Emery's POV
My parents are home. I tried to avoid them as best as I could, but you know what they say about moms and the eyes at the back of their heads.
"You're up early on a Saturday," Mom said with a smile, stirring a bowl of what I assumed was pancake batter. "Going somewhere?"
I deliberately didn't tell them about the Student Council meeting today because I didn't want any attention drawn to it. I hoped they wouldn't comment or make a big deal out of it, but that plan completely failed.
"Yes. I have Council work today," I said, gripping the straps of my backpack and looking away from her imposing eyes.
"Oh, how lovely!" Mom exclaimed. "I'm so glad you're finally doing something productive, Nikoletta. Your father has always been worried about your little games, but I knew you'd grow out of it."
That cursed name. I've told her not to use it.
"…Emery," I murmured.
"Hm?" Mom tilted her head to the side. "Did you say something, dear?"
"Nothing." I swallowed my words and headed for the door. "I'm off, then."
Without waiting for her response, I left the house and started walking to school.
It's my supposed day off, and yet here I am—heading back to school. Hah. We live in a society, as they say, and I'm pretty sure I'm not built for this. I'm so pathetic—I can't even stand up to Mom about my name. I told my parents that I didn't feel comfortable with Nikoletta and asked them to call me Emery, but they said I was just confused.
Maybe they're right. Nikoletta makes me want to crawl out of my skin, but I can't even figure out what I want in life. All I have are my games and comics, so maybe I really am just confused. I'm such a black sheep in my family—always the disappointment. I really hope Mom's right, that this is all just a phase.
When I got to school, the Senior Job Fair preparations were already underway. Some groups were working on pamphlets, others on the program, and the rest were setting up tents, tables, and chairs. Lucas was with another group, so I was just standing around like a lost child. Lucas usually drags me along and does all the talking, so when he's not with me, I just toddle around.
"Emery." A chilling voice snapped me awake. I turned around to see Sasha standing behind me, dressed in her usual suffocatingly prim outfit.
"Good morning. Morning, Sasha," I greeted nervously. "I got here on the dot…."
"Yes, I took note of that," she said seriously. "You're working with me today."
I looked down and only then noticed the huge pile of papers in her arms. I gestured to split the load, but she shook her head. Even while carrying something that heavy, her posture remained perfectly straight.
She started walking, and I followed behind her. She set the pile down on her desk and pulled a chair out for me to sit in. I followed her lead and watched as she gently opened a drawer and pulled out a stack of folders in different colors.
"Please assist me in organizing these documents," she said firmly. "They're for the visiting organizations, so I'd like them arranged according to this list."
She handed me a piece of paper with the assigned colors for each company. I quickly memorized its contents before returning it to her. She nodded and began sorting her side of the pile, so I assumed it was time for me to start working as well.
I mindlessly sorted through the papers. It was easy enough, since the logos made it simple to figure out where each one should go. I like work like this. It doesn't require much thinking, so it's kind of relaxing. Sasha, on the other hand, was writing something on the folders I'd already finished.
I've never gotten this close to Sasha before, mostly because her presence intimidates me. She's always on top of things, trusted by everyone, admired by teachers, and consistently at the top of the class. Getting close to her feels like inviting unwanted attention.
One thing's for sure: I don't know how else to describe her presence except otherworldly. This is the first time I've seen her from this distance. Her skin is so pale it's almost translucent, like glass. Under the bright fluorescent lights, I can see the faint trace of purple veins beneath her hands and along her cheeks.
I've always thought her blue eyes were almost cartoonishly bright, but up close there's something else—a faint violet sheen beneath the blue, like a secret color waiting to be seen. Is it that eye condition that went viral a while back? Alexandria… Alexandria Genesis, I think it was called? Could she have that?
Both her eyes and her skin seem to lack melanin, though I don't really understand the science behind it. I wonder if that has anything to do with how put-together she always seems, but even I know that's a stretch.
"Emery." Her ringing voice snapped me out of my daze.
