stared at her for a moment.
She was serious.
No trace of lies.
I nodded slowly.
"…Alright. If you think it's fine, then… I'll let you help."
A beat passed.
Then Sophia grinned, breaking the tension.
She lifted her hand, palm open.
"Then it's a deal," she said. "Team Heart, right?"
I chuckled under my breath.
"…Sure."
And I lifted my hand to meet hers.
— Smack! 🤜🤛
That high-five echoed like a silent promise.
We continued forward.
And soon, the trees cleared…
Arius and Isaac were just ahead—sitting near the edge of a grassy slope, quietly chatting.
They looked up as we approached.
We reached the clearing, and the quiet murmur of Arius and Isaac's conversation faded as they noticed us.
Sophia stepped ahead of me, arms crossed, and her usual smug smirk already back on her face.
"I'm done talking," she said, loud enough for both to hear. "And, by the way…" she tilted her head toward me, "Celia and I are now a team."
Isaac blinked, confused.
Sophia grinned with pride. "Team Hearts. We're gonna take down the grotesques and bring them extinction! No matter what."
Isaac just gave a small nod, calm as always.
But Arius?
He frowned—no, he pouted.
Looking right at me.
"Wait… why not invite me?" he said with a soft whine, lips puffed like a child left out of a game.
I blinked, caught completely off-guard.
"Eh? W-Wait, it wasn't even my plan!" I stammered, waving my hands. "We just… did it on the fly, since our goals aligned…"
Arius didn't budge. His pout turned into something softer—too soft.
Then, with his usual cheerful tone, he said,
"Well, I did bring Sophia here, didn't I? I'm basically the reason you two had the chance to speak even."
Sophia turned to look at him with a raised brow.
He kept going, subtly—smoothly.
"And besides… taking out grotesques? That's not really a two-person job, right? Wouldn't it be smarter to have more people?"
He tilted his head innocently.
"That's just what I heard, anyway."
He gave a playful smile, then looked at Isaac, who was already nodding slightly in the background.
"And I mean…" Arius went on, "I'm pretty likable, aren't I?"
He leaned a little closer with a teasing wink. "Hard to hate me and good asset to any team."
I sighed, already feeling my guard slipping.
Then came the final strike.
"I'm also probably the most strategic one here after You. Think of me as your mini-captain," he said, voice still soft but now almost… commanding. "Wouldn't it be great? Us four. Together. A proper team. Isaac's already in, right?"
Isaac looked between us, then nodded again with a small shrug. "Ugh... fine I'm in."
Manipulator.
I blinked as I looked back at Sophia, expecting her to protest, but she just shrugged and said, "He's not wrong. More numbers isn't bad."
Arius looked at me, victorious.
I stared at him for a few seconds… then sighed.
"You're such a kid," I said, rubbing my temples.
"Still got in though~" he said, smirking.
Then, Arius stepped forward and raised his hand in the middle of the group.
"Alright, let's do the team thing. Hands in, come on."
Isaac slowly reached his hand out, placing it under Arius'.
Sophia followed right after, no hesitation, resting hers on top with a firm grip.
I stood there, staring at their pile of hands.
A second passed.
Then another.
"…Really?" I whispered.
They all looked at me.
And somehow, despite myself… I smiled.
"…Fine."
I stepped forward and placed my hand on top.
And together—
"Team Hearts!" we cheered, lifting our hands into the air in unison.
I looked at each of their faces—so full of determination, warmth, and trust.
And I smiled again.
Maybe… for the first time in my life…
I had people who trusted me enough to fight by my side. Apart from Kaiser... People who believed in me.
I silently swore—no matter what it takes…
I'll save you, Kaiser.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Though they had only just formed—a new team, or rather, a new card in play—the Team of Hearts was not the one holding that card. Someone else was. And while that unseen hand clutched the heart, the Swarm surged forward, relentless and ravenous.
The scene shifted.
A dark, hollow throne room stretched endlessly in shadow. Torches flickered against obsidian walls, their flames failing to warm the air. At the heart of the chamber stood a throne carved of something that resembled bone, yet pulsed faintly like it still lived. Kneeling before it was not a man, not even a creature—a presence, cold and monstrous, bound by silence and steel. It was his voice that spoke.
The same voice whispered in the nightmares of the Cult of Nemesis.
It was the Silent Executioner.
