Chapter 284: [Freedom Dove] - Nerio’s part (36)
"Bella!"
Damian shouted thunderously, and in that very instant, dazzling streaks of color suddenly appeared in the sky—brighter than any rainbow, dotted with tiny glittering stars, as if fairytale creatures might emerge the next second to dance upon them.
The streaks nearly covered the entire heavens, blattering the terrifying crimson sky. The world below was cast in a rosy hue, utterly ill-suited to the snarling monsters baring their fangs and claws.
Bella’s skirt fluttered high above, tossing her softly curled golden hair. One leg bent gracefully, her arms stretched wide as though she were about to take flight right then and there.
She smiled. Mischief lingered on her face, yet beneath it was an obstinate determination that defied belief. Her blue eyes trembled slightly, brimming with excitement.
"Do you know... do you know... I’ve always dreamed of a beautiful world, my very own kingdom. This world is so ugly, but I will make everything beautiful, don’t worry..."
Her lips moved in a whisper, curved into a smile. Suddenly, her hands came together. The wand she held blazed with light, and with two resounding cracks, it transformed instantly into a great scepter taller than herself.
Clang! At the exact moment, a radiant crown, gleaming like a halo, appeared above Bella’s head, shining brilliantly as a symbol of immense power.
I could have become a queen... but all I ever wanted was to be a princess, forever a princess...
Distant voices suddenly echoed through Bella’s mind. Images flashed rapidly in her memory—things she thought she had forgotten. Perhaps this academy only made her more susceptible to such emotions.
"That girl always acts so cutesy, it’s sickening!"
"Yeah, seriously, who does she think she is? She’s as fat as a pig, hahaha!"
The voices rang loud and clear in Bella’s ears. Of course they did—those students weren’t even sitting far away.
A group of high schoolers sat at Bella’s table, chatting and laughing, as if the person they were mocking weren’t Bella herself.
Bella lowered her gaze. The soft pink of her dress seemed to twist and warp before her eyes, turning hideously rotten, drenched in a reeking scarlet that dripped down like fresh blood.
Her fists clenched tight, wrinkling the fabric without a care.
Bang!
Bella suddenly shot up from her seat, startling the group of students.
One of them twisted his mouth wide, like a gaping maw of blood, and sneered: "What are you trying to do, huh? Rebelling now...?"
Smack!
Bella didn’t even let her finish speaking. She snatched the book from the desk and slammed it hard across the girl’s face, whipping her head to the side, blood spurting from her mouth.
The girl screamed, collapsed to her knees, and spat a tooth into her palm—proof enough of how brutal the strike had been.
"Shut your mouth, you trash."
At that time, Bella had developed faster than her peers. She wasn’t exactly fat but tall, with a rather imposing frame.
The warped faces before her shrank back in fear. Their devilish grins twisted away, melting into blank masks—eyes and mouths collapsing into three drooping lines.
"What’s going on here? Fighting again?! Bella!"
The shrill voice of the teacher rang out, mingling with the sobs and accusations of the students.
Those students always sat at Bella’s desk, day after day. Yet the teacher’s eyes had been sewn shut, blood streaming down her face. Bella had thought her teacher was blind—she must have been in agony.
But today... the sewn eyes suddenly opened, pouring blood, swollen eyeballs bulging grotesquely outward. A pair of monstrous eyes glared, twisted into an expression more ferocious than anything Bella had ever seen.
So she wasn’t blind after all... Bella thought to herself.
Click, click, click...
The sound of heels striking the floor echoed softly. Bella still wore her lovely pink dress. Her bright golden hair was carefully styled, cascading down her back.
Her eyes lifted slightly as she looked ahead—at her squad captain, Cocona.
A towering woman, taller even than most of the men here. Her close-cropped silver hair clung tightly to her scalp, and she was clad in shining silver armor. Even her abilities were considered formidable, rumored to be tied to lightning.
Bella glanced down again at her dress. Her hands clenched instinctively at her sides, gripping the fabric until it wrinkled. I’ve probably ruined it again, she thought.
Someone like Captain Cocona would never like her. Just like those high school girls... they never liked her either.
"Bella, the recruit, right? Let’s go. The observation unit spotted signs of a new dungeon."
The lively, straightforward voice rang out just then. Bella looked up instinctively. Cocona stood at the front, leading the way. Behind her were two men—one friendly, smiling as he waved at Bella; the other adjusted his glasses and gave a stiff nod, every movement oddly mechanical.
Bella swallowed hard. Whether from nerves or sheer clumsiness, she tripped on flat ground. At this distance, she would fall right into Cocona’s arms. Would Cocona catch her? If not, she’d fall face-first—and just imagining that humiliation was utterly unbearable...
Bella squeezed her eyes shut, resigning herself to her fate. But the pain and embarrassment she expected never came.
Instead, Cocona caught her with both hands.
To Cocona, her new teammate felt so small, tiny, and pink. From above, she looked exactly like a fluffy piece of cotton candy. Cocona slipped her hands under the girl’s arms and lifted her high without thinking. By the time they were face-to-face, Bella’s feet were no longer touching the ground.
The recruit’s wide eyes blinked at her, stunned beyond belief—only making her even cuter.
Bella hadn’t expected Cocona to do that at all. Heat rose to her cheeks, and she ducked her head shyly.
At that moment, Cocona suddenly chuckled softly. "Too cute. Are you some candy sprite? Or maybe you’ve got a whole candy kingdom somewhere... and you’re the queen of it?"
Bella’s eyes shot open, her head snapping up in surprise. Cocona was grinning foolishly, her smile baring two sharp canine teeth.
Captain... she’s so strange. Even her smile is silly. Her imagination is wilder than mine. Bella had never considered herself a queen—let alone ruler of a candy kingdom.
But still... it was adorable.
Captain, you’re the truly adorable one.
Bella smiled. "No, I’m a princess."
At her words, Cocona swayed Bella in her arms like a doll. "At last, our squad has a princess! Now we don’t have to envy Silas’s team just because they’ve got Alice!"
Harry nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! Don’t be fooled by Austin acting all stiff—every day he secretly brags about how gentle and pretty Alice is. It’s infuriating! Our princess will definitely be gentler and prettier, hahaha!"
He had no idea then that, in the future, Bella would end up quarreling with Fiona from Drake’s squad.
Luis also nodded, adding seriously, "Don’t worry, Bella. We’ll protect you."
And he, too, could never have imagined that one day Bella would be carrying him around.
Bella thought her squad members were all weird—but they were lovable. So it was fine. She would just be the weirdest one of all. That way, no one would ever realize how strange the others were!