I’m The Heroine!?

Stories are what my life is made of. They are filled with magic words that induce my imagination to grasp the possibilities of the future.

Or so my father says. I don’t understand big words myself; I’m just an adolescent girl who only needs to eat potatoes every day.

But this story is about no future. I think the best story to tell is the one that happened 2 years ago, the one to explain who I am now. The one that turned my entire life upside down for better and for worse.

But mostly for the better because I don’t like sad endings!

This is me, Lucia Velvetora, age 13. I’m standing in the middle of my small, farming village near the town meeting center. My attire is quite plain: a one-color dress made of the cheapest fabric that Mom found from the traveling merchants. Worn-out shoes that have seen hours on the farmland. Ankle-high socks that have not been purified by soap and water since last week. Around the mud-bricked well are all of our lovable citizens with similar outfits and stature. The only difference is their miffed attitudes from the interruption in our routine.

Why? It’s because of those odd knights clad in white and gold. The Sinclair Army: a bunch of soldiers who fight for our hospitable land known as Sinclair. I mean, I haven’t seen any of them in my entire life, even though some supposedly protect the village.

So tell me… Why are they pointing at me!?

“You! Dark-purple hair! Azure eyes! Come with us!”

“DID I COMMIT A CRIME!?” I fit the description. I have a singular braid behind my head that runs horizontally as a boundary for my straight hair. The ends are pretty ragged, but the colors they needed are truthfully mine.

“Now, now.” My mom comes over to console me. She’s in her farming wear: blue overalls a shade lighter than our azure eyes, and kneaded shirts to keep her rough forearms from any pain. Her hair is short and less vibrant in its former purple hue. “Lucia. It’s ok. As long as you didn’t do anything bad-”

“I stole from your allowance once,” I state.

“Off with her head.”

“NO, MOM! PLEASE!”

“I’m joking.” She faces the knights with one firm turn. “May I ask why you need my daughter?”

One of them takes off his helm, revealing a soft pair of ice-blue eyes and beautiful eyelashes. It is paired politely with his silky, blonde hair. “We’re here to retrieve the heroine.”

“The heroine!?”

“You mean the one who will save the land of Sinclair!?”

“Incredible!”

“Wait, how is the awkward and loud Lucia the heroine!?”

YOU ASK ME, MAN!

There were no objections. Mother gave me everything I needed before I embarked on this odd trip. I watched her tears fall into the dirt before I could no longer see her in the red horse-driven carriage.

“Uh… um… Mister!”

“What is it?” The blonde knight looks at me with such an odd expression.

“What the hell does heroine mean?”

“Your language is crude,” he remarks.

“Ah! Forgive me!” I state. “Off with my head-”

“Quiet. I can see you’re quite the talkative lass with some prudent jokes.” He gives me some ragged documents on this brown paper. “See, our Oracle has determined that a girl named Lucia Velvetora will be the destined heroine to save our lands.”

“Right…” I stare blankly at the handsome man. “And how exactly am I going to do that?”

“Now that…” he gazes intently into my azure eyes. “The Oracle said you would know how to do it.”

“HUH!? HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE!? I’M A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO KNOWS NOTHING EXCEPT FARMING!”

“Yeah, don’t ask me. I’m just a lowly knight.”

I can tell he’s downplaying himself. “Come on, mister. I expect to receive some nice stuff, correct? I can use magic, right?”

“Uh, if you could use it before, I guess you can.”

“Don’t tell me I got drafted for a war I have no clue I’m fighting for! Is this nationalism!?”

“You know, for a 13-year-old girl, you’re quite knowledgeable,” the knight remarks.

“Nah, I just quoted a book,” I admit, twirling my hair. “My dad used to read me so many books he received from Sinclair’s Capital. And I really enjoyed it. It was my dream to go to the capital and learn about all the experiences he had there.”

“And where is he, I might ask?”

“He cheated on my mom. After that, Mother was protective of any boy who tried to get close to me. Oh, and she kicked him out and kept his stuff. Really harsh punishment, but Mother said it was reasonable.”

“Ouch. I was expecting to hear he was dead. In fact, it might be better if he was dead after that.”

“Oh come on! That’s way too dark!” I stare at the knight. Yeah, he’s a real hottie. How exactly is he fighting on the front lines? “Well, I guess I don’t remember too much about my father. It’s the stories he told that stuck with me.”

“What kind?”

“Beginner’s Guide to Farming. How to do Housework. Being a Lady.”

“Why are they all tutorials for life skills!?” The knight exclaims.

“Because that’s what my life needed at the time. Simplicity, repetition, and perfection.” I look at my calloused hands. “I’m pretty good at what I do, whatever it is I do. Anyway, I just named the boring ones. The ones I really love I won’t tell.”

