All Chapters of To Be Chosen, Not Pitied: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

The first time I lived, my sister and I found two dragon eggs.The black one pulsed with raw, untamed power. My sister, Isabella, claimed it without a second thought.The white one was left for me. A cracked, forgotten thing. It held only a whisper of magic. I took it out of pity.Within a year, the black dragon shattered his shell and emerged a man so beautiful it was a curse. He became Isabella's devoted weapon, his power forging her path to godhood.Meanwhile, the white egg fed on me.I poured everything I had into my white egg.My magic, my money, my soul. For ten long years, it gave me nothing. Everyone said to abandon it. But I couldn't. I was an orphan, ignored by my sister. I just wanted a companion.But as the dark plague swept the lands, the egg I'd nurtured for a decade hatched overnight—while I was dying, he soared past me to save Isabella.He could have hatched years ago. Could have been human all along.But he chose Isabella. He mistook her for his savior.Then I wa

I went out to gather herbs less and less. Most days, I was holed up in my room, buried in ancient magic texts. It wasn't until the annual Spring Equinox Festival that Isabella dragged me out.The Church of the Holy Light sent proctors for the annual aptitude trials, and Isabella dragged me from my room."It's the annual trials! If you don't go, you might miss your chance to train with the Church, Eva."The Church of the Holy Light? The trials?I glanced back at my dog-eared copy of the Codex of Holy Light. After a moment's thought, I nodded."I got you a new wand! You can finally throw away that crude thing you always use. You need something better for the trials!"She pressed an exquisite wand box into my hands.I spent another day buried in my books. It wasn't until the morning of the trials that I finally opened the box.Inside was an ornate piece of junk.It was a pretty trinket, not a tool. Too many crystals, rough wood. Its mana conductivity was practically zero.When I looked

I laughed, a sharp, ugly sound."The Holy Light started accepting women into its trials. I guess you were too busy perfecting your pity party to notice."I walked past Adrian, a smirk playing on my lips."You think my world revolves around a man? Please. Letting you go was the easiest thing I've ever done.""Compared to the Light and my honor, you are nothing. You mean nothing."Adrian's breath hitched.He stared at me, his eyes filled with disbelief.The girl I used to be would have burned the world for you.But I let him go. Just like that.He wasn't ready for it.But I was done catering to his feelings.I took the parchment scroll. Isabella, unwilling to accept it, reached for my sleeve. I jerked my arm back."Don't touch me, Isabella."The herald's face turned to stone."Insolence! You dare strike a Paladin of the Holy Light? A warrior chosen by the High Bishop himself? Kneel!"Isabella's eyes reddened, but under the authority of the Church, she knelt in humiliation.The oily, fawn

Evangeline’s POVPanting, I crested another hill. Looking back, the village was completely gone from sight.Thankfully, in my moment of crisis, I had noticed the roof was leaking, realizing it hadn't been repaired yet.Sometimes, procrastination wasn't such a bad thing.And thankfully, Adrian hadn't bothered to put a Draconic seal on the roof.Goodbye, you damn village.This girl is off to the Holy City to become a Paladin!I practically sang my way to the bustling Holy City. But when I reported to the designated Church office, I was met with another devastating blow."Haven't you heard? A new oracle came down. Your name has been stricken from the list!"I was stunned."Your Grace, my trial was approved by the High Bishop himself. How can my name simply be stricken?""That's your business. We just follow orders. How would we know the reason?""But… Hey! Wait!"I stuck to the cleric like glue.Wherever they went, I followed.I stood guard at the church doors every single day.Finally,

Gods must descend for mortal trials every so often.They lose their memories and struggle to survive in the perilous human world.I never expected that I, the Goddess of Darkness, would end up in the same area as the God of Light.And so would my loyal subordinate, Damien.The day he completed his own trial and reawakened, he sensed my presence.The black vines that filled my room that night weren't meant to harm me.He was simply confirming my identity."Damien…" Isabella's tears fell. "Have you forgotten that I saved you? How can you help a devil?"Damien glanced back at the mortals I was protecting, his gaze icy."So if I don't save you, I'm a devil?"I smiled."Some people just shouldn't be saved."As I spoke, I stared hard at Adrian.His brow furrowed.His gaze, however, fell to my ankle.His breath caught."Your ankle… why does it also…"He whipped his head around to look at Isabella.Isabella's eyes immediately darted away.On her ankle, the magic flickered. The false dragon-sca