I Am The Game's Villain



"The peace seems to have ended, Aslan…" Geoffrey's mind raced as he observed the chaos unfolding below him. The peaceful times had indeed come to an abrupt end, and the danger lurking in the shadows had now revealed itself in the form of the Garden above. His thoughts drifted to Edward's warnings and the last message he received from him.

"This brat seems to know what's happening, though..." Geoffrey recalled, realizing that Edward had an understanding of the unfolding events. The young man's insights and intuition were not to be underestimated, and Geoffrey was certain that Edward was also in danger. As the holder of the Holy Sword of Nihil, Edward had become a prime target, in addition to the existing threat posed by his origins.

With a burst of light, Geoffrey teleported outside the academy, hovering above the ground. From his vantage point, he observed the frantic scene below as teachers guided students to safety.

"H-Hurry up!"

"Quickly, hide inside!"

"W-We have to wait until the knights come!"

Despite the chaos, Geoffrey maintained his composure. He knew that Carla Roger and Elona Falkrona were abducted from within the Academy, leading him to rule out the possibility of an external breach in security. Instead, he concluded that the kidnappings were carried out by someone intimately familiar with the Academy's interior and defenses.

"A traitor..." Geoffrey's face darkened with bitterness as he considered the possibility. Edward had warned him of the impending betrayal, and it seemed that the young man's instincts were on point once again.

He couldn't afford to waste any time. Geoffrey's mind raced with strategies and contingencies, knowing that he needed to protect the academy and its students from further harm. But above all, he knew he had to find a way to enter the Garden and confront the danger it harbored.

'First, the Garden.'

Geoffrey's intense gaze remained fixed on the majestic sight of the Garden. Bathed in a brilliant golden light, his entire body emanated power as he propelled himself towards the Garden with lightning speed.

"..."

But his swift advance was abruptly halted by a colossal pillar of dark blue light that materialized before him. From within the luminous radiance emerged a stunning young woman, not more than twenty years old. Her night blue hair flowed gracefully, and her mesmerizing red eye flickered with an enigmatic allure, while the other eye remained hollow.

Geoffrey's instincts tingled with foreboding as he faced this awe-inspiring presence. He rarely encountered such an overwhelming aura of ominous power and strength.

Raising her gaze, Lisandra extended her hand, and a dark blue light flowed from her palm, transforming into a breathtaking rapier. The blade bore a dark blue symbol (Λ) engraved on its hilt.

"T-This is..." Geoffrey furrowed his brows, realizing its significance. "A Hallow of Nemes."

Lisandra's voice resounded with a hint of admiration, "Ah, you are well-informed, Geoffrey Higer Eden. Umbra Cruenta is indeed a Hallow of Nemes." The needle-like blade exuded a chilling blue glow, which then transitioned into a sinister dark red aura that sent shivers down Geoffrey's spine.

"Who are you?" Geoffrey inquired, readying a golden staff forged from the branches of the Holy Tree of Eden. Though not a Hallow, the staff held formidable strength.

Lisandra's crimson gaze fell upon Geoffrey's staff. "You cannot hope to rival me with such a weapon," she retorted, exuding confidence in her abilities.

A faint smile adorned Geoffrey's face as he feigned composure. "Charles has the Crown, and we possess the Scepter-"

"Charles Celesta is marching towards his demise," Lisandra interjected. "All that remains is the Scepter, which we already have in our possession."

"W-What?!" Geoffrey's eyes widened in disbelief.

"The Guardian Beast of Lumen likely won't awaken, and lastly, there's the Holy Sword of Nihil in Edward Falkrona's possession."

Geoffrey narrowed his eyes. "I don't think I need to remind you what happened twelve years ago."

"We suffered heavy losses due to the fall of the Apostles, but fortunately..." The red (Λ) symbol on Lisandra's right hand glowed dark red. "The Apostles and Priestesses have been successfully replaced."

"A-A Priestess of Nemes? Who are you-"

Before Geoffrey could finish his question, a gaping hole materialized in his left shoulder, and his arm was violently torn from his body.

