#interdimensional series

Hi! So, I'm back from slumber / still drowning in college work but I'm taking a small break, while I have another assignment due in two days.😅

Anyways, I'm not sure if it's sixth or seventh OC pronpt tag game, but here we go!

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Prompt: Imagine your characters to be a typical friend group, or they may already be one. What would the characters' roles be in the friend group?

1. The Leader

2. The Parent

3. The Tired Peacemaker

4. The Troublemaker

5. The Cinnamon Roll

6. The Comic Relief Who's Secretly Depressed

7. The Quiet Observer Who Knows Everyone's Secrets

8. The Charming Trickster

9. The Strong Protector

10. The Creative / Artist

11. The Smart One Who Has Answers For Everything Except Social Situation

12. The Disaster

13. The Unpaid Therapist

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Someone told me I should fill inmy own tag game forms too, so I'll do it this time. I'd normally use the main characters from my current book, or Team Space. But I'm currently obsessed with Council of Undead for some reason, so I'll go with them. After all, what are thousand years of alliances if not friendship hidden as ancient politics? This could be their introduction as well!😁

1. Arista. She's not just the leader of the council, but also the leader of the group. She's the only one who can call up meetings, act the most decisively, and make herself listened. As she's also the founder of the council, so she knows each of the other leaders. Some people don't like her on personal level and she's fine with it as long as they aren't leaving or actively plotting ahainst her, which males it known she's ready to deal with. She didn't keep her role as the zombie queen for fifteen hundred years for nothing dangit! :)

2. There are few options for the parent role. Most obvious one would be Eve, since she's literally the house who hosts the meetings, make sure the xouncil members and her fellow spirits are cared for, and she's one of the few undead who almost every other undead respects. Also, she used to be a nurse and healer for children so she knows how to give parent-like affection, especially to these leaders of a fallen world, making sure the hearth is warm, the area is safe, and the council are in a good enough mood to not start a fight in her house form.

3. Ah, it's definitely Melichor. He's the second in charge of the coincil, and unlike Arista, he cares to keep the council unified and free of unnecessary chaos. He does have a way with words to create trust and has a better reputation as a listener and as someone who helps find a common ground in conflict. But the "tired peacemaker" fits him perfectly because this guy has a tendency to overwork and overexert himself for the people he cares about. Especially his people, but also the council. He may come off as quiet, distant, or aloof, but he's mostly emotionally exhausted from trying to make sure his allies don't get into a war because a fellow vampire pranked (scammed) the ghost king or something equally rediculous.

4. That depends on what we consider as "troublemaker". If it's pranking the others and testing their patience, then it's Apate. If it's starting fights in the group out of enjoyment, then it's Idony. If it's allying with a darker force that could possibly bring a second apocalypse, then it'd be Pelias, though to give him credit, he's aware of the kind of trouble he's causing. And if it's giving them a generally bed rep, then it'd be Ersebet, although half the things told about her are made up by her to scare people from passing by her territorry.

5. Oh that's easy! If I can give this one answer, it'd be Niense. She's such a sweetheart who has no idea if politics because even if she grew up a princess when she wasn't a spirit, she was si sheltered and isolated that the dim colors of their post-apocalypse world are beautiful to her. Tragic backstory aside, she has so much love in her heart wants the others to be happy. She's the only one who can hug Arista or Zyran with no problem and makes drawings or cute charms for each one, especially her new adopted family. Though she's too naive and trusting, if someone hurts her, the rest of the undead (even those whoact annoyed at her loving gestures) would be after that person. And depending on who finds them, what happens next may vary.

6. Kutaz, my sweet adorable box boy who likes to joke around and ask rediculous iddles or questions just for the fun of it. Arguably one of the most harmless and friendly of the group. He's jist a silly little ghost guy, right? Well mostly. But also he's also got abondanment issues abd severe fear of loneliness. He was a teen apprenticing for a shoemaker when the undeath fell into Karinses, and after becoming a box spirit, he spent the first few years, or decades completely alone, stuck inside the shoemaker and unable to move anywhere outside (object spirits can float. He discovered it but was unable to exit the building becaise no hands to hold a door.) or talk to anyone because most who passed by decided the building was abandoned and had nothing valueable inside. Kutaz is afraid to go back to those early, lonely days so he tries to keep up the "lovable little spirit" facade after discovering people were nicer to him that way.

7. It's Zyran. He's literally the spymaster of one of the vampire clans. Everyone knows he's working to benefit his own specifically, but also, he can be protective of the council and observes them to make sure they don't get consumed by their weaknesses, not realizing that about himself.

8. Both siblings: Pelias and Apate could fit this role, probably as a side effect of being the youngest of the council (imagine being apart of the Council of Undead when you're only 350. :D). Also, Ersebet is known to offer hospitality to humans and shapeshifters before arranging attacks at night. She's not exactly a trickster but acts charming regardless.

9. This is fitting for both Larisel and Idony. They're both the warriors and protectors of their respective communities and show traits for strength and warrior honor. Though Larisel is quieter and more direct, while Idony is more outgoing and likes challenging people.

10. I think it's Niense with her adorable drawings for everyone. But Melichor also writes (and yes, an immortal getting writer's block is even worse-). Also Lampetia used to write before she became an oil lamp spirit, but now she can't...because she's an oil lamp spirit.

11. This is basically the case for both Melichor and Verata in different ways. Mel can manage to keep the alliance standing and has more magical knowledge than the rest of the council combined, but absolutely no way of expressing himself when he needs to ask for something for himself. Especially if he needs help or something the other person has for himself, he will more likely avoid the person and pretend it doesn't matter until there are visible effects on him and Larisel will make him take it like the older sister figure she is for him. Verata is also the one who has all the solutions especially in terns of healing or sustenance (being the only one with life magic - as an undead - will do that to ya-), but she struggles expressong her own beliefs and opinions, which sometimes causes her actions to be misunderstood.

12. Honestly, so far, almost all of them, with the exception of Eve, Zilhan, and Kalzireh, are disasters. Just their disasterousness show differently.

13. This depends for the member. For most members, it's either Melichor or Zilhan, as they're the best listeners. For Mel, it's absolutely Larisel, because she's the only one who can coax his true feelings and problems out of him. For Zilhan, it's Kalzireh, because if the ghost king and queen can't trust eachother with their emotions after an eternity, who can? And for Arista and Verata, eachother even if they try to keep their love a secret.

Soo, I'm thinking of a middle name for Meissa, but it's harder than I expected. Since she's a descendant of Nihynia (the Goddess of Space), I decided to name her after an astronomical object. Her first name is the name of a star in the Orion constellation, and I want a related middle name for her. Any suggestions? Because I'm blanking out.

Hi! So I found a reference design for myfirst book's cover art, which I had made myself on Adobe Express. I won't be using it of course, especially considering the pictures used are stuff I found in Pinterest, and I'm very much amateur in design stuff. It's supposed to be a reference guys.😅

The Picture:

Tagging: @seastarblue @illarian-rambling @dearunreliablenarrator @avalordream @daishitheprofessionalfool @the-ellia-west @the-letterbox-archives @the-golden-comet @thecomfywriter @mysticstarlightduck @nightmaricwriter @corinneglass @satohqbanana @distantflickering @distortedsense @willtheweaver @leahnardo-da-veggie @azz-writes @storyteller-kara @imsoveryveryconfusedatlife @writeblrfantasy @author-a-holmes @heycerulean @paeliae-occasionally @ominous-faechild @kaylinalexanderbooks @vesanal @elritze @wheres-all-the-tea-gone @alinacapellabooks @glassfrogforest @aalinaaaaaa @onixieisawriterrr and everyone else who I couldn't tag. Please let me know what you think or what kind of ideas I could use / ask for the official design? Let me know of your overall opinions and if I did well or not. Thank you! <3

AlsO!

Hi everyone! I FINALLY finished Hui's profile! I know it took long but you'll see why it took this long, hopefully!

DISCLAIMER: I made the profile template myself, so if you like it and want to use for your OCs / characters as well, please either ask first or credit me. Thank you so much for understanding already!💙

TRIGGER WARNING: This character profile contains kidnapping, severe trauma due to it, implied child abuse, vaguely implied racism, and possibly more that I'm missing.

