[Author's Note: Woohoo! We did it! After seven months, Vol 1 is now complete! With this last chapter, the intro to the grand story draws to a close and we may now proceed with the appetizers! Yes you read right, APPETIZERS. There's a reason we're not moving on to the main course, read on to find out! PS: Happy New Year!]
"Hehehehe! Hehehehe!"
Creepy laughter echoed in a lavish unlit room.
The owner of both the voice and residence, a girl, danced throughout her chambers with an twirl and a spin, her hands always momentarily touching several objects.
A painting, a statue, and a lock of hair.
For several minutes, she danced non-stop, a graceful and slow pace, as if she were in a daze.
However, it was soon time to go to sleep, she'll be needing as much rest as possible for the things she has planned in the future. There can be no failure, everything must be perfect, all for her.
The girl undressed herself and put on her nightgown, revealing her beautiful pale skin in the process.
Then, she walked over to a shelf and grabbed a ragdoll perched on it.
An ugly thing made up of an assortment of different fabrics and a head full of frightening realistic and familiar black hair. After retrieving the doll, the girl hugged it tightly to her chest and got into bed with it.
Not long after, the girl fell fast asleep, holding the doll in her arms as one would hold their beloved. Quite the warm and touching scene, if the room continued to remain unlit as is, but no, a sliver of moonlight peaked through a crack in the curtain and illuminated the items the girl constantly touched.
Statues, paintings, locks of hair, old worn dresses of various sizes, rusting cutlery, miscellaneous ornaments of average quality. All objects that are quite odd and harmless.
If it weren't for the giant portrait of a certain raven-haired girl hanging above the bed overlooking everything.
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Several school girls wearing the Babylonia Academy uniform surrounded a fellow student, who was cowering on the floor with their hands covering their head.
Their intentions, were far from pleasant.
*Splash!*
One of the girls used magic to splash the student backed against the with water, completely
"Hahahaha! That ought to teach this dirty beast not to get in our way!"
"Yeah! The way she looked at us was absolutely disgusting!"
"Agreed! It's like she's about eat us alive!"
"It's a good thing that we're here to put a leash on her, otherwise who knows what she might do in the future!"
All the girls agreed with their classmate's statement and continued to harass the poor defenseless student for several more minutes befor
The bullies went on their merry way and left the soaked girl behind. Having had their fill of tormenting the poor thing, they left.
Once the bullies were gone, the victim lifted their face.
Silver hair in a bob-cut hairstyle, fiery amber eyes and a lean athletic build with slightly tanned skin. Truly a wild beauty.
However, the most striking features were her ears. No, not the ones on the sides of her head, the wolfish animal ears on top of her head which were the exact same color as her hair. The reason for the girls' discrimination.
After getting harassed like that, one would think the victim would break down, curling themself into a ball and let loose the tears.
Indeed, that is what occurred. The wolf-eared girl tucked her head in between her body and quietly sobbed, but for reasons one might not have expected.
It called out to her.
To let it loose.
To let it rampage.
To let all who stand in their way be torn and shredded apart.
The girl cried underneath her breath, a whisper of resistance.
"No."
"I won't let it happen!"
"Not again!"
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Somewhere else far off from the Academy, a carriage rolled along on a flat, mostly-smooth, dirt road. It was a simple carriage, one commonly used by merchants.
Atop the roof of this particular carriage sat a cheerful elf in travelling clothes.
Her blond hair blew back against the wind, blue eyes reflected her surrounding scenery of gently rolling plains and clear blue skies, and her full lips were slightly open and formed a smile in awe of her surroundings.
It had been several days since she left her home and the scenery hasn't changed in the slightest, yet somehow she just couldn't get enough of it, even though there was nothing of note.
Perhaps it was the spaciousness and vastness of the world that hooked her, something rarely seen in the dense forests back in her country.
Maybe it represented the thrilling opportunities and adventures which laid ahead?
Or was she eagerly awaiting the sight of her destination, Babylonia Academy? A prestigious institution where talents from all over the world gathered.
It could be a mixture of all three above as well.
But no matter what reason it is, the world before her eyes is a very beautiful place.
A voice broke the her concentration, it was the merchant who hired her, a kind middle-aged man in his fifties. He was neither poor nor rich, a perfect example of the middle-class.
The merchant called out to her.
"Young lass, I know it's a bit late of me to ask, but where are you headed? The furthest I'm going will be Babylonia. I'm afraid I won't make any trips further than that due to monsters becoming more and more frequent. If you wish to travel further, I'm afraid you'll need to find a caravan there. Again, I'm terribly sorry if this inconveniences you any way."
The elf's smile widened and she reassured the merchant.
"Not at all, sir! Babylonia just so happens to be my stop! So it's perfect!"
The merchant let out a pleasant laugh.
"Hohoho! How fortuitous indeed! Tell me, what do you plan on doing once you reach there? If you don't mind me prying."
"Oh! I don't mind at all, once I get there, I'll be attending classes at Babylonia Academy!"
The merchant widened his eyes.
"Eh? A student? You realize that the classes started several weeks ago?"
His passenger sheepishly scratched the back of her head.
"Well, I had some complications, so my departure was delayed a great deal."
The merchant knowingly smiled.
"A little family disagreement perhaps?"
It was the elf's turn for her eyes to widen.
"How did you know?"
The merchant let out a slight laugh.
"I've been on these roads for several years now and have met many of your kind who wished to escape the isolation imposed upon you by your elders and see the wider world."
"Hehehe! Is that so?"
"Mhm! But you know, I have a good feeling about you. I don't what it is, but I you'll do something great in the future. Becoming a hero if you will."
"Really? I don't feel like I'm blessed with special powers or the likes."
The merchant burst into amused laughter.
"Hahahaha! Young one! Being a hero doesn't mean having infinite power, riches or talent! You can have all three of these things and you still can't be a hero! No! It is about action and courage! To be able to stand up for what is right even if all odds are stacked against you! To never yield to evil no matter how tempting its whispers are! That is what it means to be great!"
"Hmm, I still don't quite understand how one becomes a hero, but I'm sure I'll be able to find someone at the Academy who'll teach me how to become one!"
The merchant gave a supportive smile.
"Aye lass, maybe you will.
By the way, I should have asked from the start, but what's your name?"
The elf returned the merchant's smile.
"My name is Ariel."
[Author's Note: New characters incoming! Are they friends or foes? Tune in to find out in the next chapter!]