"My Lord… I bring news of the Swarm."
From the shadows, unmoving yet unmistakably suffocating, a pair of cold, intelligent eyes peered through the dark. The figure on the throne didn't speak. He didn't need to.
Still kneeling, the Silent Executioner continued, his voice razor-thin, laced with quiet reverence and restrained menace.
"My Lord, the Grotesques... they're shifting. Adapting. Their attention now turns to Rinascita. If I may be so bold... with your infinite knowledge, I beg for enlightenment—why?"
The dark figure remained still. Slowly, he opened a thick, ancient tome resting beside his throne. A diary? No—it was a Book of Fate. The pages turned themselves, inscriptions etching across the parchment in real time—words not written, but revealed. Futures yet to unfold.
Then… he turned the pages backward. And the writings changed. History rewrote itself, unraveling a preordained tapestry. A future once set now bent to an unknown will.
His voice echoed—a chilling, low resonance, like the world itself trembled to hear it.
"It seems... someone has tampered with the Swarm. A human… one with the audacity to challenge my dominion over fate."
The Executioner's head remained bowed.
"That cannot be, my Lord. None surpass you. This must be… an error."
But the lord gave no such comfort. No denial. No acceptance. Only truth.
"Levinton was meant to fall. It didn't.
That cursed girl was marked to die. She didn't.
And now… the Hive near Rinascita shifts—bends—before its time.
The Heavenly Sorcerer has likely joined the fray."
Though surprised, the Silent Executioner masked it well. His voice remained cold.
"How is that possible, my Lord?"
Silence.
Then came the answer, carved from dread.
"There is a man... or perhaps something far worse. The Devil's Successor."
"One who manipulates mortals, monsters, and gods alike. How cruel must a being be to use people like pawns—to twist fate with such precision?"
The Executioner dared another question.
"To defy fate itself... to stand against you, my Lord… does he not fear death?"
A soft, bitter laugh. Then words dipped in ice.
"Men do not fear death. Death is but the void we came from—the stillness before breath. What terrifies them is the pain of dying. The unraveling of self."
A pause. Then, as if deciphering something deeper:
"But this one… he may no longer be alive. No longer human. He's present on all four fronts—impossibly omnipresent.
Perhaps what we face now... is no man at all."
The Executioner said nothing. He understood the weight of what had just been spoken.
Then the order came—calm, decisive, final.
"Signal the Swarm Tyrant. Rinascita must fall within the week."
Without a word, the Silent Executioner bowed low, his chains clinking softly as he rose and vanished into the blackness.
And as the throne room grew still once more, one question echoed silently between the ancient walls and the whispers of fate:
Who was this being—dead yet alive, savior yet shadow—who ensured humanity's survival?
A hero?
A villain?
Or simply... something beyond the need for such titles?
Celia's Perspective: Nighttime | Her Room in Levi's House.
4/10/2017 - 9:28 PM
Ughhh… today was very interesting, I can't lie.
I flopped onto my bed like a dying fish, limbs limp, eyes half-dead. My body was sore from training, and my brain was fried from talking to three people with wildly different energy levels.
Arius left first. He said he had to go "set traps," though with how dramatically he said it, you'd think he was going on some secret spy mission. Probably just setting up string and bells like a child playing. Whatever. I let him have his moment.
Then Sophia and Isaac got some kind of call from the guild. Sounded serious. They didn't say much before rushing off. Maybe it had to do with the grotesques. If that's the case… then something's definitely moving in the shadows again.
My eyes trailed to the wooden ceiling of my room, and the quiet night buzzed with faint cricket songs outside the window.
I rolled over on my side and pulled the blanket up to my chin.
The silence didn't last though.
Because my brain had other plans.
"…He was in the academy before this, huh?" I mumbled into the pillow.
Sophia mentioned it so casually, like it wasn't world-shattering news.
Kaiser… in the academy?
I blinked, letting that settle in my tired head.
Two years. She said he came to Celestine two years ago.
But wait, Kaiser told me he'd been here for over five years. That's what he said, right? I remember that… very clearly. It's not something you forget when the person you admire casually drops it like it's nothing.
So… did he lie?
Or was it one of those… technical truths?
Maybe he meant that he's been in Celestine for that long, just not in this part of it. I mean… cities are big. He could've just moved districts or something.
Still… it bothers me a little.