"Oh, uhm, I'm sorry…" I immediately apologized. Did she notice me staring at her?
"It's time for a break," she said softly. Despite her words, she continued writing reports.
I nodded, but it still felt awkward to leave her working alone. So I just sat there, phone in hand, scrolling through my SNS notifications.
"Emery, let's do our dailies together!" My savior— I mean, Lucas—called out. I looked up and saw he'd brought two of his friends, Jack and Matthew, with him.
Jack and Matthew are twins from the class just below us. Apparently, they've been in the Council for as long as Lucas, so they're close. They both have the same slim build, black hair, and dark eyes, though Matthew's style is a bit more rugged and messy compared to Jack's. Jack always keeps himself neat and proper. I only tag along with them when Lucas invites us to play together.
"I cannot believe we're just playing with the CalvaryEmery like it's nothing," Matthew practically shouted, nearly jumping in place.
"Haha… It's not a big deal…" I chuckled sheepishly. I never know how to react when Matthew gets like this. When we first met, he also freaked out and said he was a big fan of my E-sports era.
"Are you guys done with the Panlias event?" Jack asked, sitting down next to me.
"I am. I'm just trying to maintain my spot," I said, and Lucas nodded in agreement.
"Can you guys help us out? We just need to finish the co-op mission and we're done," Matthew said as he sat beside Jack. Lucas followed.
Opening the app, I started setting up our party. We always fall into the same routine: Lucas takes the healer role (he literally only has healing weapons), Jack tanks, Matthew spams his flashy AOE skills, and I handle the DPS—plus a bit of support, since some of my characters can throw out status effects.
The four of us entered the Slebek Ancient Ruins, its dim corridors glowing faintly from the crystals on the walls. Before we could move, five ogres lunged from behind, their roars shaking the screen. I reacted instinctively, flipping out of range and channeling Panlias' sword. Flames spiraled from the blade as I launched an air-strike that exploded through the dust. The impact sent sparks scattering across the battlefield.
Lucas took a direct hit—his health bar dipped—but he managed to heal just in time. Jack slammed Quadratus' platinum hammer into the ground, stunning two of the ogres in place. Matthew stayed at the backline, weaving his Flame Flood spells, the bursts of fire scorched the ogres in one go.
"Lucas, stay with Matthew," I instructed, rushing beside his character to block another incoming swing from a nearby ogre.
"Oh—uh, okay! On it!" Lucas fumbled, then quickly cast two healing bursts on my character.
"Lucas, my character only took a hundred damage. Save your burst for when things get dire," I said, circling behind him to make sure he actually got out of the chaos safely.
"Okay! I'll try!!!" he replied, his voice full of determination.
Try what, exactly? I wasn't sure what "trying" meant in this case—trying not to spam heals? Trying to stay alive? Either way, I decided to just let him have it. It's not like we're playing competitively anyway.
Once Lucas made it safely behind the line, I dashed back to Jack's position and activated Panlias' ultimate. Twin blades of fire carved through the air, cutting down two ogres in a burst of light and ash.
"All right, that's three down," Jack reported, his tone more relieved than usual. "We've been failing this mission for days, so… thanks, Emery."
I shook my head. "Don't thank me yet. There are still two left."
"I got it," Matthew said. "Your first strike already softened them up." He raised his staff, unleashing an ice burst that froze the last two ogres solid. A second later, they shattered into pixels.
"And… done!"
"Wow, that didn't even take five minutes. We spent an hour on this last night and got nowhere," Matthew said, looking at me like I'd just performed a miracle.
"Well… with the four of us, there's just a lot more wiggle room, you know?" I said, chuckling awkwardly.
The three of them made comments about me being too humble, but I tried not to pay attention to it. Whenever I play like this, I'm just reminded of how much time I actually devoted to gaming, and it makes me feel like a total loser with no life. I adjusted my posture in my seat and coughed to interrupt them.
"Anyway, the event missions are done for you two, so uh—" I kind of lost where I was going with that. "Try reading the event story now."