“I see… I’m sure as the heroine, you’ll have an awesome time in the capital living out those stories you love.”

“SWEET!” The carriage has made its stop. I leap out and do a little twirl. Now, let’s see the city…

I pause, twitching my head to the blondie who just got out. “Uh, what is this?”

He sighs. “This is the Capital.”

Father, you lied to me.

The compact houses lined up across the stone-brick road seem ready to give up after fighting a futile war. The people look nice, both humans and demi-humans, though far fewer demi-humans. Oh, it’s my first time seeing them, too. And mages and magic!

Wow, my eyes are sparkling! This is awesome! Sorry for not being more descriptive, because I don’t know how to describe new sights under the all-encompassing blue sky! But, to be simple! Hooray!

…if it weren’t so run-down, though! It looks like my village, amplifying an even worse pessimism! What kind of capital looks like the boonies, too!? That’s so offsetting from the novels my dad used to share! Everyone looks like today is their last!

“The land of Sinclair has been in some dire straits financially,” the knight sighs. “This is the best you’ll get.”

“Wait, why!?”

“The neighboring kingdoms have discovered we lack resources. They are using any method to get us to give up and join one of them.”

“May I ask how many n-neighboring kingdoms we have?” I quiver.

“Let’s see.” The pragmatic man holds out an unapologetic 4. “4 Kingdoms!”

“Oh, man! A 1v4 isn’t fair!” I complain.

“Not so loud, Ms. Heroine. If you attract unwanted attention, this could mark the end of the Sinclair Kingdom’s final fight.”

I can feel the anxiety. These citizens… they might be living in the big capital, but they have all sorts of problems because of how close we are to falling. In that case, the Oracle– was I a hero or heroine needed because I was a last resort?

“WAS I A LAST RESORT!?”

“Quiet, Ms. Heroine. We’re in the castle.”

“Huh!? We are!?” Damn monologue. You blipped out my sensory details for my memories.

“You are, hohoho.” I remain apprehensive of the golden throne in front of me.

“IT SHOULD BE GOLDEN!” I sob. “WHY IS THE KING SITTING ON A WOODEN CHAIR!?” The chair is supposed to be for a toddler!

“Now, now, it’s ok. As a King of a poverty-riddled nation, I shouldn’t be lavishing in unnecessary wealth.”

“So many big words! Could you have at least chosen a wooden chair that fits!?” I continue.

Yes, beyond the red-carpeted steps is the King of the land. Puffy brown facial hair paired with his near-balding head. His clothes remind me of just a typical noble you’d expect to see; the red is the most prominent color since our kingdom’s sigil is red and gold with a phoenix. Except, his clothes reek of thrifted. If I can recall correctly…

“King Aurelian Sinclair: the 5th in his line,” the knight replies. “Ms. Heroine, your face is an open book to your poor knowledge.”

“Well, I’m from a farming city on the outskirts of the kingdom! How the hell would I remember an individual I never thought I’d see!?” I turn to the King. “No offense, mister. I’m no good at the whole formal etiquette.”

“Hohoho, your voice brings life into these now-empty halls.” The King looks in defeat. “All the nobles who once lined up here have now been struck with worse times. They must retreat to their houses to do their best to survive the next day.”

“May I ask what happened?”

“Ms. Heroine, it was a series of bad business trades that got us in this mess. We lost the land for a majority of our natural resources, and the other Kingdoms pushed us even further with tariffs. It won’t be long before we’d have to sell people and land to keep us afloat.”

Oh no! Not that! “Anything but that!”

“Ms. Heroine. You said that aloud,” the blonde knight coughs.

“My fault, blonde knight.” I look at the King. “So, as the Heroine of Sinclair, how am I able to stop all this from happening?”

“Now, our Oracle has said that you would know exactly what to do,” King Aurelian asserts.

I fall to my knees. “Mr. King, sir… I’m a 13-year-old girl. This is the worst thing you’ve said all day.”

“And you’ve said worse!” the knight hollers.

“Shut it.” I stand up. “But if it’s one thing Mother praised me for after ridiculing me for my airheadness and somewhat sharp tongue, it’s the fact I like helping out. Let me see this Oracle guy first. I want to know why he chose me.”

The King nods. “Then, let me fetch Niko.”

After some time waiting in the ruined royal hall, a man in a withered-gray robe comes through– each step he takes is a great indicator he’s been living off breadcrumbs and unfiltered water. The poor sap, it’s better back home than here! How the hell does that happen!?

