World's Best Protagonist [BL]

[Jade’s POV]

If anyone told me a year ago I’d be strolling through a desolate mountain like it was a damn nature retreat, I would’ve thrown my socks in their faces.

Yet here I was—dressed lightly in a coat unwashed for a week already, casually side-eyeing a weakened monster that could probably eat my face off if it weren’t half-dead. I shivered from the breeze of the cold night. Cold seasons are not my thing, though I like the rain.

Terrius was near the ice cage he created, his hands on the wall, checking the trapped monster inside once more. He was very cautious. Just how many times does he check the state of the scary guy inside? He was too busy...way too busy as if he was forcing himself to focus on something instead of someone else.

I sighed as I looked away from him. He was frustrating to look at, honestly. Somehow, I can relate to him. I’m also afraid of bringing it up, scared that the person won’t take it the way I want them to.

"Cowardice won’t get me anywhere..." I mumbled as I walked away. My gaze landed on the band of knights playing card games around the bonfire.

I decided to give them some space. Mostly because every time that monster caught a whiff of me, it twitched, and the knights were disturbed. Another fight would break out.

Yup. We’ve been fighting. They were pushing our patience to the limit by attacking the ice cage whenever the three of us looked away. We couldn’t tell them the reason, so they couldn’t understand.

Thankfully, after Allen fished out a box of Cuajo cards inside Lexie’s suitcase and taught them how to play, they’ve been gambling since then.

I strolled in the direction of the forest. Allen decided to tag along after seeing me leave on my own. He was humming like we were just two boys out picking flowers.

"Aren’t you cold?" I asked him after I hugged the coat tightly to myself. He shook his head and just smiled at me. What is he smiling about, though? He’s surprisingly in a good mood tonight.

Still, I couldn’t shake the nagging twist in my stomach.

"I wonder if Claude and the others made it out," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "They’re tough, but you never know. Etienne has a way of attracting near-death experiences. Like a magnetic curse."

Allen chuckled. "Look who’s talking." I looked away, pretending I didn’t hear anything. "Captain’s a smart leader. He doesn’t let his ego get in the way. If it’s dangerous, he’ll retreat without hesitation."

"You’re right."

"Are you worried?"

"Are you not?" I turned to look at him. Allen and Claude had been together for two years now. For me, it’s only been five months since I became part of the team.

Allen looked ahead. He seemed lost in thought all of a sudden. Then, he answered after a while of silence. "...I am, of course, but not the same way you did."

Huh? What? In what way? Do I worry on the right, and he’s on the left?

Looking at my dumbfounded expression, he laughed. But after that, he rubbed his nape and sighed loudly.

"Walking with you like this, under this starlit night sky, felt like a midnight date." I choked on air. He laughed again. He’s really happy tonight. He turned to me, tapped my shoulder, and said, "Let me dream, Jade."

I faked a laugh, but the weight in my chest didn’t lift. Not fully.

Just as I was about to say something very deep and philosophical—something on the lines of ’you’re a great guy, you’ll find someone better’, Allen bent down and—

"Ah!"

His laughter broke into the night. It was so loud that the owls in the forest nearby would be ashamed to hoot. His eyes were crinkled, and he was enjoying my astonished, a little bit scared, face.

"WHAT IN THE—Allen! Put me down right now or I will kick you in the liver!" I shouted from above. This melodramatic guy just lifted me!

"You’re surprisingly light," he said with a grin. "Are you eating enough? Want me to start cooking for you?"

Is this payback for indirectly rejecting his advances? I’d like to shout, but that would be too low. Besides, even though I like someone else, I still don’t want to erase that box smile and crinkled eyes on his face.

"Are you nuts? You’re not even carrying me! Let me down and—" the wind blew. We were nearing the forest. It was still cold, but the cool breeze blowing my face was...refreshing. "On the other hand, it feels good over here."

I waved my hand to him. "Continue."

