Portrait of a girl
Object of rumor
A pose at play
They say, "She's fairest of them all"
- "Portrait of a Girl", Bare: A Pop Opera

Once upon a time, there was a boy who loved games. He loved winning, but he loved the struggle as well, and the friends he made along the way. That is to say, he had the bones of a hero.

Prophesied hero, celebrity champion, household name, role model. Other people put their foot in their mouth, but not Kateli Ichet. Other people lose their temper, but not Kateli Ichet. Other people scream, cry, bleed, doubt—but not Kateli Ichet. In short, he’s not a human being. How could he be?

(Here’s a secret. Everyone knows that Kateli Ichet is a faithful believer of the Lady. However, even though other people pray to her for help in difficult times, he never does. Don’t mistake me—when he bows his head and moves his lips, he is certainly speaking to her. But not once does he ask for anything at all. Why might that be?)