That was such a sorry attempt to escape their attention, but Matthew and Jack actually excused themselves to read through the story, so I guess it worked? I could still feel Lucas's giant grin next to me, though— but it's better to deal with one Lucas than one Lucas and the twins.
"What are you boys up to?" Sasha (who I forgot was beside us the whole time) suddenly showed up beside Lucas.
"Sorry, we're so noisy." I apologized almost instinctively. I swear, whenever Sasha's around I go into fight or flight and 99.9% of the time I choose flight.
Sasha shook her head and sat beside Lucas, thankfully a seat away from me. She stares into Lucas' phone and tried to read some of the magic spells written.
"We're only playing the best game ever, Reverie Mirage." Lucas declared proudly. Lucas handles Sasha the best out of anyone I know. "Wanna join us, Sash?"
'Sash'? Is it safe to call her that?
Sasha didn't even react to the nickname so I suppose she consents to it. Lucas handed his phone to her and showed her the basic buttons and how to move. Sasha nodded and followed along his direction, making Lucas' character run around in circles in the remains of the dungeon.
"This game is an MMORPG so you can see other people playing in real time." Lucas explained. "We get the weapons by pulling characters through gacha."
"What's gacha?" Sasha asked curiously.
She's a complete newbie to this. I mean, I expected that but I didn't expect her to actually be interested in this type of thing.
"You see those diamonds?" Lucas points at the absurd number on top of this screen. "You go to this page and pay 2500 of them to get a lottery of some sorts. Do you want to try?"
Sasha studied the colorful pages full of characters and scrolled through the banners. She took her time to read through all the descriptions and nodded along to the details. I wonder if she actually understands what they're saying.
She then stopped at one banner and stared at the phone extra closely. I leaned in to Lucas' shoulder and caught a glimpse of the screen; it seemed like she was staring at a banner of Panlias.
"Do you like Panlias?" Lucas said, almost jumping from his seat. "I kinda always thought you would.... You kind of remind me of his girlfriend sometimes."
"Hm?" Sasha slowly broke away from the screen and looked at Lucas with eyes as wide as saucers. "Girlfriend...?"
"Yeah, the game has a story too!" Lucas nodded, getting closer to the screen.
"Huh..." Sasha exited from the banner screen and started running around again.
I was a little nervous about her getting into trouble because we were still in the dungeon where the mission took place, and Lucas literally had zero offensive items. I decided to teleport to her location and follow behind her from a distance—just in case something went wrong, you know? I wouldn't want her to have a bad experience.
Just like I thought, it didn't take long before she got ambushed by a Dark Celestial—one of the more annoying mobs to deal with. But against all my expectations, Sasha moved almost instinctively. Her character rolled out of the way, and she mashed buttons so quickly, chaining combos I'd never even seen used with a support build.
She used Faenikzha's electric staff and landed six basic hits on the Celestial before releasing an electric burst, paralyzing the monster. That burst gives you an attack boost for thirty seconds. Then she quickly switched to Faenikzha's ice staff, summoned the healing bee for a speed boost, and stacked more basic elemental attacks by using another electric burst, stunning the monster again.
Electric and Ice have elemental resonance, and stacking them together triggers the "Arctic Bite" status effect. It gradually lowers the target's HP over time.
As if that wasn't enough, she switched to Faenikzha's flame staff and set the surrounding grass on fire. Arctic Bite kept chipping away at the Celestial's HP, and the Burn effect stopped it from recovering.
After a few seconds, the Celestial collapsed and disappeared.
How the hell did she do that?
"Woah! You've played this before, Sasha?" Lucas said in awe.
I don't blame him. How did she do that with support items? That was a far cry from Lucas and his piano-tiles gaming— and she did all that on a phone. I'm already imagining how insane she's gonna be if we hook her up to a PC.
"No. This is the first time I've come into contact with this game. Beginner's luck, perhaps?" Sasha shook her head. Her tone seemed sincere, but how am I supposed to believe that when she just played with the mechanics of the game without even breaking a sweat?
