Rea
The day Rea arrived in Kingsground was when the first arc of the novel begun, and it started with a bang. The author had wanted to capture his audience with an epic introduction and that was exactly what he did. The first arc tells the narrative in three different view points. First Rea who came to the city to attend the academy par scholarship from the church was attacked by the Mask brothers. But Celestine arrived to save her pretending to be an ally while she's truly in cohorts with the famous assassins and was only trying to get close to Rea on Maduke's instruction hoping to steal the Immortal eye from the girl. Of course both Rea and the readers didn't know this details at this point but the first fight made for an enjoyable intro.
Next in another part of the city was the POV of Sin, my cousin. Sin was trying to bully some nobodies before princess Relda came to chastise him. But prince Weiss, Relda's younger brother, suddenly butt in and defended Sin. That exchange left questions as to why the royal siblings are so against each other.
And lastly Jack Highvoid arrived in Kingsground to receive the war order on Hnarve, which he had pushed for for seven years, and king Alford finally granted. But the details is story for another time.
For now, after we left the weapon store we continued shopping. In truth the girls were shopping while I just followed along bored to death. Celestine wanted new Crystalis like cloths; exaggerated dresses instead of pants and blouses; shoes, and bags. She even bought some for Cvela, and blue boots for me. Cvela's shoe was a pair of yellow stiletto heels. The older girl's eyes shined as she received the gift and in her silly way discarded her flat shoes, spiriting them away into her space before wearing the new one. She stood and hobbled this way and that for a moment before steadying herself.
I groaned internally at that and covered my face with my hand. She's going to slow us down wouldn't she? Ah!
After that we bought text and exercise books that we might need in school from a bookshop. Mother had given Celestine a list of all we'll need it seems, instead of me!____ that offended me. I hadn't even thought of books too! And I was suppose to be the 'grown up'.
My day grew only worse as moments later we were heading to a store before we'd stop for lunch when Cvela suddenly tripped and fell. We checked on her, it was the fault of the new shoe and she'd even sprained her ankle. The girl couldn't move so I had to carry her on my back. She kept muttering "sorry, sorry, sorry," to my ear but I ignored her with an angry scoff. Still it wasn't all bad, she felt so soft against my back. And smelled good too. This herbal scent is not that bad, what perfume does she use?
When we reached the store, a small yet grand incense store inside an alley. I lowered the 'Nimp slave' on a chair then went to the entrance and folded my hands across my chest as I stared at the street angrily. Ignoring anything happening in the shop.
By habit my mind scan was on, keeping tabs on everyone around me. From their happiness to their sadness and worries; I could feel everything. A thought suddenly occurred to me suddenly and I nodded having made a decision before turning to Cvela who was sitting on a couch studying her injured foot. Celestine was far inside the shop trying something. "I will be right back," I said then slipped out of the store.
Now let's see what's happening in the city.
According to the story after coming to the Kingsground city Rea found herself lost as she tried to locate her uncle's tavern she'll be staying at till the entrance exam day. She had visited the place once when she was seven and in her naiveness thought the city hadn't changed that much since then. She was wrong. So after walking for some time she found herself in the slums. That's where the masked brothers had struck.
I walked calmly through the street but my heart was thumping in my chest. Yes I know I was reincarnated into a novel, I had known that for so long that it's just fact but that fact had never been this stark. I was heading towards a scene I had read in a novel all those years ago. For a long time I had that small doubt___ or hope?____ in my mind, praying this is not a novel I am stuck in; with its destiny and future, and storyline that wants to happen. That I was just in a similar world to the novel and half the shit that happens in the future doesn't happen here. Whatever I find in the slums will cast my fate.
Shit, I could remember the feeling when this all started. I was excited I recall. You know that fluttery feeling in your stomach when you come across a book you really like? I felt it that evening. We had a fight with Sarah earlier that morning and I was looking for a book online to read my troubles away when I stumbled upon this one. It looked like the typical JP novel, but tired of those harem novels I usually consume, I was glad it had a female MC. See where it had gotten me. I still don't know if this reincarnation is a blessing or a curse.
Back to the plot. When Rea realized she was totally lost and couldn't find her uncle, she decided to go to the common bath house after a kind passerby took pity at her and told her the management might let her sleep there if she agrees to clean it come morning. It was after her business there that she had met the Mask brothers. So to find Rea I started asking for directions to the common bathhouse on the street. When I reached there I immediately spotted Rea sitting on a log bench beside the street with a depressed expression.
This protagonist..... No this girl. In the novel the bath manager had not agreed to hire her, he just kicked her out of the bathhouse. But as she came out of the bath she met with the assassins, and in connection Celestine. When the fight finished and the assassins retreated, Celestine helped her find her uncle and left with the girl's gratitude acquired.
I could leave now but no Celestine will come to help the lost girl find her way. My presence in this world must have changed everything so this is partly my fault too. My survival meant mother and Viktora did not start a war with my father, that means Jack didn't have to kill the both of them, and that also meant Celestine grew up with her mother and hadn't met Maduke. Maduke hadn't learned of the origin of the eyes from her, and, in a greater extent, Rea's importance. So he had no reason to send the assassins here. Happily ever after. At least I hope it's like that.
Still I am here and could help the girl, the hero I had rooted for in my past life. I had not forgotten the name of the tavern owned by Rea's uncle. It was one of those names you can never forget. It's called Har's Cup. Har for Harold; Harold's my my father's name. I walked over to the girl and called, "hey," she looked up at me a little fearful, her dog rose too looking nervous more than threatening. Don't be like that, I thought sadly, you are the MC. But you were always this shy and insecure weren't you? Even if you could kill me with just a thought. Well I have your name so that's probably impossible but... Ah!
Rea stood up shaking a little and bowed at me, her dog instantly lay down on the ground dramatically as if begging for its life. Tch, this guy! "Bless you my Lord," the protagonist said, "was there anything you want?"
"Not particularly," I shrugged. "I was just wondering why a sweet thing like you looked so glum," I have spent my former life talking to kids like that so it started bleeding in my tone as soon as it wasn't Celestine or Cvela.
"No... Um my lord. I am lost is all?"
"Interesting, where did you want to go?"
"My uncle's tavern, ah, I forgot its name and could not recall its location,"
"What's the name you remember?"
Rea frowned cutely. She's really a good looking innocent child. "Uncle Harold's glass,"
Seriously girl you should get marks there. "Is it Har's cup?" I suggested.
"Uh? Maybe?"
"Well do try that, I'll be taking my leave; I am a stranger in this city myself and remembered passing such tavern like that. Though I can not recall where for the life of me but you should ask around."
"Sure, Har's cup! But may I ask your Lordship's name?"
"Saint Coldfire, I came here for the royal academy entrance exam," I figured since we have already started talking I should as well strike friendship with her. It's going to be a painful future, I'm not an optimist, and friendship with the MC is going to be useful. After all she's going to become the most powerful person in the future and moreover she's the number one citizen of this universe.
A sweat smile lit up Rea's face and her brown eyes brightened. Her dog started shaking its tail happily. "So we'll be classmates then!"
I feigned surprise. "You are also here for the exam?"
Rea nodded her head, her eyes slanted happily.
"Then it's a promise, don't fail," I ordered then turned and took my leave.
"I won't!" Rea answered behind me.
Will she be OK? Meh, I wouldn't be blinded by her sweetness. She's the op bitch that's the nightmare of almost all respectable characters in the novel. She'll not only be alright, she'll make sure none of her enemies are.
With that thought I returned to the girls. Celestine was very angry but cooled down after I apologized. Then we decided to call it a day and go back to the inn.