Rein couldn't help but feel out of place. As the hero's party gathered around to discuss their upcoming expedition, his mind wandered again. He couldn't shake the feeling that he might just be a hindrance. He had no magical powers like the others, not really—not like Diana or Kael, whose abilities were downright impressive. His magic, whatever it was, was weak. His spells never seemed to do much more than cause a breeze or maybe light up a candle. What use was someone like him in a situation where real power was needed?
As they sat together, everyone was focused on their strategy for the expedition. Everyone but him. He could feel the weight of his insecurities pushing him down, tightening in his chest.
Diana, however, seemed to notice. She leaned over and nudged him gently.
"Hey," she said quietly, "you're thinking too much again."
Rein glanced at her, trying to smile, but it came out more as a faint, uncertain curve of his lips. "I don't know what I can even offer. I don't have magic like the others. I feel like I'm just... in the way."
Diana's gaze softened. "You're not in the way, Rein. You have something that can help. Even if you don't have the flashiest magic, you've still got a lot to offer. Sometimes it's not about raw power. It's about knowing your strengths—and knowing when to help. There's a place for you on this team."
Rein stared at her, unsure of how to respond. The thought of actually being helpful, of being useful to the group, felt so foreign.
"I'm just... worried," he admitted quietly. "I don't want to be the one who holds everyone back. I don't want to be a burden."
Diana gave him a soft smile, one that spoke volumes. "We all have our doubts. Even the hero's party doesn't have all the answers. It's okay to feel uncertain. But what you can do is still important. We're all in this together."
Rein nodded, though the anxiety didn't fully fade. He felt slightly better with Diana's reassurance, but the fear still lingered.
Just as the conversation started to settle, a loud voice cut through the air.
"Look at this," one of the other students sneered, "the little slave boy getting a pep talk from the princess. What, do you think you're really part of this expedition? You're just a pretty face. You don't even belong here."
Rein tensed at the insult, the words stinging more than they should. His classmates had always made fun of him, calling him nothing more than a pretty face and a toy for women to gawk at. It was their way of reminding him of his past, of what he used to be—a slave.
One of the other students, a particularly cruel one, shoved Rein hard in the chest. "Stay out of the way, slave. The real heroes have work to do."
Diana shot to her feet, her expression hardening. "Don't talk to him like that."
But before she could do more, the group of students advanced on Rein, pushing and shoving him with angry, mocking laughter. It wasn't the first time they'd treated him like this, but it hurt just as much every time.
Rein's heart pounded, and for a moment, he just stood there, frozen, feeling completely helpless.
Just then, a blur of motion appeared in the doorway. Emilia.
She was like a shadow, slipping through the room with effortless grace. In an instant, she was there, pushing past the students who had been tormenting Rein. One by one, she knocked them aside with swift, controlled movements. The students, stunned and intimidated by her power, quickly backed off.
Rein stared, wide-eyed, as Emilia stood protectively in front of him.
"Enough," Emilia said coolly, her voice carrying an edge of finality. "If you want to keep your lives, you'll walk away. Now."
There was no argument, no hesitation. The students scrambled away, not daring to challenge Emilia's fierce gaze.
Rein, still in shock, looked up at her. "You... you didn't have to do that."
Emilia didn't respond at first, her eyes scanning the room before she spoke again. "I know. But I don't like seeing you treated that way."
Diana stepped beside him, her gaze full of concern. "Are you okay?"
Before Rein could respond, Emilia's sharp voice cut through the air. "He's fine." She moved quickly, pushing past Diana and crouching down beside Rein. Her presence was commanding, her eyes narrowing as they briefly met Diana's. "He doesn't need your pity," Emilia added, her tone cold but protective.
Diana stepped back, taken aback by Emilia's sudden intervention. Rein, however, felt a strange sense of comfort in Emilia's actions. Without waiting for any further response, she gently pulled Rein to his feet, her hand firm on his arm as she guided him away from the room.
"Let's go," Emilia murmured, her eyes still scanning the room as if daring anyone to challenge her. She didn't say anything else as they moved into the hallway, but Rein could feel the weight of her gaze, the unspoken words hanging between them.
Once they were out of earshot, Emilia finally spoke again, her voice softer now. "You don't need to deal with them. Don't let people like that get to you."
Rein looked at her, unsure of what to say. The situation had unfolded so fast, and he was still processing everything. But the feeling of being in her presence... it was different. Stronger, more grounded.
"Thanks," he said quietly, his voice thick with gratitude. "I didn't know what to do."
Emilia's eyes flashed with something unreadable. Her voice was a little colder than before. "You don't even know what to do with me, do you?"
Rein blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
Her gaze hardened, and she crossed her arms. "You don't remember anything, do you?"
Rein furrowed his brow, feeling a pang of discomfort. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Emilia's face twisted in frustration. "You really don't, do you?" She clenched her fists at her sides, her usual composure slipping. "You don't remember me, after everything we've been through?" Her voice was low, but it carried an edge of pain.
Rein took a step back, feeling the tension in the air. "I don't— I don't remember you." The words came out slowly, as if he wasn't sure of them himself.
The silence between them felt heavy. Emilia's eyes narrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Unbelievable," she muttered, more to herself than to him.
Rein, still feeling lost, opened his mouth to ask more, but Emilia cut him off.
"You'll figure it out," she said, her tone still sharp but tinged with something else—something like regret. "Or maybe you won't. But don't mistake my help for something else." She turned on her heel, her steps echoing in the corridor as she walked away.
Rein stood there, his chest tight and his thoughts scattered. What had just happened? Why did she seem so angry?
He wanted to call after her, to ask what she meant, but instead, he stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do next.