“So you are Nico, the Oracle.” I look a bit upward at the hunched man. “My name is-”

“Lucia Velvetora, the Sinclair Heroine,” Niko coughs weakly. “Do you really think I won’t know the heroine I foresaw in my own prophecy?”

“So, since you’re probably the most knowledgeable one here, can you tell me how to do my heroine duty exactly?”

He coughs a bit more. “The prophecy stated you’d do everything by yourself.”

“IT DID!? WHERE IS THIS STUPID PROPHECY!?”

“I’m sorry. It only appears in flames in my watcher spire. Then it disappears just as fast.” He shrugs. “Sorry, Ms. Heroine, but you’re on your own.”

“There’s no way…” I mutter. “What is even going on with my life?”

“You’re quite aware of your circumstances,” the blonde knight notices.

“Huh? Of course I am! You don’t exactly have it easy on a farm every day! These hands…” I look down at my shaking wrists. “They had to do so much, from watering plants to cutting vegetables. So, when I hear I’m the so-called Sinclair Heroine who’ll save the land from its misfortune, how do you think I’ll react knowing my life was a simple cycle every day!?”

“Well-”

I storm off. “I quit! This isn’t my specialty! Go find some talented hottie from the Capital to do your work!”

“Ms. Heroine!”

Ha, how useless. I got no information from all of that. Each step in this miasma-driven city makes me grow paler. Having to squirm through this crowd of weak people… this isn’t fair for me. My mom is back home, now terrified that her daughter is no longer here with her. Can I see her? Can I-

“Hey, that girl!”

“Purple hair and azure eyes!”

“There’s no doubt! It’s Sinclair’s Heroine!”

They are all looking at me. What the hell… I attracted a crowd while I was deep in my thoughts. Ah, this sucks. I’m not entirely good with large groups of people, even if I can run my mouth for 5 minutes straight. What should I do?

“Say, Ms. Heroine! What’s your special power?”

Power? Like magic? How about swordplay? What exactly qualifies as me being a heroine!? Both swordsmanship and magic were foreign topics since no one in the village knew how to do either. It was the occasional knight who would stand guard for any monsters who tried to attack us. And it pains me to say I never saw the knight for our village.

Take a step back, Lucia. Deep breaths. “I can uh…”

“Ms. Heroine, can you show us a magic trick!?”

“How will you save this land!?”

“Come on, Ms. Heroine!”

I’m still in the farming gear my mom made me. Crafted with her own hard work and dedication, ugh! Why am I thinking about that now!? Well, I miss her. Mom… mom…

“Ms. Heroine, can you-”

“SHUT UP! LEAVE ME ALONE!”

I don’t know what caused it.

But from my single yell, a burst of cerulean water appeared in a sharp 360-degree wave. The whole road was drenched in the mysterious water, taking down some people and their wooden stands alike.

Oh no. “I-I’m sorry!” I stammer.

“THE HEROINE HAS GIVEN US FRESH WATER! SHE HAS SAVED OUR UNDYING THIRST!”

“W-what!?” Water magic!? I’m a mage!?

“OH THANK YOU, MS. HEROINE. OUR GRATITUDE IS UPON YOU FOR THE REST OF OUR MUNDANE LIVES!”

“Ah, what the hell!?” I sprint back to the castle, hearing compliment after compliment. I’m the type of girl who gets mellow when hearing soft words. So, to hear this many in quick succession…

Yeah, I’m feeling all mushy inside, making me run so limp. But…

It’s not a bad feeling. In fact, I feel like there’s something in my heart that compels me to run in this direction. Is it the allure of compliments? My father’s stories? What is it that makes me feel that way?

Or maybe it’s just how I am. Then, I know I can’t leave these people to suffer in this poverty-stricken kingdom. It’s my duty! Maybe that’s why I was chosen! Whatever I do lines up perfectly with being a heroine!

I slam the doors open, gasping in front of his majesty. “King Aurelian!”

“W-what is it, Ms. Heroine?”

“First rule: Don’t call me that! I’m a girl of the people! Call me Lucia!”

“Then, Ms. Lucia.”

“No ‘Miss’!” I yell. “Just Lucia. I’m a 13-year-old girl.”

“Right, then, Lucia. What is it?”

“You said as a Heroine, it’s my duty to save this land, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“And that includes any problem.”

“Uh, what are you getting at?”

“How scarce is water here in the kingdom!?” I exclaim.

“Uh, pretty scarce. W-why?”

I smirk. “Well, you’ll be pleased to hear! I’m a water mage!”

Jaws dropped to the floor. Yup, that’s the expected reaction. It would be mine, too, since I never expected a development like this either. But, as hectic as it sounds, it doesn’t sound that bad at all!

And so, the explosive adventure of my heroine days has begun!