Evolution to Hero

—A spark... This damn spark is the culprit that almost caused a fire.

A small flame flickered on my fingertips. My control of Magicules was fairly average, yet I was impressed by my sensitivity to magic. As far as I knew, humans were quite insensitive to magic, with only a few having an innate perception of Magicules—an example being the Great Saints.

—What if we try...?

I narrowed my eyes as I focused on the small flame in my fingers. A tiny spark flared, and I opened my eyes in shock.

—Damn it...

...

Several servants passing through the hallways outside heard a loud explosion coming from the library. The crash echoed as if someone had decided to throw a wrecking ball at a bookshelf. The servants, wide-eyed and with their hearts in their throats, exchanged terrified glances.

Suddenly, the library door burst open, and I emerged from a cloud of smoke, coughing as if I had inhaled all the dust accumulated since the kingdom's creation.

—Damn it, I caused this! —I shouted angrily, shaking my dust-covered hands—. I just wanted to experiment, not organize a fireworks display!

To add to the disaster, a few charred pages fluttered behind me like poorly made confetti, and a servant muttered under his breath:

—Well, at least the fireworks were a success.

Ignoring the comment, I stumbled toward them, a stream of smoke still trailing from my clothes. Just when I thought the worst was over, a small book, which must have been catapulted by the explosion, fell from the ceiling directly onto my head.

—For heaven's sake! —I exclaimed, rubbing my head—. What is this? A literary rebellion?

As I kept massaging my head, I heard footsteps approaching. I looked toward the sound and saw Rudra alongside Lucia. I let out a sigh of frustration, knowing what was coming. Lucia wouldn't miss the chance to tease me, and to make matters worse, she'd probably tell Veldanava.

—Are you singed? —said Lucia, with a mischievous smile and a soft laugh escaping her lips—. You look like charcoal.

I crossed my arms, still covered in dust and with a lock of hair slightly smoking.

—Very funny, Lucia. Don't you have anything better to do than mock other people's misfortunes?

Rudra, who always tried to remain neutral, let out a stifled laugh as he glanced at the servants bowing to him.

—Come on, don't be like that. I'm just stating the obvious —Lucia replied, raising an eyebrow—. Besides, it's not every day we see someone come out of the library looking like they just lost a fight with a bonfire.

—It wasn't a bonfire! —I retorted, feeling the heat in my face begin to match that of my poor clothes—. It was... a small magical incident, that's all.

—"Small"? —Rudra chimed in, finally glancing over with a barely contained smile—. The explosion was heard from the courtyard. I thought you'd discovered a new form of teleportation... or mass destruction.

Lucia covered her mouth to stifle another laugh.

—I hope you're not planning to make this your new hobby. Although, if you are, maybe we should sell tickets. "The Great Explosive Sorcerer's Show"!

—Yeah, sure, and you could be my assistant, since you seem to enjoy my disasters so much.

Lucia grinned shamelessly.

—No, thanks. I'd rather watch the chaos from a safe distance. Although, if I tell Veldanava, I'm sure he'll give you some advice.

Rudra chuckled softly this time, not bothering to hide it.

—That's enough, both of you. —I sighed, brushing the dust off myself for what felt like the hundredth time—. Next time, I promise there won't be any explosions. At least... not that big.

Lucia patted my shoulder, leaving a small soot mark on her hand.

—Sure you will. But in the meantime, try not to burn down the palace, okay, Master of Sparks?

Just as I was about to respond with a snarky remark, I heard Rudra calling me. He was a few steps ahead, tilting his head to the side, motioning for me to follow. Just the two of us.

I turned toward him, raising an eyebrow, intrigued by his sudden seriousness. Something in his expression told me this wasn't just casual talk or a teasing comment about my latest disaster. Letting out one last sigh, resigned, I left Lucia snickering behind me.

—What's going on? —I asked when I reached his side, trying to read his expression, which now seemed more grave than usual.

—I need to speak with you alone —Rudra said, keeping his tone calm, but his gaze intense.

