Logline

Resigned to being the side character, a dragon-shifter forges happily-ever-afters for others. When an enigmatic thief shatters her lonely existence and characters start going off-script, she is thrown into the spotlight and must rewrite her story before it consumes her. 

Blurb

A cynical dragon-shifter stuck inside a gaming system based on romance novels, forced to play out an endless stream of side character roles where her only task is to create happy endings for the main characters. Her memory erodes until she can't even remember her previous life, forcing her to construct a perfect facade to keep everyone at a distance.

While playing the role of Jia, the heroine's overshadowed friend, the dragon-shifter notices other characters deviating from the script, which threatens to crash the fragile system— along with her chances of escape. Taking matters into her own hands, 'Jia' finds herself thrown into the spotlight.

As 'Jia' explores new levels usually privy to the main characters, she must navigate plot twists and dangerous quests to prevent the system from crashing and trapping her inside forever. Although preferring to work alone, she reluctantly teams up with a mysterious thief who seems to hold the key to her freedom— and is determined to break down her walls. As her options narrow, and her suspicions about the thief grow, 'Jia' wonders if there's any way of escape, or if she's doomed to forever be the side character in someone else's story.

Chapter 1: I Witness A Terrible Proposal Again

JIA

I was eating a mango when the proposal happened.

It was a delicious mango with a soft, sweet velvety texture, and ripe scent that paired perfectly with the inferno of a summer's day. I have no idea what monster would choose to host a tea party on one of the hottest days in the year, but was glad it was at least outside where slight breezes offered some respite.

I closed my eyes in pure bliss as the flavour exploded in my mouth, not caring that juice dribbled down my arm and stained the blue dress I'd received for this body's birthday. It had been far too long since I'd last been able to enjoy this fruit, and no amount of disgusted looks or pointed coughs would sully this moment for me.

Besides, the proposal wasn't for me anyways.

A young chap with far too much gel slicking back his mud-brown hair broke away from his pack of friends. They whispered kind, but misguided encouragement which I picked up with my enhanced hearing and I shook my head, unable to tear my eyes away from the scene. The lad approached a pretty blonde girl, who was chatting happily with her friends by an oak tree, and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a dirty handkerchief. Heaven only knows why he chose to wear a stuffy black suit with a tight vest on this sweltering day, but the heat was about to be the least of his problems.

"U–um, Calista?" he squeaked, shoving the flowers into her face as he got down on one knee. "I– I have something to say!"

"Ouch!" The girl stepped back, almost tripping on the hem of her periwinkle dress. "William! Are you quite alright? Are you hurt?" No, but he's about to be.

"N-No! Not at all." William took a deep breath. With some fumbling and muttered curses, he managed to open the box with one hand, revealing a silver ring with a single diamond that was roughly the size of a walnut. "Calista, I must confess, you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen–" Dude, no. "– and I lay awake at night, dreaming about your luscious locks and your crystal-like eyes while whispering your angelic name into my pillow." Please stop. "I have been driven mad with desire, and you are the culprit!" I am about to throw up. "Please, accept my proposal, and be my bride!"

Few people can pull off a romantic speech in public. William was not one of them.

A heavy silence settled over the courtyard. It was a fairly small gathering– so small, in fact, that I wondered why I'd been invited at all– and so everyone heard the proposal. Greedy gazes dug into Calista, analysing every microexpression and fidgeting gesture she made while hiding behind fans and hands. Even her so-called friends were stifling giggles and nudging her forwards, despite her widening eyes and the way she dug her heels into the soft earth. Finally, Calista saw me and she mouthed, Help me! Please!

Ding!

My eyes fluttered closed for a moment and I looked up. I mustered up the courage to look at the navy sign hovering beside me.

New challenge unlocked!
Save 'Calista' from the proposal to get one step further towards completing an Incident!
Incidents completed: 3/16
Penalty: 35% Stamina reduction, 15% Health reduction

Incidents. Always the stupid Incidents.

I pulled out a white cloth and wiped every drop of mango juice from my hand to delay the inevitable. In the latest stories I'd had the misfortune to be in, this damned System appeared like a pop-up book from hell to force me to stay on plot. The faster I completed the designated Incidents, the quicker I'd die and be transported to the next story.

Rising to my feet, I had taken off my shoes earlier due to the warm weather, and tried not to jump around like a buffoon while standing on the hot soil. I adopted the haughty expression and crossed the field to be by Calista's side. The only way was a meandering stone path that cut through the grass and sizzled in the sun, but there was no time to put on my shoes. The System hadn't given me a time limit, and that meant I had to complete the task now.

"What's going on here?" I asked, trying to maintain a demure smile. At least the shade from the tree provided some much-needed relief.

William's brows furrowed, turning away from Calista towards me. "Back away Lady Jia, this doesn't concern you."

I arched my brow, crossing my right foot behind my left calf and trying to suppress a sob as bolts of heat shot through my legs. To soothe the pain a little, I stepped over to the grass. "You're harassing my friend. This does concern me."

"Harass?" he spluttered. His face flushed, and a vein throbbed dangerously in his head. "Harass?" Good. Focus your anger on me and not her.

"Yes, you ignorant buffoon. Are your eyes merely for decoration? Can you not see how uncomfortable Calista is?" Perhaps I was being too harsh, but blisters were forming on the soles of my feet and a wave of dizziness crashed over me.

William drew himself to his full and unimpressive height, flicking back a few strands of dark hair. With a proud grin as if he had cracked the Da Vinci code, he declared, "Well, obviously, she's playing hard to get!"

A collective gasp erupted around us. Even William's own friends shook their heads and sighed in disappointment, but he didn't back down.