I turned again in bed, groaning softly.
Ugh, why am I like this? Overthinking things in the middle of the night. Like a walking anxiety with hair.
"Kaiser already apologized to you, idiot," I whispered to myself.
Get a grip, Celia.
You know he's always been secretive. He told you he didn't trust people easily. He only opened up to you when he had no other choice… and even then, he kept walls up.
That's just how he is. Not because he's hiding something… but because the world taught him to.
Still… the fact that he lied stings. Even if it's small. It feels like there's always something just out of reach with him, like trying to hold fog in your hands. You think you have it, then poof.
And yet…
I smiled faintly.
He's also the friend who looked me dead in the eyes when I was crying and told me I was stronger than I knew. The friend who stood between me and that monstrous noctis graspers and Kiel, Ronan without flinching, even though he couldn't use magic.
He's the friend who calls me "adorably loud" when I'm angry and actually listens when I speak.
Yeah. So what if he bent the truth?
He's Kaiser.
My Kaiser.
And I'd rather have him with a thousand secrets than lose him altogether.
"…I miss you," I whispered.
My fingers curled into the blanket.
"I'm coming to get you. Even if I have to burn the whole grotesque hive down myself."
Dark? Maybe.
Overdramatic? A little.
But no one touches what's mine.
I'll get stronger. I am getting stronger. I've got Sophia, Isaac… and even Arius now. I'm not alone anymore.
He better be ready.
Because next time I see him?
I'm going to punch him for lying…
Then hug him so tight he can't lie ever again.
Click.
That was the door.
My ears perked up.
I was still in my pajamas—fluffy pink ones with tiny stars, thank you very much emma for gifting me yours—and halfway into a yawn when I heard heavy steps downstairs.
I slipped out of my room, my feet silent on the wooden floor. The hallway light flickered for a second. Of course it did—perfect dramatic timing.
"Look who finally remembered they had a house to come back to," Emma's voice rang out, all playful and smug like usual.
I peeked from the staircase.
Levi.
Of course it was Levi.
That overly confident menace stood there in a black cloak like he just walked out of a fashion magazine for swordsmen. His hair was a mess, his smirk even messier.
"Oh? Didn't realize my absence was that painful for you, Emma. Miss me that much?" he shot back with that cocky tone.
Emma rolled her eyes so hard I almost heard them hit the back of her skull. "Please, the plants were more talkative while you were gone."
Levi chuckled, stretching his arms as if he hadn't just disappeared for a whole week. "Well, I'm back. And don't worry, I didn't bring chaos—this time."
"Oh really?" Emma said, hands on hips. "Then explain why Zain screamed, and I quote, 'Xander turned my beloved rooster into Dinner'?"
I blinked. I couldn't tell if this was going to be tragic or hilarious.
Levi held up a finger, deadly serious. "Okay. So listen. Zain left his rooster unattended. Xander thought it was just a random farm chicken. He was starving. One thing led to another... boom. Dinner."
I had to cover my mouth not to laugh.
Emma gasped. "HE ATE ZAIN'S ROOSTER?! That thing was his emotional support bird, Levi!"
"I know," Levi shrugged. "He cried while chewing after finding out. Said it was both the worst and best meal of his life."
Emma collapsed onto the couch dramatically. "I am so telling this at his wedding."
Levi looked way too proud of the chaos.
I decided that was my cue to show up.
"Hey, rooster killer," I called out, stepping down the last stair with a yawn and half a glare. "Back from your villain arc, or just passing through?"
Levi turned with a grin. "Ah, princess Celia. Awake and gracing us with your royal presence."
I scoffed, arms folded. "Please. If I were a princess, you'd be the royal mailman who keeps losing the letters."
Emma snorted. "She's got you there."
Levi winked. "Only if those letters were love letters from you, Celia."
"Yeah," I said flatly. "Return to sender."
We all gathered at the dining table, Levi stretching like he owned the place—which he did—but still.
"I'm heading out again tomorrow," he said casually, plucking a grape from the bowl like it owed him money.
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Where now? Another dinner party with Zain's poultry?"
He ignored the jab. "We're all going to Rinascita."
I paused mid-drink. "What? But—wait—the grotesques—"
"They've changed their plan, the grotesques are not going to attack Levinton anymore." Levi said sharply, all playfulness gone. His tone shifted, serious and cold. "They're not circling aimlessly anymore. They're targeting Rinascita."
