[CECILIA REALMHEART'S POV]
Growing up as a princess wasn't all tiaras and glitter. There was this constant pressure to live up to my big brother, Roan Realmheart. He's this genius mana-arts wielder, always in the spotlight, and I just felt like I was stuck in his shadow.
The royal family expected me to be this perfect Holy Light wielder, just like my brother. It was tough; everyone compared me to him while I was still figuring out my own powers. They kept saying, "Be like Roan," and it seriously drove me crazy. However, no one really knew aside from my parents, that I had a top-grade attribute, which if I used, it would kill me slowly but surely.
Except for my looks, I was pretty rebellious. I never liked the whole noble thing; I wanted to break free, but every time I tried, I got pulled back. Then, everything changed when I met Lucas Trident. He wasn't a royal or a noble-born, just a regular guy who got me.
Back in the day, Lucas was this goofy kid, not the hot guy he is now. He used to be the academy's weakest, but then he totally owned Professor Walt in a battle, and that's when I started seeing him in a different light. Maybe he could be the key to breaking free from all this royal nonsense? Should I ask him?
But, he straight-up rejected me, right to my face. People are usually scared to even talk to me because, hello, I'm the princess.
Now, when I see him, he's all confident, powerful, and kind of hot, to be honest. It's like, "Whoa, when did Lucas get so... swoon-worthy?" It's weird, especially after all those goofy childhood memories.
What surprised me even more was how he dropped the 'I'm the boss' attitude around me. Suddenly, we're partners, working together, and I see a whole new side of him. It's like unwrapping this unexpected gift.
Even with all the craziness about his dark powers, I can't help but feel a bit relieved. His darkness becomes this weird comfort, like a safety net. Sure, things got awkward, but they also got real.
So here we are, in the middle of all this chaos, figuring out these fusion skills and battling side by side. The royal family pressure, the constant comparisons, it all fades away when it's just me and Lucas against the world. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
The day I found out he's a reincarnation of the Demon King, I was scared at first. But it's different; he's not this evil force. He's someone yearning for love, suffering in loneliness, just like I did in the royal palace.
Two days passed with this awkward tension between us. On the third day, our training was done, and our masters told us to take a break. I sent Diane, my overprotective friend, away, and with Bran's help, I was finally alone with Lucas, still in the training area.
Lucas was practically avoiding me after he realized I saw his inner self. But, he was acting too cold, staring at the night sky with a single tear from his left eye. It was the first time I saw the powerful and confident guy almost cry. He wiped it away before I could see, though. Typical Lucas.
The fusion skill was cool, but it started freaking me out when Lucas started avoiding me. It felt like it was taking over, you know? Then, bam! Turns out Lucas isn't exactly your everyday guy. His dark powers were unexpected, but strangely, they balance out my Holy Light craziness. I'm pretty sure he noticed my real attributes too.
Approaching Lucas, I decided to spill the awkward beans. "I don't really care about your dark side, Lucas," I blurted out. "You're still the guy who helped me, the one who saved me from certain death, and you know it too, right? Why are you avoiding me now?"
There was a moment of silence, the fading sunlight casting long shadows around us. Lucas looked at me, his eyes revealing a mix of gratitude and hesitation. "I was afraid you'd see me differently."
I locked eyes with him, hoping he got what I was saying. The silence hung there for a bit, and in Lucas's eyes, I saw this vulnerability that felt so real.
"You're still my teammate, my friend, or even more than that—," I added, reaching out to touch his hand. "And I believe in the strength of our partnership. Rest aside, we were great, right?"
A vulnerable expression flickered across Lucas's face, and for a moment, the awkwardness melted away. "I thought... I thought it would change everything."
We were speaking different words out of our minds, but we both resonated the same vibe. Our hands met, and this warmth kinda washed over us. Yeah, it was still awkward, but underneath, our connection felt genuine. The Holy Light and Abyssal Darkness mix started to mean something more. It became a symbol of us working through the weirdness and building something stronger.
"Please don't avoid me," I said, my tone soft and hurting myself, as Lucas smiled, "I'm sorry, Cecilia." which made me awfully comfortable, turning the initial awkwardness into the foundation of something deeper.