Click click click

It felt uncomfortable, these clothes were too tight. His feet were hurting inside of these leather things they called shoes. His freedom of movement was restricted in just about every way. His arms couldn’t bend as much as he wanted them to, his legs couldn’t be raised as high as he needed. Every movement felt stiff and awkward.

The constant clicking of his heels felt uncomfortable as well, it was too loud. It gave his location away with every step he took.

He could feel the gazes of several on him. Among the civilized folk. His darker tanned skin and long hair made him stand out here.

Walking into the academy, he steeled his nerves.

This was an invaluable opportunity for him, the cost of attending this place wasn’t cheap and his tribe had to scrape together all that they could for him to attend here.

He was the future of the tribe after all. He was Killian Halu’an.

Learning their knowledge, forming connections, developing his own skills and ensuring a stable future for his people. A lot of responsibility rested on his young shoulders.

Just then, he felt a presence knock into him from behind. Still not used to the movement in these clothes, he found himself on the floor in moments.

"Out of my way jungle boy."

Killian glared at him, clenching his fists and mobilizing his mana.

Only to let go, he couldn’t risk it. Getting expelled would just disappoint everyone back home, he needed to at least graduate.

He grit his teeth, barely forcing out the words.

"Sorry."

He could feel more stares land on him, like those of a predator stalking its prey, and he was the prey.

Getting up and dusting himself off, he let out a sigh.

Five years. That was all he had to do.

Just withstand this for five years.

He already expected this to happen. Like a deer in the city, he was easy prey. Even if he felt like retaliating, even if he felt like fighting back or standing up. He couldn’t do anything.

Just then, the people around him went silent. Conversation dying as people’s attention shifted to something else.

Stepping inside, a person that Killian could only describe as beautiful emerged. Each step regal and confident, her presence alone was dignified. Radiant like the sun, her hair was a shade that Killian had only ever seen a few times. Her eyes glittered, calmly passing over everyone in the room.

There was no tension, no hesitation. Just pure

effortless confidence.

He found it hard to look away, the way the light seemed to shine on her. Her silhouette and posture, everything about her screamed nobility.

The furthest thing away from him.

Killian quietly put a hand to his chest. Feeling his own heart race.

"What is this...?"

End of scene.

---

Raymond read through the scene again, quietly shooting Nicole a side eye.

This was just completely historically innacurate again!

Killian may have been discriminated against for his background in the academy, and since this was before the machine which could measure potential score was created. He didn’t have any real proof of talent to fall back on.

But that didn’t mean he just took it laying down!

Before Killian was known as the hero he was now. His life in the academy made him out to be a vastly different person.

He was supposedly called the restless fist back then. The name alone should have explained it enough. But it was because of the fact that his fists never got to rest with how often he delivered beatdowns, always looking for a new target that tried to look down on him.

Despite the several trashings he gave however, he was never even punished once!

Because the Asing Tribe he was from, had at this point. Fully integrated into society, their invaluable skills in hunting and jungle traversal made them a key in early developmental times during the war when cities were just starting to become more isolated from each other, building up walls and learning to be self sufficient. With how important of a role they played back then, he only ever received warnings about his behavior.

If anything, Killian was proud of his background! Not embarrassed, and definitely not just someone who got pushed around like this.

Also, Killian never had long hair! Rather, the signature slicked back hair was something he had had for basically all his life.

At least the part about Viviana was kind of true, as the most promising up and coming mage. She attracted a lot of attention everywhere she went, more so then scions from other Families.

Raymond didn’t even know why he was so concerned about historical innacuracy at this point. The whole play was crazy in the first place. Whoever came up with the idea probably wasn’t sane.

Ellen seemed quite pleased with the script however. Likely because the majority of the play was just Killian struggling at the bottom, before rising to the top. All the while, she essentially remained pristine and amazing in every scene she appeared in.

In contrast, there were several scenes of Raymond where he was constantly being kicked down, pushed around and hit by bullies, and monsters alike.

At least he didn’t actually have to be hit, but still. Reading about how his character would be continuously beaten up made him pity Killian (in the script not the real one).

Raymond’s final complaint was the fact that. Wasn’t Killian an archer? Why were so many of these fight scenes close quarters combat?

He could understand the earlier ones in which Killian stood up to one of his bullies, before Viviana stepped in to stop them. But these fights against monsters, why did so many of them end up with Killian wildly swinging his bow around like a staff?

Even Ellen wasn’t that barbaric!

She always carried around her two daggers with her for a reason after all. Although she did beat quite a few things to death with her bow.

Sometimes, the situation just necessitated it.

But it shouldn’t be a constant! If you were going to use a bow like that, why even use a bow in the first place?

Speaking of the script.

Raymond flipped to the last few pages. Searching for the specific scene.

---

It was just the two of them now.

Seeing her stand in front of him, Killian thought back on all that he had achieved in his life.

He had gone from a mere tribesman, seeking to improve his people’s life. Into a hero now practically worshipped by the people. He had gone from near the bottom of the barrel, all the way to as high up as he could go. The peak of humanity.

Slaying monsters and demons alike, becoming an SS-rank, being known as a hero.

Everything he had done so far in his life, he had always done it for one purpose.

He wanted to be worthy. Worthy of her.

He wanted to stand next to her, look at each other not just as friends. But as her equal.

Was this enough?

No. It wasn’t enough. It was never enough.

Not when she was known as the Amethyst of Ruin. Not when she was one of the two SSS-ranks of humanity. Not when her Family still rejected every single proposal. Not when she was so stunning.

Not when there were others more deserving of her. He wasn’t the strongest, or the fastest, or the smartest. He wasn’t even the best looking. All those titles belonged to his other companions in the party.

Not when she was so out of his league. So close yet so far away.

It was frustrating, no matter how hard he tried. The distance between the two of them never got any closer, when he thought he had finally caught up to her. She would merely take another step forward.

She was like a star in the sky, even when he knew he wasn’t worthy. He still yearned for her.

All this time, he kept these feelings bottles within. But now, maybe he had kept it bottled too long. Even if he wasn’t worthy. He just wanted to tell her.

"Vivi..."

She turned, her beautiful eyes glimmering in surprise as she looked at him.

"Killian?"

Yet standing in front of her now, Killian felt the words get stuck in his throat.

The silver moonlight seemed to shine on her, the peace that they had fought so hard for. Now reflected in his eyes.

He clenched his fists, closing his eyes.

"I...like you."

"I’ve always liked you, ever since we first met. I fell in love with you, each day we spend together. I feel myself falling in love with you more and more."

Silence.

Killian slowly unclenched his fists, still keeping his eyes closed.

He had done it, he didn’t know what would happen now. But that was fine, what mattered was that he had finally been able to tell her. Even if...

"Killian. Open your eyes."

Her voice sounded different, like she was a lot closer to him then bef-

Mmph—!

Pulling away and opening his eyes, Killian could see a slight blush on her face. A smile on her face as she stepped back.

"You..."

"Actually...I’ve always felt the same about you. All this time, I always liked you secretly."

The End.

End of scene.

---

Raymond felt a knot form in his stomach.

Just imagining him in Killian’s position, saying that to Ellen...

Wow. He was really starting to regret this now.

Quietly glancing at Ellen. She still remained as composed as ever however. Like this was all routine work for her. Barely even skimming through the script.

With how calm she was, it felt like if Raymond made a fuss about it. Then she was winning, and he absolutely couldn’t tolerate that!