"Lisandra Arvatra."

Geoffrey's eyes widened in shock and pain as his left arm was severed from his shoulder, blood spurting from the wound. The excruciating agony coursed through his body, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to show any sign of weakness before this formidable opponent.

"Lisandra Arvatra…?!" Geoffrey growled through clenched teeth. Despite the pain and surprise, he managed to utter her name with a mix of anger and recognition. The name resonated in his mind, a legend from ancient times, thought to be long gone.

The one known as Lisandra Arvatra, the Moon Princess, who was believed to have perished alongside Prince Alphonse Arvatra during the Second Great Holy War. But here she stood, defying time and fate, wielding the dreaded Hallow of Nemes with an air of deadly elegance.

The red (Λ) symbol on Lisandra's hand emanated a dark aura, signifying her connection to the Nemes. Geoffrey knew that facing her without adequate preparation would only lead to his doom.

Lisandra's voice dripped with low burning anger as she uttered her contemptuous words, "Hypocrites, followers of Eden..." With a surge of intense emotion, a pillar of dark red energy shot up into the heavens, imprinting the (Λ) symbol in vivid crimson against the golden sky.

'I'm sorry brat, I can't help you for now…'

***

"Are you running an errand, Charles?"

As the sound of a familiar voice reached his ears, Charles came to a sudden halt in his running. His eyes widened in pleasant surprise as he spotted his trusted friend, Draven Stormdila, approaching him with a warm smile.

"D-Draven!" Charles exclaimed, unable to hide his happiness at seeing his fellow Monarch. "Thank God you're still here."

Draven laughed heartily, shaking his head. "Why would I leave when there's a celebration happening?"

Charles's joy was momentarily overshadowed by the solemn sight of the floating island above them. He quickly glanced back at Draven's beaming expression. "You seem to be in good humor, my friend."

"You bet, Charles," Draven replied with genuine enthusiasm. "My son-in-law, Edward, took care of that despicable woman who killed my Olivia. Ever since then, I feel rejuvenated."

"Edward... your son-in-law?" Charles furrowed his brow, curious.

"That's right!" Draven confirmed proudly. "He and my daughter get along perfectly. As for Thomen, he already accepted Edward before, so there's no need to worry."

Charles's confusion deepened. "Are you sure they're both aware of this?"

"Oh, trust me, Charles, they are," Draven assured him with a dismissive wave. "Edward and Miranda are a match made in heaven."

Chuckling at his friend's exuberance, Charles couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret. "I must admit, there are times when I do regret some of my past decisions. I agreed with Aurora when she called off the engagement with Edward due to his behavior. But now, he's changed so much, and he even wields a Hallow of Eden."

Draven pondered his friend's words, recognizing the complexity of the situation. "The Holy Sword of Nihil, huh? If only he were an Apostle, he would have been perfect for you, wouldn't he, Charles?"

"You're right," Charles nodded. "If he were an Apostle, I would have already given him Sylvia. But the Apostle must be bound to the Kingdom, and that's not the case with Edward."

"I understand," Draven said sympathetically. "It's no wonder you want to marry Sylvia to Jaynde Rayena."

Charles sighed, the weight of his responsibilities as King pressing upon him. "Being King is far more challenging than you can imagine," he admitted, recalling the turmoil caused by the recent events, particularly Alfred's unexpected decision to take Milleia Sophren as his first wife. The consequences were widespread, leaving Layla's supporters distant and even colder towards Alfred, especially after his harsh words to a tearful Layla.

His thoughts then turned to his always obedient daughter, Aurora, who couldn't hide her anger towards their decision to arrange Sylvia's marriage either with Jayden or Colton Arvatra. Sylvia herself had pleaded for more time, being just fourteen years old. Edith, seeing her daughter's distress, had compelled Charles to accept a two-year delay, but the engagement between Sylvia and Jayden was already set in Charles's mind. It was essential for the stability and unity of the Kingdom, forcing him to prioritize his duty as a King over his emotions as a father.