We walked in silence through the hallways, away from the commotion and the curious onlookers still trying to figure out what the hell had happened in the library. I knew that if Rudra wanted privacy, it meant what he had to say wasn't something that could be shared in public—and it probably had nothing to do with sparks or explosions.

—Do you know the primordial demons?— Rudra asked, though he quickly shook his head, as if regretting his own question. —But what am I saying, of course you know them. Veldanava told you about them when you arrived in our world a week ago.

I nodded slightly. Of course I knew them, and not just because of what Veldanava had told me. A long time ago, even before I came here, I had vague memories of those creatures—beings as ancient and dangerous as time itself. The primordial demons were a threat that didn't even need to be summoned to inspire fear.

—Oh yes, the primordial demons,—I said, feigning disinterest while crossing my arms. —Creatures born at the dawn of creation. Very powerful, destructive... just another day at the office for them.

Rudra nodded, but his eyes reflected something more serious. This wasn't casual conversation.

—Exactly,— he confirmed.—My spies have discovered that a group of sorcerers is planning to summon one of those primordial demons.

That made me tense up, though I tried to keep my expression neutral. Primordial demons weren't something you wanted to mess with, not even for the most experienced sorcerers. Few beings were capable of controlling them, and most summoning attempts ended in epic tragedies, with entire cities wiped out and lands cursed for centuries.

—And why would they want to do something so ridiculously reckless?— I asked, turning my head towards Rudra. —Not even the craziest sorcerers would want to unleash something like that... right?

—I thought the same,— Rudra admitted, his tone grave. —But it seems there's something more behind this. They're not just trying to summon a primordial demon... they want to use its power for something bigger. My spies haven't been able to uncover all the details, but what we do know is that the summoning is close, and the sorcerers are willing to risk everything.

I frowned, feeling a mix of concern and frustration. Anyone with common sense knew that trying to summon a primordial demon was like inviting a storm into your own home. Well, except Rimuru—he didn't know anything about the primordials when he summoned Noir.

—And which of the primordial demons are they trying to summon?—I asked, trying to stay calm. Some of the primordial demons were more dangerous than others, though all were deadly.

Rudra hesitated for a moment before answering.

—They're after the red primordial demon.

My heart skipped a beat upon hearing that name. Red, also known as Guy Crimson, was the most powerful and cunning of the primordial demons. It was said that his nature was proud. In a part of the novel, I recall that Rudra gave him his name, and that only caused his power to increase catastrophically.

I've been reborn at the worst possible time!

—They're completely insane,—I muttered, letting out a heavy sigh. —Summoning the red primordial is practically inviting destruction personified over for tea. Even they won't escape unscathed from that.

Rudra nodded, his eyes locked with mine, sharing my concern.

—I know. And that's why I need you. Veldanava trusts you, and I need you to pass on this information. I can't do it myself; I need to plan carefully if the primordial demon decides to attack the Kingdom of Nasca.

I stayed silent, considering what this implied. Facing a primordial demon, and worse, the future Guy Crimson, wasn't something to be taken lightly. I knew this wasn't just a mission to stop ambitious sorcerers; it was about preventing a catastrophe of epic proportions.

—Do you know when and where they plan to perform the summoning?—I finally asked, with a more serious tone. I already knew, but I didn't want to disrupt these canonical consequences.

—We don't have the exact location yet,—Rudra replied,— but the spies are tracking their movements. We suspect it will be in a place where magical energy is unusually high. There are a few candidate sites, and we've already sent scouts to investigate. But we have to act quickly. It could happen in a matter of days... or even hours.

I nodded slowly, absorbing the gravity of the situation. It seemed like a serious mission, one of life or death… until a ridiculously simple idea crossed my mind.

—Alright,— I said finally, my voice firm.—I'll take care of the mission… Veldanava will handle it!

My attitude changed suddenly. My face, which had shown tension seconds ago, softened into an expression of disinterest and calm. I even shrugged as if I were talking about what to have for dinner.

I already knew Guy Crimson would face Veldanava, and Guy would inherit the ability "Pride" when his confrontation with Veldanava ended. I'm not worried.

