Knock Knock *
"Yes?" I called out with a raised voice.
"Are you ready, Valerie? Your turn is next." The voice of a woman. It was Ms.Meri.
"I'm ready, I will be out right away." I said as I stood up.
It's time for the grand reveal, but I'm not worried. After all I'm Valerie Noctis, Queen of Shadows, who carries entire army in my shadow.
.....
"Do your devi-best, Valerie." My ever supporting manager, Ms.Meri smiled kindly at me and said with an earnest voice.
"I will conquer this stage." My voice was firm.
I took the black mic handed to me by an assistant. I followed Ms.Meri's lead as she led me across the white hall, hearing voice of many people.
The hall turned darker and darker as I walked through it. A bright light was at end of the tunnel. It was quite poetic in a way.
"Let us welcome a new Evidol...Noctra." I heard a woman's voice reverberating ahead of me. As soon as I stepped into the light, I was blinded for a moment.
The stage lights dimmed again after the initial roar.
I stood alone.
No voices behind her.
No reassurance.
Only the echo of thousands waiting.
Tens of thousands of devil stared at me, clearly not expecting much from the last sudden addition to the concert.
For a brief moment—
The noise disappeared.
Not because the crowd stopped, but because her mind did.
Everything she had trained for. Every step.
Every breath.
Now it was just her.
"…Don't hesitate."
She whispered it to herself.
And stepped forward.
I gave a signal with my hands to the band behind me. They should already know what to play.
As the sound of instruments started, I counted the beats in my head.
My movements cut through the air.
Precise.
Unforgiving.
Every turn carried intent.
Every step landed with purpose.
I wasn't performing for approval.
I wasn't asking to be seen.
I was declaring—
"I am here."
Then I sang.
Not carefully this time.
Not controlled.
My voice rose—stronger, rawer.
It carried something dangerous.
Loneliness.
Hunger.
Determination.
The kind of emotion that didn't ask for understanding—
Only recognition.
So I sang. [Royalty]
.....
"Say I'm cold-hearted...." I started singing and danced as I practiced, with point precision.
Mid-performance—
My body pushed past its limit.
A step almost faltered.
A breath almost broke.
But—
I didn't stop.
Instead—
I stepped harder.
Moved faster.
Sang louder.
As if defying the weakness itself.
And then—
Something shifted.
The crowd wasn't just watching anymore.
They were following.
Every movement I made—
They reacted.
Every note—
They answered.
Not because I asked.
But because I led.
The music built to its peak.
I spun—
A final motion, sharp as a blade.
My hand cut through the air—
And stopped.
Silence.
Then—
The final note.
Clear.
Unshaken.
Unapologetic.
I raised my hand toward the audience as the sound of instruments come to a close as I finished my song.
The applause hit like thunder.
But I didn't move.
For a second…
I just stood there, breathing.
Alone.
Yet not small.
"…So this is what it means."
Not to be given a place.
Not to be supported.
But to take it.
To stand alone—
And still be enough to fill an entire dome.
I closed her eyes briefly.
Then opened them again.
Steady.
Cold.
Certain.
I smirked, listening to the cheers.
"Woohoooo"
"Devi-Cooool.
As I lifted the mic to my mouth. The audience went silent once again.
"Thank You. Remember for me, from now on, I'm Noctra, and I'll be ruling this stage from now on." As I said this and walked out of the stage. The cheers of my name didn't stop but but become louder and louder.
Hmm... I could get used to this.
That night—
Valerie Noctis didn't just debut.
She proved something far more dangerous.
That she meant to rule, even on the stage.