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BASICS:

Real Name: Udela Castemera Thermin

Preferred Name: Hui Xie (Xie Hui in Chinese tradition)

Alias(es) & Title(s): Legendary Spirit Of Space

Nicknames: Lightning Bolt, Little Grumpster, Scary Ghost Girl, Hu-Hu, Shortie, Box-O Thunder

Age (At First Appearance): 11

Age (When First Joined Team Space): 15-16

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Probably Pan

Species: Human-Based-Living-Spirit (one of Eleven Legendary Spirits)

Alignment: Chaotic-Good, a bit leaning towards Chaotic-Neutral

Date Of Birth: Biha 4th, 977 AL (equals to April 4th 2007 CE)

Homeland: Thamir (in Yugenri)

Lived In: Rinfalme (Yugenri), Ba City (Yugenri), Spirit Depths (Umbraer), Ningzhou (Tiria), Nihynia's Realm (Greater Cosmos)

Organizations: 

A member of BSA. Though she's not a fan of Miraculum or Mr. Winfield.

Hates Dark Crystal wholeheartedly. It's like a trigger for her.

Despises the Theorists for their actions and what she heard from Hiroki.

Occupations: Trainee in BSA, Team Space member

Appearances In The Books: Hui is first mentioned in Shan's thoughts during chapter 5 of book 1 "Search For The Legendaries", but she first appears on page as a minor side character in book 2 "Revival Of The Legend", as a prisoner, when Frank visits the Spirit Depths. From Year Three (Eternal Winter Arc) onwards, she becomes a constant member of the main cast even if she doesn't have POV chapters until the second half of the Solium Arc.

Living Status: Floating between alive and dead

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:

General Description: With her small, light-footed frame and sharp yet child-like features; Hui gives off a distant and immature vibe from afar, though those who see her face or expression could often be intimidated.

Height: 4'10

Build: Scrawny but somehow still agile

Skin Tone: Pale, turns translucent when she reflects strong emotions

Hair: Messy, curly orange-brown hair that looks like it hasn't been combed in the past five years

Eyes: Golden-brown, similar to the Asian eyes

Distinguishing Features: 

Her wrists and ankles are extra-thin from having magic chains around them for years.

Has pierced ears.

Has a bite mark on her lower lip due to constantly biting it when she was alive.

Her hair has sort of a life of its own.

Clothing Style: Practical and light. Often likes to wear short, thin tunics (often with short sleeves) in bright colors like vibrant orange, yellow, or lime green, with a pair of comfortable shorts that are often shorter than knee-length; and likes to wear sandals even during rainy or snowy days, likely to completely ditch shoes on warm days without missions. She wears this kind of clothing even if she can materialize and change her style, in an attempt to "feel" everything that the outside world has to offer.

Accessories: Wears small, colorful earrings, a handmade pendant that's a gift from Shan, and if someone attempts to style her hair, they often tie it with bright colored ribbons.

Extra: 

Has a sharp nose and thick eyebrows.

Looks like she has no muscles but indeed she has been training.

When she has to dress in a specific way, she often doesn't go by the dress code / culture (either by accident or out of annoyance).

PERSONALITY:

General Description: Reserved, distant, watchful, distrustful, wary, and grumpy; Hui's exterior has a hard shell guarding the deeper aspects of her, which she tries too hard to keep private but secretly wants to be open about it.

First Layer: On surface level, Hui appears as a distant, blunt, disillusioned, irritable, stubborn, fiery, short tempered, snappy, somewhat brash and gruff, and very closed off, making sure every other person knows to keep their distance from her as well. She tries to be serious and threatening, but can appear as an angsty teenager or an irritable little girl instead. She also has a "weird" and strange way of interacting with people, realizing their annoyances and intentionally adapting them into her behavior just to test them.

Second Layer: Underneath her layer of dramatic-angsty-teenager-meets-grumpy-weird-old-lady-with-anger-issues attitude, Hui holds a deep-rooted sense of precaution, distrust, and fear of bring tricked or betrayed again. Hui tries to put up walls, in an attempt to hide these deeply fearful, uneasy, insecure, and vulnerable sides of her. She feels like letting her guard down for even the slightest moment, will cause her to be tricked, betrayed, or to fall back to the depths she had to endure for so long. These fears might surface in various ways, sometimes even acting paranoid.

Third Layer: Locked even behind these worries and fears, lies a girl with an unapologetically free-spirit. Hui thrives in action, in exploration, and all around new experiences. Having missed a significant portion of her childhood, she tries to compensate for it and experience freedom as much as possible. She loves the sensation of spontaneity, the feeling of the blowing winds on her face, the rush of water over her body, the taste of all types of food (even ones that might possibly kill her). Even running through an open field or climbing up sharp mountains, having picnics under a bright blue sky, or colorful, even (as much as she doesn't want to admit to herself) crowded places. Basically, anything vibrant, anything freeing, anything new: All of them fascinate her. She loves the thrill and the rush, but her fears and distrust in others make her put up walls to hide this side of her from other people. Her attempts of independence also are halted by her lack of life skills.

Fourth Layer: Along with her free-spirit and attempts of independence, Hui holds an even deeper side to her once you manage to get past her walls of distrust. Once she trusts a person (a very rare occasion), she becomes fiercely loyal and protective of them. She almost feels like she can find trust in them, determined to remain by their side and valuing them greatly. This can lead to Hui developing tendency of clinginess and worries of "what if they change?" though. She'll stick with her trustworthy people, acting as both a fiercely protective guardian, and a scared young girl newly learning to feel at ease thanks to them. She'll try to control herself, out of the worry that she'll eventually either scare them away or exhaust them to the point they wouldn't want her around. She expects them to return the loyalty she offers, but doesn't say it out loud. Though around these people, she also tends to be more talkative and expressive about things. She has a silent way to express how much she treasures them and is willing to go extra lengths to ensure they're well. This is a reason why (besides her striving for freedom), she wants to be strong and independent.

Fifth Layer: At her core, Hui longs for connection, safety, and self-expression, but has a heart full of doubts, worries, and fears. Due to having been left alone in a cell for five years, and only rescued by someone trying to save their friend, and helped her "as an afterthought", she deep down feels like she's been lost, forgotten and uncared for before, and she might be completely lost and forgotten again at any moment of weakness. She doesn't see how she might even matter besides her status as a "Legendary Spirit" (which she despises being by the way). She's in desperate need of reassurance: of the fact that she's worth being remembered and cared for. Not because she's "The Legendary Spirit of Space", but because she's herself, Hui. She most wants to feel safe and understood being herself.

Demeanor: Distant, wary, intimidating, ready for a fight, definitely has some issues

Refused Traits: Hui isn't exactly "refusing" her parts of personality, but she tries to hide her deeper sides of her, like her loyalty, protectiveness, free-spirited and loving of life, as well as many of her deeper fears. Hui knows who she is and wants to keep it to herself.

Seemingly Uncharacteristic Traits:  Hui has a boundless enthusiasm to experience life, and often gets excited and curious when trying something new or traveling to a new place. This might seem uncharacteristic for those who don't know her well enough. Also her emotional side, can surprise people who don't know her much. Finally, her friggin' aesthetic choices!

When Alone: It depends on whether she's outside, in her room, or an unfamiliar closed place. For the first one, she'll first check everywhere to make sure no one is watching her, then either run around like an excited puppy, or sit on a high spot and enjoy the scenery. If in her room, she'll open the window (doesn't really matter the weather), lay on her bed, and watch outside while getting lost in thought, uncharacteristically peaceful. If an enemy, especially in a closed space, uhhhhhh...

When Angry: Tends to launch herself directly at the person or thing, probably either her spear or something sharp in hand, filled with enough electricity to at least leave permanent injuries.

When Annoyed: Tends to throw the closest throwable object at the source / person.

When Receiving / Showing Affection: Hui is not good at showing affection. She's likely to stare awkwardly at the person and try to say something she assumes to be kind or soothing, still with a weirdly blunt attitude and clear lack of communication. It causes the person to give her a strange look, trying to understand what in Multiverse she meant. She often refuses to show physical affection, however with people she absolutely trusts, she'll cling to them as if glued (surprisingly okay with hugs in that case). Though she struggles even more with receiving affection as she'll most likely find the person suspicious and in a freak-out, will try to get out of the situation as quickly as possible.