Rudra stared at me, completely bewildered, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open, as if he had just witnessed an absurd transformation. I couldn't blame him; I had just gone from "last-battle strategist" to "meh, someone else will fix it" in the blink of an eye.

—What…?—Rudra murmured, unable to process what he had just heard. —What did you just say? Veldanava? Just like that?

—Yes, of course, Veldanava.—I scratched my head with feigned laziness. —Look, this whole primordial demon thing, apocalyptic summoning, dark rituals… it's a very 'Thursday afternoon' sort of thing for Veldanava. Besides, I already know the red primordial demon will face him sooner or later. After all, we're under his protection. So…. I shrugged again. I'm not worried.

Rudra blinked, clearly lost in what I had just said. An awkward moment of silence passed as he processed my words.

—Wait... are you telling me you're relaxed because you already know what's going to happen?—he finally asked, incredulity in his tone. —And that you don't care because, in the end, Veldanava will solve it?

—Exactly,—I said with a satisfied smile. —Why stress over something that's already written in the stars?—I made an exaggerated gesture towards the sky. —Come on, Rudra! Veldanava is literally the creator of the universe, and, well... that basically means things are going to turn out fine. Eventually.

Rudra brought his hand to his face, rubbing his temples as if trying to calm a sudden headache.

—You know that's not exactly how things work, right?—he said, his tone carrying a mix of patience and exasperation. —Just because Veldanava is powerful doesn't mean we can just ignore that a group of crazies is trying to summon a primordial demon, one of the most dangerous demons, and hope everything magically resolves itself. You have to take this seriously!

—Oh, believe me, I do.—I raised a finger, as if explaining something profound. —I take it seriously... seriously disinterested.

Rudra let out a frustrated grunt, his patience running thin.

—How can you be so calm in a situation like this? We're talking about potential mass destruction, not a picnic. If those sorcerers manage to summon the primordial, nothing we know will be the same! We can't just rely on Veldanava to fix everything.

—Sure, sure...—I replied indifferently, waving my hand. —But come on, what's the worst that could happen? If something blows up, well... it wouldn't be the first time today.

Rudra glared at me, clearly not finding the situation as amusing as I did.

—For heaven's sake,—he muttered, throwing his hands in the air in defeat. —I should've brought Lucia. At least she'd take this seriously.

I laughed, patting him on the shoulder.

—Rudra, relax. You'll see, everything will turn out fine. And if it doesn't… well, we can always blame Veldanava.

I laughed one last time as I saw the look of absolute frustration on Rudra's face. His eyebrows were furrowed, and his mouth formed a tight line, clearly holding back a more severe retort. Still, I couldn't help but enjoy the moment. There was something hilarious about how he always took everything so seriously, while I let myself enjoy the chaos that, well… I sometimes caused.

I walked away from him as he kept muttering things about the explosion in the library.

—"You just wanted to run a small experiment", you said, —I heard him muttering under his breath. —"Nothing could go wrong." Sure, nothing except my library in flames…"

—Come on, Rudra!—I called out, turning back towards him as I headed for the door. —I admit it was a small miscalculation, but look on the bright side… nothing burned down completely!

—Just barely,—he grumbled, crossing his arms and giving me a look that clearly said, "Don't make me bring this up again."

I grinned from ear to ear, waving as I left.

—Don't worry, next time I'll make sure to blow something up outside the palace. Problem solved!

Rudra simply placed a hand on his forehead, shaking his head.

...

I inhaled the fresh air into my lungs. The best part of the day was leaving that library and wandering the surroundings, outside the palace, of course. I didn't want to meddle in Rudra's affairs. Although I thought a bit about the consequences of Guy possibly arriving in a few days, which worried me.

I let out a sigh. After all, it's not my concern; I just need to focus on studying. I'm under the protection of Veldanava and the custody of the Kingdom of Nasca, which will one day become the Eastern Empire.

—Though maybe I should go talk to Veldanava about the matter of the primordial demon…

As I walked through the gardens, my thoughts kept circling around the impending situation. The wind caressed my face, but it didn't manage to calm the unease settling in my chest. I knew that my life, as protected as it was under Veldanava's shelter, wasn't entirely free from the intrigues surrounding the kingdom and its lands.