"No, William, you're just incredibly hard to want," I said, without a single word to soften the blow. I hopped to the other foot, grasping Calista's arm to maintain my balance under the pretext of forming a protective barrier.

William's lips pulled back in an ugly snarl. "Why you—"

"D–don't hurt my friend!" Calista exclaimed, shoving me out of the way and throwing herself in front. Her arms were spread out as if she were prepared to embrace a hailstorm of arrows and she tilted her chin upwards in a flash of defiance which gave way to uncertainty at William's glare.

This was a kind, but misguided gesture as the momentum carried me over and I fell on my backside. Pain exploded in the nether region and I winced, wishing the author had written the ludicrously expensive dresses with some protective padding.

"What's going on here?" a cold voice asked. His presence caused the temperature to plummet and goosebumps to erupt over my flesh despite the warm weather.

I closed my eyes and tilted my head to the heavens, cursing this damned system for having him witness my humiliating fall.

"Calix!" Calista exclaimed, rushing over to his side. "I'm so glad you're here!"

"Cally!" An almost saccharine smile split across his face as he clasped her hands into his own.

I gagged as they stared into each other's eyes. If I squint, I can even see the sparkles and flowers of love surrounding them.

Despite having been doing vigorous exercise for the last few hours, Calix looked as if he'd just stepped out of a modelling magazine. His ruby-red eyes with flecks of gold were framed by dark locks which fluttered in the gentle breeze in such a majestic way that I was tempted to ask for his hair routine. With a sharp jawline and smooth skin without a hint of blemish– how is he managing that?– he immediately transformed the surrounding male specimen into squids. Calista and him were the picture-perfect couple, and it was my role to place them together.

This main character buff is unfair, I grumbled, rolling my eyes.

"What's going on?" Calix repeated, narrowing his eyes at William, who wilted like a dead flower. "Cally, who is this man? Is he a... friend of yours?"

Calista tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Seriously, I have never seen that girl with a single strand out of place. "He's my friend... well, was. He just tried to propose to me." A faint blush coated her cheeks and she dropped her voice to a whisper, "Honestly, it made me feel a bit uncomfortable."

"Is that so?" Calix gritted out, his head turning very slowly towards William. Even I shuffled back at the murderous glint sparking in his eyes.

"M–my mistake, Sir!" William retreated to the safety of his friends. "I...I must have gotten the wrong girl!"

"I'm sure you did." Calix glanced around at the nosy spectators and raised his voice with the authority of a nobleman, "Is there a problem?"

Everyone averted their gaze and went back to their own conversations, most certainly discussing this latest debacle. I was still on the floor and pressed my fingers into the soil.

Of course, Calix had been instrumental in getting the waste of oxygen to leave, but it was my actions which dragged his attention away from training which got him here in the first place. No one would remember me standing up for Calista though; no, they'd all gush about how loving the great Calix was towards his childhood friend, and hint at a potential match between the two.

"Thank you, Cal." Calista let out a long sigh. I swear I could see a halo floating above her head. "I'm so glad I have a true friend like you!"

And what am I, chopped liver? I replaced my thunderous expression with a dazzling smile and rose to my weary feet. My only role here was to incite a romance between Calista and Calix and leave this damned story.

"Good afternoon, Lord Calix." I curtseyed with my hand pressed against my chest and, with great difficulty, managed to suppress my sarcasm. "I am glad to see you are doing—"

"Fiona, was it?" He cut in, patting away his sweat with a towel handed to him by a servant.

That's not even– that's not even close. Oh, forget it. I swallowed, my fingers twitched and I resisted the urge to throttle this man. "It's Jia."

"Whatever. Why were you not protecting Calista?"

I'm sorry, do I look like her bodyguard? I pursed my lips together, wracking my brain to think of a response. In almost every story, it was vital that the love interest and main character's friend got along just enough for it not to hinder the romance, but not too much that they had more chemistry than the main leads.

Calista giggled and lightly slapped his arm. "Cal, don't be mean to my friend!" Oh, so now I'm your friend? "She tried to protect me from William earlier."

"Yes, but you almost got hurt." He sighed and avoided her eyes, a gentle blush coating his cheeks. "I don't like it when you get hurt."

They gazed into each other's eyes, shutting out the rest of the word and completely forgetting I was right there. I could have sworn I could see the literal hearts burned into their eyeballs, and the pink haze of what they called love fizzing between them like a bottle of Coca-Cola mixed with Mentos. It made me want to hurl.

I cleared my throat and they jumped apart. I chuckled and raised a brow, trying to channel the dead spirit of a supportive best friend. "Honestly, you two should get married. It will solve pretty much almost all the problems." And then I can leave this blasted story.

Calista's eyes widened and she forced out a slightly pained laugh. "Oh, Jia! Calix and I are just best friends." Best friends my arse cheeks.

"Yeah," he grumbled, tugging on the collar of his shirt. "Just best friends. That's us."

Oh Lord, give me strength.

Ding!

Congratulations! Incident 'Denial' has been achieved! Incidents completed: 4/16
New challenge: ...Loading...

"Hey, Jia." Calista gripped my sweaty palms with her gloved ones, her cheeks flushed. "Why don't you join Cal and I? We're planning to go to that adorable little café up on Main Street!"

A strangled noise pushed past Calix's lips which flattened into a straight line and his face scrunched up like he'd just sucked on a lemon doused in salt. You and me both, buddy.

Despite my desire to dive back into the shade and shut out the world, I put on my best fake smile and linked arms with Calista, limping over towards the shade. "I would love to!"

New challenge unlocked!
Ensure 'Calista' and 'Calix' get 3 hours, 20 minutes and 25 seconds of quality time before sunset
Rewards:
- Two Incidents
- 120 coins
Penalty:
- Death!

What the fuck?