[Short Story – “The Tragedy of his Name”]
“Hey, Arche,” Elaina called out as she gently placed her teacup onto the saucer with a soft clink.
“Hm? What is it, Witchie?” Arche replied, casually twirling his spoon like he was stirring drama instead of coffee.
“Isn’t your name kinda… more commonly used by girls?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.
With a dramatic slam that made every other customer in the quiet café jump, Arche smacked the table. “You’re absolutely right!”
Elaina blinked. “...Eh?”
“When I was a kid,” Arche began, looking up at the ceiling like the truth was engraved there, “I asked my dad what my name meant.”
“He told me it means ‘Beginning.’” he gazed wistfully at the ceiling.
“He said he wanted me to be the beginning of an era where our descendants would be… average.”
Elaina blinked again. “Average?”
“Yes. Plain. Mediocre. Unimpressive. Just a solid 6 out of 10,” he nodded gravely.
“But one day,” he continued, now gripping his parfait like it owed him answers, “I found one of his old novels—his favorite book, actually.”
“And you know what I discovered?” He locked eyes with Elaina, emerald green eyes glowing with betrayal.
“What?” Elaina asked, not sure she wanted to know anymore.
“The protagonist was a badass female knight named Arche! Who saved her entire kingdom!” he shouted, pointing an accusatory spoon at the heavens.
“That’s where he got the name from!”
“A-Ah… I see,” Elaina replied, unsure whether to laugh or offer therapy. “So, you don’t like your name?”
“Hm? No, my name’s super cool,” Arche replied, instantly flipping back into smug mode.
Then silence fell again, only the clinking of cutlery filling the space as they both resumed their drinks and desserts—one brooding over his name, the other wondering how she always attracted weirdos.