My fingers tightened around the cup.
"As for us," he continued, "a noble from Rinascita requested all guilds for help. Promised to pay handsomely. I'm not going for the gold though."
Emma raised a brow. "Of course not. You're too noble for that."
Levi grinned. "Nah. I've got my own reasons."
"Egotistical reasons," Emma muttered under her breath.
I glanced at her and smiled sweetly. "Sharing blood with Levi must suck, huh, Emma?"
Emma sighed dramatically. "It's a full-time job."
Levi laughed, leaning back in his chair. "That's exactly what Kaiser said. Said the same thing—'Emma, sharing blood with that guy must be a curse.'"
My heart did a little jump at the mention of his name.
"Wow, Celia," Levi smirked. "You even copied his insults now? You really like him, huh?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Says the man who copied his entire haircut and forgot the personality."
"Ouch."
Emma clapped once. "That's going in my burn book."
We laughed. All three of us.
Just for a moment, it felt… warm.
Like maybe we were real friends.
Maybe.
But…
Even if these two are only pretending to be my friends…
I'll pretend too.
I've heard them talk when they thought I wasn't around. Heard the way they said they're only nice to me because I knew Kaiser. That without him, I'm just some polite guest overstaying her welcome.
And maybe they're right.
But that's fine. We can all pretend.
After all, people only show the side of themselves they want the world to see.
Levi with his charm and confidence.
Emma with her jokes and fake warmth.
And me?
I'm showing the side I want, too.
Sweet. Supportive. Harmless little Celia.
But behind it?
I'm not harmless.
I'm not stupid.
And I'm not leaving.
Not until I bring him back.
Levi tapped his fingers on the wood lazily. "Emma, you're staying home. As always."
Emma gasped like someone just slapped a cupcake out of her hand. "Excuse me? The disrespect."
"You heard me," Levi smirked. "Guard duty. Plus, someone has to feed the emotional support chicken spirit Zain's been summoning lately."
Emma crossed her arms and pouted. "Fine, I'll stay. But only because the last time I went on a mission, someone—" she shot Levi a look, "—set my boots on fire for 'morale boost.'"
"Hey," Levi said defensively. "You looked cold."
Emma rolled her eyes. "So? Who's going then?"
Levi leaned back, counting on his fingers. "Me. Xander. Alina. Zain. And the entire Celestial Apex."
My eyebrows lifted slightly. All of them?
Emma tilted her head. "That many? For Rinascita?"
Levi's expression shifted slightly, eyes narrowing. "Grotesques aren't just roaming anymore. They're moving with intent."
I leaned forward. "What do you mean?"
He exhaled. "That's the thing. We don't know. But it's like they're chasing something… or someone's guiding them."
Emma's lips parted. "You think they're being controlled?"
Levi shrugged. "Maybe. Wouldn't be the first time someone tried to weaponize monsters. Who knows?"
The conversation dipped into silence for a moment, tension creeping in with the thought.
Then Levi said it.
"Oh, and—the noble from Rinascita mentioned something else. Said someone reported a grotesque hive."
I blinked. "Hive? What do you mean?"
He nodded, face more serious now. "A network of cave systems. Deep, ancient tunnels grotesques build as their base—a nest. It's where they breed, gather, multiply."
Emma's jaw dropped. "So, like… their home?"
Levi nodded. "Exactly. And get this—apparently a team of three volunteered to go in and destroy it completely."
Emma and I both stared.
"Three?" we said in unison.
Levi smirked. "Yep. Just three. Apparently, the leader's some heavenly sorcerer. Their squad calls themselves Team Ace. Or Suicide Squad. Honestly, who names these things?"
Emma burst into laughter. "Suicide Squad?! What are they, edgy kids?"
"Could be," Levi shrugged. "If they show up in matching trench coats and start quoting poetry, I'm leaving."
I scoffed. "Of course you'd mock them. Jealous your own squad name isn't as dramatic?"
Levi leaned toward me, that familiar teasing grin growing. "There it is. That classic Kaiser sarcasm. What was it? 'Jealous your squad name isn't as dramatic'—man, you even copy his tone."
Emma gasped. "Oh my gods, she does!"
"Do not!" I pouted, cheeks heating up.
"Oh, you so do," Levi chuckled. "Next she'll be folding her arms and walking away in slow motion."
