Rou sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the ceiling. He had expected the academy to be a chaotic mess, but this was something entirely different.
The memory of his conversation with Elise from yesterday floated to the surface of his mind.
Flashback
Rou:
[...So, what's the village called?]
Elise paused for a moment before answering.
Elise:
[Verdamere. It's a small village near the eastern borders.]
End of flashback
Rou:
(Verdamere... As I thought...)
As he leaned back, his thoughts drifted to the game. That name—Verdamere—he remembered it vividly. In the original timeline, Amelia was the one who helped that village. It had been a crucial turning point, solidifying her role as the heroine. Her actions there not only earned her the trust of the villagers but also caught the attention of several love interests.
Rou frowned, rubbing his temple.
Rou:
[This is bad... If Elise is stepping into Amelia's role, what's going to happen to the story? Isn't this the part where Amelia shines and earns her 'heroine' badge?]
The more he thought about it, the more the timeline seemed to unravel before his eyes. Elise taking this task into her own hands wasn't just a minor deviation—it was a massive shift.
Rou:
[Why is she getting involved? Is it just her sense of duty, or is there something bigger at play here?]
He sighed, ruffling his hair in frustration. Every action he took seemed to ripple across the world, twisting events into something unrecognizable.
Rou:
[... Maybe it won't be that bad,] (he muttered, though the sinking feeling in his chest said otherwise.)
Verdamere had been a pivotal moment in the game's story—not just for Amelia's growth but for the relationships it forged and the enemies it exposed. If Elise was the one stepping in, what new challenges would arise? Would Amelia even get her chance to shine at all?
Rou exhaled, falling back onto his bed.
Rou:
[This isn't just a story anymore... I need to make sure Elise doesn't get herself killed. Knowing her based on the game, she wouldn't try anything that doesn't really give her benefits...but now... it feels like she'll rush in headfirst without a second thought.]
He stared at the ceiling for a moment longer before sitting up, determination flickering in his eyes.
Rou:
[Guess I'll have to see this through.]
With that, he began preparing himself for what was bound to be another long and eventful night.
Night came...
The academy gates loomed in the moonlight, their iron bars casting long, dark shadows onto the cobblestone path. Rou approached the meeting spot, hands shoved in his pockets, his expression a mix of curiosity and mild annoyance.
Near the gates stood Elise, her posture straight and composed, though her fingers tapped lightly against her crossed arms. Her face lit up with recognition as Rou stepped into view.
Elise:
[You're late.]
Rou stopped a few feet away.
Rou:
[Maybe if someone had given me a better explanation earlier, I wouldn't have had to sneak around like a thief to get here.]
Elise ignored his words, stepping closer and lowering her voice.
Elise:
[This isn't the time for complaints. We need to go over the plan.]
Rou leaned casually against the gate, raising an eyebrow.
Rou:
[Alright, let's hear it.]
Elise:
[The village I mentioned… The branch family has been extorting the people there, and their actions have left the village in shambles. Food shortages, sickness spreading unchecked... and there's something else. I suspect a darker force is at play.]
Rou tilted his head, intrigued despite himself.
Rou:
[A darker force? Like what?]
Elise hesitated, her voice lowering further.
Elise:
[I can't confirm it yet, but there's a strange energy around the village— I think it's demonic aura.]
Rou:
(DEMONIC AURA!? Impossible! No... How? Wha-...WAIT.. Calm down....)
Rou let out a sigh
Rou:
[Wait... How do you know it's a 'demonic aura'? You've dealt with this kind of thing before?]
Elise shifted slightly, her gaze briefly flickering to the ground before meeting his eyes again.
Elise:
[When I was eight, I was attacked by a demon. It left a mark on me. I don't know if it's the same thing, but the energy I sensed in that village—it felt familiar.]
Rou froze for a moment, processing what she'd said. He knew her backstory from the game, but hearing it from her, spoken so matter-of-factly, was different. He'd never expected Elise to have that kind of nostalgia.
Rou always thought of her as strong and resolute, but this? It was personal.
Rou:
[... That... that's not something you hear every day. You've got more experience with demons than I thought.]
Elise gave a small nod, though her face remained serious.
Elise:
[I don't know a lot about demons, but the feeling I got—when I was there, it was unmistakable. Something's off.... Rou... I need your strength. If there's truly something in the village, I'll need help containing it.]
Rou looked at her for a long moment, his brow furrowing in thought. He was no stranger to dangerous situations, but this... it was something else entirely. He glanced up at the night sky, the weight of what they were about to take on settling in his chest.
Rou:
[Alright, so... a corrupt family... No offense, a suffering village, and now a demonic presence... Sigh... Fine... I'll help you]
Elise let out a small smile.
Elise:
[We need to go there first and confirm everything. But we'll also need a plan just in case.]
Rou crossed his arms, sizing up the situation.
Rou:
[Yeah, but how are we going to deal with this branch family? They're the ones causing most of the trouble.]
Elise's jaw tightened at the mention of the Vandorea branch family.
Elise:
[We'll need to gather evidence. If we confront them without it, they'll deny everything, and we'll just be seen as troublemakers. We need leverage.]
Rou:
[Got it, and let's not forget about the demonic part. We don't know what we're dealing with yet. That could get messy."
Elise's expression softened for a moment, her voice lower than before.
Elise:
[I know. That's why I need you.]
Rou, though still apprehensive, could see how serious Elise was about this. There was no backing down from her once she had a goal in mind. Rou let out a sigh, rubbing his forehead.
Rou:
[If we're going up against... demons... and corrupt nobles, this'll be a hell of a lot more complicated than just a little village rescue mission.]
Elise:
[Let's just make sure we can save the village before everything falls apart.]
Rou glanced at the gates, then back at Elise.
Rou:
[You know, for a young girl like you to have concerns regarding the safety of a village. I'm quite shocked you're just 11 years old...]
Elise:
[Aren't we the same age?... Although, I don't know how demi-dragons age and I do apologize if I mistook you as having the same age as me.]
Rou:
(I mean I'm older than you in my past life but at the same time, I can't say for sure if i should agree to it or not...)
[I... Yeah... We're the same age...]
Elise looked at him without a response before she proceeded to discuss the plan.
As they began discussing the finer details of the plan, the weight of the task ahead felt heavier than either of them had anticipated. They had no idea what dangers awaited them, but they both knew this would change everything.