Standing before me are the main characters, my main characters; my years of hard work staring at me right in the face.
I could not hide my embarrassment, feeling like a father on his deathbed looking at his children one last time before going to heaven.
"Why is he smiling like that? It's… very creepy." Selene Valtoria said with disgust lacing her tone.
Selene Valtoria, the so proclaimed villainess of my story. She fit the main descriptions of every villainess: white hair, crimson eyes, cunning, elegant and manipulative. Although her exterior characteristics projected her as a villainess who later dies, she was alone. I had described her that way and the very thought of seeing her die in reality made my heart ache.
Wiping off the creepy smile, I vowed to save Selene Valtoria.
"I think he is just glad to see you guys," Aria said softly.
Nyra Kaelis just nodded.
Black hair, a red streak through her iris, a presence sharp enough to cut the room in half—an assassin who once planned to kill Aiden. Her gaze settled on me for a moment, unreadable but calm.
"Nice to meet you Elior" Mira Solen said smiling sweetly.
The protagonist's crush, the type everyone loves. Beneath that smile, secretly tired of living the perfect life everyone expects of her. With her golden hair and golden eyes, she fit the criteria for whom every protagonist develops feelings for.
"Likewise," I said, shaking her hand.
"Now, you have brought us here, Aria, could we leave?"
"Not yet, Kael"
Kael Draven, do I even need to make any Introduction. Every protagonist must need a rival right. That was Kael, the arrogant, sharp and prideful one out of the whole group. Trains the best and hardest to surpass Aiden and sometimes get his limelight but Aiden always gets back up.
At the corner stood Seren, quiet and observant, hands folded behind her like she was watching over unruly children. How she became friends with Aria still confuses me, but the two always balanced each other—light and calm.
I just watched them as they all chatted.
Ravyn was jumping around like a child as they all bickered and I could not help but stare back at her with amusement.
Ravyn Astraea, a princess of a fallen kingdom when Valterra attacked her ancestor's homeland in the past. Now living with her father and her beast-folk mother, Ravyn plans to restore her family's fallen empire. Her dark hair in a braid and piercing blue eyes.
Ymir and Luna stood close together, smiling faintly at the chaos. Silver-blonde hair, violet eyes—Luna carried a serene aura that softened the room without trying. Ymir's gentle nods made him feel like the quiet moral compass the group didn't know they needed.
"You never seem to stop behaving like kids, even when we have a sick person in front of us"
"I cannot say you are wrong there" Aria said with a simple chuckle.
Then Ryn Alden stepped forward. Brown hair, calm eyes, and the kind of quiet presence that anchored storms. Aiden's best friend. Loyal to a fault.
As they all joked around, I let myself enjoy the peace. Maybe just once, just this once, I just decided to drop all weight and burden I have been carrying smiling calmly.
Aria smiled as she saw Elior lying down calmly with a smile. She had always suspected I had become more distant and reserved as of late but that smile seemed to clear all her worries.
"Looks like my friends don't respect the policy of sick patients" a voice said mockingly
I turned.
Aiden cross.
My protagonist of this novel. The chosen one, charismatic, facing things head on and delivering hope to those who had lost. His bright red eyes and brownish golden like hair were not only his fine features.
I understood why many of these females including Aria fell in love leading to the infamous harem group.
"Everyone, please keep things down, alright. This is the medical facility," Miss Sora said as she opened the door before slamming it shut.
"I think we got a little carried away right" Aiden said in a lighthearted voice.
Everyone nodded in embarrassment.
"Pffft—HAHAHAHA!"
They all turned to see me laughing hysterically on the bed. I was in pain since I had not fully recovered but this was just so funny.
They all stared at me in shock before bursting in laughter too.
For that moment, the world outside didn't exist. Only warmth. Only their voices. Only the fragile illusion that this could last.
But at the back of my mind, truth lingered like a shadow.
They belonged to the light.
And I… I was bound to the darkness that created them.
Just for tonight, let me pretend otherwise.
The evening breeze moving as the windows were open was filled with warmth and laughter in the air.
As they were exiting the room, Aria turned to me with a beaming smile
"Don't forget test are next week Elior"
And like that, Aria closed the door
"Huh?"