I’m a villain within the hero’s party

"Why does someone like you even belong at this top Academy?"

THWACK!

A hard slap hit Maya's face. Her head turned, her cheek stinging from the blow.

"Say sorry for bumping into me."

The voice was cold and angry. But Maya said nothing. She was scared, tired, and knew that speaking wouldn't help.

BWAHM!

A punch slammed into her stomach. Maya fell to the ground, holding her belly, gasping for breath.

She didn't scream. She didn't fight back. She just curled up, trying to hide from the pain and the world around her.

Her life at the Academy was full of suffering. Every day, classmates hurt her for no reason. They bullied her, laughed at her, ignored her pain.

Nobody helped.

But Maya still had something deep inside her—hope.

But Maya still had a chance.

The Rites of the Four Gods were her only hope.

If she awakened, if the Gods accepted her, maybe things would finally change.

Maybe the bullying would stop.

Maybe she'd become something more than a target, A Hero.

She'd always dreamed of a normal student life.

A life with friends. Peace. Laughter.

Instead, she got pain. Silence. Fear.

But today was different.

Today, the world felt heavier.

Her name was called.

She stepped inside the sacred altar of Robert's Magic Academy, her hands trembling against the cold air that wrapped around the chamber.

Four statues towered before her, ancient and powerful:

Jerimiah, the God of Love, with gentle eyes carved in stone.

Joseph, the God of War, gripping a sword.

Jaren, the God of Nature, vines growing around his feet like they still breathed.

Jiden, the God of Wisdom, holding a book.

Maya had studied the ritual. She know what to do.

But that didn't stop the fear rising in her chest.

She stepped forward.

Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper.

"I hope the Gods bless me." she thought.

She slowly walked to the center of the altar, where a large stone magic circle was carved into the ground. The circle was said to glow when someone awakened.

If a God was interested in you, you would meet them in a dream-like realm and speak with them briefly.

The God would then give you a card with your title: either Hero or simply Awakened, along with your class. Some awakeners were even lucky enough to choose from several cards that suited them.

When Maya reached the center of the magic circle, she closed her eyes.

But nothing happened.

The circle was supposed to glow. It didn't.

She waited.

Ten minutes passed.

She didn't awaken.

Maya thought to herself, "Is this some kind of mistake? I need the awakening."

But deep inside, she knew it wasn't a mistake. And it wasn't just a delay.

She just couldn't accept the truth—even the Gods had no interest in her.

Her hopes for a bright future at the Academy had vanished.

From now on, life would only get worse.

The bullying would grow harsher. The whispers and laughter behind her back would never stop.

And her dream… to become a Mage at Robert's Magic Tower?

It was gone. Out of reach.

This was the harsh truth faced by those who were not blessed by a God.

And so, she cried.

All the pain Maya endured the bullying, the loneliness, the silent suffering was for the Rites.

She thought it would change her life.

But now, that hope felt like a cruel joke.

She quietly walked out of the chamber, her eyes red and hollow.

Professor Odel stood waiting outside. He saw her face, dull and defeated, but showed no concern.

He clicked his tongue.

With a low voice, he muttered, "Another failed awakener."

Then he looked away and said coldly, "Next."

No words of comfort. No moment of kindness.

The Professor didn't care. The Academy didn't care.

To them, a failed awakener had no value.

No place and future.

Maya could hear the laughter behind her. Her classmates were mocking her—again.

Of course, she failed to awaken. To them, she was now even more worthless.l

Still, Maya chose to keep attending her regular classes.

But deep inside, she thought about dropping out.

If the suffering became too much, she would leave.

Then, it happened again.

Another round of bullying.

During a break, two students cornered her in the hallway. One pushed her shoulder, making her stumble.

"Still here, failure?" one boy sneered.

"You should crawl back to your room. You don't belong here."

Another grabbed her notebook and tossed it to the floor.

She bent down to pick it up, silent as always.

But this time… someone stepped up.

Von Granna.

He walked toward them with calm, strong steps. His presence alone made the bullies freeze.

"Enough," Von said, his voice firm.

The hallway grew quiet. Even those watching from a distance stopped whispering.

"She's a student of this Academy, just like you," he continued. "Touch her again, and you'll deal with me."

The boy who pushed Maya looked away, pretending he had done nothing. The other mumbled something and backed off.

Von picked up Maya's notebook and handed it to her.

"They are really a problem in the Academy." he said softly.

Maya looked up, surprised. Her heart felt lighter. For the first time in a long while someone saw her. Someone cared.

Maya looked at him and asked quietly, "Why are you helping me?"

Von replied without hesitation, "I'm tired of seeing others suffer. As a Hero blessed by the Gods, I can't just stand by and watch people get bullied."

His voice was calm but firm, like ice slowly cracking.

The bullies didn't dare say a word. They didn't fight back.

Because Von wasn't just any awakener—he was an Ascended Hero.

Nobody knew his exact class. He never told anyone.

But there was one thing people knew for sure that his magic affinity was Ice magic.

Maya thought to herself, "Part of me wants to leave this Academy… but part of me still wants to stay. I've decided, I'll leech onto someone strong. Someone I can depend on to protect me. Von Granna, he'll be my host."

She glanced at him, her voice soft and hesitant.

"Thank you," she whispered.

To others, it might've sounded casual.

But to her, it meant everything. Gratitude and strategy.