I became Villain's Best Friend

The sight of the children—frail, undernourished, yet laughing—made Seraphina's heart clench. They had nothing, yet they still found joy in the smallest things. When she had first come to this slum, it had been just her, Ralph, and Lucian. But as time passed, their little family grew, and so did their struggles.

Still, looking at them now, she couldn't help but smile. A genuine, heartfelt smile.

The children quieted, their giggles dying down as they stared at her. It was rare to see Seraphina looking so… at peace. A little boy, barely older than Ralph, stepped forward hesitantly. His brown eyes flickered with gold as he took the rough sketch from Seraphina's hands.

Seraphina's brows lifted. Magic.

Jonny, as the boy was called, had awakened his abilities. He studied the drawing intently before grabbing a piece of charcoal and tracing over it, his strokes swift and precise. As Seraphina watched him work, a twinge of envy crept into her heart. She had spent so long trying to get better at drawing, yet here he was—just seven years old—effortlessly perfecting her rough sketch.

Still, she swallowed her pride and ruffled his hair. "Good job, Jonny! You're really talented!"

Jonny beamed, his chest puffing out. But before he could bask in the praise, Rose, the ever-sharp-tongued redhead, burst into laughter.

"Talented? Pfft—Seraphina, everyone here is better at drawing than you!"

The other children erupted into laughter, clutching their sides as they doubled over. Even Luke, their most serious and reserved member, was fighting to keep a straight face.

Seraphina's face turned crimson. "I—I wasn't even trying that hard!" she protested.

Rose wiped a tear from her eye. "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that."

Seraphina's cheeks puffed up in frustration. "Drama's over, people! Go away and—"

She stopped mid-sentence as she saw Luke biting his lip, his shoulders shaking from suppressed laughter.

"If you wanna laugh, just laugh already!!" she yelled, her face burning.

And Luke did—finally letting out a rare, genuine laugh. "Alright, alright," he managed between chuckles. "Give me an hour. I'll have it done."

He picked up the materials and moved to the side, using his fire magic to carefully mold the iron. Seraphina glanced at him briefly—her plans hinged on what he was creating. If this worked, it could change everything.

Still flustered, she plopped onto a crate, lost in thought.

Magic… everyone here had awakened their skills so early. Even Jonny had a specialized skill that allowed him to analyze objects and replicate drawings perfectly. Magic was just the energy to fuel those skills.

Then there was Lucian. He could use multiple types of magic—something unheard of. Without a specialized skill, most people could barely control a single element.

Her brows furrowed. What was Lucian hiding?

Then, a sudden realization struck her like lightning.

"Wait a minute… why don't I have a skill yet?!?"

"Maybe you're just a late bloomer," Rose teased, sauntering up beside her. The way she moved and spoke carried an elegance that felt almost out of place in the slums.

Seraphina shot her a glare but quickly shook it off. "Whatever. Anyway, Rose, you know the town better than anyone, right?"

Rose smirked, flipping her red curls over her shoulder. "Obviously."

"Good. Then take me to the market district. I need to sell something."

Rose arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what exactly are we selling?"

"You'll see," Seraphina said cryptically, throwing a quick glance at Luke, who was still focused on his work.

"You're coming too, Jonny," she added, turning to the young boy.

Jonny's eyes sparkled with excitement. Younger kids rarely got to venture far, and this was his chance to see the town properly.

As he nodded eagerly, Seraphina cracked a small smile.

Step one of her plans was in motion.