Nyla's smile widened as she watched the deities in the distance. "I wouldn't want to marry that man. He seems rather... exhausting."
Wish raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? Well, exhausting beats boring. At least he's honest about being a disaster."
Nyla's head turned slightly, genuine amusement flickering in her eyes. "Fair point." She tilted her head, studying Wish with sudden intensity. "So you're Wish River."
Wish blinked. "Yes?"
The moment the confirmation left her lips, a translucent screen materialized before her eyes.
[CHARACTER ANALYSIS ACTIVATED]
[Target Identified: Nyla Carmine]
[Age: 19]
[Beast Form: Prism Fox]
[Abilities: Reverse Manipulation]
[Role: Female Lead]
[Threat Assessment: Processing...]
[Hostility Level: UNKNOWN]
[Romantic Targets: Four Beast Deities]
[Plot Importance: CRITICAL]
[Note: Protagonist. Reality bends in her favor. Approach with caution.]
Wish's eyes scanned the information quickly, her heart rate picking up.
"You're a weird character," Nyla said, turning to face her fully.
Wish shrugged, trying to look casual. "I get that a lot."
"Surviving the sacrifice ritual." Nyla's voice was soft but carried weight. "And waking the deity from meditation—which is mostly considered a death sentence. Not many could claim that."
Wish forced a smile. "Guess I'm just lucky."
Nyla turned away, looking out over the city as wind blew her pink hair around her face like a banner. The sunlight caught the strands, making them shimmer.
"People who mostly rely on luck," she said quietly, "end up disappointed."
Wish frowned, staring at her profile. Something about the way she said it felt pointed. Personal.
Nyla turned back, meeting her eyes directly. "I wouldn't fight fate if I were you. It always ends up badly."
Wish's expression hardened. "What the hell do you mean?"
Nyla's lips curved into a knowing smirk. "Just giving an unfortunate person some advice."
Then she turned and walked away, her heels clicking sharply against the rooftop tiles. Her hips swayed with practiced elegance, everything about her movements screaming nobility and confidence.
Wish stared at her silhouette until it disappeared down a stairwell.
Then she groaned loudly. "Why the hell did she even say that to me?"
She stomped toward the stairs herself, taking them faster than was probably safe. "Who the hell does she think she is? Being the main lead doesn't mean the rest of the characters can't fight for survival!"
Her mind churned as she hit the street level, barely noticing where she was going.
How am I going to get even one deity's attention? I don't want to die—not when I finally have a loving family. Who knows where I'll wake up next time. Or if there even is a next time.
"Look, it's the fat girl!"
Wish's head snapped toward the voice.
Two children—maybe seven or eight years old—stood by a fountain, pointing at her. One elbowed the other, giggling.
"Doesn't that mean she's ugly?" the second one whispered, not quietly enough.
Wish stopped walking. She turned slowly and gave them both a stare—the kind of look that made people reconsider their life choices. Pure concentrated murder.
Both kids' eyes went wide. They scattered like mice who'd just spotted a cat.
She continued walking, jaw clenched.
A few steps later, voices rose from a cloth stall to her left. A group of women clustered around bolts of fabric, their conversation just loud enough to carry.
"What length of cloth would fit those hips?" One woman held up her hands, measuring absurdly wide. "Might be quite the expensive body to keep."
Another woman laughed, shaking her head. "What would you have done if it were you? Looking like that?"
A third woman didn't hesitate. "I would've committed suicide."
The entire group burst into mocking laughter.
Wish sneered in their direction but forced herself to keep walking. Not worth it. Not worth it.
She turned a corner, trying to clear her head, when someone stumbled directly into her path.
A man—coyote beast with russet fur and nervous energy—had been walking backward, arguing with someone. He bumped into Wish hard enough to make her stumble.
"Oh! Sorry, I—" He turned, saw her, and his eyes went wide.
Wish stepped back, holding up her hands. "It's fine, just watch where—"
"I'm already mated, by the way!" The man blurted out, taking a large step backward. "I have a wife!"
Wish stared at him. "What?"
"Our relationship is serious!" His voice climbed higher. "She's a dangerous jackal, so there's no room for another woman in my heart!"
Wish's eye twitched. "I don't want—"
"I'm not interested!" He continued, not letting her speak. "So don't get any ideas!"
"I don't want you," Wish said flatly. "You're not my type anyway."
The man laughed—sharp and cruel. "If a man was to choose you, you shouldn't worry about whether he's your type." He gestured at her dismissively. "Because you're no one's type anyway."
He walked away laughing, the sound echoing off the buildings.
Wish stood frozen, her hands curling into fists. Her nails bit into her palms.
Breathe. Just breathe.
She forced her feet to move, walking faster now, barely seeing where she was going. Her vision blurred slightly at the edges—whether from tears or rage, she couldn't tell.
Then a smell hit her.
Sweet. Tangy. Fresh fruit.
She looked up and saw a food stall ahead, covered with baskets of colorful produce. Her stomach growled despite everything.
"Food," she muttered. "Food always helps with stress."
She approached the stall, fishing in her pocket. Her fingers closed around coins—she pulled them out and counted. Ten silver coins.
Her eyes landed on a fruit that looked almost like an orange but darker, with a strange pointed end that curved slightly. It glowed faintly in the fading light.
"How much for these?" She pointed.
The vendor—an older woman with greying dark hair—looked up. "Oh, sunfruits? Two silvers each."
Wish counted her coins again. "I'll take three."
The vendor's hand paused halfway to the basket. She looked at Wish. Really looked.
"Miss..." The vendor's tone shifted, becoming cautious. "Sunfruits are full of sugars. They can make you gain a lot of weight. I'd recommend just one a day."
Her eyes traveled down Wish's body. "Since you're already—" She paused, gesturing vaguely at Wish while searching for words that wouldn't sound offensive.
But she was already offensive.
"—well, you're plus-size, you see."
Something inside Wish snapped.
"Fine!" Her voice came out sharp enough to cut. "You know what? Eat your stupid oranges yourself! I don't want them anyway!"
She threw the coins back into her pocket. "Keep your overpriced, sugar-loaded fruit and your unsolicited health advice!"
The vendor's mouth fell open.
Wish spun on her heel and stormed into the middle of the street, her chest heaving. People stopped and stared.
"You know what?" She shouted, her voice carrying across the marketplace. "Y'all are creepy, jealous idiots!"
More people turned to look. A crowd began to form.
"I am not ugly!" Her voice rose higher. "And I am definitely the curviest woman you've ever seen!"
Someone gasped.
"I am sexy as hell, and y'all just don't want to accept it because you'll never be like me anyway!"
A man started to laugh. She rounded on him.
"I am special!" She jabbed a finger in the air. "And I've got a fat ass and big boobs that no woman here can afford! All men in this world are crazy bastards for not seeing that!"
Silence crashed down.
The entire marketplace stared at her—jaws dropped, eyes wide with shock.
Wish didn't care anymore.
She stormed through the crowd, shoving past anyone who didn't move fast enough. Her face burned. Her heart hammered.
Behind her, the astonished crowd slowly began to murmur, then talk, then gossip.