What Keeps Her Up At Night: Where do I even start? Worries? Her need for constant noise to feel safe? Intruding thoughts telling her to do things like "throwing pies at your teammates' faces, particularly Ruxir and Wendolena, sounds good", or "what would it be like to leave the team and become a rogue space bandit?". 

Habits & Quirks:

Tends to bite her lower lip when uneasy or uncomfortable.

Lets out an uncharacteristically strong laughter and proceeds to stare straight into a person's soul, when nervous, trying to put on a confident demeanor.

Tends to drum on a table, window, or any available solid surface with her fingers if there's no noise around.

Tends to use glittered color pencils in her drawings instead of regular ones.

Likes: 

Open places 

Travelling

Bright & fiery colors

Trying new things

Training

Food

Thunderstorms & sunny days

Camping

Hiking 

Adventuring

Windy or snowy places

Fluffy and colorful trinkets

Snacking while watching chaos (if she isn't apart of it)

Also sometimes enjoys drawing with Shan or learning to cook from Hematia (even though she has little talent in either of them-).

Dislikes:

Dark Crystal (the organization)

Too quiet places

Dull food

Formal occasions

Being pranked or made fun of

Forced romance (looking at ya the Matchmaker stories-)

Shapeshifters

Uncomfortable clothes

Overprotective people who might try to limit her

Not being taken seriously

Liars & traitors

Darkness

Currency conversion (it confuses her in every world they visit-)

Fears:

Enclosed & tight spaces

Being betrayed

Being kidnapped again

Being forgotten

Being completely alone

Losing those she comes to trust & care for

Sound of a door being locked

Being seen as useless or unimportant

Pet Peeves:

Pranks directed at her

People trying to tie her hair

People telling her what to do

The "godly cryptic speech" that Nihynia and other gods use.

Having to do a bunch of calculations for currency conversions.

Do shapeshifters count?

Motivations: She originally didn't want to be in Team Space and instead continue her training in BSA, but later, she found reasons to stay after realizing these missions might be an easier way for her to get stronger while also granting her a chance to explore places she otherwise would never even have heard of. As she warms up to the team, protecting them becomes one of her motivations as well.

Weirdnesses: 

Sleeps hugging a fluffy bright orange travel pillow.

Lowkey finds it funny when the jokesters (Ruxir, Wendolena, Eurus, and Kassin) prank someone other than her.

Draws with the glittered color pencils and doesn't use a regular pen or pencil.

In the kitchen, uses the knife like she's using it in combat - scaring everyone else.

Can't tie her shoes or style her hair in any way (yeah not even a ponytail), but refuses to have someone else do it for her either.

Has the worst communication skills a person can have and often interprets words, sentences, & conversations differently than intended. Her interpretations are often too literal.

Beliefs & Superstitions:

Believes the world is best experienced head-on, with little protection, except from people.

Believes drawing bright circles on a surface nearby brings good, cheerful energy to that area.

Believes most people are inherently evil, but with a few exceptions like Shan, possibly Barin, and later down the line - her teammates.

Believes magic should be easier to learn instead of a bunch of studying and concentrating. It's supposed to be more whimsical and fantastical than anything in Tiria.

Believes weapons are a necessity for someone to carry with.

Has no concept of "levels of proximity" and thinks trust and willingness are the only criteria for how close you can act towards someone.

Believes Dark Crystal is inherently evil, while the other organizations are suspicious at best.

Almost Always Refuses To: 

Cry or otherwise act emotional in front of someone else.

Let someone she doesn't fully trust, touch her.

Stay in completely quiet places.

Mannerisms & Speech: Direct and blunt, with zero sugarcoating, often not even caring about whether she's being rude or not.

Sense Of Humor: Dry, with a mix of bluntness and sarcasm.

Collects / Always Keeps With Her: 

Always keeps: her spear; a small, soft and fluffy blanket from her childhood before the capture, a few snacks for just in case, a Corestone, a pair of small knives, and a bunch of rope-like ribbons.

Collects: Tiny drawings from her teammates and trinkets from worlds she visits

Guilty Pleasures:

Coloring books when drawing can be too hard.

Lowkey enjoys watching others get pranked.

Is actually a huge food lover.

Music Taste: Can differ depending on her mood, but often likes rock and alternative; as well as the folk songs from places they travel to which she's fascinated by. She likes the Radiance's songs but is kind of tired of listening to their preparings.

Voice: Higher-pitched than expected, oftentimes sounding like she's yelling or screaming when she isn't.

Languages:

Fluent in: Thamirian

Can Hold A Conversation In: Rinfalese, Mandarin Chinese, Ba-Ri

A Little: Elirish, English, Celestial

Thoughts & Interpretations on:

The World: Both a cruel place when you let your guard down, and a place full of things worth experiencing.

Life: Life means thrill and movement for her, full of senses and emotions.

Freedom: Basically doing whatever she wants, without worry or fear.

Friendship: Friendship is based on trust and loyalty, someone who has your back no matter what, even after your "business" is done, is the ideal friend for her.

Love: Love is both selfless and selfish in her opinion. To love someone is to let them feel free to be themselves around you, and provide unwavering trust and loyalty; while expecting the same in return.

Hate: The definition of "hate" to her, is basically Dark Crystal. Or anyone / anything along that line.

Peace: For Hui, peace = freedom, especially feeling unthreatened and unlimited with it. "Peace" as in "harmony" seems meaningless to her.

Distress: The feeling of entrapment equals distress for her. Being unable to move or choose anything as well.

Fun: For Hui, fun equals thrill, excitement, or even some more relaxing stuff. It's more like doing whatever she feels like doing.

Fear: Fear is the feeling of entrapment, and a weight of hopelessness dawning on her. She often starts to act frantic, trying her absolute hardest to find a way out.

Trust: It means basically the most crucial thing she expects from life and people. It's a sense of safety and certainty she thinks she can only feel around certain people or places, that has to, has to earn it for her.

Happiness: Happiness = freedom to do whatever she dreams. She has a deep feeling of lacking this.

Concept Of A Team: It's new to her. She's suspicious of every single one of her new teammates and feels like they only work with her because they have to, and is willing to test their patience to the max.

Magic: Hui loves using her lightning magic in particular, but she doesn't like the process of learning magic. It feels way too stifling.

Technology: Compared to most members of Team Space, Hui actually has a better handling of technology thanks to her childhood years in Tiria and current training in BSA. Probably wouldn't like super high-tech or complicated devices, but feels more comfortable with most modern tech, viewing them as necessary.

The Gods: Nihynia and Ruxir aside, she's suspicious of all of the gods. For Nihynia, she's spiteful for being chosen as a Legendary Spirit by her, while she's annoyed to pieces by Ruxir for often being the target of his pranks and clashing with him in missions.

Chaos Factor In The Team: Hui is one of the more chaotic members on the team. Although quiet, her bluntness and short temper often make her more irritable and "fun to mess with", while her reactions can range from humorous to terrifying. On the other hand, Hui's desire for freedom, independence, and thrilling experiences often cause her to either temporarily leave, get into trouble, or, most commonly - both.

Changes & Arc: Hui's arc deals with the concepts of trust and freedom. In the beginning, she's a very guarded and distant figure whose distrust in her teammates causes her to restrain and restrict herself around them. She's also more defensive and impulsive in this point in time. However, as time goes by, she changes drastically during her arc. The walls she put between herself and others start to come crashing down, and she starts to express herself more easily and form deeper connections. As she forms these bonds and experience life, she also learns the value of tolerance and patience as well.

Extra: Although she does it when she's annoyed or angry, throwing small objects makes her feel sort of relieved, making others even more wary around her. Also when she's in "fight or flight" mode, she'll fight, like crazy, until she spends every remaining ounce of her energy. Though she also becomes extra clingy when scared, she doesn't admit to acting that way once she has her courage back.

