A Fairy’s quest, A Demons obsession

SYSTEM INITIATED

“Please don’t!!"

The words burst out of my mouth before my brain could stop them.

I whipped around, my hands raised defensively, only to find Luca leaning over my shoulder.

My breath caught in my throat. Standing barely an inch away was a six-foot-two frame wrapped in an effortless air of perfection. He smelled faintly of warm vanilla and expensive cologne, a scent that instantly made my head spin. Luca had broad, athletic shoulders, but his face had that striking, baby faced softness to it, smooth, beard-free skin, sharp cheekbones, and dark, piercing eyes shadowed by ridiculously thick lashes. He was the kind of heartthrob who looked like he’d stepped straight off a high-fashion runway, effortlessly handsome in a way that felt unfair.

And right now, those dark eyes were locked on mine as his arm reached past me, grabbing a thick history textbook from the shelf directly behind my head.

My heart slammed against my ribs like a trapped bird. Oh God. I had genuinely thought he was leaning in to make a move. Or... something.

Before I could even lower my hands, the stifling silence of the library shattered into a wave of cruel laughter.

"Look at her," a sharp voice snickered from two rows over. "She actually thinks

Luca, the hottest guy in school, would make a move on a nerd like her!"

"Silly girl," someone else chimed in, followed by a chorus of muffled giggles.

Blood rushed to my face, hot and burning. My throat tightened so fast I could barely draw in air. Without daring to look back at Luca’s bewildered expression, I grabbed my bag, shoved past a group of staring students, and bolted straight for the ladies' restroom.

I pushed through the restroom door and leaned heavily against the cold porcelain sink, my breathing coming in short, ragged gasps.

I forced myself to look up, staring into the harsh fluorescent lights at my flushed, miserable reflection. What stared back at me was an absolute joke.

I hated looking at my skin in lighting like this. Sure, people always said my rich, fair skin was clear and smooth, but right now it was blotchy, hot pink patches of raw embarrassment burning right over my cheekbones. And my eyes... God, my eyes just looked huge and childish, hidden behind these ridiculous, oversized, thick-rimmed glasses that constantly kept sliding down the bridge of my nose. I pushed them up violently, wincing at how tiny and insignificant my bare face looked without a single drop of makeup. I looked like a middle schooler playing dress-up.

Why, Janeila, why? I thought bitterly, gripping the porcelain edges of the sink until my knuckles turned white. How could you ever think for a single second that a guy like Luca would want you? You aren't even his type.

I reached up with trembling fingers, trying to tame the dark brown hair spilling all the way down almost reaching my waist. It was pin straight and ridiculously silky, so fine and heavy that no matter what I did, it refused to hold any volume or curl, just hanging around my face like a dark, plain curtain. I looked like a drowned rat. I wasn't like the girls Luca usually talked to, the ones with styled, effortless hair, winged eyeliner, and tailored outfits.

I looked down at my reflection in disappointment. Even standing at five-foot-seven, I never felt pretty or sleek. I just felt gangly, awkward, and way too tall, which was why I always hid under this massive, dark gray baggy hoodie. It swallowed me whole, burying my shoulders and making me look completely shapeless.

I was just a tall, plain nerd wearing a tent and giant glasses, drowning in her own dark hair.

He’s a literal model. You’re just... Janeila.

I turned on the tap and splashed ice-cold water over my face, letting the chill numb the burning shame under my skin. I dried my face with a rough paper towel, shoved my glasses back up my nose, dragged my hair over one shoulder, and forced myself to take a deep breath.

Gathering every last ounce of courage I had left, I stepped out into the hallway.

"Jane!"

Before I could take two steps, my best friend Emma rushed over, her face a mix of fierce protection and deep worry.

"Emma, I am so ugly, right?" I mumbled, dropping my gaze to the scuffed floorboards. "A guy like-"

"Don't even finish that sentence," Emma cut in sharply, stepping up and placing her hands firmly on my shoulders. "What the heck is wrong with you? Have you looked at yourself lately? Besides, luca is an arrogant jerk and he doesn't deserve you anyways. I honestly don't know why you're so into him."

