Harunohi Biyori – författare

Orphaned by a monster attack on her village, young Alicia spends three horrid years in an orphanage before finally running away. When she flees, however, Alicia has a violent encounter with an older woman hell-bent on killing her. During their tussle, she comes into contact with a strange crystal that bestows upon her a wealth of knowledge, transforming her from an innocent child into a cool and calculated planner. Now aware that she was meant to be the protagonist of an otome game and disgusted with her supposed fate, Alicia decides to take matters into her own hands and become strong—by any means necessary. Using her newfound knowledge, and with some help from a stranger she meets in the woods, she learns to survive by herself in a world far too harsh and unforgiving for a girl her age. Ready or not, she’s determined to carve her own path.

Young orphan Alicia—now going by Alia—manages to escape death at the hands of Graves by jumping into a turbulent river. Narrowly surviving the raging torrent, she makes her way to the isolated cabin of Cere’zhula the Fiend—the demoness and retired sorceress who was once the mentor to the woman who attacked Alia in an alley—and becomes the dark elf’s newest apprentice. Under Cere’zhula, Alia learns new spells and combat techniques and dips her toes in the art of alchemy. After a few months, the young girl grows used to her new life in the woods, only for it to be thrown into disarray by the arrival of a mysterious man from Cere’zhula’s past...

Alia continues to roam the land in her quest to become stronger and overcome her fate. Her ruthless actions and impressive feats of carnage have made her notorious among those who operate from the shadows of the Kingdom of Claydale. Her habit of coating her hair in illusory ashes and her developing features have earned her the nickname “Lady Cinders,” and that name alone is enough to strike fear in the hearts of many. Cutting down any who would stand in her way, Alicia returns to the Barony of Horus—where her journey began two and a half years ago—to repay a debt. There, she runs into a few familiar faces...

After bonding with a mythical coeurl and failing to kill Graves, Alia gets recruited by her old mentor Viro to join his party, the famed Rainbow Blade. Alia heads to the royal capital to take care of the necessary proceedings at the Adventurers’ Guild, and to meet with the rest of the party so they can prepare for their mission: escorting the young royals of Claydale during a dungeon expedition. Knowing that Princess Elena is among them, Alia feels she has no choice but to go along with the plan. As usual, trouble follows Alia wherever she goes, and when she finds herself in a difficult situation, she reunites with an old ally...

After the dungeon expedition, Alia accepts a personal request from Elena to accompany the princess as a guard and close aide at the Sorcerers’ Academy. Finally, Elena—and Alia—are now attending the very same prestigious institution where the otome game’s plot originally began. However, Alia’s fight against fate has wrought many changes to the story, and while Alia deals with her new duties, she must also navigate this new storyline and interact with various characters from the game all gathered at the school. But there is a strange addition to the familiar faces: a girl calling herself Alicia, who seems intent on taking on the role of the original heroine!

After losing her parents at a young age to a monster attack on their village, Alicia is sent to an orphanage, where she spends three miserable years being mistreated—and doing her best to smile through it all. After finally reaching her limit and running away, Alicia is attacked by a strange woman who wants to take the young girl’s place as the protagonist of something called an otome game. During the struggle, Alicia accidentally absorbs part of the woman’s memories and knowledge, transforming her from a scared child to a calculated young woman with a mission: to write her own destiny. Now adrift in an unforgiving world, Alicia vows to grow stronger by any means necessary. She’ll need all the might she can muster if she has any hope of changing her fate and fighting for survival.

Alicia—now going by the name Alia—decides to continue her training in the woods, isolated from others. Through ingenious use of the resources available to her and despite the growing pains associated with her increasing aether, she continues to hone her combat skills and begins her forays into the world of sorcery. One day, on her way out of town after stocking up on supplies, she senses a distinct presence—or lack thereof—and realizes she’s being watched. It’s a dangerous encounter, one with life-changing consequences she couldn’t have anticipated.

Alia accepts a job as a maid-in-training and guard to Princess Elena, one of the villainesses of the otome game. Under the tutelage of battle-specialist handmaiden Sera, Alia hones her combat skills even further. To her surprise, she develops a sense of kinship with Princess Elena—another gifted child bearing burdens far beyond her tender years—despite the two girls belonging to vastly different worlds. When Elena falls victim to a kidnapping plot, Alia rises to the occasion and runs to the rescue, realizing she now has something to fight for.

Alia successfully tracks down the “mysterious figure” haunting the Barony of Sayles—a mad water spirit cut off from its source element. Her fight against the spirit is interrupted, however, when a familiar figure intervenes and tries to kill her then and there. Outmatched, Alia is forced to flee–but in defeat lie new opportunities. Now with a nemesis and a new goal, Alia seeks out a mentor in sorcery and sets down a path that will forever change her life.