ABILITIES & COMBAT:

Power(s): Storm Conjuration

Magic (Trick) Elements: Lightning / Electricity, Wind, Space

Magic (Other): Like most Legendary Spirits, she has access to "Spirit Magic", which lets her draw magical energy from the spirit world for her use.

Specialty / Natural Talent: Lightfoot (very quick and light on her feet)

Other Talents:

Skilled with close and mid-range weapons

Has a tendency to not give up until her opponent is unconscious enough to stop fighting (high stamina).

Not easily (non-magically) charmed by people with higher charisma due to her increased trust issues.

Skills with the spear

When feeling a strong emotion, she can accidentally become a rapper of sorts.

Strengths:

Fierce determination

Always alert

Loyalty for those who earn it.

Doesn't beat around the bush.

Quick on her feet.

Quick-thinking

Physically strong for her appearance.

Weaknesses:

Short tempered

Trust issues bordering on paranoia

Intense fear of closed spaces

Too blunt

Lack of survival skills

Lack of life skills in general

Has no communication skills

Too judgmental of people

Has little patience

Focuses too much on the experiences for herself rather her actions' effects on others. 

Lack of physical growth

Has RECKLESS spending habit claiming "It helps her do what she wants, so it's a part of her freedom" (owes money to at least five other characters)

Weapons: Her spear and (mostly lightning) magic. Also uses whatever throwable object she finds but isn't great at it

Items:

A satchel bag

A sketchbook Shan gifted

A pencil set

Ribbons

Trinkets

A water bottle even though she technically doesn't need it

Some sort of small, hard, throwable objects

Disabilities / Mental Illnesses: PTSD, Anxiety, and physical undergrowth

Stat Percentages (This has been a habit since Middleverse):

Speed: 85%

Strength: 58%

Stamina: 80%

Stealth: 85%

Agility: 65%

Endurance: 80%

Recovery: 84%

Balance: 40%

Accuracy: 78%

Close Combat: 58%

Distanced Combat: 60%

Survival Skills: 3%

Intuition: 35%

Magic: 60%

Luck: 25%

Intelligence: 64%

Emotional Intelligence: 18%

Wisdom: 35%

Strategy: 70%

Leadership: 45%

Cooperation: 15%

Charisma: 55%

Communication: 1%

Empathy: 41%

Memory: 75%

Hidden Abilities: Spirit abilities (intangibility at will, immortality, etc), Space magic connection

Improvements: Learns to control her trust issues and anger issues, learns to improve her lightning magic and space magic more efficiently, learns to face challenges more calmly.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Family:

Cerisna Thermin (birth mother)

Zyran Thermin (birth father)

Catelle Grimwood / Shufei Liu (adoptive mother)

Guyon Grimwood / Yuze Xie (adopted father)

Wendolena Witxen (caretaker, acts like Hui's older sister which is both annoying and endearing for Hui)

Friends / Allies:

Shan Lin (Childhood best friend and the only person Hui actually trusts.)

Shuang Lin (Shan's older sister who acts as a friend for Hui and deals with her nonsense more easily, while also being a caretaker for her.)

Payden Laerirn (Hui's friend and fellow spirit who was also captured by Dark Crystal. She's a bit suspicious of him due to his past with Dark Crystal, but tolerates him more than most people.)

Hiroki Nishimura (Another fellow spirit who was captured by Dark Crystal like her. She's alright with him especially since he's her companion in suffering.)

Erebus Nasethar (Fellow spirit even if he's given under the service of the Legendaries. Hui doesn't trust Erebus expectantly, but she has sympathy for him in her own way and can connect with him.)

Eirlys Umerina (Another fellow spirit but one Hui likes the least, or second least, among them due to her past of being raised as a spy and hiding her identity. She's basically the things Hui hates most in people.)

Arwyn Iluthmil (Fellow Team Space member, Hui has some respect for Arwyn for saving Shan's life, but can't trust him knowing he's like a brother to Frank (the person who tricked her when she was kidnapped). These suspicions only increased when she realized about his past in diplomacy and politics.)

Meissa Mocilla (Fellow Team Space member; Hui finds Meissa's intelligence intriguing but also finds her unwillingness and quietness to be insufferable.)

Ruxir Polarstar (Fellow Team Space member and the one Hui likes to call "The Bane of My Existence". Their interactions are some of the most chaotic out there.)

Libet Lamarre (Probably Hui's least favorite member of Team Space. Their values and perspectives of life are the polar opposite in possibly the worst way possible. They're only working together because a near-omnipotent goddess wants it.)

Myrkut (Fellow spirit and Team Space member; Hui finds Myrkut pleasant to be around but seeing his strategic mind keeps her on edge, knowing everything he does could also be a plan. Yeah she's paranoid even about this immortal twelve year old who's too shy to even talk.)

Hematia Rohtin (Fellow Team Space member; Hui thinks Hematia's fiery attitude can be fun but her maternal behavior makes Hui feel stifled. She feels mixed about it, wishing Hematia could tone it down and let her be, but also lowkey appreciates that someone is looking out for her.)

Tipus Icicle (Fellow Team Space member; Hui appreciates his quietness and relates to his lack of trust in others, but is irritated by his attempts of "playing the leader," and if he tries to make a slightly offensive remark about hers or Shan's membership in BSA.)

Eurus Storm (Fellow Team Space member and the other bane of Hui's existence. He's possibly even worse than Ruxir since Hui sees Eurus' chaos as more deliberate, but also due to his past as a thief known for his trickery. Yeah, it'll be hard for her to trust him.)

Kassin Silverwave (Technically a member of Team Space, but Hui prefers to consider Kassin to be "Arwyn's personal annoyance" instead. She knows the fairies like him can't be trusted in general, especially considering this little dude convinced her team's "diplomat" member within a single conversation to let him tag along cross-universe. But she's gained some respect for him after Kassin started to annoy Frank most.)

Tyttia Trace (Fellow Team Space member and the weird mentor figure for both Hui and Shan. Hui's annoyed by her overly bright and cheerful attitude and style, but has a weird respect and fondness for her.)

Vesta Merula & Vlad Ziskind (Both fellow Team Space members and former leading figures of Dark Crystal. So she only works with them because she has to, while turning the two's time in the team to hell, or aiming to do so.)

Chromos Acritas (Also a Team Space member that's a former leading figure of Dark Crystal, so she doesn't trust him either. But is more tolerant of him after learning he helped Arwyn save Shan (her closest friend) and that he also despises Frank, like she does.)

Tom Nels (He's a friend of Shan so indirectly an ally of Hui. She isn't really fond of him but thinks he isn't annoying at least, and since they both have trust issues, they rarely talk anyways. But she teases him and Shuang's romance.)

Rosena Freze (She's a friend of Shan so an ally of her too. Hui doesn't really like neither her nor Tom, but she thinks Rosena specifically can be too emotional which makes her more annoying to her. Though she likes teasing Rosena about her relationship with Payden.)

Nihynia (Technically Nihynia is the one who chose her to be the Legendary Spirit of Space and invited her to Team Space as a core member. Hui acknowledges Nihynia for giving her a purpose and her attempts to keep the greater balance. But she also loathes her for choosing her to be a Legendary Spirit.)

Rivals:

Eirlys Umerina (As a fellow spirit, they have connections, but they're both equally bitter about things that hold them back from their own potential. Hui and Eirlys were in the Spirit Realm together, facing the same challenges.)

Libet Lamarre (Inside Team Space, she's her main rival. They both are quick fighters who often have to work together, combining their lightning and water magic for example. However, their completely opposite beliefs make them constantly at odds with each other, causing them to often compete in situations where they need to cooperate.)

Niketria Hogan (While Niketria and her team might've ended up rescuing her while rescuing Payden, Hui feels a strong sense of both repellence and respect towards Niketria's stubborn, but caring "unbreakable wall of steel for the team" attitude, and finds her unexpected strength interesting. Hui does want to challenge Niketria one day and show that she's just as strong (also to see who's the true small but tough nut to crack of the Eight Alters.))

Jake Springlet (Jake is one of the students of BSA who doesn't like students from Tiria in general, and as Hui considers herself more Tirian than Thamirian, she takes things personally and tries to do better than Jake at everything to prove her point.)