"I don't do that," I said firmly.
Emma and Levi exchanged knowing grins.
I looked away, pouting harder.
But then—
Levi's voice dropped a level.
"There's a chance…"
He paused. My ears tuned in like radar.
"There's a chance Kaiser's in that nest too."
Everything stopped.
"The scouts said some people from Rinascita were abducted. Some taken alive. No one's confirmed names... but..."
My heart skipped a beat.
My fingers trembled slightly on the table. I clenched them into a fist.
That wasn't enough to stop it.
The blood in my body felt like fire. My heartbeat echoed louder in my ears. I couldn't breathe for a second.
He could be there.
My Kaiser.
My voice was cold now. So cold it silenced them both instantly.
"…Are you sure?"
Levi looked up at me.
He saw it.
That shift.
His face grew cautious, then nodded slowly. "I am."
And then I stood up.
Everything about me changed. My soft presence, my sweet voice—it all vanished.
I was no longer just Celia.
I was the Queen of Curses.
And they felt it.
The table creaked under my fingers as my aura seeped into the room like a venomous fog.
"Then I'm coming with you."
Levi straightened up, eyes narrowing. "Celia, no—this is dangerous. You don't understand what's—"
"I don't care."
I took a step closer. Shadows danced at my feet.
"If he's in that nest, I will tear each grotesque down, bone by bone, until there is nothing left."
Emma's breath hitched.
Even Levi leaned back slightly.
I stared at them, the smile gone, my eyes colder than ice.
"You said it's a nest, right? Then I'll burn it to the ground. I'll curse it so no grotesque can crawl out alive. I will get him back. I don't care how many die."
They didn't say anything. Because in that moment—they knew.
I wasn't asking for permission.
I wasn't scared anymore.
I was ready to make the world bleed for him.
And nothing would stop me.
Levi leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms behind his head with a relaxed sigh. "We leave tomorrow morning," he said. "So get up early, princess of curses."
I rolled my eyes but nodded. "Fine."
He grinned, clearly not done. "Make sure you bring your best behavior, Kaiser's girlfriend~"
Silence.
I blinked, slowly turning my head to him.
Then—
I tilted it just slightly, letting that cold aura return. "Good," I said quietly, my voice calm… too calm. "Because I'll get my love back tearing them all apart if necessary."
Both Levi and Emma's jaws dropped like someone uppercut their souls.
Emma nearly choked on air. "H-Huh?!"
Levi's eyes bugged out. "Did she just—did she actually say—?!"
And I—
I blinked, brain catching up to what my mouth had just casually leaked.
"W-Wait! I didn't mean it like that!" I waved my hands, red instantly flooding my cheeks. "I meant—like—uh, friendly love! Not romantic! It was—it was a metaphor! A poetic expression! Like—like a sibling kinda thing!"
Emma was wheezing at this point. "Ohhh my gods, she said it so seriously. She looked like a villain confessing her eternal love for Kaiser!"
"I—NO! SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU!" I flailed my arms, face now the exact shade of a strawberry mid-ripe. "That was—That didn't count!!"
"Oh no, it counted," Levi said, smirking like a smug fox. "That was the most romantic declaration I've heard from someone not holding a bouquet."
"I didn't declare anything!"
"'I'll get my love back,'" Emma mocked, dramatically holding a hand to her heart. "He's mine, and I'll set the world on fire to find him—"
"STOPPP!"
"Should we start preparing the wedding?" Levi said. "I mean, Kaiser Everhart and Celia the Cursed Queen—it's got a dramatic ring to it. I'll even officiate."
"I'M GOING TO CURSE YOU INTO A FROG!"
"Oh my gods, please do, then I'll be the frog of honor at your wedding," Emma howled, tears in her eyes.
I couldn't take it anymore.
"Nope. I'm done. I'm going to bed. Forever."
I bolted up and ran out of the room, hearing their laughter echoing behind me like the worst background music of my life.
"Celiaaa~ Wait~ Tell us what colors you want for the curtains in the honeymoon suite!" Emma called.
I didn't stop.
I slammed my bedroom door shut behind me, locked it, and threw myself face-first into my bed.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
My legs thrashed wildly like I was fighting off invisible embarrassment monsters, smacking the bed over and over.