—Talk to Veldanava? —I murmured to myself, weighing the words in the air as if they might bring clarity.

I knew that any conversation with him could be taken lightly, but this issue wasn't something to joke about. The fact that Guy, the primordial demon, might arrive soon complicated things. Despite being a scholar, I wasn't ignorant of the overwhelming power those beings possessed. If Rudra and Guy clashed, the consequences would be devastating, and while it wasn't my direct responsibility, I couldn't entirely ignore it.

—Veldanava, could he offer me an answer that won't end up involving me more? —I questioned myself, pausing next to a fountain.

I looked into the water and saw my reflection. Short black hair and golden eyes, with pale skin. It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst either. I must admit my appearance could catch attention, but now that I was covered in ash from the library explosion, my physical beauty had diminished considerably.

—Nah. I'd better try to get involved as much as I can. After all, I want to see Guy and Veldanava's confrontation.

I scooped a large handful of water in my palms and washed my face, freeing any trace of ash and dust from my body.

...

As I walked across the field where Veldanava always sat to observe nature, my soul, for some strange reason, wouldn't stop moving violently, even causing a bit of physical pain. I let out a groan as I clutched my chest tightly.

—Seriously, again? This is the third time this has happened today.

I muttered to myself before raising my gaze and seeing that dragon.

Veldanava, the majestic dragon I called a friend, was there, imposing as ever, surrounded by an aura of calm. His draconic form, vast and magnificent, seemed to merge with the landscape as he watched the field with enviable tranquility.

Without taking his eyes off the hills, Veldanava spoke in his deep, resonant tone.

—Maybe you should stop getting involved in library explosions —he responded with a hint of teasing, not even turning to look at me—. Though I have to admit, you have a unique talent for emerging covered in ash from the most unexpected places.

I laughed, though the pain in my chest hadn't entirely left.

—Hey! It's not like I do it on purpose. The explosions just happen when I'm nearby. It's almost a natural law… Did Lucia tell you?

Veldanava finally turned his massive head to look at me with one of his piercing golden eyes, which, for some reason, always managed to make me feel small.

—What's a natural law is your tendency to get into unnecessary trouble. I don't know how you always end up in the middle of everything, but you seem to enjoy it.

He avoided my question, and I even saw him laugh slightly. So Lucia had told him about that disaster.

—Well... —I shrugged—. At least I've mastered magic a bit more now; I can create a big explosion.

The great dragon made a sound that, if I didn't know him better, I would have sworn was a laugh.

—Hey, I have something to tell you. It's part of Rudra's business...

Veldanava tilted his head curiously.

—Some of your brother-in-law's spies have supposedly discovered that some mad sorcerers are planning to summon a primordial demon.

Veldanava looked at me in silence for a long moment, his golden gaze fixed on mine, as if weighing the gravity of my words. The silence between us grew thicker until he finally spoke, his deep, grave voice resonating in the air.

—Summoning a primordial demon… —he murmured, his tone now serious, leaving behind the earlier lightness—. Those sorcerers don't know what they're messing with. Primordial demons are not beings that should be disturbed for any reason.

Veldanava continued.

—Do you know if those sorcerers have already begun the ritual?

I scratched my head, trying to recall the details I'd been given.

—They're not sure, but Rudra's spies have found some signs of strange activity near the places where they might be hiding. From what I heard, it could happen at any time.

Veldanava let out a heavy sigh, his scales gleaming under the sunlight as he slightly moved his wings, as if the weight of the situation was physically affecting him.

—This is a bigger problem than I thought —he said gravely—. If the sorcerers manage to summon a primordial demon, the balance of this world would be shattered in a brutal way.

—Yeah, I know primordial demons are powerful creatures, after all, you created them. But can they really cause such a severe event? —I asked, feeling a growing unease inside me, though it soon faded. I remembered that Guy and Milim had left an entire country in ruins during their battle.

—A primordial demon isn't just a threat to this world —he responded—. Their power is absolute, their nature destructive. They wouldn't be content with a simple reign of terror. It would be the end of many things.