Enemies:

Frank Theodore Milford (As her kidnapper, Hui holds a big grudge against Frank and doesn't trust him at all. She is always cautious around him after he kept her imprisoned in Dark Crystal, remembering those horrible memories.)

Beislar / Lorkness (As the main villain of the series and the one who ordered Frank to kidnap Hui, she naturally holds a strong grudge against him, determined to defeat him not just for good, but also for herself.)

Botolfe Cornelius (He is a leader of Dark Crystal who always took pleasure in messing with his victims, including Hui. She resents him for it and is wary of him too.)

Vanora Ziskind (Hui knows Vanora to be one of Dark Crystal's leaders as well, and the most bloodthirsty one (in the literal sense). She remembers her first days in Dark Crystal when she still wasn't a spirit, and how Vanora came after her. Like Frank and Botolfe, she holds a massive grudge against her.)

Tristia (While she doesn't have any personal connections to Tristia, Hui knows that she became a cursed spirit willingly and betrayed her family's and friends' trust in her. This is enough for Hui to absolutely despise Tristia.)

Ignacius Fiamel (Another leader of Dark Crystal, so naturally she sees him as an enemy, but isn't as big of an enemy to him as some of the other Team Space members (Tipus-).

Pets: Three small creatures she keeps as hers from the Tirian tour she participated in after first escaping captivity (a ladybug called Cherry, a pet spider called Hunter, and a black beetle called Spirit. Of course she tries to make sure Hunter doesn't catch the other two.)

Love Interest / Love Life:

Barin Igarashi (He is a ninja she couldn't trust at first, who was just as closed off as her. However, the two connected and understood each other better than expected, her guard falling as time passed (she is sometimes bashful about expressing her feelings). (Barin is Hui's main partner / love interest in the series, having met in Team Space stories.)

Wei Zhang (Wei was a childhood friend of Shan and Hui, who had a crush on her when they were kids. Hui did have brief feelings for him as a child, before being captured, but after returning, she was disappointed in him. She no longer holds any romantic feelings for him.)

Other Relationships:

Alondra Busker-Nels (Well, she's technically the house leader of the house (the Busker Mansion) Hui lives in with them (and a whole bunch of others), even though Hui herself isn't related to any of the Busker or Nels families and neither pays room rent, nor does any chores in the house. Instead, she annoys Alondra a bit, especially with the fact that she calls Radiance's music (the band Alondra leads) just alright too. But well, they're still allies and Alondra is trying to be patient with her.)

The Flying Café Crew (Besides Payden, Hui's just alright with the Flying Café Crew, though she finds Elvis and Miyuki to be too annoying and flirty with each other, and thinks Mr. Venor's level of knowledge on everyone else is too eerie for her to trust.)

Legendary 10 (Already mentioned the first half (Rosena, Shan, Tom, Elvis, and Miyuki), and as for the other half (Kent, Faren, Nour-Jawhara, Mert, and Marcelino), she sees them as allies in a way, but she doesn't really trust them as much as expected from her.)

Miraculum Karril (of all the leaders in BSA, she's the one Hui can't stand the most. She realizes Miraculum does plenty for BSA and against Dark Crystal, which she supports. But how far Miraculum can go for these purposes irks Hui, if not scares her a bit.)

STORY:

Role:

In The Main Story: In the Interdimensional main series, Hui is an important secondary character. Besides her role as the Legendary Spirit of Space and a close friend of Shan, she also acts as a strong ally of the Legendary Carriers and an antagonistic figure for Frank all throughout the series.

In Team Space: Hui is one of the most main members of Team Space, being a crucial figure in Nihynia's eyes in the battle against Beislar and more. She's also the youngest member of the team until Shan and Myrkut become constant members too.

Backstory: Hui Xie, or, Udela Castemera Thermin, was born in the stormy kingdom of Thamir - in the world of Yugenri, as the only child of Lord Zyran and Lady Cerisna, a mid-scale noble family. However, soon after her birth, some oddities about her were noticed: she was too quiet as a baby, she was learning to move (and then moving) far too quickly, and was too light that it felt like she was intangible. All of this, combined with her random bursts of magic, made her parents worry. They took baby Hui to a healer, who noticed that she was a living spirit (which is extremely rare compared to other types of spirits, most likely being tied to the Legend of Karril).

This made her parents ask for advice from the higher-ups, and a BSA official suggested hiding her in Tiria (as Tiria is considered by Yugenrins to be the safest of the worlds in Eight Alters, due to not having direct connections to any other world besides Yugenri and having little to no magic). This idea was accepted, and little Udela was sent to Tiria, after being given to the guardianship of two BSA officials who're also partially Thamirian (Guyon and Catelle Grimwood). The pair already had three children, who they had to leave to Guyon's sister as they left for their mission in Tiria. As Guyon was good friends with Lin Kun / Kun Lin (Shan's father), and Catelle was still lecturing Shouren Sen / Sen Shouren (future Potionsion professor) on medicine making, they settled in Ningzhou. There, Udela was given the name Xie Hui - as the daughter of Xie Yuze and Liu Shufei.

In her childhood, Hui went to the same school as Shan and became close friends with him (along with Zhang Wei but she won't talk about him). However, when she was eight, close to nine, her powers of storm creation surfaced and were more clear and worrisome than Shan's, who had also newly discovered his teleportation. For this reason, BSA instructed Guyon and Catelle to bring Hui back to Yugenri for training. And a few weeks after she turned nine, they were going to set out. But when they were about to, Hui was distracted by some colorful hairpins and called by a woman who looked and sounded like Catelle / Shufei. Hui followed her until she felt dizzy and closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes again, she was in a dark room, alone. Frank, Botolfe, and Vanora came and explained what happened, hearing her call for her parents. They tricked her and she was their prisoner now, and that her parents wouldn't come for her. After a check-up by Vanora and Itzal (for different reasons), Botolfe threw Hui into the Spirit Depths with help from Frank (who as a shapeshifter was the one who brought her there).

Hui stayed locked in a cell inside the Spirit Depths for almost five years, as she only escaped about a week before she turned fourteen. She was completely broken by that point, as she had been all alone for almost five years in complete darkness, people only coming once a month to check if she was there. However, they visited the Spirit Depths twice in total to lock Hiroki and Payden up too, who Hui tried to contact but was too scared to. She felt like she was nobody, nothing, something to be forgotten in this abyss.

In year three (during the Eternal Winter Arc); Ellenie, Zabar, and Niketria found the Spirit Depths as they were searching for Payden, but saved Hui and Hiroki along with him. Hui felt grateful but realized they didn't come for her either. They'd come for their friend, and she was an afterthought. She accepted it and as Payden and Ellenie left Dark Crystal, she ran away with them and learned the truths. She then joined the Legendaries (at that point only Rosena, Kent, Shan, and Faren were around) in their Tirian-Tour quest to prevent the Eternal Winter. She formed her friendship with Shan again there, but learned to not trust the others as she also faced Frank and Botolfe knowing who they truly were, and learn that the people who she knew as her parents were just guardians. She tried to react like how any teenager would react then, but BSA offered to start her training now. She accepted and in Year Four (when everyone else was suffering in the Solium War), Hui stayed in Yugenri and learned basic combat skills (which she was too enthusiastic about to be considered healthy). When Team Space was established in Year Five, Hui was one of the first people Nihynia picked to send on missions across the Multiverse for herself, as she was already chosen by Nihynia to be the "Legendary Spirit of Space." Hui didn't like the idea of being with all these "random weirdos" at first, not trusting a single one in the beginning.

Themes & Character Arc: Hui's arc mainly centers around the themes of trust, freedom, fear, self-worth and connections. The first time we see Hui, she's a scared child trapped in the Spirit Depths. When she first escapes, she's too afraid to trust even the people she's closest to and she acts extremely impulsive and unpredictable in her attempts to not feel like a captive or prisoner anymore. Over time, she slowly lowers her guard towards those she forms connections with, experiencing what the words "family", "friendship", "love", "trust", and "freedom" mean to her. As she begins to trust, she also begins to act more freely, slowly but surely letting her fears leave as she grows into a stronger person.

Extra / Fun Facts:

Among the Team Space members, Hui is seen as the "grumpy younger sister of the family" which she despises at first but starts to not mind it in time.

