I laid in bed that night, unable to sleep. Library Gal. That was my true identity in this game.

In Rival Reverie 8, there were a few types of NPCs. Background NPCs were the most plentiful. In RR8, many Tadds inhabited the academy halls. They weren’t actually Tadd, he just looked a lot like the generic NPC male student. There was a generic NPC female student too, but I haven’t seen her yet. My role in this story? I’m not a background NPC.

Most games have people that sell equipment. These were nameless and had no in-game models. They are necessary for the game, but not for the story at large. I couldn’t count myself among this type, either. It would make for an interesting isekai story. Nope, not this time.

There were NPCs with names and titles. Some NPCs were vital to the plot, and the game gave them real, unique names. Such as the delightfully villainous duo, Honey and Tea. As recurring mini boss battles, Honey and Tea were comedic relief during intense sequences in the game. They were master thieves on the hunt for secret vocari gems. You would find them in many strange places.

Such as outer space, but I digress.

No, I wasn’t someone like Honey or Tea. I didn’t have a unique name in the game. I had a title.

NPCs with profound mechanical or side story purpose had titles. Card King had a regal air to him, beautiful blond hair, and even carried a scepter. There was a strange item seller you could encounter in the wild looked like a generic academy NPC with a creepy smile with the name Man with a Smile. I fell in with these types of NPCs.

My title is… Library Gal.

Library Gal crushed on Atlas like a full-time job with mandatory overtime. The only person you could talk to at the library was the Library Gal. In the seldom used online forum the game had, Library Gal appeared in the comments to defend Atlas or cheer him up when he posted. Somehow, Atlas never figured out it was her, despite her username being LibraryLover. The library had only two employees in the game. One of them being Library Gal.

I searched my memories for any details about her appearance. Library Gal wore eyeglasses, and she had long, black hair. The biggest difference was my beauty mark, but the game didn’t detail in-game faces. I’m the only library worker that matches the description for Library Gal. I had a crush on Atlas before I regained my life memories.

No matter how I considered it, I’m the only person who is the perfect candidate for Library Gal.

I sighed with relief. Library Gal existed to pine over Atlas. With no impact on the story aside from existing and loving Atlas from afar, I knew I could take it easy. The chances of me getting dragged into the plot had to be zero!

If that’s true, then what the hell is this?!

I sat across from Helia in the cafeteria for our mutual lunch period. That was fine. That was my normal in this world. However…

“… Hey.” Oberon sat next to Helia.

Never ever has he joined us for lunch. Helia and my eyes bulged out of our heads as he took a bite from the apple on his tray. Helia and I made direct eye contact and engaged in a telepathic war.

See, he’s into you. That’s why he’s here!

No, he’s into YOU. That’s why he’s sitting right next to you!

Our pseudo-telepathic war waged all around Oberon as he munched on his hamburger. Of course, we couldn’t communicate mind to mind, but we both engaged in a secret language involving facial and body gestures only we could read from each other.

Helia believed Oberon was into me, but out of us both, I know Helia is the hotter one! She has beautiful blond hair and sparkling red eyes. Red eyes signified passion and love in this world. The great femmes of film had red eyes.

Helia met and exceeded the stands of beauty in this world!

“Are you guys angry with one another?”

Helia and I gawked at Oberon. He said three words at once!

“Or is… um… something wrong with your faces?”

“Am I interrupting something?” A newcomer joined us. I looked up behind me to see Tadd holding his tray. “Do you mind if I-?”

“Yoo!” Atlas appeared out of nowhere and sat beside me, ignoring Tadd. “Glad I found ya, library gal! So about that thing I told ya the other day…”

“The thing? The other day?” Helia shot me a look. Her smile barely concealed her agitation. We told each other everything, including crushes. She knew my crush on Atlas. Him having spoken to me. I should've told her last night. “I see…”

Guilt washed over me. I wanted to tell you, Helia, but I’m scared you will tell me to go for it! Or maybe not to! I don’t know, but I don’t want to hear it either way!

Tadd stood at the head of the table, opening his carton of milk. There were only four chairs at these tables, but he seemed determined to join us, anyway. “Your friends are so lively, Bianca.”

“Huh, is that your name?” Atlas asked.

“Hoh, you didn’t even know her name, but you seem like you are here to tell her something important. That’s very interesting.” Helia mused villainously.

“Well, she ran off after Io interrupted our private moment! ‘Cause Bianca said she was busy! But I really need to ask her-”

“Private moment?” Oberon asked. His neutral face was hard to read, but beyond his eyes, some other emotion lurked just underneath the surface. “… What do you want with Bianca?”

“Er-”

“Oh, Bianca, don’t forget, I owe you dinner!” Tadd added.

Before Helia could kill me with her gaze, I shot up from my seat. “Oh wow, look at the time! I forgot I have a lot of important things happening. Bye!”

I ran to the trash, dumped my meal, and ran away before more plot threads could try to tangle me up!

“Library gal, wait!”

Atlas caught up with me. It didn’t take him any effort at all. Winded and heaving, I slowed down, but he didn’t break a sweat.