He just laughed and spun me around like I was dancing with the wind. I kicked his shoulder lightly, but I was laughing too, a little breathless. I felt so free as I floated in the air. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Flying is one of my childhood dreams."

Allen looked up at me. I looked back at him, grinning. "Like Superman?"

He chuckled while nodding. "I still think that having power is weird. But I was over the moon when I awakened. Do you ever think that way, Jade?"

I glanced at him. "Hm, ever since I learned that I’ve been using my ability unconsciously, yes. Every day. Usually, when I’m on the toilet."

"If I hadn’t awakened, I might have been dead already."

My body froze. I fixed my gaze on him, waiting.

"It was my cat," he said. "Bibi. He jumped on the balcony of my room on the third floor to chase a bird in the tree, and was stuck, got scared to come down after climbing too high."

I gasped. "No."

"Yes."

I was somehow relieved that it wasn’t related to having powers—like he was a terminally ill guy who suddenly healed because of the awakening. Because if that is, then, once everything goes back to normal, so will he.

"And you—"

"Climbed out the window. Because I’m an idiot."

"Correct."

He grinned. "The branch snapped. We fell. I thought we were done. But then—poof. We floated. Both of us. Just drifting like leaves."

I stared. "You got your powers saving a cat."

"Yeah."

"That’s actually... kind of poetic." I looked away, half-hiding a smile. "Though you nearly dying to rescue a cat is on brand."

"It felt incredible," he said, eyes distant now. "That moment. Floating. Like, I could just keep going. Up and up, out of reach of everything. I didn’t want it to end."

He was quiet for a bit, then added, "So, I wonder if I can keep it once the world tilts its axis on the right way. It’s impossible, I know. I think I will be sad if I can no longer fly."

Everyone will have to adapt to the changes again. That’s life.

"Allen."

"What?"

"There’s this activity called skydiving, you know."

He laughed. "Yeah, I know."

"You’re rich. You can do it every day. Once everything is normal again, let’s all do it together. You pay..."

I paused. Ah, right. It will only be him, Lexie, and me. Only the three of us. And if in some cases, I need to stay in the World Tree, only two of them will remain to tell our story.

"That...will be great."

He held my hand. Now, I’m like a balloon he was holding, floating just above his head. We stayed like that. He didn’t complain even if his arm was raised for a long time, grounding me next to him.

We returned to the camp after our random talks. Terrius was now leaning on the ice wall, his hands crossed on his chest, and his eyes were closed. He opened one eye after he sensed our arrival, but he said nothing and shut his eyes again.

I approached him. "Need cleansing?"

He nodded without looking. I sat next to him and touched his shoulder. "I’m sorry." He didn’t answer immediately. I guess he was a bit mad?

"...For what?"

"You know, for wandering to that place without your permission."

"Can you control it?" Terrius finally opened his eyes and stared at me. I shook my head. "Did it happen to someone before?" I nodded. "I see. You don’t have to apologize. I was completely lost, so it’s a fragment that probably drifted to you, and you have no control over it."

"That’s one thing. But the fact that I tried to be involved is still wrong. Sorry for that."

"You cared. I’m grateful. But some things are better left unsaid."

He closed his eyes after that, indicating that he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. So, I just stayed quiet. I tapped his shoulder once I finished, and pointed at the circle, saying I’d joined the knights playing.

However, I haven’t left his side yet, when a bright light appeared and almost blinded us. All of us stood on guard. The light slowly faded and revealed a group of ten people in black cloaks. The first to step forward took off his hood.

"Etienne!"

I ran to them. Claude and Lexie followed. The knights threw the cards away and rushed to greet the duke as well. Allen and Terrius joined. The three of us were starstruck, though, after seeing Etienne in a flowy royal blue dress, a bit messy on the hems.

My jaw fell. "Er...Etienne?" Someone bumped my shoulder. When I looked up, I saw Terrius staring somewhere else. I followed his gaze, and there he was, Noir, in a stunning dress as well.