FATE IS DRAWN TO YOU

~Prologue 1~

Unfamiliar Voice: I don't wish to hold you captive here.  You have a bright future ahead of you. It would be a shame to take it away from you. Stop indulging in these fantasies and move on. He's never coming back. I've won. I trust that you will choose the victor. After today, I hope that all of us can witness everything that happens... together. 

The cold-blooded gaze of the mysterious figure comes into greater focus with every dream, piercing me through more than ever before. This time, it felt so real that I felt it was important I wake up at once. 

I open my eyes to find that the fountain pen I was holding has rolled to the other side of the table. The soft swaying of the boat and sound of the waves slapping against the exterior slowly bring me back to reality. Now I remember... This is a ferry bound for St. Shelter Academia. This is the manga I've been working on. It's only half-finished. The final scene I left off at is the moment when the Emperor of the Otherworld declares his victory. 

I've been having the same dream for an entire year. In my dream, I see a vast continent covered in snow and ice. At first, all  can make out are indistinct blurs and shadows, but as the dream unfolds, some figures can be made out. I created internal conflicts between the major characters. The steadfast Silver Knight led the commoners in an uprising against the tyrannical emperor. For years, the two sides remained in an internecine stalemate, until a young girl made her grand entrance. If I have to sum it up, it's a love story set in a world of fantasy. 

I decided to tell this story in a manga titled "In Passing" and published it on the internet. To my pleasant surprise, it caught the interest of a publisher. I now had the opportunity to work on my manga full-time. Writer's block was something I'd never considered when creating this standard potboiler romance. After all, my inspiration came from my dreams. How could it run dry? Two missed deadlines later, I had to face the ugly truth: I had run into my first case of serious writer's block.

 In the midst of the scattered piles of sketches on the desk is the finished finale for the first volume. The Silver Knight has succumbed to his injuries and lies on the ground defeated. The young girl has fallen into the Tyrant's trap. 

An adequate ending, to be sure. You can never go wrong tugging on readers' heartstrings, but for some reason... I just can't bring myself to end the story like this. Do I really lack the necessary conviction to see the story through as I originally intended? Or could it be that I've grown too fond of my own characters? 

*Knocking on the cabin door* 

??: "Lillian, I brought you some breakfast." 

Cael pushes the door open and a saltwater-tinged rush blows into the room.

Cael: "You haven't eaten anything since you boarded the ship last night."

Lillian: "I'm just a little seasick, that's all. If only this ferry could stop lurching around for a single second."

Cael: "I'd have them stop the ship if I could, but I'm afraid that's out of the question. We won't reach Harp Island until late this afternoon. Try to hang in there 'till then. 

Was he seriously considering stopping the ferry just now...? Though my seasickness still lingers, I feel slightly better because of what Cael said. 

Cael: "They let me use the kitchen, so I made your favorite: strawberry toast with rose tea. Help yourself when you're feeling hungry."

The scent of fresh toast and sweet strawberry jam spreads throughout the small cabin. It's enough to make my mouth water.

Lillian: "I'm going to miss your cooking once school begins."

Cael: "You won't have to. I do work at the school after all. Just give me a heads up and I can come over and cook for you on the weekends."

Cael works at St. Shelter Academia, where I'll be studying. However, whenever I probe for further details about what his work there actually entails, he never gives me a straight answer. Cael was the first person I told after being admitted to the Art Department at St. Shelter Academia. I was beside myself then, so much so that I can't even remember his reaction at the time. I'm sure he felt happy for me. It's just that it can be hard to tell how Cael is feeling sometimes because he's always so gentle. Even now, he's got his usual even-tempered perma-smile plastered on his face.