****(POV)

For as long as I can remember, I have always been outed by others.

I was talented, people wanted to get closer to me to profit at my expense. But behind my back, they were disparaging that pink-colored water magic of mine.

They were both envious and disgusted by my power that was slightly different. Some kept arguing that I was voluntarily desecrating the sanctity of the Aqua blue. Some even said I wasn't human in the first place. But I had backing so I remained fine.

Even with me being the black sheep or pink in this case, they were helpless to do anything about me. Then I soon became a Head-mage, powerful enough to take care of myself. I was a powerhouse so they all had to shut up.

Still, since everyone disliked me I stayed home. Sometimes I would tour the city alone at the wee hour of the day. I would enjoy the quiet and the absence of dumbasses. Most of the time I was just training. In fact, I would have kept going had the fool not appeared.

He was guided here by a hateful girl that is weak, hateful, and will stab anyone in the back at the first chance. I was expecting him to be similar, especially when he forcefully came to invade my place.

Back then I found him the most hateful of all! I wanted nothing more than to rip him to shreds. I tried to but failed for he was simply too strong. Well, he seemed both incredibly powerful and incredibly weak at the same time.

Somehow, he had a great power contained inside him that he simply didn't know how to use. I'm not even sure how it all happened, but I somehow ended up in a very shameful position in front of him.

I was expecting him to ridicule me, I was expecting him to demean me. Nope! To him, I was just a normal girl. That's when I realized that all that pink magic instead of the usual blue didn't mean anything to outsiders.

I felt I could open up to him. We spent a whole day touring the city and he somehow showed me something amazing. All my life I had been struggling for power to assure my survival here. He instead spoke of simply enjoying the moment, enjoying life.

As I felt the soft breeze, I couldn't help but feel my entire body become at peace. I was one with the surrounding water, as calm too. That's when I resolved to follow him. I simply wanted to see the world the way he sees it for it seems way different in his eyes.

But then he got tricked by the others. They made him pledge to guard our city. The problem is such a contract has him following our whims.

This is unacceptable! There is no way I will let this beautiful naïve soul be tainted by such filth!

At first, I was despairing but then I realized something. Somehow, he managed not to be restricted by it. He was still fully conscious and making his own decisions. Clearly, there had been something wrong with the ritual.

That brings us to this very moment. He is fighting for his life against a gigantic water dragon. I can't believe they'd use a life-saving measure on such an insane endeavor. Still, I think I know what they are hoping for.

They too have seen the strength hidden in his body. He not knowing how to use it is perfect. This gives them hope to restrain and study him until his source of power is found. That is how they probably hope to take the next step in their journey to immortality.

If they can learn from him how to cultivate their bodies, they could soon become invincible. How strong would a mage with an invincible body become? Very strong! That's the part that is disappointing.

He isn't trying to scheme one bit. He even wants to help. Yet they seem paranoid and overthinking the whole thing. Honestly, it's probably just the greed for power clouding their minds. They know they wouldn't ever tell their own secrets, so they assume he won't do it either.

They could just ask him but they are convinced he won't answer. There is something so out of place with this whole situation! I'm probably missing something but it doesn't matter.

All that matters right now is that he is about to be captured. He is about to become their test subject until he is nothing more than a shadow of his former self. All until he has lost this liveliness of his.

That, I can't accept. This world can be a royal pain in the ass at times. But that's exactly why I need you in it, my friend. I need to know that somewhere there is just some fool that just wants to protect the people he loves while enjoying life.

I've lived all my life disdained by the people below me and ignored by my colleagues. I've simply gone with the flow and hid away. Now is the time for a decision.

Behind me is a hole in the water barrier. I could simply run, flee and leave everything behind. I could leave my friend and the ghost of the naked man to their own devices. But if I did they would definitely perish. Maybe not instantly but at some point after countless hours of torture for sure.

My only friend in this life is this guy. If I disappear none but him will even realize. It won't cause any ripple at all. It will just happen. He is different, he's bright and warm. He has people awaiting his return. Whenever he talks about them he has this sparkle in his eyes. I will not kill that hope, no matter what!

This enemy in front is made of water, an enormous quantity of water all oozing with incredible power. But so what?! I'm a goddamn water mage! I gather all my mana, then I start forcefully controlling that dragon.

It tries to resist, but my will is way stronger. It is fighting for its own existence but I am fighting for my friend! Screw that creature! My friend seems to be silently screaming at me to stop, but I won't. This is the path I have chosen.

I can feel incredible power course through me, way more than I ever thought I could ever use. So this is the power of conviction, eh? It feels nice. The power, not my body breaking down.

I start throwing up blood, my body starts creaking about to give up, my mana and lifeforce are all going into this. But I don't care. I simply keep it up. In the background, I can hear the other water sect members freaking out.

All of them are going crazy even the Head-mages. I can hear their shouts of anger and terror. they have realized what I am attempting.

"This is impossible!"

"No human can control such magic alone!"

"We're all going to die!"

Well, the last one sure is insightful at least. That is when the naked ghost comes floating next to me while uttering lowly. "Protecting people you care about is a noble thing, isn't it? All their scheming and all their evil are nothing in the face of true conviction."

Somehow his voice seems as deep and ancient as the world itself. There is no trace of the usual silliness. I can somehow feel a regal aura from him, but it suddenly disappears as soon as it appeared.

Well, it doesn't matter. I look, smiling one last time at the fool that once said:

"Wait, your hair is naturally pink?! That's fucking awesome! That's like anime protagonist level! You will be destined for great things haha!"

Then, I will the water dragon I am now controlling to throw him far away. He shall be fine with that perverse body of his. He will be safe. I still don't know what an anime protagonist is. I definitely won't be destined for anything great either as it all ends here.

But none of this matters. Take care, my friend. My only friend...