Hui is banned by Hematia from going shopping alone.

Hui sings in the shower or when alone, but will yell at any person trying to eavesdrop.

Hui loves ribbons but doesn't like tying them.

Hui won her "spirit yelling" contest against Eirlys simply by being more angry.

Hui is one of the few, rare characters who didn't participate in the Solium War. She would have participated but it ended on her first year of training.

Hui is a huge foodie and wants to try all sorts of food, as long as they won't be poisonous.

Hui tackles and wrestles people either playfully or angrily. It doesn't matter if the person is a 6'7 tall celestial (Ruxir), she won't give up until she wins.

Hui has a collection of small trinkets from places she visits, many of these being tiny plushies or keychains.

Hui's favorite place to visit was Eliri, with its open skies, peaceful atmosphere, and cloudmobiles to drive around.

Due to the people in Dark Crystal calling her "Udela", she hates being called by her birth name. It's like a trigger for her now.

Hui first met Barin in the "Matchmaker Event" short stories, specifically, the one with Valentine's Day "Triple Spins".

Due to the fact that Frank (a shapeshifter) had turned to the person she knew as her mother, to deceive and kidnap her, Hui has developed extra wariness and fear towards shapeshifters, that can come off as offensive to them.

Questions For YOU (readers):

Which one(s) of your characters / OCs do you think Hui would get along best with? Why?

What song(s) do you think would fit her best?

Would you have any headcanons for her?

What would you do if you met her irl?

In general, what do you think about the character?

_____________

Chapter 1: Rosena #1

---

It was silent.

No noise of any cars passing by. No more of the sleep-talking of my siblings across the room. Not even the sound of the crows that lived on the single tree across the street.

It was all silent. Peaceful and nerve-wracking.

Except, the noisy thoughts, filling my head again. Thoughts I didn't want to deal with at that moment.

They made it impossible to close my eyes.

I had my final tests these two weeks. I had to rest up and prepare for them. Had to get high enough scores to leave this one. Possibly this place as a whole even.

But did I really have to leave?

Everyone left after all. Ella, Sky, even Tom...sort of. Why couldn't I?

Because it hurt? Or was it just my stubbornness?

I didn't know. Honestly, didn't want to think about it either.

I instead peeked my head through the covers, hugging Lily and Poppy close to my chest.

It was still kind of dark outside, but some of the early morning light came through, strong enough for me to notice.

I took my medallion out of my shirt, feeling its slight coldness. Then I held it out. The blue gem on it lightly shone, the same color as outside. It was beautiful, and felt cool, refreshing even.

I sighed.

Anytime now-

"Rose! Mira! Mather! Wake up kids! You're gonna be late for school!"

-She could cone...

It was my mom, Susane Freze.

Her impatient voice came from nearby. Too nearby actually.

I immeditially buried my head under the covers, as the door creaked open.

I shifted slightly, trying to hide my face.

I was already awake. Had been for awhile.

I was going to try and conince her that I couldn't to go to school today. I didn't want to. Exam days were one thing, I didn't have the energy or the patience for two more weeks besides them.

After all... What was the point? 

What was the point in trying and thinking things can be different, better even, when they didn't?

Everything was going to be the same. Those people, my classmates, "friends" even, were going to act the same way.

"I know you're awake, Rose."

I didn't respond. Maybe pretending to be sick would help convince her?

"Rose, I know it. You moved!" She repeated, and pulled my covers off my head.

"Noo! Please-"

My protests didn't work, as I had to try hiding my face with my stuffed animals, and stay still. Sadly, Poppy and Lily were too small, and she found me out.

"Good morning, Rose." Mom said in a quieter voice. "You get up and prepare. And I'll wake up the twins."

I weakly smiled and raised my head. Could a fake sneeze help?

How do you fake sneeze?

"Good morning too." I said with a yawn. "Can I....um...?"

Before I could speak another word, mom had moved over to my siblings' bunk beds.

"Mira! Mather! Mira!!! Mather!!!"

"Uhh...you gotta leave him, Ivy. Hmmnm! Do it for yourself!...."

"Ollie! Defend the tower!"

They won't wake up that easily. They're lost in TVland and Gameland. I can take sometime when she's busy with them, and...

I let my head fall back to the pillow.

The effects of sleeplessness always settled in when I least wanted. Why did it wait to weigh in until I made the slightest attempt of getting up but not when I was trying to sleep?

"Coming..." Mira's drowsy response came. "After sis..." 

No you did not!

"But Rose already-" My mom stopped. Her voice came from closer again. "Rose! You've to get up!"

"I'm not feeling well." I weakly said and tried to add realistic coughs.

"I see that." She said in a mix of tiredness and understanding in her voice. "You can rest and take your test tomorrow maybe?"

Test? What test? It was on Monday! Wasn't that- Today was supposed to be free! It's... It's Monday? Stupid me!

"I'll handle it." I said as weakly, as I threw myself out of the bed and got to preparing.

When I returned, I grabbed the clothes for my uniform from the top of the chair I left them on, and waited.

Mather wasn't up yet!

At least it sounded like Mira was going to shake him awake.

"Brooo! Wake up! Wake! Up! Bro! Wake!!! Up!!!"

"Ahhh! Alright alright sis." My brother yawned. "It's still early."

"Yeah. We've got the math test today!"

"...Can't we have it tomorrow?"

"I wish!!!"

No. Let's just get this over with. Please...

"But we can't." I sat back to my bed. "So can you let us dress up?"

"Fine!" Mather climbed down his bed, grabbed his clothes and left, as I also got to prepare in peace.

But I forgot a small detail. By "small detail" I mean my little sister's presence.

"You don't seem okay sis?" She asked, too close to my face for comfort. "What's up?"

"O-oh nothing! Nothing!" I backed away, hiding ny medallion under the cream white shirt of my uniform.

"It's not just tests, right?"

"They're not." I said with a deep sigh, hoping she'd stop prying. "I'm just...tired."

But of course, like most younger siblings I knew, she didn't. 

"Oh! what's tiring you so much?" She pressed. "Your friends? Mom and dad? Your power-"

"Miracate Freze!" I had no other chance but to raise my voice. "Don't bring that up."

"Okay okay! Sorry!" She agreed witb an small, awkward giggle. "So what did you think about yestrrday's episode? I'm so angry at Ivy! But also at Travis! Like what're they doing?"

"What...were they doing?" I obviliously asked as I packed my bag.

"You don't remember??"

"No?" I didn't really watch it though.

Mira and most of the girls at my class loved the romantic comedy series: Ivy And The Carnation. I watched a few episodes of it so I could have more to talk about with them. It was a lighthearted fun, but not much else. I wasn't supposed to be distracted by a silly show like that in the exams' week.

"Travis got mad! That Ivy went to a fashion show without telling him and Ivy left her passion! So he'd accept her again!" She passionately explained, while brushing her messy black hair. "Like! Like he'll accept you if you don't do it yourself! Get it togather girl!"

I half-heartedly listened her rant, feeling too tired to pay attention to her "too deep for her age" opinions about the show.

"Right!" I smiled at her while tying my brown hair. The ongoing sound of the turned on bathroom tap had stopped. "Now that Mather's out, we can talk more on breakfast."

"Oh he's out?" My sister stood up. "Alright. Should I just wash my face or hair too?"

"I mean you already tied your hair so.."

"Oh right! Right!" She giggled and left. I grabbed both of our bags and moved to the kitchen table, after leaving them by the enterance door.

The breakfast went mostly fine. I already expected that dad wouldn't show up. Why would he wake up so early when he taught his classes in the afternoon?

Did Mather have to make an unnecessary comment about my science test though?

"Not ready for science? Don't let Tom hear that, sis!"

"Not the time Mather."

I shushed him and pretended to stay calm. Pretended to not care.

But he was right, wasn't he? Tom would have probably been disappointed.

I tried to not let Mather's words or the thought of them being true into my head. But it was hard!

After eating, I brushed my teeth, brushing before breakfast makes no sense; and left with my siblings.

The sun had already risen. Thank the long summer days.

