I remember the days when I had just started high school. It was back then that I decided to talk to Gris. I did so on the first day of classes, when I sat next to her.
"Hey! Good morning, beautiful day, don't you think?"
"Oh, h-hi…" she replied.
At that time, she always had a somber expression, spoke very little, and it was rare to see her smile.
"What's with that face? Are you feeling unwell?" I asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.
"N-no…"
"Are you sad?"
"It's not that… it's just that we don't know each other, and, well, it feels a bit weird to open up to a stranger just like that," Gris replied, her head down.
"Hmm… I see. But… we're going to see each other every day starting today, so why don't we get along?"
I extended my hand and flashed her a warm smile.
"My name's Mila, nice to meet you!" I said, shouting as usual.
"So noisy…"
"Huh? Hey! H-how rude! I'm just trying to be nice!"
Gris let out a small smile and timidly extended her hand.
"My name is Gris. Nice to meet you, Mila."
Seeing her reaction made me happy. Making people smile is one of my passions. In fact, my inspiration comes from Trio Encanto. Watching how they bring joy to others has always moved me.
When I was consumed by sadness, they were my only solace. They saved me from the darkness. So, I thought: I want to be like that too. If someone needs my help, I want to make them laugh.
However, those convictions were being destroyed in this very instant.
A few minutes later, in that gigantic room, Leandra and Dasha continued their conversation. During that time, I had heard horrible things, I never imagined hearing from the people I admired the most in this world: The Trio Encanto.
This must be a bad dream… Or maybe I misunderstood something because of the distance. Yes, that must be it, I thought, clinging to that idea, like someone trying to escape a reality too painful to face. I, Mila Vellerth, was desperately denying the truth of what I was hearing.
But to my dismay, the cherry on top was yet to come.
"Ladies, sorry for the delay. Here is your Canard à l'Orange. Please, enjoy," said a masculine voice.
My jaw almost dropped to the floor. I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing. I rubbed them several times, hoping it was an hallucination. But no, it was still there.
"Warmi, Warmi! You took so long, I was starving~!" said Leandra.
"Leandra, calm down, will you? Oh, and thank you, Warmonger," Dasha replied.
In front of me stood Warmonger. That slimy aberration was wearing a black suit and holding a plate in his right hand, like a waiter.
Huh? What is he doing here? Aren't they supposed to be enemies?
I took a few steps back, feeling a deep dizziness. The world was spinning. This can't be! This can't be!
If what I was seeing was true, it could only mean one thing: everything I had believed in was a lie. All those people out there who thought these girls were the defenders of peace… They're all being deceived!
"Bump!" Without realizing it, I bumped into one of the furniture pieces.
"What was that?"
"An intruder? Kyaa, Warmi, do something!"
"Yes, leave it to me, ladies!"
Warmonger moved quickly across the room, heading toward where I was.
W-what do I do? What will happen to me if they catch me?
I backed down the hallway, trying to escape. Oh no! He'll catch me! What do I do? Then, I saw one of the many doors in the hallway slightly ajar. Without thinking, I entered and gently closed it.
"Huh? Seems like there's no one here…" I could hear Warmonger, Dasha, and Leandra's voices echoing down the hallway. It seemed they hadn't realized where I was hiding.
I just need to stay here for a few minutes and then leave without them noticing, I thought.
However, I was so focused on what was happening outside that I hadn't noticed where I had just entered...
Inside that room, There were children, men, and women of all ages and races, trapped inside cylindrical structures, which were held by a metal bar that ran all the way around the room. The people inside those structures were floating in a faintly glowing purple liquid, as if in a state of rest. There were so many of these structures that it was impossible to count them.
"W-what is this?" I said, mumbling. The fear made my voice crack and my hands tremble; still, I was able to get my phone out and snap a photo.
Then, a dark feeling took over me, as if something dangerous was observing me from the shadows.
"..." I looked in all directions, worried, but I didn't see anyone; just then, I heard someone speak, and the feeling was as though death itself was whispering in my ear.
