"Act II: The Making Of A Hero"
The next scene was at a Church. Beautiful, but subtly oppressive. High vaulted ceilings were suggested through lighting beams angled downward. A massive stained glass showed angels defeating shadowy figures. Gold trim was everywhere. Almost too excessive.
A single bell toll echoed slowly three times. Each bell was slightly louder than the previous.
The curtains rose slowly.
Citizens were already kneeling. But no one spoke yet. The silence was almost as long as mine during my scene. A soft choir hum began, and all the citizens bowed their heads at the same time.
Athena, our pink-haired, bright blue-eyed female protagonist, kneels among them, although slightly slower than the others. Smart. She has made herself known to the audience as one of the main characters.
The priestess entered from an elevated platform. Her footsteps echoed in the silent church. When she raised one hand, the choir stopped instantly. It was as if power was just within her palm.
"Children of light…" She raised her hand toward the citizens. "Lift your hearts toward heaven." The congregation raised their heads simultaneously. The priestess looked a little short up close. I wonder what she'll look like in real life.
"We lift our hearts,"
"Lift your voices toward truth,"
"We lift our voices,"
"Lift your fears toward salvation,"
"We surrender our fears,"
Athena glances around subtly. Some worshippers appear devout; others appear exhausted. One mother even forces her child's head down when he looks around curiously.
The priestess slowly walked across the platform.
"The world beyond these sacred walls trembles," She said slowly. "Darkness gathers at the edges of creation." She looked at the stained glass windows. The choir resumed their soft, sustained harmony. "We must remember…darkness does not arrive suddenly. It seeps. Quietly. Patiently. Waiting for vigilance to weaken."
She paused.
"And when vigilance weakens…
…suffering follows."
"Suffering follows…" The crowd murmured.
"Tell me, children of light…what is the fate of those who welcome darkness?"
"Ruin," The crowd rehearsed.
"And what is the fate of those who resist it?"
"Salvation."
"And who delivers salvation?"
"Heaven."
"And who carries out heaven's will?"
There was a pause. Some looked toward Gideon.
"The faithful."
Athena watches on carefully.
"Faith is not merely belief. Faith is obedience." She continued walking slowly. "Doubt is the seed from which calamity grows." Athena's expression tightened slightly. "Those who question the light…invite shadow into their hearts."
"Long ago…our ancestors learned the cost of hesitation." She gestured to the stained glass window. "Darkness does not negotiate. It does not reason, nor forgive."
"Darkness does not forgive," The crowd repeated.
"The Demon Lord rises once more."
Murmurs ripple.
"A being who rejected heaven's order. A being who defies natural hierarchy. A being who seeks dominion over all races."
"A being who seeks dominion…or survival?" Athena whispers.
"We must not forget history's lesson." She gestured to another stained glass panel depicting humans suffering.
"Mercy toward darkness invites extinction."
"Mercy toward darkness invites extinction." They repeat automatically.
Athena lowers her gaze, and her hands tighten slightly.
"Today…
Heaven offers guidance once more."
The spotlight gradually shifts toward Gideon, kneeling near the altar.
"A protector.
A sword.
A hero."
Some in the crowd appear more relieved than inspired.
"Rise, Gideon Sterling," She commanded.
Gideon stood.
"Do you accept the burden of safeguarding humanity?"
"I accept."
"Do you accept the burden of confronting darkness?"
"I accept."
"Do you accept the burden of being misunderstood?"
There was a pause.
He was hesitating. That was not in the script. He was supposed to say it all confidently. Is there something wrong? Did he forget his line?
"Yes. If it protects others…"
"Do you accept that mercy toward evil may doom the innocent?"
"I accept."
She placed a hand above Gideon's head.
"Then heaven witnesses your resolve." She prayed.
"Speak your vow."
Gideon stepped forward.
"I, Gideon Sterling, swear upon my life to shield humanity from calamity.
I shall not falter before fear.
I shall not hesitate in the darkness.
I shall not abandon those who depend upon me.
