The palace hall was spacious, with high ceilings adorned by elegant frescoes depicting the kingdom's past victories. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, bathing the queen's figure in a golden glow as she sat upon her throne of white marble. Beside her stood her daughter, Princess Leona, watching the newcomers with a gaze that couldn't quite hide her interest—especially in one of them.
As usual, Alex kept to the sidelines, observing the room with a mix of curiosity and indifference. Though he didn't want it, once again he found himself in the middle of something he would've preferred to avoid. He sat slightly apart, trying not to attract attention, while Emi—his friend and apparently the main heroine—enthusiastically recounted her success in the village mission.
—"We did it!" Emi beamed, speaking to the queen, while Alex merely nodded in silence, avoiding making a fuss.
The queen looked at her with approval, her expression warm and proud of the young woman who somehow always managed to draw every eye.
—"I'm glad everything went well, Emi," the queen said, her voice gentle but full of authority. "I'm sure many will feel relief knowing the danger has passed."
At that moment, Alex turned his attention to the other summoned heroes in the room—some of whom seemed completely uninterested. With a sigh, he began to reflect on each of them. As usual, he stayed out of the action, but he couldn't help pondering the abilities of those who were seen as the true "heroes."
First, there was Hiroshi, a dark-haired young man with a cold stare. His power was time manipulation—an ability as impressive as it was dangerous, though burdened with the responsibility of not altering reality too drastically. He often appeared lost in thought, seemingly more concerned with the consequences of his power than the mission itself.
Then came Ayumi, a tall girl with long blond hair and a confident smile. She could control water, manipulating rivers and oceans with just a gesture. She was considered one of the most dangerous heroines by many kingdoms, but her carefree attitude often gave the wrong impression—that she didn't take anything seriously.
Next was Emi, his best friend and the leading heroine, whose ability was the control of light. Emi could create nearly impenetrable light barriers and fire energy beams with a flick of her hands. Her power was remarkable, but what stood out most about her was her cheerful spirit. She was always smiling, always chasing fun—even in the face of danger. Her eyes held a gleam of determination, but also the brightness of someone who didn't want to miss out on youth.
Finally, there was himself—and the prince, whose royal status made him stand out in an entirely different way. Alex sighed as his thoughts returned to his own ability: the power to strengthen those around him. While he couldn't fight like the other heroes, he could make his friends, like Emi, stronger and more resilient—quietly supporting them without anyone noticing. Always from the shadows. Though his power could be incredibly useful, he preferred not to reveal it.
The prince—athletically built, with dark hair and piercing eyes—stood near the queen, watching Emi with an intensity that didn't go unnoticed. Despite his royal stature, he seemed a bit nervous, something Alex picked up on quickly. The prince stepped forward, speaking to Emi with a tone colder than the situation warranted.
—"It's interesting how all the important heroes have missions in other kingdoms," he remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of jealousy as his gaze briefly landed on Alex. "Strange that a hero like you, Emi, remains here so calmly."
The queen raised an eyebrow in disapproval, though her smile never faded. It was clear the prince's interest in Emi went beyond the political—but his tone also carried a thinly veiled disdain for Alex, which he couldn't openly express.
—"Each of them has been sent to a different kingdom to assist our allies," the queen replied with patience, almost tenderness. "They all have a role to fulfill—including Emi, who will soon travel to face new challenges."
Alex let out a soft sigh of relief at the mention that Emi would be sent elsewhere. That meant no complicated missions or powerful enemies for him—his ability, while helpful, didn't compare to the others. He had no magic, no flashy combat skills. His place was in the shadows, helping from afar without attracting attention.
Before he could say anything, Emi unexpectedly approached him. In one swift motion, she hugged him tightly around the torso. The queen watched with amused interest while Princess Leona frowned, clearly uncomfortable with Emi's affection for Alex. Leona's expression shifted from surprise to a mix of jealousy and disdain—something Alex noticed immediately.
—"Don't worry, Alex," Emi said with her usual cheerful tone, looking only at the queen. "You're coming with me on this trip too! We'll face whatever comes together!"
Princess Leona clenched her jaw, clearly displeased. She watched Emi—messy hair, carefree attitude—win everyone's favor with ease, something Leona, always polished and perfect, couldn't understand. Emi never followed the rules, yet she always got what she wanted.
With a teasing smile toward Leona, Emi turned back to the queen, as if savoring some small victory over the princess.
—"Told you!" Emi added with that same confident grin. "We've got Alex on our side, right, Your Majesty?"
The queen nodded without hesitation.
—"Of course, Emi. I have no doubt in either of you. You and Alex are both a great help to the kingdom. I'm sure you'll do wonderfully together."
Still caught in Emi's embrace, Alex sighed again, knowing that his fate was, once more, sealed. Even if he didn't want to be involved in any of this, he couldn't help but be pulled into the center of things—not because of his ability, but simply because he was close to Emi. He couldn't deny that something inside him made him want to help her, even if he preferred to stay hidden.
Princess Leona watched him with eyes full of resentment, while the prince, on the other hand, looked at Emi with a mix of frustration and unspoken desire. As for Alex, he merely nodded, not saying a word, knowing that his role—though secondary—was already written. And no matter how much he wished otherwise, fate clearly had other plans for him.