Is The Super Famous Sorceress The Villain?

I remember the days when I had just started high school. It was back then that I decided to talk to Gris. I did so on the first day of classes, when I sat next to her.

"Hey! Good morning, beautiful day, don't you think?"

"Oh, h-hi…" she replied.

At that time, she always had a somber expression, spoke very little, and it was rare to see her smile.

"What's with that face? Are you feeling unwell?" I asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.

"N-no…"

"Are you sad?"

"It's not that… it's just that we don't know each other, and, well, it feels a bit weird to open up to a stranger just like that," Gris replied, her head down.

"Hmm… I see. But… we're going to see each other every day starting today, so why don't we get along?"

I extended my hand and flashed her a warm smile.

"My name's Mila, nice to meet you!" I said, shouting as usual.

"So noisy…"

"Huh? Hey! H-how rude! I'm just trying to be nice!"

Gris let out a small smile and timidly extended her hand.

"My name is Gris. Nice to meet you, Mila."

Seeing her reaction made me happy. Making people smile is one of my passions. In fact, my inspiration comes from Trio Encanto. Watching how they bring joy to others has always moved me.

When I was consumed by sadness, they were my only solace. They saved me from the darkness. So, I thought: I want to be like that too. If someone needs my help, I want to make them laugh.

However, those convictions were being destroyed in this very instant.

A few minutes later, in that gigantic room, Leandra and Dasha continued their conversation. During that time, I had heard horrible things, I never imagined hearing from the people I admired the most in this world: The Trio Encanto.

This must be a bad dream… Or maybe I misunderstood something because of the distance. Yes, that must be it, I thought, clinging to that idea, like someone trying to escape a reality too painful to face. I, Mila Vellerth, was desperately denying the truth of what I was hearing.

But to my dismay, the cherry on top was yet to come.

"Ladies, sorry for the delay. Here is your Canard à l'Orange. Please, enjoy," said a masculine voice.

My jaw almost dropped to the floor. I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing. I rubbed them several times, hoping it was an hallucination. But no, it was still there.

"Warmi, Warmi! You took so long, I was starving~!" said Leandra.

"Leandra, calm down, will you? Oh, and thank you, Warmonger," Dasha replied.

In front of me stood Warmonger. That slimy aberration was wearing a black suit and holding a plate in his right hand, like a waiter.

Huh? What is he doing here? Aren't they supposed to be enemies?

I took a few steps back, feeling a deep dizziness. The world was spinning. This can't be! This can't be!

If what I was seeing was true, it could only mean one thing: everything I had believed in was a lie. All those people out there who thought these girls were the defenders of peace… They're all being deceived!

"Bump!" Without realizing it, I bumped into one of the furniture pieces.

"What was that?"

"An intruder? Kyaa, Warmi, do something!"

"Yes, leave it to me, ladies!"

Warmonger moved quickly across the room, heading toward where I was.

W-what do I do? What will happen to me if they catch me?

I backed down the hallway, trying to escape. Oh no! He'll catch me! What do I do? Then, I saw one of the many doors in the hallway slightly ajar. Without thinking, I entered and gently closed it.

"Huh? Seems like there's no one here…" I could hear Warmonger, Dasha, and Leandra's voices echoing down the hallway. It seemed they hadn't realized where I was hiding.

I just need to stay here for a few minutes and then leave without them noticing, I thought.

However, I was so focused on what was happening outside that I hadn't noticed where I had just entered...

Inside that room, There were men, women, and children of all ages and backgrounds trapped in large, cylindrical pods hanging from metal frames. They floated in glowing purple liquid, as if asleep. There were so many pods it was impossible to count them.

"What… what is this?!" I stuttered while my voice was shaking with panic. My hands trembled, but I still managed to take out my phone and snap a photo.

Then, a dark feeling took over me, like danger was lurking, as if death itself was whispering in my ear.

"I've been waiting for you, Mila Vellerth." The voice, calm yet menacing, came from behind me. I froze. It was a voice I knew well. Slowly, I turned around.

Standing there, dressed in a long shirt with two katanas strapped to her waist, was Katrina. Her sharp gaze pierced through me, the usual warmth I associated with her was gone and replaced by something cold and dangerous.

"K-Katrina… what? You were expecting me?"

She nodded, with a venomous smile. "Of course. We had an appointment, remember?"

"R-Right!"

I felt a brief moment of joy at her words, but it was quickly replaced by a growing unease. Something was wrong. Katrina was acting weird, and the sight of the pods made my fear worse.

"B-but, Katrina, these people... What is this place? Oh, I get it! It was Warmonger, wasn't it? You called me here to help rescue them, yes? We need to act quickly!"

Her smile stayed the same, but the feeling around her grew darker.

"It's fine, Mila. These people are exactly where they belong." Her hand rested on the hilt of one of her katanas as she spoke.

"...What?"

My body froze, my mind was spinning. Where they belong?

"W-what do you mean?" I asked.

"This is where people who try to stand out end up," Katrina said coldly and her voice full of malice. "People who threaten the Trio Encanto's fame. People like you, Mila Vellerth."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "S-stop joking, Katrina. That's not funny!"

Instinctively, I looked at the cylinders where the people were. 'Will I end up like that too? I wondered.

However, Katrina responded as if she had read my thoughts "Oh no, Mila, you will have a far worse fate." Katrina's expression stayed cold and firm. There was no trace of humor in her voice.

Before I could process her words, Katrina threw her sharp katana toward me; it moved so fast I couldn't anticipate it, causing a cut on my left cheek.

"Ah!"

Katrina approached me slowly, her steps deliberate and menacing. I started backing away, bleeding as I went, but I tripped over the many cables scattered across the floor.

"K-Katrina, what's wrong with you? Why are you doing this?!"

She smirked, but her eyes remained cold. "Your teacher told me how obsessed you are with sorcery, Mila. At first, I thought you were just a reckless child. But the day I met you, when I looked into your eyes… You reminded me of her."

"Her? W-who?"

Katrina didn't answer my question. "If I let you live, you could reach level five—no, maybe even level six." Her voice turned mocking. "But don't worry. I'll let you say your last words before I take your life. After all, I like to show gratitude to my fans."

I couldn't think straight. My mind was a blur of confusion and fear. Everything I'd believed about the Trio Encanto and Katrina was falling apart.

In the middle of the chaos in my head, one thought stood out: I need to get out of here. I can't die here!

Desperate, I pulled out my phone and pointed it at her. "Stay back! I'll go live if you don't stop!"

Katrina only laughed, unfazed. "Go ahead. Who will believe you? It'll be your word against mine."

I felt hopeless. She was right. No one would believe me over the city's hero.

The truth hit me hard... The Trio Encanto wasn't a group dedicated to fighting for justice. Their fight for justice was simply a show. Now that I thought about it, it was strange that no other sorcerers had reached level five. It was all a lie, a monopoly.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized how foolish I'd been.

I shut my eyes, preparing for the worst. Suddenly, a well-known phrase popped into my head.

"Never meet your heroes."