I shall carry the burden others cannot.
And should I fall, let it be while standing between innocence and destruction."
The crowd murmured in approval. Some even wiped tears.
"Heaven acknowledges your devotion." She lowered a glowing sigil stamp toward Gideon's shoulder.
"Humanity now has its champion."
The crowd bowed their heads. But Athena studied Gideon a little longer than bowing, her expression thoughtful. Gideon smiled at her.
The lights slowly dimmed, and the bells tolled once more.
The priestess's acting was very good for this scene. Instead of relying on volume, she noticed a small detail in the script. A strong priestess's stillness will make the audience listen. She spoke calmly, paused deliberately, just enough to make the audience lean in. Even when she spoke softly, the entire room felt like it must obey her.
Authority that feels effortless is more believable than forced intensity.
The best part of the priestess's acting was that she felt…sincere, composed, morally confident, and even slightly unsettling. She made her character feel like someone who genuinely believed that she was protecting the world. Conveying the message behind her script.
However….Gideon looks righteous, but predictable.
"Scene 2."
The lights rise slowly, and Athena enters alone in the library, carrying a small stack of books. Carefully, she places them on the table and exhales slowly, as if leaving her public performance behind.
"Okay…either I'm terrible at choosing light reading…or this academy has very intense hobbies," She whispered to herself, amused.
She dropped the books gently on the table, and dust puffed up. "Cough!" She coughed lightly. "Right, ancient history. Definitely a relaxing way to spend the evening."
She opened the first book and read it aloud softly, "Human scholars cooperated with western demon tribes to improve crop rotation—"
She paused.
Tilting her head, she asked, "Wait…cooperated?" She flipped another page quickly. "I thought demons were supposed to eat scholars! What is this?"
Grabbing another book, she read it faster. "Demons lack structured society…" She blinked. "Well, that escalated quickly."
Placing both books side by side, she compared them. "One says they traded knowledge…the other says they barely have language…" She tapped the page thoughtfully. "This feels…suspicious.
She flipped the pages faster now, her curiosity growing.
It must be hard playing a dumb character.
"Here they're described as diplomats, but here…" She pulled out another book. "They're described as animals. Leaning back slowly, she sighed, "Someone is clearly exaggerating…or possibly lying."
The sound of footsteps approaching echoed through the quiet library. Gideon and an older scholar entered.
"What's wrong, Athena?" Gideon smiled.
"Nothing, Gideon." Athena looked up. "I was wondering…"
"Athena, dear, I need to train right now. Chaos will erupt in this very city if I am not strong enough to protect everyone. Abraham here will help you if you need anything." He pushed the older scholar forward.
"Okay…" Athena murmured.
"You appear troubled," Abraham commented after Gideon left the room.
"Troubled is a strong word. Confused would be more accurate," She said with a bright smile. "These feel like they were written about a completely different species," She gestured to the books.
"History often depends on perspective."
"Perspective doesn't usually turn scholars into monsters." She frowned.
"What interests you about demon history?" Abraham observed her.
"Honestly?" She leaned closer conspiratorially. "Everyone keeps telling me they're terrifying." A small playful smile formed on her lips. "Which naturally makes me curious."
"Curiosity is admirable."
"Dangerous too, apparently." She flipped another page. "People keep giving me that warning."
"Look here." She pointed at a paragraph. "Trade agreements. Medical collaboration. Shared festivals…" She flipped to a later text. "Then suddenly… 'violent creatures lacking empathy.'" She raised an eyebrow. "That is quite the personality shift."
Abraham folded his hands behind his back. "Societies often simplify narratives over time."
"Simplify…or edit?"
He says nothing.
"Stories become easier to teach when there's a clear villain."
"Clear villains create clear unity,"
"Unity is built on fear. That feels unstable."
"Fear can be effective."
They debated back and forth.
Finally, Abraham asked her a question, "If revealing the truth risks panic…will you still reveal it?"