"Stupid, STUPID CELIA!" I screamed into my pillow. "Why'd you say love?! Of all the words! You could've said 'important person' or 'Kaiser the idiot,' but nooo—your mouth wanted to go full tragic romance!"
I rolled over, covering my face with the pillow and groaning.
"I'm never showing my face again. I'll wear a mask. Forever. Maybe a bag."
Then—
Knock knock.
I froze.
Please be a demon. Please be a grotesque. Please be the end of the world.
"Celiaaa~" Levi's smug voice echoed through the door like an evil curse. "Don't forget to pack tomorrow. We're off to get your hubby~"
My eyes snapped wide.
"HE'S NOT MY HUBBY! GET LOST, YOU MENACE!"
His laugh roared from behind the door, satisfied and loud. Then I heard his footsteps fade as he walked off, still chuckling.
I groaned again, sinking back into the pillow, face blazing red.
"Ughhhhhhhh," I mumbled, "they're never gonna let me live that down…"
A pause.
"…I hate how good that word sounded though."
The room was silent now.
But inside me…
Inside me was a scream so loud it could crack the world.
Kai is really going to be there…
In that nest. Hurt. Alone. Trapped among grotesques like a star swallowed by rot.
My breath caught, throat tightening.
He was always the one protecting me.
When I had no strength.
When I was nothing but a crying little girl clinging to hope like a broken doll—he was there.
He didn't mock me.
He didn't leave me.
He didn't ask me to change.
He smiled.
He stayed.
He held me.
And called me his heart.
That man gave me meaning. He gave me my own name.
So now?
Now I give meaning to vengeance.
Whatever Sophia said about him…
Whatever Levi or Emma whisper when they think I'm not listening…
I don't care.
Let them talk. Let them think I'm the fragile one.
I'll be the last thing those grotesques ever see before their skulls split open from the inside.
They took him?
Then I'll take everything from them.
Burn them in their own nest.
Curse them until they crawl.
And when they beg?
I'll smile. Just like he used to smile at me… only colder.
I rose from the bed slowly, my feet hitting the floor like steps of a queen marching to war.
My hand lifted—shaking at first—but then steadying as I opened my palm.
A soft glow.
Then darkness. Sick, crawling, bleeding black energy swirled into my hand. Like smoke from a corpse that hadn't cooled yet.
The cursed sigil on my palm pulsed.
I whispered something—no, something ancient.
A tongue no soul should speak.
"T'mari ith valekh. En'cor da'ron. Rith senn marol... Kai'reth."
A cursed incantation.
Forbidden. Rotting with power.
Words that once were carved into tombs and stitched into dying skin.
My fingertips trembled. Not from fear.
From excitement.
"If I say those words… after I kill something…" I whispered, smiling slightly, "I can… ascend them. Turn them into a cursed being. My puppet. My soldier. My slave."
I clenched my hand, the cursed mark fading back beneath the skin.
"I don't want to become like her…" I muttered, eyes darkening. "Not like the Queen of Curses from 500 years ago. Not like Evelina."
"But if it means getting Kaiser back…" My voice lowered, a slow breath leaking between my lips, "Then I'll build an army of corpses and make them march on hell itself."
And then—her name echoed in my mind.
Sophia.
Her stupid little smile. The way she said it—
"He used to call Elfie that adorable nickname. Oh, it was so sweet—like they were in love~"
Love?
Love?
No.
My nails dug into my skin.
Elfie? He called her that?
My breathing grew shaky. Eyes wide. Smile cracking.
He's mine.
He was always mine.
She had no right to that name.
And after I save him?
After I bathe in the blood of his enemies?
After I drag his broken body from that cursed nest, hold him close again?
I'll carve that name out of his memories.
He won't remember Elfie.
He won't need to.
Because he'll only look at me.
Only call me by something sweet.
Only hold me when he's tired.
Only whisper my name when he sleeps.
I'll bind him. With love. With pain. With everything I am.
And if anyone tries to take him away again—
I'll rip their soul apart and paint their faces into the wall using their blood.
My hands trembled again. But not with fear.
With need.
Obsession. Desire. Possession.
"Kaiser is mine," I whispered with a crooked smile.
I turned to the dark window, my red eyes glowing faintly with cursed light.
And as the night swallowed my reflection, I said it—cold, slow, and filled with venom:
"I'll ascend them all… just to cherish the only one I love."
"Kaiser Everhart."