Disclaimer: MGLN belongs to 7arcs. I own nothing but the plot.
Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1. Say Hello.
'…the fire spread wildly through the castle—scorching the ground white with its power, sending a thick stream of darkness into the once blue sky. Swords went against shields, barriers were casted to fend off summoned spells and most of all blood was shed on that day. A woman's loud order was heard throughout the chaotic mess—issuing a command to her people.
"Get the innocents out! Don't panic—douse the fire with water! Front lines, keep your guard up!"
She levitate calmly there amongst the destructions, magical pulses radiating off of her in endless waves, making her long white robe whipped around her being like an angel's wings. Her opponent would have to disagree, however. She was no angel.
None would live after a skirmish against her.
The one and only…
The White Devil of Arcadia.'
The throat gulped as a hand flipped over the page, trembling slightly in excitement. It was clear to anyone's eyes at this moment that the girl, who was lying on her front on the comfortable queen-sized bed, was completely taken by her reading to care about her surroundings.
Wine-red irises focused on the words that were written on the pages religiously while a slight tremor ran through her body. Soft gasps and several sounds full of awe tumbled out of the pink lips unconsciously as the words put images in her mind, and delivered to her a movie that had pretty much sucked her soul.
Fate Testarossa, age 17, was obsessed.
With a fantasy novel, Arcadia, that she has 7 copies of—all of them sitting there side by side in her bookshelf…and yet, only one copy was uncovered off of its plastic protection.
People her age would perceive her as odd…
Why would a beautiful, 17 years old teenage girl prefer the company of a book during this lovely Sunday morning, rather than the company of a human being?
The reason was simple.
This book…Arcadia…was pretty much Fate's whole world.
She loved the book…she lives in it.
And she adored her.
Ever since the first time Fate had read about her, she was completely enamored by the White Devil of Arcadia, the main protagonist of the book. The general of the Arcadia Kingdom's Royal army who was an enigma, a mixture of everything that contradicts, a very confusing person with wits that would make the reader smile and nod in approval and delight.
A well rounded and realistic character in a fantastical setting…how could not Fate like her?
The blonde had followed the White Devil's journey ever since the latter was little girl, tracing and marking her steps through history until she became the strongest and most famous General in Arcadia's universe…Fate even felt that she knew about this character better than she even know her own mother! She knew all about the White Devil as though that person was her own sister, and she could gladly bragged about it in this online forum she visited.
Yes, forum…online.
Fate's not that much of a people person.
Born shy, grew up shy, and was still shy 17 years later.
That one problem there made something as simple as making friends as hard as climbing the Eiffel tower during a hot summer day. Well, that was an exaggeration, but the theory pretty much proves the point. She didn't really have someone she could call a friend.
Thus was why—upon reading Arcadia and coming across the White Devil, it was pretty much engraved in her mind that this stubborn general was her friend…albeit in a wonky, strange sort of way.
Yes, her mind was weird.
Letting out a satisfied sigh, Fate placed her bookmark snuggly in between the pages of the slightly worn book before closing it carefully. She was done reading for the day, there's no need to rush finishing the book since she know it inside and outside anyway. The girl sat up and stretched her numb arms, still smiling because of the book.
She had read until the part where the White Devil bathed the battleground in bright pink lights and proceed to blast the whole lot mercilessly after setting up barriers around her people. That big feat done all by her…it was amazing! It made the blonde shiver in excitement from just thinking about the powers that woman clad in white possessed.
Her thoughts were broken by the loud beeping from the digital clock placed on her bedside table.
'It's almost dinner time.' Fate noted as she brought her arms to her side, eyes still staring at the bright red neon lights. She didn't really feel like cooking tonight…cooking and eating for herself was something she's used to, but her mood was in a rather weird place right now and it would be a good idea if she just buy a takeout dinner and be done with it.
Heavens know that she needed to go out of the house more.
And with that, the girl stood up from the bed, snatched her wallet and grabbed her coat, before she heads out into the slightly chilly night, leaving an empty house behind.
~888~
The trip to 7eleven was done rather quickly, and Fate heaved out a misty breath as she stepped out of the warm convenience store. She had bought a bento and a warm canned coffee for dinner tonight, and some chips and onigiri to snack on while she read the rest of Arcadia's chapters.
A smile found itself upon her face as she thought about her favorite book. She has half a mind to write a fanfiction about it once she's done re-reading it for the thousandth time, thus was why, with an excited little sound escaping from her throat, the blonde girl made her way back to her house.
The night was particularly chilly today since it was nearing winter, so there weren't that many people outside walking at this hour. Probably some salary men coming back from work, some of them walking and mumbling drunkenly which Fate know were the ones that had a particularly hard day at work.
Not being one who's socially active, Fate has always contented herself with people-watching, and after several years of practice she could safely say that she's pretty good at reading people non-verbally. And that works much better than words could in getting to know a person.
Feeling the temperature starting to drop, Fate quickened her footsteps. Her skin was already prickling thanks to the cold and she found herself longing for the warmth that her room provides with its comfortable heater. Crimson eyes glanced at her surroundings as she traced the familiar road back home, hands shoved deeply inside her coat pockets for added warmth since she forgot her gloves at home.
The once rhythmic steps faltered as something caught the burgundy red eyes by the intersection.
A group of guys were huddling around something, laughing jeering and pointing. All of her instincts were screaming for Fate to ignore this and go straight home, but a part of her was curious. She has a bad feeling about this…and for once she wanted to go against her instincts. It didn't come as a surprise when several moments later she found herself walking closer to the group.
"Ahahahaha! Look at this! What the hell—fortune telling?"