"Yes. If hiding the truth risks disaster…would you still hide it?" She asked him instead.
"You say that now, but when the time comes, even when you risk being misunderstood, will you do it? If hiding a truth risks a disaster, would you still reveal it then?" He asked her the same question.
There was a pause.
Then, with a gentle smile, she answered, "Yes, I will." Her voice was steady and firm. "Secrets rarely stay buried forever." She glanced at the locked shelf of books.
"One can only hope they remain buried long enough," he said.
"Hope is not a solution." She smiled politely. "But thank you for the conversation." She exits slowly.
Looking at her retreating figure and back at the locked shelf of books, he says very quietly, "Curiosity always finds the door."
Blackout.
"That was…" I muttered.
"...good," Celeste finished for me. "She was good."
"You're finishing my thoughts," I stated. "You make us look like a real couple."
"Are we not? Oh, sorry," Celeste smirked. "Maybe we are?"
"You and your words are really…"
"Amazing? I know, right? I'm just so amazing that you can't keep your eyes away from me!!" She grinned.
I grumbled something under my breath.
"Scene 3."
The next scene was in a grand courtyard.
Athena stood near the fountain in the centre of the courtyard, reading a small notice posted on the board.
"Lady Athena," Gideon approached confidently, greeted by several admirers.
"Sir Gideon." She turned, giving him a small, respectful bow. "Hero of the realm seems really busy lately," She said playfully.
"I would prefer quieter days," He gave her a modest smile.
"And yet fate keeps giving you dramatic ones," She smiled respectfully.
"Someone must answer when danger calls," He paced around the courtyard.
"Do you ever wish danger would call someone else?" She studied him briefly.
"Responsibility rarely asks what we prefer." He paused to look at her.
"That sounds exhausting." She threw her hands in the air in exaggeration.
"Peace is rarely effortless." He smiled gently.
A messenger suddenly rushed across the courtyard and whispered something urgently to the noble group nearby. Murmurs spread like wildfire.
"Have you heard?" One says.
"Another border fortress has fallen!"
"They say the Demon Lord himself appeared."
Athena glanced subtly towards them.
"Long white silky hair…eyes as cool as the midnight sky…"
"They say beside him is this woman,"
"Yeah! Same long white hair as him…but eyes like burning embers…"
"Apparently, she walks through flames untouched!"
"That's scary,"
"No!! The Demon Lord himself is much more terrifying than her!"
"At least the woman shouts at them, but he…"
"...he never raises his voice."
"Never?" Athena couldn't help but ask.
"Never."
"Apparently, the silence frightens soldiers more than shouting!"
"Stories tend to exaggerate," Gideon brushed it off, sitting on the ledge of the fountain with Athena.
"Yet survivors describe the same thing!"
"Calm.
Cold.
Certain."
She watched their reactions carefully. "What kind of person inspires fear without anger?"
"A monster."
"Or a king."
"He is neither," Gideon said firmly. Getting up, he said, "He is an enemy of humanity."
Athena studied Gideon's expression. "Have you seen him yourself?"
"Not yet."
"Your certainty is impressive."
"His actions speak clearly."
"But some actions often have reasons."
"Some reasons are simply ambition."
"Or desperation."
Gideon raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by her answer. "You sound sympathetic."
"I was simply curious." She smiled lightly. "People rarely become legends without complicated stories."
That was our cue.
"Let's do this." Celeste glanced up at me.
"Yeah." We both drew our swords and stepped onto the stage.
"Look!" Someone shouted. Everyone turned to see us, our silhouettes at the far end of the stage. The smoke surrounded us, preventing them from seeing us clearly.
I stood composed, Celeste close behind me. Very close. Too close for mere politics. Celeste's hand lightly rests on my arm, but I do not move away. Instead, my fingers subtly intertwine with hers.
Bold but elegant.
Whispers spread.
"That must be him…"
"The Demon Lord…"
Athena watches us silently.
I turn slightly towards Celeste. "After this, I'll let you have me all to yourself, okay?" She whispered into my ear, tilting her head.