Out of habit, I kept my hand on Mira's arm for the entire way through. Even though I had gotten a sense of the direction after the eight years I've traced school road for, I couldn't be sure.

The weather was so warm and sunny. Where did the chill running up and down my body come from then? The coldness in my chest?

Before we arrived, I took out my medallion's gem again, and held it up with Mira next to me.

It was glistening in the sunlight. But also, but was cold? It was kind of where I expected the chills came from. But I didn't think it'd feel like holding an ice cube with bare hands.

How could this gem even make me feel things!

"What's up with it?" Mather asked, covering the school's view for us.

"It's cold!" Mira said and pulled back her hand. "Like sis' power-"

"Miracate!" I warned her again, more quietly than back home, as I put my medallion back under my shirt. "We don't talk about it!"

"Okay okay! Sorry again!" She finally agreed, but Mather...

"But why? Isn't having a super power cool?"

"No it's not!" I yelled and stormed off towards the school building.

Did they really think having a power was cool? Maybe something simple, like super strength or super speed could be. But not my power. Not when people thought I could freeze, melt or burn their items, or god forbid, them! At least the latter didn't come in outbursts.

They... They'd already made up their mind about me before I had a power, and it made things worse.

"Sis! That's the elementary school side!"

I flinched at Mather's voice and moved away when he tapped  on my shoulder. My breathing turned into quick gasls as I did.

I shouldn't have been acting like this! I should've known the direction! I should've stayed calm and not get carried away!

I swallowed a lump in my throat, as the chilling coldness left. In its place, there was a heavy, burning feeling inside me, tightening around my neck and chest. Choking.

"I know!" I said, more so breathlessly shouted.

I needed to lower my voice! Anyone could be seeing me panic! Any of my classmates! I didn't want to deal with them. Not now! Possobly never!

"I was just...walking around." I tried to say more calmly, taking quick breaths. If my clearly freaked-out voice could be called any "calm" that is.

Get it togather Rose! What are you doing? You're panicking about the smallest things!

I scolded myself, trying to steady my breathing as well, before Mira or Mather noticed.

"You okay sis?" But of course, Mira did. She asked, leaning over to come uncomfortably close to my face again.

"Yeah. Sorry." Mather said in an unsure voice, putting a hand on my shoulder, more gently.

They were probably trying to show concern and support, but it only came off as awkward and like something actually concerning had happened to me.

It was just a little freak-out, about an actually small mistake that shouldn't have made me even react, probably.

'It's...nothing." I softly said, and gave them a smile, or I hoped I did, to reassure them. "A...anyways, let's go..."

"Well, alright."

Mira grabbed my wrist and walked towards the other building in the schoolyard. Mather was right behind us.

I let my sister drag me inside, even if it was emberassing. Being hand-guided to the building I was supposed to know without needing to see after so many years. But I couldn't risk getting lost again or causing another scene.

Mira and Mather left soon after I entered my classroom. Though Mather stayed a moment longer, asking about Bill and Kevin. They probably weren't around yet, like I expected from the empty desk next to mine where Kevin was usually seated.

So Mather left quickly too.

How early were we though? There wasn't much of a noise in the class. Far less than thirty-five people would cause.

And even Miranda and her group, and the impossible-to-miss noise they brought along weren't around. They wouldn't miss a single test day, right? I kind of wished they did, but it was more than unlikely.

No sound of Olivia either, but I kind of expected that. It didn't really matter if she was giving up on the studies or coming to complete them. The result was going to be the same.

I wouldn't have minded if any of them didn't show up.

And as expected of my luck, they all came in one by one.

"You'll do amazing Miranda!"

"Yeah! You're so smart!"

"Can you give us some hints before the test?"

"I know that guys. And sure! Come in close."

Miranda's group walked in, chatting.

They weren't the "popular pretty cheerleaders" or the "rich girls". No, they were the "overly involved, overly competetive" types. The types who didn't accept any opposition in competitions, academic rivalries, and their perfected images. The ones who'd try to mentally wear you down if they saw you as an actual, serious obstacle.

Miranda and Rebecca sat their shared desk right behind me. I assuned the two Sarahs were behind her, and someome else, probably their friends Carrie and Beth, stood next to the desks. They were all whispering among themselves.

They were trying to be as quiet as possible once they settled. And I tried to avoid eavesdropping, but it was impossible not to!

"I worked so hard for this! I'll become the class number one this time and get accepted to the magnet highschool in the city. The best one."

"You got this Miranda."

"Yup! You're the smartest girl in class!"

"Yup! And the smartest in school with Nancy."

"Yeah. Nancy's great too!"

"Yeah. Did you see how she got back to Rose last week?"

"It was her mom though. Nancy's too nice to deal with someone like her."

"Right! Right!"

"Oh yeah! Like Mr. Martinez only gave her project an A because she can't see!'"

"Right? Olivia's computer model was the same amd she barely got a B-!"

"Yeah! And she listens to our answers before taking the tests!"

"Shhh! Don't let her hear that. She'll do that freaky ice thing again."

"What will she do? Freeze our pencils this tine?"

Too bad I heard it all! First of all! Olivia put too many unnecessary decorations on her project! And glitter! Who puts glitter on a computer model when Mr. Martinez said it was supposed to resemble a real computer?! Secondly! You know better than anyone Miranda, how my ears hurt from covering them because of you people in test weeks! And thirdly! Do you think I have any idea of what I'm doing with that power either?

There were far too many thoughts I wanted to yell at them, but I tried to keep it all quiet. I was planning to avoid them all day, unless they directly talked to me. There was no point in causing more drama.

But did Olivia and her "bestie" Mary have to show up and join in?

"So? What're you girlies talking about?" Olivia asked in almost a shout, followed by a fake laughter.

"Oh, hey!" Sarah Warren said, the Sarah with a higher-pitched voice. "We were just talking about the test."

"Yeah!" Miranda cheered. "We were saying how hard we studied for these the entire year!"

I know you did because you constantly talk about it, Miranda. But I don't know about the others.

Her voice was louder than usual, like she wanted for someone to hear. Not me this time probably, since I was right here. There'd be no need for such a noise.

"I mean we did." Mary agreed. "Right, Liv?"

"Yeah! We didn't even watch Ivy And Carnation at all past few weeks!" Olivia said again in sn overly loud and dramatic voice, like that was a huge sacrifice of some sort. "We don't get it easy, like someone!"

You know I'm the same there. Except I don't study on cheating tactics and still fail, Liv.

I quietly sighed and tried to not even utter a word, but they were making it harder.

Before anything could happen though, Bill, Kevin, and even, somehow, Jason and Carl finally showed up; closely followed by our teacher Mrs. Willis.

The early classes passed in a blur, as the teachers let us study as long as we stayed quiet.

I tried to whisper to my deskmate Kevin, to study togather. But it felt strange, to ask him to read what he was studying a bit louder in every class, especially when Miranda and Rebecca were behind me and the teachers specifically asked the class to be quiet. Kevin himself also sounded a bit unwilling at first. He probably wanted to study on his own, but was fine with helping out after.

Despite all that, the classes up to the science test went pretty well. Even the test itself went alright. Although I wished I was able to take the tests in an easier way. Even using the Braille alphabet would be fine instead of with a reader, having to take it after everyone. But then again, the teachers didn't know Braille, I couldn't expect them to know. And I couldn't read or write in regular text. They looked like tiny dots, if that even.

So having someone read the questions for me was the only way out. Except the teachers were so paranoid about the students cheating, something they already did, that they wouldn't read them to me while the others were taking  the tests, but instead have another student...possibly Miranda or Bill, read it to me in front of them when they either start teaching a new topic, or have the students quietly do their own thing.

It was the same in almost every single test. Except P.E and music of course, but the rest.

They were all the same! The same people, the same problems, the same way they were handled and following drama all of them kept causing, and the people who were acting in...ways because of unnecessary competition.

Still, I tried to power through the science test. I couldn't prove Mather right.

After helping me that many times, I couldn't make a mistake that'd disappoint Tom, especially not in his favorite topic: science.

Ah, I wished he hadn't left. Life would've been much essier with him around. He'd listen, give the most sensible advice, and try his best to help me without being in my face about it.

