Aria had always believed she was a reasonable person.
She paid her bills on time (mostly).
She never skipped breakfast (unless instant ramen counted).
She didn't pick fights with strangers.
And she definitely, absolutely, **positively** never intended to become the center of a prophecy.
So the sight of three overly handsome men staring at her as if she were the world's last drop of water made her take a very steady breath.
"Okay," Aria said, holding up a hand. "Pause. Time out. Everyone stop being dramatic for ten seconds."
The three men froze.
Literally froze.
As though the very idea of casually stopping was foreign to them.
Aria pointed at the silver-haired swordsman first.
"You. Kael, right? Why were you waiting for me in a forest like some tragic statue?"
"I was not a statue," Kael protested stiffly. "I was completing my sacred vigil."
"How long?"
"…Three weeks."
Aria blinked. "You camped here for three weeks waiting for me to fall out of the sky?"
He nodded, deadly serious.
"It was my duty."
She turned to the bright-eyed Rio next.
"And you—how exactly are you my childhood friend? I have never met you."
Rio gasped as though she had stabbed him.
"You don't remember our bond?"
"There *is no bond*," Aria insisted.
"But in my dreams," Rio said dramatically, "we grew up in a small village—"
"Dreams don't count!"
He looked heartbroken. Kael patted him on the shoulder sympathetically, though he still looked confused.
Finally, Aria pointed at the mysterious mage who was staring at her with unsettling fondness.
"And you, Lucien."
He smiled like a man who would definitely blow up a city for the person he liked.
"Yes, my heroine?"
"Stop calling me that."
"I apologize. My heroine."
"That's the same thing!"
Lucien bowed. "Forgive me. Fate gave me only one vocabulary for devotion."
Aria inhaled slowly. A headache gradually bloomed.
---
## ⭐ **The Problem Becomes Worse**
Before she could attempt an escape plan, the ground trembled.
Something was approaching. Something big. Something loud.
*Thud. Thud. Thud.*
Aria braced herself. A monster? A dragon? Another man?
It was another man.
A tall figure in a suit stepped out from behind a tree, straightening his tie like he had been casually waiting backstage for his cue. His silver spectacles glinted as he bowed elegantly.
"Pardon the intrusion, Heroine. I am Silas Grey, butler to the Royal Household. I am here to escort you to the capital."
Aria blinked. "Where did YOU come from?!"
He smiled politely. "The bushes."
"Why were you in the bushes?!"
"It is a butler's duty to anticipate dramatic entrances."
Kael sighed heavily. "Why is he here already? He appears in every prophecy event."
Rio looked offended. "He teleported in before I could even finish my welcome speech!"
Lucien narrowed his eyes. "Suspicious."
Silas ignored all of them with the practiced grace of someone who had seen too many idiots in his lifetime.
"Heroine," he said, offering his gloved hand, "if you would kindly follow me, we can avoid the next narrative complication."
Aria stared at him.
"…There are MORE complications?"
"Of course," Silas replied pleasantly. "The prophecy always begins with minimal subtlety."
As if on cue, the sky darkened. Clouds swirled ominously.
A lightning bolt struck the monolith behind them.
A giant glowing text appeared in the air:
**MAIN STORYLINE: INITIATED**
**QUEST: GATHER THE TWELVE CHOSEN**
**STATUS: 3/12**
Aria let out a long, defeated breath.
"I want to go home."
Kael shook his head. "You cannot. The worlds are sealed."
Rio added, "Don't worry! I'll help you adapt!"
Lucien bowed. "You will never know loneliness again."
Aria took a step back.
"…That last one is a threat."
Silas cleared his throat politely.
"Heroine, if you do not wish this situation to escalate, I recommend we leave immediately."
"Why?" Aria asked, suspicious.
The butler calmly pointed at the forest.
Because it was catching fire.
A giant beast emerged—horned, armored, and very angry—stomping toward them with glowing red eyes.
Rio yelped. "A Berserker Beast?! Why is one here already?!"
Kael drew his sword. "The prophecy summons danger near the heroine."
Lucien smirked. "How romantic."
"STOP calling destruction romantic!" Aria yelled.
Silas adjusted his gloves. "Heroine, if you please."
With no other choice and zero faith in fate, Aria grabbed his extended hand.
And thus began her very reluctant journey.
Dragged into danger.
Surrounded by dramatic men.
Bound by a prophecy she wanted nothing to do with.
And fate whispered softly—
**"This is only the beginning."**
---