It was supposed to be a whisper, but yeah, a whisper that the audience could hear. Some blushed, others squealed.
My expression softened almost imperceptibly. "Okay," I responded quietly. She smiled genuinely, lightly nudging my shoulder. Oh? A subtle dare? I exhaled slowly, amused but composed.
Noticing, Athena said quietly, "That does not look like cruelty."
"Appearances deceive."
"Sometimes…" She murmured.
I looked out across the city, my gaze briefly passing over the courtyard. The spotlight was shifted to me.
"He looks…" She stopped herself.
"Ruthless," Gideon finished for her.
"No, Gideon. Lonely…"
Gideon glanced at her. "Loneliness does not excuse destruction."
"Nor does righteousness guarantee innocence."
I gently place my cloak around Celeste, and she smiles knowingly. "Be good today…and I might reward you," She mouths. At least from Athena's perspective, she mouths something. She lightly taps my chest twice. A challenge. I raise my brow slightly and lean in slightly closer. "If you keep looking at me like that…I might want to continue from last night right now," I whisper near her ear. Her confident expression falters briefly, and the heat rushes up to her cheeks. "My, my, were you always this sensitive?"
It was a small stage, so everyone could hear everything, even if it was supposed to be a 'whisper'. Sigh, this is so embarrassing. Even Athena is blushing, though she's trying her best to hide it.
"Th—there's n—no fear between them," She stuttered.
"D—devotion to e—evil i—is still de—devotion," Gideon looked away as well.
"Or devotion misunderstood," Athena managed to calm herself down.
The two of us exited the stage.
"Celeste! What was that?"
"No, Lucas, what was that?"
"What were you doing?" The two of us asked each other at the same time.
Celeste was still steaming hot from just now.
"I took it as a challenge from you," I replied calmly. I'm not the one embarrassed here. But this still ruins my reputation.
"Did you see the way he looked at her?" One asked.
"Powerful love."
"Thoughtful…" Athena murmured.
"Whatever affection he shows changes nothing."
"Emotion often changes everything."
"You are unusually reflective today. Walk with me?"
She hesitated, then accepted, "Of course." They walked slowly.
But Athena glances once more toward where I stood.
Then, as the lights dimmed, the spotlight shifted to a single white feather drifting towards the ground. As it touches the ground, the lighting darkens slightly, and the feather appears to be…grey.
"Scene 4."
The balcony overlooked the neutral territory garden. Moonlight bathes everything in a silver-blue glow. White roses climbed up the marble pillars. And in the centre of the left side of the stage, a small table was laid with untouched tea. The lower stage was the garden area for Athena and Gideon to enter later. Parallel staging is more impactful, allowing the audience to watch an emotional contrast.
I enter first, standing at the balcony's edge, looking out over the silent garden. Celeste stands close beside me, her shoulder lightly touching my arm. I pretend not to react.
"You have been quiet all evening," Celeste said in a soft, teasing tone.
"Peaceful moments deserve silence."
"You mean you enjoy making everyone else nervous?" She leaned in closer. "It's working, by the way."
"Fear sharpens observation." I glanced down at her briefly.
"Or distorts it." She gently adjusted the collar of my coat.
"You're unusually bold tonight."
"Am I?" She tilted her head slightly. "Perhaps I simply enjoy testing your composure," She laughed.
I took her wrist gently. "You assume I possess limitless restraint."
"Do you not?" She smiled knowingly.
"Restraint is a decision, not a guarantee."
She looked pleased.
"Then I shall continue to test your decisions." She stepped closer towards me again. My thumb was still resting against her wrist. I didn't release it immediately. Instead, I studied her expression.
"You trust me completely," I said quietly.
"With everything." There was no hesitation in her words. "Even the parts you hide from the world."
There was a pause.
"Especially those parts." I released her slowly, reluctantly.
"They fear you."
"They fear what they do not understand."
"And what they refuse to understand."
"Fear is easier to maintain than the truth."