She looked at me like I had grown a second head. To be fair, I didn't fully understand it either. Sure, he was tall, insanely gorgeous, and undeniably my visual ideal. But deep down, I knew I was living in a dreamland. Guys like luca didn't look at girls like me.

Suddenly, the loud reverberating sound of the end-of-day bell echoed through the corridor, breaking the tension.

"Jane, let's get you home," Emma said softly, her tone softening as she helped me sling my heavy backpack over my shoulder. "You've had a long day, girl."

As we walked through the school gates, whispers drifted past us like dry leaves. I kept my head down, knowing the schoool gossip mill was already spinning today's library incident into a full-blown saga.

"Jane, ignore them," Emma grumbled, squeezing my hand tightly. "It could have happened to anyone. Who gives a f**k about what they think?"

I knew she was just trying to comfort me, and I loved her for it. But the truth burned in my chest, I cared. I hated the fact that I cared what luca thought, but I did. Still, if Emma hadn't been by my side today, I would have broken down completely right there on the pavement.

"Emma, thank you so much, honestly," I whispered as we reached the corner of my street. "If it wasn't for you, I don't think... I don't think I would have survived today."

"Come on, girl. You know I will always have your back," she laughed, shoving me playfully. "No need to thank me."

By the time we reached my porch, the heavy cloud hanging over me had started to lift. We spent the next ten minutes passionately brainstorming our annual summer break ritual, a crazy tradition we created every year right before the summer break. Planning it was always the absolute highlight of my year.

An hour later, freshly showered and wrapped in my favorite oversized hoodie, I sank into the warmth of my bed. All the library embarrassment began to melt away as I picked up the novel resting on my nightstand: The Legend of the Celestial Realm.

This book had been dominating my thoughts all week. I had saved the very last chapter for tonight, and my heart was pounding with anticipation. The Fairy Queen, a magnificent, resilient heroine, was finally going to overcome the dark forces and reunite with the love of her life.

I flipped to the final page, my eyes devouring the sentences... until my jaw dropped.

“And as the dark blade pierced her chest, the Fairy Queen took her final breaths, her eyes closing forever in the cold abyss, never to see her kingdom or her lover again. The end.”

I stared at the page in total disbelief.

"Wait... what?" I practically shrieked at the empty room. "She dies?! After three hundred pages of pure suffering, she just dies?!"

I flipped the page frantically, hoping it was a trick or a secret extra chapter. Nothing. Blank white paper.

"This is utter trash!" I yelled, slamming the book face-down onto my mattress. "What kind of lazy, tragic writing is this?! The author built up this romance for twenty chapters just to kill her off on the final page? I could literally write a better plot in my sleep! The Fairy Queen deserved a happily ever after, not this lazy cop-out!"

Fuming, I grabbed the hardback cover and threw it onto my wooden desk with a loud SLAM.

The moment the cover hit the wood, a blinding golden light burst from between the pages, engulfing my entire room in a searing white-gold flare.

I screamed, throwing my arms up over my face, but the light swallowed me whole. My stomach lurched violently, like I was falling off a cliff, the world spinning and warping around me until-

Silence.

Not the quiet of my bedroom. A different kind of silence. Thicker. Older. The kind of silence that carries weight, pressing against your eardrums like a held breath.

[ SYSTEM INITIATED. ]

[ User 'Janeila' has registered severe dissatisfaction with the conclusion of 'The Legend of the Celestial Realm'. ]

[ Complaint Logged: "This story plot is trash, I could write a better ending." ]

[ World Rewind Protocol Activated. You have transmigrated as a supporting character within the novel. ]

[ Primary Objective: Revise the story plot. Save the Fairy Queen and ensure a satisfying conclusion. Complete all assigned main quests and side tasks to earn return points. ]

[ Penalty for Failure: Permanent entrapment in the story world. ]

[ Commencing Integration in 3... 2... 1... ]