Alex opened his eyes to the soft light filtering through the curtains, stretching lazily as he blinked away the remnants of sleep. "Was that a dream?" he muttered to himself, his voice thick with grogginess. The dream—if it could be called that—lingered in his mind, the vividness of being transported into his own novel still clinging to him. He rubbed his face, trying to shake off the absurdity of the thought.
"No," he whispered after a moment. "It's too real. Everything about it... it's far too realistic to be a dream." He sighed deeply, sinking back into his pillow, eyes gazing blankly at the ceiling. "So I really am stuck here, huh?" His tone turned bitter. "How shitty. My life on Earth wasn't great by any means, but it was preferable to this... this clusterfuck of tragedy." His thoughts grew darker, frustration building up inside him.
But after a moment, he forced himself to sit up. "But I'm already here," he murmured. "There's no point in thinking about that." He clenched his fists, gripping the sheets of his bed tightly as a glint of determination sparked in his amethyst-colored eyes. They seemed to shine like polished gems, reflecting the resolve growing within him. "I need to give it my all to survive," he vowed silently, determination coursing through him.
As he steeled himself, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Oh, you're already awake." The chirpy, lively tone caught him off guard, causing Alex to jump slightly in surprise. Turning to his left, he saw Lilia, casually playing with her watch, a bright smile plastered on her face. Her carefree demeanor momentarily stole his breath.
"You know, you're pretty cute when you're sleeping." Lilia's voice was teasing, her grin widening as she glanced at him. "But you're staring way too much for someone who I'm supposed to keep an eye on," she added with a wink, her playful words leaving Alex flustered.
"I—I'm sorry for that, then, Miss Lilia." Alex stumbled over his words, trying to salvage his dignity. "But for you to say I'm cute when I'm sleeping when you're supposed to be keeping an eye on me... isn't that just weird?" He shot back, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Touche," Lilia said, putting her watch down and meeting his gaze with a smirk. "But you're being kind of cold for someone who was all smiles and laughter with me yesterday." Her playful demeanor faded slightly as she tilted her head, curiosity and concern mixing in her expression. "It's been like this since Boss last visited you. What happened?" Her question hung in the air, and Alex suddenly felt a bit flustered under her direct gaze.
"Hahahahaha!" Lilia's sudden burst of laughter filled the room, breaking the tension and leaving Alex utterly dumbfounded.
"W-What's so funny?" Alex asked, blinking in confusion.
"You should've seen your face!" Lilia giggled, doubling over as she held her stomach. "You were so flustered—it's hilarious!"
"Isn't that a bit of an overreaction?" Alex said, raising his voice slightly in protest, though it was still in that middle ground between speaking normally and trying to scold a misbehaving child.
"All right, all right, calm down." Lilia finally managed to catch her breath, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "I'm in no position to meddle in your business with Boss, so I won't ask more about it." She shrugged, her usual light-hearted tone returning as she plopped down in a chair beside him.
Alex sighed in relief, the tension in his chest loosening slightly. "Thanks," he said, sincerely.
"Oh, it's nothing." Lilia waved off his gratitude. "I might seem childish, but I can be mature when I want to, you know? I'm still an aspiring hero, after all." She smiled brightly. "Here's something to remember: Boss may seem scary at first, but he's one of the kindest heroes out there."
"I know," Alex muttered, his mind drifting briefly to Brandon. He knew better than anyone that Brandon was good-hearted, but the guilt of his situation still weighed heavily on him.
Lilia, catching his somber mood, brightened up. "Anyway! I'm going to grab breakfast. What do you want?"
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure it's wise to leave me alone here?" he asked, a hint of skepticism creeping into his voice.
Lilia rolled her eyes and waved him off. "Oh, come on, you're not going anywhere. You seem like a good person. You're just overthinking it," she said confidently, her voice light with assurance.
Alex let out a small laugh, deciding to go along with her carefree attitude. "If that's the case... could I have some melon bread?"
Lilia blinked, looking a little taken aback. "Melon bread? That's my favorite food! How did you know?" She leaned closer, her face inches from his, eyes wide with curiosity.
Alex, caught off guard, blurted, "I didn't! It's my favorite too!" He quickly pushed her back, his face growing warm from the close proximity.
Lilia grinned mischievously. "Really now? But yesterday, you were able to guess so much about me. My age, my height, what school I go to... even my favorite hero!" She crossed her arms, looking at him suspiciously, though the playful twinkle in her eyes remained.
Before Alex could retort, Lilia's stomach let out a loud growl, cutting the moment short. Her face turned bright red as she hurried to the door. "I-I'm going to get that melon bread now!" she said, rushing out of the room, leaving Alex chuckling softly.
For the first time since being transported into his novel, Alex laughed. It was genuine, not forced, and it felt good. As the sound faded, a realization dawned on him. This world wasn't some foreign land he'd been thrown into—it was his world. He'd written this place into existence. The characters, the settings, the plots... they all came from his mind.
"This is my world," Alex whispered to himself, the smile fading as determination took its place. "These are my characters. What am I so scared of? I know everything about this place. I created it. There's nothing here I don't understand." His heart began to race, his previous fears melting away, replaced with a growing sense of empowerment. "I don't need to be scared. As long as I am the author of this world, there's nothing to fear."
His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the edge of the bed. "I will give it my all to preserve the smiles of my characters, to make sure this world doesn't suffer." His voice grew stronger, each word fueled by the conviction building inside him. "My well-being doesn't matter. This world saved me before—now it's my turn to save it."
A familiar blue light shimmered at the corner of his vision, snapping him out of his thoughts. The system panel appeared in front of him, the mechanical voice echoing in his mind.
[Congratulations on succeeding in your first quest. Would you like to accept your rewards now?]
Alex's lips curved into a smile, his resolve firmer than ever.
"Of course," he said softly, his voice brimming with newfound confidence.