I felt a knot form in my stomach as I processed what he was saying. The situation seemed increasingly dire, and although I already knew what could happen in the future, this felt far beyond my capabilities. It was frustrating to hear about the consequences.

—So, what do we do? —I finally asked, my voice sounding weaker than I'd have liked.

Veldanava looked at me again, and in his gaze, there was a mix of concern and resolution.

—We can't let this go any further...

He lowered his head in a gesture of defeat.

—That's why you are going to solve it!

Suddenly, his attitude changed to one of calm and normality. I could only utter one phrase: "What did you say?"

Veldanava kept his gaze fixed on me, while a sly smile began to form on his lips. It was as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.

—Exactly what you heard! —he replied in a carefree tone, waving a claw as if dismissing a trivial matter—. You are going to solve it.

I blinked, trying to process what he had just said. Was he joking? This was Veldanava, the most powerful dragon of all time. And I, someone who can barely spark a flame, am supposed to save the world from a primordial demon?

—What?! —I stammered, still in disbelief—. Me?! If anyone should fix this, it's you, oh great and mighty immortal dragon of the stars. Aren't you supposed to do these epic things?

Veldanava let out a laugh that almost sounded… amused? He settled more comfortably, his wings making a soft movement, and looked at me with an expression that clearly showed he was enjoying my bewilderment.

—Sure, I could do it myself, but... you know, it's important to delegate. Give the young ones a chance to learn and grow, don't you think?

—This isn't a leadership lesson, Veldanava! —I protested, feeling my voice rise with frustration—. We're talking about a primordial demon, your own creation, not a bad day at the office!

—Relax, relax —Veldanava said, gesturing with his claw—. You're under my protection and in the custody of the Kingdom of Nasca. What could possibly go wrong?

—What could possibly go wrong? —I repeated, now on the edge of exasperation—. Basically everything, if you ask me.

Veldanava paused dramatically, then leaned towards me, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement.

—Look, if you don't try, you'll never know if you're capable of doing it. And besides... we can always blame Rudra if everything goes wrong. He's used to it, isn't he?

I put a hand to my forehead, shaking my head. This dragon was using my own tricks against me.

—Fine, fine —I muttered through gritted teeth—. But when everything blows up —literally— you will be the one to clean up the mess.

Veldanava nodded, his expression calmly confident.

—Of course, of course. But you'll see, everything will go well… probably.

—Probably?

—Well, clearing up this whole primordial demon issue! I want you to ask me for something as a gift. I owe you a reward for progressing in your magical training.

Did he dodge my question again?

Veldanava made a casual gesture with his claw, as if he had just brushed off the problem of a primordial demon threatening existence.

"A reward?"

"Exactly!" he replied with a smile. "I like to stay on track with rewarding progress. It's all part of personal growth, you know?"

I looked at him skeptically, narrowing my eyes.

"Uh-huh... And this isn't just another one of your ways to avoid responsibilities, right?" I asked, crossing my arms. "Are we really talking about magical rewards right now?"

"Oh, but a gift sounds nice. After all, you've managed not to destroy yourself with your magic so far," he said, winking at me.

"Thanks, I think..." I replied, unsure if I should take that as a compliment or a warning.

Veldanava stretched with surprising grace for a dragon of his size, letting out a satisfied sigh.

"That's right, that's right. It's important to celebrate it. So go ahead, ask for whatever you want. A wish, a gift, something to help you on your magical path. And don't hold back—you can ask for something good!"

I looked at him for a moment, somewhere between disbelief and amazement. Was he seriously offering me a wish? A gift, just like that?

"Wait, wait," I said, raising a hand. "This sounds suspicious. Is it a trick? Am I going to end up responsible for something even worse if I accept this 'gift'?"

Veldanava let out a deep laugh, his golden eyes sparkling mischievously. I didn't trust that look; it even made me feel queasy.

"Don't worry, it's not a trap. I really want to give you something useful!" he said, smiling. "Not everything in life is chaos and destruction. At least, not all the time."

I sighed, knowing I wasn't going to win this battle.

"Fine..." I said with resignation. "But if I'm going to ask for something, I want you to give me a name..."