“Hah, that’s crazy. How’re you out of breath?”

“I… don’t… exercise… at all.”

“Wow, you just admitted it.”

“What do you… want from me?” I wiped the sweat from my brow. Even though I was attractive, I had to look sweaty and gross. I didn’t want to date Atlas, but it still bothered me!

“I told ya, I need your help.”

“With your… history test?”

“I’m on the verge of losin’ my C in the class,” he admitted.

I frowned. Searching my memories, I couldn’t recall anything about this in the game. Atlas’ grades never came up, and there wasn’t a side quest to help him get them up. He might be lying to me…

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

No, this is more evidence that the characters in the game are real people. Knowing what Atlas is like, it makes sense his real-life counterpart would skirt the line between passing and failing.

Atlas played an important role during the Thorn test, and he was one of the strongest party members in the game. If you played your spells right, he could deal maximum damage up to 10 times when you used his Go Beyond, which is a sort of ultimate attack you could use when you had low health or certain afflictions on you.

However, one last thing wasn’t adding up.

“Why me? Don’t you have any friends that could help you? You know, like your classmates from homeroom?” I imagined Io seeing as they were childhood buddies and homeroom classmates.

“None of my friends are smart. Lots of them are droppin’ out of school and startin’ their own mercenary crew. I could join ‘em, but Thorn always has the top pick of jobs and pays. I gotta get this gig.” Atlas looked at me with determination solidifying in his blue eyes.

Atlas gave me an honest answer.

I sighed as I relented. “Okay, I’ll help you.”

Atlas whooped with joy. “WOOHOO! THANK YOU, LIBRARY GAL!”

“Ahh, no problem, just don’t draw so much attention!”

I felt the glares of students and teachers on us. A couple of girls walked past saying, ‘oh no, he’s got a new victim.’

“Ah, right, my bad. So, about what I can do for ya…” Atlas scratched the back of his neck. “I’ll bring ya to the Rose Ball! Ya can’t get in unless ya join or get a Thorn date. Lucky you, it’s guaranteed I’ll make it in. I got killer moves that those stuffy test examiners can’t deny.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it.” I tried to wave it off. He could have my help, but I didn’t want to go to the ball. An important event happened there, and I didn't want to get mixed up.

“Aw, c’mon, why not? Other chicks would kill to go. Even if you don’t wanna be a Thorn, it’s one of the best parties of the year.”

“I… don’t dance?” It came out like a question, but I don’t. I’ve danced alone in my room, but that’s it.

“Huh? You don’t dance?” Atlas raised his brow. “What d’ya mean by that? Everyone can dance.”

“I’m too embarrassed to dance in front of other people.”

“You just admitted it again.”

“Well, it’s true. I have nothing to hide. I can help you, Atlas. You don’t need to do anything for me… I’ll just help.”

“That won’t do.” Atlas put a hand into his hoodie collar and fished around his neck. He produced two earbuds. “We got another ten before lunch is over. You need all the help you can get if just runnin’ for one minute makes ya break a sweat.”

“Um, what are you doing?” I took a step back as Atlas got closer, holding out an earbud.

“We are gonna practice a dance.” He closed the distance and slipped the earbud into my ear. His hand lingered on my ear, just a hair too long. It made my entire face poof into a red mess. “Don’t worry, it won’t be hard. Even a dummy can slow dance. You just need to see you can do it too.”

Before I could protest, music started playing in my ear. It sounded lofi and smooth. Not the sort of music I ever imagined Atlas would have on him. He plugged his earbud in and pulled me close. We could both still hear the chatter of students around us, but as he led me into this dance, the background noise faded away.

I wanted to stop and run, but the inner fangirl had me tied up. I don't know how many times my husband would pay me attention. It should be impossible to meet fictional characters, but here Atlas stood before me. Flesh, blood, and a handsome grin.

I couldn’t let Atlas get close, despite what I wanted. Getting in deep with any character would jeopardize my status as an unessential NPC. I wanted to spend the rest of my days in quiet, surrounded by books, and never struggle again. The main characters of this world were about to jump into a long series of events full of struggle and strife — no thanks!

Even after it was all said and done, even if I wanted, I could never be with Atlas. While the game only had one ending, the side quests varied the ending for the party members. Their own personal ending. Atlas never ended up with Library Gal. Even in endings where the player avoided all his potential love interests or side quests to set him up with other party members, Atlas ended up with Io. Not just a fan favorite pairing, but the default one. It’s basically canon!

As our dance ended, I regretted I couldn’t savor it the way my inner fangirl wanted. Instead, I let myself become preoccupied with the game. I might have remained in the background if I hadn't gotten Vulpitas.

“Sure ya don’t wanna come to the ball with me?” Atlas gazed down at me, interrupting my pitiful thoughts. “You say ya don’t dance, but dancin’ with you is nice. Ya haven’t stepped on my toes at all.”

I doubt I could step on your toes if I wanted to… “I’m sure.” I wanted to say more, but it would only come out as a pathetic excuse. Atlas was an earnest enough character. I knew he would drop it if I said it in no uncertain terms.

“Alright, but my offer stands if ya change your mind.”