I knew he didn't want to leave, but Tania was right. It was for their own good.

The thought of them though, helped me focus on the test. Friday next week was the twins' birthday. We were going to meet for the first time since the Easter break. Third time ever since they moved last summer. And the only news I wanted to give Tom were good ones.

And I felt good about it when I finished the test.

The teacher, Mr. Wells left after I was done. The others were still chatting about it when I got back to my desk. They were discussing answers. And all of them besides Miranda and Bill, showed clear excitment at the hint of any right answer.

"Rose! Rose!" As soon as I sat down, Daniel came in, with more of slap than a tap on my shoulder. "What was the answer for question twenty-one?"

"Huh...?"

I blankly stared at him, and tilted my head to the side, with no eye contact as usual. Even if I could normally keep, I would've still broken it there.

Bold of you to think I know the questions' number order.

"Um, which one was it?"

I tried to stay polite and calm, so Daniel would leave soon, as usual. Him, and the small crowd forming behind him, were the people who only appeared in my life and talked to me during exam weeks. And only either to ask questions, or to give a snarky comment.

"The one about plant cell!"

"Oh, it was C." I casually said.

"What?"

"H-hey!" I raised my hands defensively at his more aggressive voice, and tried to explain. "Uh, the other organels are found in both animal and plant cells. But Chloroplast is only in plant cells."

"Ah okay." Daniel said and gave another slap-like pat on my shoulder which I hated. "What about question fourteen? Mike and I've been arguing about it for an hour now."

I still don't know which one that is... Also then why didn't you ask it first?!

"Um, again...? Which one?" I tried to ask, too tired of the process to care.

"The lightbulb one right?" Miranda chimed in from behind me with an aggressively loud tone, like she was talking through gritted teeth. "It was A: copper!"

"Oh? That one!" I blinked and turned my attention to her. I couldn't tell if she genuinely believed in her answer and it might be true, or if she was trying to confuse me like before. "Copper is good. But would't silver be a better option?"

"You mean silver's a better conductive than copper?" She asked with a bitter chuckle. "Glad I'd never give you a hint in the exams. Because I can't believe you're really like...this when you don't get support from the teachers hm?!"

It's just a question. Chill please?

"What...?" I stood up, still trying to be quiet. I turned my face away from her, to the blue painted window next to my desk.

She's trying to anger me. It's why she's overreacting. Like why do you care? She's the one who read the questions to me! What are you doing  Miranda? I need to keep calm and not get into trouble because of her! Especially fresh off a test. I need to stay lowkey! At least for these two weeks!

I kept staring at the window and smiled. The bright daylights barely came through the paint coating, but it still gave off a cool, dim blue light in this hot day.

"What are you smiling at?" Miranda tried to press on. I would've been fine ignoring her words, but of course she wouldn't be the only one.

"Y'know, I've had to hang out with her a few times, and you're right Miri." Olivia chimed in, probably from the other side of the class, because nothing else would explain or excuse her volume.

And knowing her, I braced myself for more personalized insults than Miranda's.

"For real! She never studies or does anything, and gets everything from others. And when we tell, she cries!" She then turned to me. "You know it too! That the teachers make tests easier for you just because you can't "see"!"

"If by "make it easier" you mean change the map based or geometric shape based questions, then yes..."  swallowed a lump in my throat as I looked in her general direction. I should've started counting to ten, but my head was getting too full to think about that. "If you mean anything else, no. I get less time than you. I have the noise of the class and teachers while I'm taking a test with someone reading out loud, I mean whispering. And did you know it's unhealthy to cover your ears so much like I have to?"

"Those are not our problems." Miranda said matter-of-factly, even I could see her dramatic hand waving. Weren't you talking about fairness though? "Our problem is that you're acting like this..."

"Acting like... What?" I asked, still keeping myself contained even though it was getting harder.

"Like you're some hero doing some impossible task when you're having it easier just because you can't "see"!" Olivia shouted and came closer. I knew from her long, curly mess of a hair. "And even that's a lie! You say you can't see just to have it easier, because I know you do. You can see!"

"I know you'll say "I didn't say I was blind, I said I can't see". But what's the difference?" Miranda added, with an annoying confidence.

"What?"

"Can she?"

"Was she tricking us all along?"

"Impossible!"

"Not only us but she tricked the teachers and everyone else too!"

What...? How dare you!

I couldn't say a word. I tried to speak, shout, scream at them even, but no sound came out.

My body felt like a stone. Still, unmoving, heavy, cold. And I couldn't do anything besides feel the tears welling up in my eyes and a ringing in my ears that blurred the scandalous chatter around me.

How dare they! What do they think they are? Experts in eye related disabilities? How dare they think they have the "right" to say I was lying about a condition that I went through myself! Not them!

Did they think people only either have to have perfectly healthy eyes, use glasses, or be blind they had had any vision problems? Didn't anything inbetween exist for them?

Besides, how dare they claim they knew my health better than I, myself! Can claim I was lying about it!

They had no idea what they were talking about! And wanted to break someone just because of petty competition!

Or else they wouldn't talk so carelessly!

Who cared about grades, the school play, sports, creativity contests, any rewards, or whatnot! Did it all really worth this?!

Did they know how it felt to hear their parents and other loved ones openly say their "news" upset them? Or have they ever heard their family say they expected much less from them?

Even passing by random kids on the street, have they heard things like "Look at her!" or "What happened to her eyes?"?

Have they had to wait hours on end in hospitals, knowing the doctors would say the exact same thing?

Have they had to read the same three short stories for their entire life, and ask someone to read out loud or help you find an audio of it?

Feeling like you have to memorize everywhere to not get lost on their own?

Feeling like they ask for help too much and wanting to stop? Or wanting to show what they can do themselves?

No

No they have not.

They didn't know how any of it felt. They didn't live through them like I did! They didn't know, but talked like they did! Like they lived the same life and had the same experiences as me!

Like they knew!

They always thought they knew everything! Even the lives of people different from them!

Who did they think they were?!

I felt a fire within me. Burning in my whole heart and overflowing out of it. My teeth gritted, and hands clemched into fists, as I felt a blaze of rage flowing through my body. My chest, face, arms, legs, even fingertips.

Then that fire vanished.

Instead, the icy wave of coldness from earlier came back, stronger. And rushed through my veins fast like a winter storm. Every hint of the burning rage in me, every ember; was replaced by the cold.

The distant, disillisioned, the cruel but gentle cold. Fearsome, but with a comforting familiarity.

It filled me, up to my fingertips again; and shot, no, flowed, out of me.

It felt a bit relieving, like I was letting go of the sudden flare-up of my anger. Relaxing.

Until my sense of hearing came back.

"Not to mention she- Wait! What are you doing?!! What?! Stop!!!" Miranda's scream brought me back to the real world, and Olivia's comment made me realize.

"Ice Princess, I tell ya."

"W-what?!" The coldness changed. It wasn't a relieving flow of a refreshing cold air anymore. It became a stoney chill running up and down my spine, echoing through my body. "W-what did I do?!"

"What did you do?!" Miranda yelled and raised her hand. Her, Olivia, and the others were inching away from me. "See?!"

I didn't see much of a difference from afar, but when I got to touch, I felt it.

Solid, hard, and freezing cold. Miranda's hand, was encased in ice?

"Did... Did I do that...?"

"Yes you did!!" Miranda yelled and raised her hand higher. "What do I do now? This was my writing hand too!!"

The air was heavy. Everyone else had fallen silent. Not even the sound of blowing wind from outside, or the noise of students or teachers' steps on the corridor.

The only things I felt; were the still air, the chill in my spine, and the gazes of my classmates I wish were still invisible to me.

"S-sorry..." I lowered my head, unable to say another word. What else could I even say?

This had never happened before! I thought freezing others was possible but I never thought it would happen! Especially now!

What did I even do?

Could Miranda's hand return to normal?

What if her hand stayed permanently frozen because of me? What if...she'd lose her habd because of me?

Could I help melt it? I didn't know but I could try! She probably won't let me.

How did I even do that?

What happened?

What did I do?

Could this day get any worse?

And it probably could, as the gem in my medallion got freezing cold again, shining so bright it was noticed even under my shirt.

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