The afternoon sun shone weakly over the ruined village. A strong wind blew through, stirring the fallen leaves across the ground, while an air of tension hung heavy in the atmosphere. The villagers had been awaiting the arrival of Emi, the summoned heroine meant to save them.
Alex walked behind Emi, his steps slow and deliberate. He wasn't here to be the protagonist—in fact, all he wanted was to stay out of the way and avoid attention. The world already had enough drama, and he didn't want to be part of it. But inevitably, Emi dragged him everywhere.
Emi, with her usual enthusiasm:
"Don't worry, everyone! I'll take care of this! Alex, stay back—I don't want you to get hurt."
Alex nodded silently, watching in silence. It was the same routine as always. Emi would be the hero, and he would stay on the sidelines. If only he could disappear completely into the shadows...
—
A roar echoed from deep within the nearby forest. Emi wasted no time—she raised her wand and began to prepare a spell. Confident in her abilities, she aimed toward the sound's origin, expecting her magic to be enough.
Emi, full of determination:
"Come on, monster! You're about to witness the power of a true heroine!"
But when the monster emerged—an enormous beast covered in black scales—Emi frowned. The spells she cast barely affected it. The creature continued advancing, its massive body shrugging off most of her attacks.
Emi (panting):
"Why isn't it…?"
Monster (roaring):
"RAWR!"
Alex watched from a distance, feeling the pressure of the situation. He didn't want to step in, didn't want the spotlight—but a part of him couldn't help but worry. And no matter how hard he tried, something inside him always pushed him to act.
—
Somehow, without meaning to, Alex activated his ability. He wasn't even aware of it, but he could feel a strange energy in the air—something unseen, but clearly affecting Emi. Just as her magic seemed to be failing, Emi felt a sudden change.
Emi (suddenly stronger):
"This is it! I can do this now!"
In that instant, she cast a stronger spell than before—one that finally managed to injure the monster. With one final push, the beast collapsed, leaving behind only the echo of its fall.
Emi (smiling, exhausted):
"I did it! Thanks to my magic, we beat it!"
Alex, hidden in the shadows, couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort as Emi took all the credit. No one knew he had intervened. No one knew that the strength she'd felt came from him—but he didn't care. All he wanted was for people to leave him alone.
—
Despite the victory, Alex tried not to draw any attention. While Emi was surrounded by the villagers, celebrating her "heroism," Alex kept to himself, staring at the ground. He didn't like attention. He didn't like the idea that anyone might think he had done something to help—when all he really wanted was to stay invisible.
Emi (smiling and thanking him):
"Alex, we did it! Thanks for always being there!"
Alex (with a faint smile):
"It was nothing, Emi. You just did what you had to do."
Even though Emi looked at him with genuine gratitude, all Alex wanted was for things to calm down. He didn't need recognition. He just wanted everything to go back to normal. But as always, Emi kept pulling him back into the center of the stage.
—
As Emi continued receiving praise from the villagers, Alex felt more and more trapped. Even though he didn't want to be part of the story, his power kept playing a crucial role. Without his help, Emi wouldn't have been able to defeat the monster. But no one knew. No one saw him as the true hero.
Emi (with a sincere smile):
"Alex, really—I don't know what I'd do without you. You're always there when I need you the most."
Alex tried to remain as distant as possible, but Emi's words made him feel a weight he didn't want to carry. It wasn't that he didn't want to help her—but the fact that she depended on him more than she realized made him deeply uncomfortable.
Alex (thinking to himself):
"I just… want to live in peace. Why can't I just disappear from all of this?"
But fate had other plans. He couldn't escape the way their paths were intertwined. No matter how hard he tried to stay in the background, his power remained necessary—and Emi kept needing him.
—
As they returned to the village after defeating the monster, a mysterious figure appeared on the horizon, watching from the shadows. A man—cold and calculating—stood as if he knew exactly what Alex had done. No one else seemed to notice him, but his eyes were fixed on Alex, sending a strange chill through him. How did he know what had happened? And what did he want?