Atlas stood with his hands in his pockets, and an affable grin plastered over his face. He lingered across from me at the library service desk. This was my evening shift at work, and most students were out in the Rose Dungeon or getting field practice just outside school grounds. If memory served, Oberon would be outside the school having scripted encounters that led him to getting a vocari earlier than anyone. Unless you count me, hah...

Atlas gave the quiet library a once over before turning his attention back towards me. “Peaceful here, ain’t it? Bet ya could get away with a lotta… mischief.” He followed up with a wink.

How can you say that with a straight face?! At least blush!

“Anyone causing mischief against the rules is subject to removal.” I said, adjusting my glasses. He made me so nervous, I needed to hide my eyes behind a shimmering glare. ‘Eyes were the window to the soul,’ they would say in my previous life. I couldn’t afford to let him peer into mine.

I needed to focus on tutoring Atlas. After our dance earlier, we arranged for him to meet me here.

Nights at the library during Thorn testing time were always dead, anyway, so it’s not like I would be busy doing anything else. I could help Atlas pass his history test, keeping the game plot on track, and also engage in a little guilty pleasure. The inner fan girl hugged and thanked me for this opportunity. I just needed my outer shell to stay solid! Don’t crack under his relentless flirting!

“Alright, Miss Bianca, let’s get crackin’! Get it? Miss Bianca, cause you’re my teacher now.”

It was weird for him to call me by my name. In the game, Atlas never gave Library Gal the time of day. It made me question why he came to me. Why did we run into each other the day before? Io and Oberon too. I felt like the main characters of the game were crowding me, but that wasn’t quite fair. I haven’t had run-ins yet with any of the other main characters. Oberon is a member of my homeroom. Atlas bumping into me was an honest mistake, and Io wouldn’t be far behind him as his honorary keeper. Tadd, as far as I could tell, was just some random guy.

I need to relax more. I’m just Library Gal. Once I’m done helping Atlas and they all become Thorns, I’ll never see them again.

Things started off well. The subject of his history test was the Astarion Empire. A subject I knew he was sensitive about. He started off relaxed as we covered the basics, which in class, he stormed out during the lectures, explaining his horrible grade. It made sense, given what I knew about Atlas and his backstory. Like most of the characters, his motivation to join the Thorns involved the Astarion Empire. As the antagonists for most of the story, the Astarion Empire set the stage.

The Astarion Empire grew as the country of Astaria annexed territories all around it. The late emperor, Scorpius Antares IV, spent his last years as a ruler warring with neighboring countries and trying to conquer as much territory as possible. These were fruitless efforts in the beginning. In the last 30 years, Astaria’s military might quadrupled. Powerful machinery and gadgets, as well as magical abilities, were wielded with malice. They conquered their neighbors in mere days. Resistance groups appeared occasionally, but were no match for the empire. They were snuffed out once found.

Before the world could rally and react, Astaria became the Astarion Empire. They shifted from being a small, peaceful kingdom to controlling 70% of the continent of Castor. Their last attack happened against Carina. Carina, my hometown, where I lost everything important. After that, the emperor died under mysterious circumstances and the empire stopped its war. It’s been 10 years since the fall of Carina.

“I know how you feel, but you should calm down.”

“How can I calm down? Just hearing ‘bout the Ass-tarions piss me off!” Atlas stood up from the chair. We spent two hours so far going over the rise of the Astarion Empire, but once we reached current events, Atlas came close to blowing a gasket. “These clowns seize over half the world, and I’m supposed to cool it? Just cause they stopped at Carina don’t mean they stopped for good!”

Lucky for us both, the library had no one in it. Right now, Atlas and I were alone in the major hub of the library. I had a coworker lurking somewhere, but I couldn’t sense their presence at all.

“I don’t disagree with you, Atlas. Honestly, I think the days of the Astarion Empire are numbered.” At the risk of tipping my hand, I tried to calm him down with my meta knowledge. “The empire made enemies of everyone, so while right now we are technically enjoying peace, it won’t last long. They are going to make a move soon, I bet. The Astarion Empire will surely do something that violates the current treaties in place and try to seize power.”

“Then who’s going to stop them? The empire is so powerful, and they have those mechs too… There can’t be another Carina.”

“We are. I mean, the Thorns. Unlike their previous attempts to take over the world, they have to contend with Thorns now. Every member of Thorns in action right now were either orphaned by the empire or suffered other losses by the empire’s hand. Effectively, I would say we are the army of the world.”

“Of the world…?”

“Right. They sowed the seeds of revenge in our hearts, and from these roses, thorns grow.” I stole a line from the game that should have gone to the headmaster of Rose Academy. Sorry, Mr. Barton! “That’s why right now, you need to learn what you can about the empire, so you can use it against them. History is important, because it informs why we have this world. And just like it tells us our past, it shows us how we can find our futures. Look at the information, sort it, and make the connections for yourself.”

Atlas stared at me long enough that I worried my speech made him confused. I opened my mouth to say more, but he came back over and sat down.

With renewed passion, he said, “Alright. Teach me more about the Astarion Empire.”