One of the guys jeered, his foot playing with something that was on the ground, round in shape and made out of…glass?
"Ne, obaa-san, you're too desperate if you're doing this for a living. Go do this someplace else! This is our territory!" the one that looked like the leader pushed aside a desk that was set up and send tarot cards flying everywhere. Tea cups shattered and the boys laughed even more at the mess.
Frowning, Fate walked closer, and while trying not to get noticed, and in midst of the group of guys, she saw something that made her heart ache in sympathy. A small figure dressed in a black robe was huddled on a stool in fear, making squeaking noise that was drowned by the jeering. It reminds the blonde so much of a familiar scene that happened to her at school, being surrounded by people helplessly without being able to defend herself.
More laughter jerked her out of her daydream and her feet stopped moving when the round thing that was played by one of the guys rolled towards her. A foot stuck out to stop the ball and Fate realized that it was a crystal ball as she picked it up.
'This must have costs a lot…' she thought as she studied the well made crystal ball, and her heart goes to the poor woman. Clenching her hands, she made up her mind, and the blonde wished for any luck the Gods could give her as she walked towards the group.
"Hey," her voice was clear despite her fear, and that was enough to stop the laughter and drew their attention to her. Fate fought with her habit to cower as eyes turned towards her, even from the cloaked person who was huddling on the ground right now "stop it. You're being a nuisance to the neighborhood."
Fate couldn't believe it.
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
She sounded so cocky and the blonde had to hold back a cringe that threatened to take over on her face.
The girl shivered when the guys stopped their activities and advanced towards her. Seeing from their annoyed faces, she knows that what's going to happen now was not going to be as easy as it goes in those manga. Should she start praying now? She couldn't move from her spot anyway.
Burgundy eyes closed in reflex as they got closer and Fate braced for the world of pain that was to follow—
"HEY!"
A deep voice roared out and it shocked Fate that her eyes snapped open. A policeman that was going on his nightly rounds shined his flashlight at them "hey! You scoundrels!" he was eyeing the group of boys that backed away at the sight of him.
"Dammit! Let's get out of here!" they scattered away like paper blown by the wind and ignored the fact that their punching bag was left behind blinking in shock. The policeman ring his bicycle's bell in annoyance before got on his trusty steed and rode after them. Fate blinked as the policeman whizzed by her and yelling something at the boys.
She didn't waste time before she went to the cloaked woman's side.
"Are you alright?" she helped the lady up gently, not wanting to be rough in case this woman was hurt. The cloaked woman gave a timid nod and a small bow of gratitude.
Fate wondered of what this lady looks like, because she couldn't see the face "um, are you hurt anywhere?" her eyes glanced over and saw that the cloak was a bit dirty, but not ripped.
A shake of the head was given and she gave an 'oh' in return. The blonde fidgeted in her spot, feeling her social awkwardness came up once more in the face of this stranger. Her people quota for the day was full and she really REALLY needs to go back home.
"Um…umm….okay. Er, here," she handed the crystal ball back to its owner "umm, be careful on your way back." Blushing a bit because she was talking with a stranger, Fate gave an awkward bow before she ran for her life—err, ran for home.
"Wait!" a voice rang out and halted her in her steps. That made the blonde turned around and was surprised to hear that it was a girl's voice that came from under the cloak.
"Y-yea?"
The girl in the cloak seemed to squirm in her spot and fiddled around with her crystal ball before she replied back "uh…thank you…" Bright eyes peeked from under the hood that Fate only caught a glimpse of.
But that was enough to make the blush on her cheeks to deepen into an intense red. This person's gratitude warmed her heart more than her coat could do. That brought a small yet sincere smile to Fate's face as she nodded back in return.
"And—" the girl spoke out once more, earning the blonde's attention once again "be careful…a storm of change is coming your way." The way she spoke the warning was soft, but the words seemed to echo in Fate's mind who heard it loud and clear.
The chilly wind blew by and strengthening the eeriness of the situation. The blonde girl then realized that the hair at the back of her neck was standing up for some reason…fear creep into her heart and Fate fought the urge to whimper.
The cloaked girl gave another nod at her before turning away to tidy up her belongings that were on the ground.
Fate opened her mouth to inquire more about the…mysterious warning, but the circumstances were against her tonight. She decided that it was enough excitement for the day and without thinking twice, she turned around and continue her way home, walking quicker than necessary.
Without either of the two girls knowing, the crystal ball glowed dimly against the blanket of darkness.
~888~
Fate didn't know why it became that way, but she figured it must all be because of that fortune teller's weird warning. The following day after that night, the blonde had gotten paranoid, even more paranoid than usual, that she began to act strange because of it. The fortune teller told her to be careful…but of what?
Because of lack of sleep, caused by nightmare, she couldn't concentrate well in school and gym was a horrible, horrible time because of it. It was basketball day and God knows how many times she missed the passes her teammates threw at her, and that made her day worse than usual. Her out of town mother called after she got home and practically said that she's disappointed in Fate for not having the perfect grade the last midterm. After years and years being told as disappointment, Fate didn't take it that hard…but it still hurt nonetheless. And in that miserable state did the girl fell asleep. Crying softly not because out of sadness, but out of frustration and disappointment at herself.
Why couldn't she be what her mother wanted her to be?
Sobbing to herself, Fate couldn't deny that she's lonely and miserable. The reason why she's so obsessed with the book was because she was lonely. She couldn't get any friend even though she tried, and well, the only people who paid attention to her are the bullies…if she may say. The blonde wished that she had someone who's there just for her…
And ease this loneliness…
