Celestial University: A Bully Romance

Chapter 60: Victory Rider Aqua

When Lorena and Sehki returned, she answered everyone's answers with a similar response.

"Sehki was attempting to cover the mystery of the Voids when someone tricked the other heirs into framing him for an attack. So we've been keeping his identity a secret in order to find out why."

That left most of the crew in shock, with the Demon Prince begging them to not leak any of this information for now, who reluctantly agreed.

"This is perfect," said Starz, intervening. "It's just like Blazer's origins! He started off being used and tricked into being fae's enemies, but used those powers to fight the organization even those the world fears him!"

"A true hero never turns his back on the world despite the odds, you get it!"

Lorena sighed at Sehki and Starz gushing. "Maybe not gush about this, no one should be put in that kind of situation. Still, what's the connection between you," addressing Sehki, "this film," eyeing Gako, "and the Astrovoids?"

"It makes sense," Sehki rebutted. "In Victory Rider, your show's villains, and Aqua are trying to turn human beings into stronger super soldiers to take over humanity.

His brain burst once he put it together. "The big bad's going to feed off any negative emotions and drive to prove that."

Lorena added on once she thought about it. "That's what they're trying to do to you all, isn't it?

"Yup. The Astrovoids are trying to destroy your hard work and recruit you to join them. You've all been dealing with accidents and mishaps like the others, haven't you?"

The production's crews reactions said it all, but Lorena glared.

"Is that true, Yessenia?"

The young actress panicked, crumbled her fists and ran off. Lorena asked them to leave things to her, following them, leaving Sehki with the rest.

Gako sighed. "I'm trying to do the best that I can on and off camera."

"And you all don't want to risk hiring security from the other kingdoms because you'd have to lay off some of your workers. Did the rest of the crew all take a paycheck cut too?"

"Money means nothing if I can't support the wind between my wings."

"Spoken like a true hero."

Starz tapped him on the shoulder.

"There's more to it than that. Did you ever see the murals in your castle?"

"The accident wiped out my memories. I saw a snake and tiger statue at my dorm, but I don't recalling seeing it. Is it like the statues of the other five Holy Beasts?"

"Yup, Umbra houses, well housed," scratching her head. "I believe it was a tiger..or a lion? I kinda didn't remember and just called it a liger," leading him to facepalm.
"Pretty sure it was a tiger."

"I'm actually not from Umbra," pulling off her glasses. "But my parents had taken refuge there after our family refused to get drafted for the army in Saiban. Your dad had visited the four and told us the story of the Tiger and the mural of the Snake."

"What was it?"

"Long ago the Tiger had learned from the Aquila how to harness and reduce the impact of lightning to channel it. However it one day came across a being of darkness shaped like a reptile."

"A snake, or a dragon?"

"Some say it had features of both, hunted down by the Voids. It had the power to erase their existence but was young, inexperienced and feared by all. The Tiger had battled it numerous times, yet felt no resentment or danger from the beast."

"Not to fight, or to kill? So what? To learn, befriend? Survive?"

"According to your father, all three. The snake had shown the tiger the darkness was not a means to fear, but to protect and rip through the sky. In exchange the Tiger showed the beast there was value in the light. At a battle in Fenghuang's world, the two channeled lightning and darkness together to save civilization of fae, creating a wheel of balance for them to learn."

"And you wanted to show people that duality? So if Victory Rider Blazer channels not just the Tiger, Aqua represents the serpent beast?"

"Yeah. It's a story I've been wanting to tell for years, but just as I was able to start my career, the incident happened," showing him the responses she had.

"You aren't from Umbra? This isn't your story to tell, don't wash our culture into their background. Those are from my people?"

"And these are from the other kingdom," showing him more screenshots.

"Why is the ultimate evil from Coalition? Does Victory Rider Blazer ATTACK AND SAY SAIBAN'S MILITARY IS EVIL? Sky N Fly Alpha Male: is Victory Rider Blazer makes men look weak?"

He put the phone down. "Ignore them, they're just spreading outrage for clicks."

"It's just heartbreaking. I wanted Victory Rider Blazer to be an inspiration to all."

"I'm not sure what the answer is, but I want to help you see it through. I didn't go through all of this training for nothing. Hey, can I speak to the stunt team?"

"Sure. Anything you need!"

As he went toward the stunt team and asked Gako to help him with something, Lorena confronted Yessenia in the changing room.

"You're still running away from your problems?"

"Problems! You're doing the same thing that got dad and his agency in comas! How do you expect me to show myself to mom when you've end up in the same fate?"

"This is the lifetime of an opportunity before we were canceled! Every actress who's spoken out has had to go into early retirement!"

"And you want to let that continue?"

"I'm not as outspoken as you!"

"And I don't want my sister to be another target!"

Lorena's shout pierced Yessenia's cold exterior. The older woman's eyes shed the name of her character.

"Someone has to play the villain! Even," pausing, "if it means the heroes have someone to beat."

Only liquid dropped into the room, and the hearing of the younger sibling's StellArts made her head stretch and tackle Yessenia away from a swift wave that sliced off a mannequin.

And the culprit summoned a sea of oceanic fins inside the trailer.