"You're really feeding my Faenikzha fantasies over here, Sasha." Lucas covered his face with his hands, peeking through the gaps between his fingers. "Ugh… You just might be the real-life Faenikzha."
"Faenikzha?" She tilted her head to the side.
The name's a mouthful, so I don't blame her.
"Only the best character that's ever existed, ever!" Lucas grinned proudly. "You actually look a lot like her. I've told Emery this."
Please do not include me in your conversation.
Lucas leaned closer to Sasha and pressed a few buttons on his screen to show Faenikzha's avatars. Of course, he has all seventeen of them.
"This is Faenikzha. See? She looks exactly like you." Lucas proudly introduced his fictional wife to Sasha with the biggest heart eyes I've ever seen.
Sasha zoomed in on her avatar and studied her face. I mean, they really do look alike. Lucas and I already went through this, but wow—seeing them side by side makes it feel surreal. The only difference is that Faenikzha wears very flamboyant clothes.
"The Divine Child of Zesseyel. Faenikzha is destined to end the war between Zesseyel and Slebek, as said by the Prophecy of the Stars. She has the divine blessing that allows her to heal almost instantly; her magic changes according to the gems enchanting her main weapon, the Staff of the Stars," Sasha read from her character description.
"That's the story I was talking about! Faenikzha is one of the main characters," Lucas explained. "The prophecy is explained in Panlias' character sheet."
Lucas pressed some buttons and showed Panlias' avatar this time. Sasha froze and stared at Panlias intently. I wonder if Panlias is her type. Maybe. I mean, Panlias is very popular with the female fanbase of this game. He's androgynous, and his dark academia fashion is in trend with current male fashion styles. I suppose women like men with medium-length hair, giant cross earrings, and a simple black choker.
"Hm... Prince Panlias the Beloved. The people of Slebek adore this prince for his open heart and deep wisdom; almost everyone comes to him for help. According to the prophecy, he will soon be killed by the Divine Child, ending the longstanding war between Zesseyel and Slebek. He specializes in fire magic and quickly ends battles with the slash of his sacred sword, Zaperst," Sasha read aloud, though this time, she wasn't as enthusiastic as before.
"He… dies?" Sasha seemed to choke on her words.
"Well, supposedly. He has a thing with Faenikzha, though! They don't actually want to fight each other, and they're my favorite couple in any piece of media ever. I love them so much!" Lucas gushed loudly.
"Even though he's going to die…? He likes her?" Sasha processed Lucas' words. Honestly, I'm surprised she's still paying attention—this is a lot to infodump on someone.
"Yeah! Faenikzha is the only person who shares Panlias' ideals. They both want a peaceful world without anyone having to sacrifice anything, so they refuse to let the war escalate," Lucas elaborated. "It's perfect since they're both key pieces in the war!"
"Huh..." Sasha nodded along.
She went back to staring at Panlias' face. If I didn't know any better, I'd say her eyes softened when she looked at his picture. It almost looks like she's in love with him, but come on—it's a bunch of pixels. It can't be that serious.
"It's honestly easier if I just showed you," Lucas said, scrolling through Panlias' card stories and selecting one of the gut-wrenching ones, if I remember correctly.
***
Reverie Mirage Panlias Card Story: How Her Presence Lingers....
Panlias' POV
Sigh. I do not recall these fields to be so vast, so quiet, so... empty. The walk to the lake felt farther than usual, and I could feel gravity pulling at my feet stronger than it ever has.
Everything felt heavier than usual. The brooch on my choker, engraved with my family's logo, almost felt suffocating—as if it choked me with every breath I drew in. Zaperst, the sword passed down to every generation of my name, burned stronger than ever. I could feel its flares against my skin despite it resting in its scabbard. Above all, this heart that beats for the sake of my people—every beat always hit my chest, and I grew ever so conscious of how heavy the blood was flowing through my body.
"Why can't I shake this feeling? Faenikzha, the Divine Child destined to end it all..." I murmured, putting my hand over my chest. I felt my heart beating even stronger at the thought of her visage.
