I Killed The Main Characters

Velma knelt in the academy gardens, her delicate hands carefully tending to the vibrant flowers she had nurtured over the past few weeks. The faint scent of lavender filled the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of freshly turned soil. She hummed softly to herself, her voice barely audible over the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. Gardening was her solace, a rare moment of peace amidst the chaos of academy life.

Her tranquil moment was interrupted by the sound of approaching voices—high-pitched, condescending, and laced with laughter. Velma stiffened, her hands freezing mid-motion. She recognized those voices immediately: Lady Bianca and her clique. They were daughters of noble houses, girls who reveled in their status and took pleasure in belittling others, especially commoners like her.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Bianca's voice rang out, saccharine and sharp as a dagger. The girls emerged from the path, their pristine uniforms and polished boots starkly contrasting with the dirt-streaked apron Velma wore.

Velma lowered her gaze, hoping they would pass by. She focused on the petals of a blooming marigold, willing herself to be invisible.

Bianca, however, had no intention of letting her go unnoticed. "Oh my, are you pretending to be a gardener now, Velma? How quaint. Or should I say, how fitting for someone like you?"

The other girls laughed, a cruel chorus that echoed through the garden. Velma swallowed hard, keeping her eyes on the flowers.

"Say something, commoner," one of the girls sneered.

Velma bit her lip, her hands trembling slightly. She knew better than to respond. Any word she spoke would only fuel their mockery.

Bianca stepped forward, her polished boots crunching over the garden bed. Velma's heart sank as she watched the noblewoman carelessly trample over the flowers she had worked so hard to cultivate.

"Oops," Bianca said with a mocking smile, pretending to feign surprise. "Was that important to you? How careless of me."

Velma's breath hitched, but she remained silent. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she tried to keep her emotions in check.

"Look at her," Bianca said, turning to her clique. "She won't even defend herself. Pathetic."

One of the girls leaned down, plucking a flower and twirling it between her fingers. "Maybe she's better suited for dirt than magic."

The comment drew more laughter, and before Velma could react, Bianca grabbed her by the arm and yanked her to her feet. The sudden motion made her gasp, and her gardening tools clattered to the ground.

"Let me help you with that dirt," Bianca sneered. She grabbed a handful of soil from the ground and smeared it across Velma's face, pressing hard enough that Velma stumbled backward.

The other girls laughed harder, their jeers ringing in Velma's ears. She raised a hand to wipe her face, but Bianca caught her wrist and twisted it just enough to make Velma wince.

"You should stay down where you belong," Bianca hissed, forcing Velma to her knees again. The noblewoman's hand tangled in Velma's hair, pushing her face into the soil. "Filth suits you, don't you think?"

The sharp pain in her scalp brought tears streaming down Velma's cheeks, but she said nothing, enduring the humiliation in silence.

"Let's leave her to her… work," Bianca said, releasing Velma and wiping her hand as though she had touched something disgusting. The clique turned and sauntered off, their laughter fading as they disappeared down the path.

Velma remained on her knees, her face streaked with tears and dirt, her hair disheveled. Her flowers lay crushed beneath their boots, a heartbreaking testament to the cruelty she had just endured. Yet even as the pain and humiliation threatened to overwhelm her, she clenched her fists and took a deep, shuddering breath.

She would endure.

She always had.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

---

Elias walked into the academy gardens, his blue hair catching the sunlight as his sharp blue eyes scanned the surroundings.

His gaze finally landed on Velma, crouched among the flower beds, her hands gently tending to the damaged blooms.

He approached hesitantly, his footsteps quiet on the stone path. "Velma?" he called softly.

Velma startled, quickly straightening and turning to face him. Her face, streaked with dirt and faint bruises, betrayed the ordeal she had just endured, but she composed herself instantly. With a shy smile, she greeted him. "Elias... Oh, I didn't see you there. What brings you here?"

Elias shifted awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "I've been looking for you, actually. I—I wanted to talk to you about something."

Velma tilted her head curiously, brushing her hands on her apron to appear busy. "Me? I can't imagine why," she said lightly, her voice tinged with her usual shyness. "But... I'm listening."