She studied my expression carefully. "You are carrying too much alone again."
"Sharing burdens becomes burden multiplied."
"Burden shared becomes survivable." She slightly pressed her forehead against my shoulder.
I closed my eyes. "You should not stand so close to danger."
"You are the safest place I know." She smiled slightly. "Besides…" She lowered her voice playfully. "If you truly wished distance, you would step away." I did not.
"You and your curiosity," I sighed.
"I am curious about why there is no hesitation in your eyes." She looked up at me.
I exhaled quietly, amused. "You are aware that others would consider this inappropriate."
"Others are not of my concern." She paused. "Are they yours?"
"Everything is my concern."
"Even your enemies?" She studied me carefully again.
"Especially them."
The spotlight shifted to Athena and Gideon as they entered from the garden pathway below the balcony.
"The roses are beautiful at night." Athena smiled.
"Beauty often hides danger," Gideon murmured.
"You see danger everywhere lately," She laughed lightly.
"Because danger is everywhere lately. Even more so now that we're in the neutral territories."
Athena paused when she noticed my silhouette above.
Her breath caught slightly.
"That's him," She whispered.
Gideon followed her gaze. "Yes."
She observed me having supper with Celeste, Celestia to her.
"Lucian does not behave like a tyrant."
"Tyrants rarely announce themselves honestly."
The spotlight shifted back to us.
"You are thinking too far ahead again," Celeste sighed while struggling to cut a piece of steak.
"I am thinking precisely as far as necessary."
"You always say that," She groaned.
"Because it remains true." I silently placed the already cut pieces of steak on her plate.
"You once promised me something," She started.
"I have made many promises to you."
"You intended to keep this one." She watched me closely. "You promised you would survive this."
"..."
"I promise I will try."
"Trying is not enough." She put down her cutlery.
"Then promise me something else."
"Name it."
"Do not lose yourself in this war."
There was a subtle pause.
"I began this war to prevent something worse."
"Then let me help you carry it." She stood up abruptly.
"You already do." I gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Thank you, Celeste." I smiled. A very warm smile. The type of smile I made for Mom after she had made pancakes for Ella and me. That smile was last seen three days before that happened.
Down below, Athena couldn't look away.
"He speaks as though the war was necessary."
"Every villain believes themselves justified." Gideon crossed his arms.
Athena turned to face him. "Not every villain protects someone so carefully."
"Affection does not absolve cruelty."
"No." She shook her head. "No," She repeated, walking towards Gideon. "Cruelty rarely looks like that."
Now the spotlight was split into two, shining on both Athena arguing with Gideon, and me with my lovely conversation with Celeste.
I looked over the garden, admiring the white roses, my head resting in my hand. Celeste was smiling and laughing about something.
"Haha," I laughed along with her. "Ha…" My laugh faltered.
My gaze briefly met Athena's.
Time froze.
I did not look surprised. Instead, I studied her calmly, as though evaluating something unseen. Athena feels the intensity immediately and lowers her gaze.
"Lucas? What's wrong?" Celeste frowned.
"Nothing," I muttered. "I was just thinking that…"
"History will only remember what it is permitted to remember," I said softly.
"Then we shall leave something unforgettable, together." Celeste's voice was firm.
"Together…"
Following the script, I stood up from my seat and walked towards the balcony. Facing the audience now, I looked up at the moon above us.
"If the world insists I become its villain…
…then I will become a villain history cannot ignore."
Athena hears this, and her emotion visibly shifts.
Gideon watches me carefully. "One day, I will stop him."
"Perhaps," Athena said quietly, but she did not sound convinced.
Walking over, Celeste gently linked her fingers with mine.
"No matter what happens…
…you will never face this world alone." She smiled softly.
Smiling back at her, I reached out to pull her into my arms.
The curtains closed as our two silhouettes were left frozen as a single feather with grey edges fell.
"WHOOOOO!!!!" The audience clapped. The applause didn't stop until the announcers announced the end of Act II.