"She should be nothing but a looming threat. Yet her words weigh on me more than the crown itself," I choked at the admission of these feelings.
I am nothing but a traitor for wanting to find her—for abandoning my family's legacy. But what legacy is there when it's built on the suffering of another nation?
She's the missing piece in my vision; she is the light of the future I wish to see. Every time I see her, I understand more why exactly she possesses the title of the Divine Child. Every word she speaks, it's as if the dreams I thought to be impossible were suddenly feasible.
I walked up to the still waters of the lake, tracing the shoreline. This lake is where they said I would die. If she appeared and ended me now, then Zesseyel would have won the war.
I understand that I should be relieved she remains guarded around me. Her presence could mean my end—my family's end—and yet, I find myself haunted by the memory of her laughter, the warmth in her eyes. Is it madness that makes me long for her?
I stopped and stared into my face as reflected by the lake. I am decorated by Slebek, from my features to my clothing. My entire being is Slebek and that should be my pride. But now, it comes along with pain.
We are on opposite paths, her destiny and mine. I recalled her bright clothing, embellished with sparkling jewels in contrast to mine. She's meant to be the blade that silences me, the key to ending the strife that has consumed our realm.
I reached into my reflection on the lake, as if I were reaching out for her to come out.
"Faenikzha... the name itself is a siren's call, drawing me into a sea of uncertainty," I whispered to myself.
I clenched my fist and took in a deep breath. I understood that the answer to the storm in my heart was simple. It was so simple, but that's why it was hard to admit.
I can't deny that part of me wants her with me, even knowing what she's destined to do.
How can a heart be so stubborn— to crave the presence of someone whose purpose is to end you?
My family's power, the throne— they should be everything to me. Yet my heart rebels, whispering that there's more to this twisted tale than just winning the war.
Now, they blur in Faenikzha's presence. But am I simply a fool, swayed by emotions when logic should reign? Can I really save a kingdom and protect my family's legacy while holding onto this longing?
Perhaps, deep down, I recognize the inevitable clash between duty and desire.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a note written in enchanted ink. I snapped my fingers and lit a fire beneath the paper, and only then did the writing show on the parchment.
"Let's meet again under a sea of stars soon," was written in Faenikzha's delicate cursive.
Such simple words, and yet they bring so much energy from within the depths of my body that I didn't even know were there. I rubbed my eyes and took in a deep breath. I had to accept it.
"Faenikzha... I do love you." For the first time in a while, my heartbeat felt lighter than before.
***
Emery's POV
I watched the two of them as they read through the story. A lot of jumping, squirming, and squealing came from Lucas. It seemed like they were done reading after a few minutes. I could only tell because Lucas started jumping away from the screen.
"That's literally the BEST CARD." Lucas emphasized by doing hand chops in front of my face. Why is he telling me? I wasn't even reading with them!
"I love the devs for this so much. People before this card were saying that they weren't canon because they had no labels, but COME ON! They're constantly risking their lives for each other, and they exchange notes so they can meet up again. IN THE MIDDLE OF WAR. Who would do that for just anybody? They've always been canon!" Lucas rambled on, but it was hard for me to pay attention.
At the edge of my field of vision, I swear I could see teardrops falling from Sasha's eyes.
I stood up and unconsciously approached her. I took out a handkerchief from my pocket and offered it to her.
"Here, use this," I said, trying to make my voice softer than usual.
"Huh?" Sasha looked up. Her blue eyes looked darker... almost like an indigo, and the purple hues I was talking about earlier were more apparent now in her tears.
"Oh, uhm... thank you." She grabbed my handkerchief and tapped her cheeks softly. "Sorry, I wasn't aware I started crying..."
"Eh? Sasha? What happened?" Lucas approached her too, now that he'd noticed what was happening.
"No, it's just..." Sasha cut herself off by standing up from her seat. "I'm sorry. I just need a moment."
Without further elaboration, she quietly left the room and didn't return until she was called by the Vice President.