I bit my lip hard as I lowered my head to the ground. Again, my soul began to stir violently, and I had to suppress a groan of pain.

Veldanava blinked, surprised, and then smiled again.

"A name, huh?" he said, scratching his chin with a claw. "I like that. Very symbolic. Besides, since I rescued you, you've never been able to remember your name, and names are powerful."

He leaned toward me, his eyes glowing intensely.

"It's decided, I'll give you a name..." he said, his voice resonating like an echo from the depths of the earth. "But it will be a name worthy of a hero, one that demons will fear and angels will respect."

I kept my gaze down, not wanting to look anywhere else. I was frustrated. I wanted to have a name of my own, to have a past and a future, something that set me apart from the rest. I let out a sigh of frustration.

"Your name will be..." He paused for a moment. "Raquel. Your name will be Raquel."

I opened my eyes. I felt my body tremble violently, as if a massive amount of magic had been injected into me. I looked up and saw Veldanava smiling at me.

"Enjoy your gift. Your evolution."

"What...?" I managed to stammer as my brain tried to process what I had just heard.

"Raquel," Veldanava repeated with total nonchalance, tilting his enormous head toward me. "It's a strong name, with character. Plus, it has a nice ring to it. Don't you like it?"

I stood there, mouth agape, trying to take it in.

"Raquel..." I repeated quietly, as if saying it out loud would make it less real. "Of all the epic and powerful names you could've chosen, you give me Raquel?!"

"Well, it's... a unique name for a hero, that's for sure," he said with a hint of amusement. "No one will see it coming."

"It's not funny!" I exclaimed, giving Veldanava a frustrated glare. "I'm going to face a primordial demon, and now they're going to know me as Raquel!"

Veldanava shrugged, still amused.

"What's wrong with that? I didn't make demons to judge people by their names. And if they do, you'll have the advantage of surprise. Who would expect someone named Raquel to blast them with magic in the face?"

I tried to protest, but Veldanava's absurd logic was starting to sink in. The guy had literally copied my sense of humor.

"Oh, don't worry!" the great dragon added with a broad smile. "Enjoy your new name, Raquel. It's part of your evolution. A big step on your hero's journey!"

I put a hand to my face, defeated by the situation.

"Great... I'm a hero named Raquel," I muttered. "I won't be able to explain this to anyone."

I sighed, looking up at the sky as if searching for some divine explanation.

"You know what? Forget it. I'm going to study more magic. Maybe I can change this name..."

Just as I was about to leave, I heard applause a few meters away from us. I looked down and saw someone who made me go pale.

A tall, attractive man with blood-red eyes like "gold and silver stars dancing in them." His wavy, fiery hair was a deep red. He stood before us, his nearly naked body covered in blood. I could even feel a huge latent power within him that surprised me. Why could I sense magic power better now? I shook my head to clear those thoughts and saw Veldanava looking at the guy calmly.

"It's the red primordial... All yours."

My mouth dropped in shock at Veldanava's response. I slowly turned my gaze to the red primordial, who in the not-so-distant future would be called Guy Crimson.

The red primordial smiled, revealing sharp fangs that made my heart stop for a second. He took a step forward, and his aura intensified so much that I felt like an ant before a volcano about to erupt.

"So... 'Raquel,' huh?" he said with a mocking smile. "I like it. Sounds... cute."

I turned red as a tomato and looked at Veldanava, who seemed to be enjoying the situation.

"What do you mean, all mine?!" I exclaimed, taking a step back. "You're kidding, right? This is another one of your 'gifts'?"

Veldanava, with the calmest of expressions, simply nodded.

"All yours, Raquel. It's part of your training."

The red primordial—Guy, in the future—started advancing toward me with a soft laugh, and I, feeling panic take over me, began to back away faster.

"Wait, wait, wait! I think this 'gift' is defective!" I screamed desperately, but Veldanava only looked at me with amusement. "I don't want to deal with demons right now! Rudra told me this guy would arrive in a few days, not today!"

"Too late, Raquel," said Guy, licking his lips. "We're going to have so much fun."