Elias fumbled with his words, glancing at her ribbons tied neatly around her twin ponytails. "Uh, well... I just—I noticed your hair. It's, um, nice. The ribbons suit you."

Velma blinked, her cheeks flushing faintly. "Oh... thank you," she said softly, touching one of the ribbons self-consciously. "That's kind of you to say."

Elias cleared his throat, feeling the heat rise to his own face. "Right, um... That's not the only thing I wanted to say. I was actually wondering if you'd like to team up with me for the upcoming joint midterm exams."

Velma's eyes widened slightly. "Me? Join your team?" she asked, her tone a mix of surprise and disbelief. "I didn't think anyone would... well, I didn't expect someone to invite me."

"Why not?" Elias said earnestly, leaning forward a little. "You're—well, you're really awesome. I mean, you're talented, and I think you'd be a great teammate. I couldn't think of anyone better."

Elias hesitated for a moment, his nerves suddenly catching up to him as he looked at Velma. She stood there, her hands clasped in front of her apron, waiting for him to speak. Her shy demeanor only made him more aware of how fragile the moment felt, but he steeled himself.

"Velma," he began, his voice soft but steady, "the reason I asked you... it's not just because I think you'll be a great teammate. It's because of who you are."

Velma blinked, her eyes wide, and Elias hurried to continue before he lost his courage.

"You're... you're kind," he said, fumbling for the right words. "You always help others, even when they don't ask for it. You're patient, too—I've seen how you care for the flowers in this garden. And even though you're quiet, you have this strength about you, like... like you're not afraid to be yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks."

Velma's cheeks began to flush, but she stayed silent, her gaze fixed on him as he stumbled forward.

"I admire that," Elias said, his blue eyes sincere. "I admire you. And... and honestly, I—" He swallowed hard, his heart pounding. "I like you, Velma. That's why I want you on my team. That's why I want to spend more time with you."

Velma's hands rose to touch one of her twin ponytails, and she slowly brushed her hair back over her shoulder, looking away. Her face was bright red, and her lips quivered as she tried to find her voice. "E-Elias..." she murmured, her tone barely audible.

She glanced at him shyly, her eyes meeting his for a fleeting moment before darting away again.

Velma's blush deepened, and she looked away, fidgeting with the hem of her apron.

"I... I don't know what to say. That's very sweet of you, Elias."

He smiled sheepishly. "It's just the truth. Besides, we'll need two second-years to complete the team, but I wanted to ask you first."

Velma hesitated for a moment, then glanced back at him with a small, unsure smile. "What about Roselyn?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought... I thought you two would team up."

Elias froze for a moment, then waved a hand dismissively. "Roselyn and I? No, no—it's not like that. We're just close friends. We've known each other since the start of the academy. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if we formed a team. She can find others."

Velma's shoulders relaxed slightly, and her smile grew a little more confident. "Well... if you're sure," she said. "I'd be happy to join your team, Elias. Thank you for thinking of me."

"Of course!" he said quickly, his grin brightening. "I'm really glad you agreed."

Velma nodded, glancing down as she adjusted her apron. She hesitated again, her shyness creeping back. "I should probably... clean myself up a bit," she murmured, attempting to turn away.

Elias frowned, his gaze softening as he noticed the dirt streaks on her face and the faint bruises on her cheek. "Wait," he said, stepping closer. "Velma... Did something happen? You look like you got into a fight."

Velma froze, her hands gripping the fabric of her apron. Her voice wavered as she replied, "Oh, no, it's nothing. I, um... I tripped earlier. That's all."

Elias raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, but Velma quickly stepped back. "I should go now," she said hurriedly, her voice trembling just slightly. "I'll see you later, Elias. Thank you again for inviting me."

Before Elias could press further, Velma turned and rushed off, disappearing down the garden path. He stood there for a moment, staring after her with a concerned expression.

Something wasn't right, and he couldn't shake the feeling that Velma wasn't telling him the whole truth.

"Besides being adorable...she always seems...

....she always seems so distant."