"I was waiting for you, Mila Vellerth." The voice came from behind me—calm and menacing; it was a voice I recognized immediately, so I slowly turned around.
Standing there, dressed in a long black skirt with two katanas around her hips, was Katrina Erlenbaugh. Her sharp gaze made my fear grow; upon seeing her, I didn't notice her usual kindness and sincerity, for which she was known; instead, there was a cold and dangerous presence.
"K-Katrina... H-have you been waiting for me?"
Upon hearing my question, she nodded, though she still had that cold, venomous smile on her face. "Of course, we had an appointment at this place, remember?"
"R-Right!"
I felt a brief feeling of joy upon hearing her words, but it was soon changed to a feeling of fear. Something wasn't right; Katrina was acting weird and looked like another person, and of course, the sight of the people in those structures made my uneasiness increase even more.
"K-Katrina, but these people... What is this place? Oh! I get it. Warmonger is behind this, right? You called me here to help rescue these victims, yes? Then we must act quickly!"
I thought that Katrina's face would change upon hearing my words; however, her smiling face did not change. What did change was the aura surrounding her, becoming darker. "It's fine, Mila Velerth. "These people are where they belong." As she spoke, one of her hands tightly gripped the hilt of her katana.
"What?" My entire body froze in fear while my mind was desperately searching for a reasonable explanation for Katrina's words. "Is this the place where they belong? W-What do you mean?"
"This is the place where all the people who want to stand out end up," Katrina said with her voice full of malice, and after smiling slightly, she added, "These are the people who threaten the Trio Encanto's fame—people like you, Mila Velerth."
No... T-this... This must be a nightmare! I couldn't believe what I'd just heard, but when I looked at her expression, I couldn't find a hint of hesitation in Katrina's cold gaze. "Stop joking, Katrina. "It's not funny."
I looked once more at the people around me and thought, 'Will I end up trapped in this room too?'
However, Katrina scoffed; she responded as if she guessed my thoughts. "No, Mia Vellerth, you will have a much worse fate compared to these people."
Before I could process Katrina's words, she swung her sharp katana toward my direction; it was so fast that I couldn't anticipate it, and it grazed my left cheek.
"Ahhh!"
Katrina approached me slowly, with threatening and calculated steps like a beast ready to devour its prey. Seeing her, I began to back away as blood poured from the cut on my cheek, but I tripped on the many cables that were scattered around the ground.
"K-Katrina! What's wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?"
Katrina chuckled softly, although her eyes remained firm and emotionless. "Your teacher told me how obsessed you are with sorcery, Mila. At first I thought you were just a reckless girl, but that day we met, when I looked into your eyes, I saw her..."
"Her? Who are you talking about?"
Katrina ignored me completely and kept talking: "If I let you live, I have no doubt you will reach level five without problems! No... You could even reach level six." After a brief pause, Katrina added in a sarcastic voice, "But don't worry, Mila Velerth, before I take your life, I'll let you say your last words; after all, I like to show gratitude to my beloved fans."
I was confused; my mind was a mess filled with fear and panic; everything I believed about the trio Encanto and Katrina Erlenbaugh was a lie. The reality I believed in was falling apart.
In the midst of that overwhelming situation, a thought flashed through my mind: 'I can't die here! I must do something!'
I desperately took my phone and pointed it at her: "Stay away, or I will go live and show everything in this room if you don't stop!"
Katrina replied, "So? Go ahead, do it; who will believe you? It will be your word against mine!"
Crap, I hate to admit it, but she's right; it will be the word of the city's celebrated heroine against a nobody like me.
Tears began to flow from my eyes as I realized the reality: The Trio Encanto was not a group dedicated to fighting evil; it was quite the opposite: these three girls were only fighting to maintain their status and eradicate as much competition as possible, in other words, a monopoly.
Now that I think about it, it's obvious why these girls are the only level five sorceresses.
Suddenly, upon looking at Katrina once more, I noticed that she had her katana raised, ready to deliver the final blow. I instinctively closed my eyes, preparing for the worst, but at that moment I remembered a well-known phrase.
"Never meet your heroes."