Hello! And hope y'all had a great week!
I wish this chapter could've been a Q&A but I didn't get many questions (just one) but it's ok, I decided to make and post a small chapter on the Character's profiles and talk a little about the story.
First, let me answer the only question I've got. Thank you Ash_popcorn for the question and also for accompanying this story since it's beginning, your support is important to me, and I'm happy you're still enjoying the story thus far.
Ash_popcorn
Do you have any specific inspiration for your characters and story?
A: I have A LOT of inspirations that slowly built HLWC, at first I just wanted to write a story after reading so many Rofam Manhwas and ended up spending a few hours thinking about the characters, especially Nikias, I built him as a way to vent my frustrations over cliche MCs in such stories (not that I don't like said cliches, after all I still read them lmao), after that everything just sort of built itself. A lot of the songs in the story's playlist also served as inspirations, especially those by KiNG MALA and Lenii. The first time I started HLWC I used to walk to work while listening to their songs and start thinking about the plot. Back in 2024 it was all I thought about, and after my long hiatus and A LOT of dreams of Nikias and how to built him properly, I decided to rework everything and now its the story y'all read. Basically my inspirations are many, if I would be more specific, besides the two artists' musics, I also drew inspiration from the Manhwas: The Villain's Saviour (my all times favorite), Miss Not-So Sidekick, A Villainess for the Tyrant, and for the BL Manhwas that served as inspo were: Mom, I'm Gay, The Black Mirror and Release Your Persona. (Also the BL Manhuas: Kiss the Abyss and Song of Reverberation), as for other medias, the trilogy of Lord of the Rings inspired me a lot as well, and the games League of Legends (the lore, I don't play the game lmao, I just really enjoy the lore of it), Stardew Valley (I know its extremely random but my 300+h of game messed with my head) and Baldur's Gate 3 (as well as some of D&D and Magic the Gathering as well as they're all related medias of each other). So basically everything in my life slowly but surely got engrained in this story, I can't even believe I have a proper plot after all hahaha. On the characters, a lot of Zerah (Vahe's brother) is inspired by my own life (a bit more dramatized of course, I wasn't THAT abused as a child), especially on his way of living for his brother while he was a child himself, a bit of Lyor is inspired in books I used to read as a child (more specifically books by Jostein Gaarder), Raphael is a bit inspired on my brother (just a lil) and I used bits of my husband's personality on Fleuri, and Rainier is based on my ideal type of ML, the kind I enjoy reading the most, but don't enjoy writing all that much (as I like diversifying my MLs and MCs personalities a lot, and writing about a type I enjoy the most felt like cheating, although he was, at first the ML of HLWC before I developed Lyor). Also used a bit of other peoples' that crossed my life during my 25 years of life, as I do believe drawing from real people tend to make characters more believable, but I never use someone's full personality or life as a character's base as I don't think crossing such line is good for my development as a writer, so I attempt to be creative while also using real inspirations. That's why also I strongly dislike using real-life worldbuilding as background of my stories, I like creating my own worlds hahah, even if nowadays we can never create things that don't already exist. Oh, I also use a lot of inspiration from linguistics and religions, I play around languages to search for symbolisms and words, as well as enjoy watching videos about real religions to properly understand what drives people to follow them (as I am not religious myself), especially videos on cults, as I do consider the gods in HLWC to be a bit inspired in cult leaders, hahaha.
Again, thank you for the question and the support!
Now, on a bit of news, I was supposed to be posting the side stories while the main story was in hiatus, but unfortunately I got depressed, ha, due to work, of course, but as Christmas arrives and I start to cry a bit less, I am slowly going back to writing, I was writing another story for the time being as it was a bit of an ''easier'' one to write (with a less complicated plot I mean), I strongly recommend reading if you enjoy vampires and really light plots (When the Sun Sets, you can find it in my profile). Anyway, I'll go back to updating the side stories soon, including a special Christmas story as it is my favorite holiday, so keep tuned in for it. But the main story will only come back next year, as I'm still recovering from my relapse and the plot is way too thick now to write with a messed head.
I made these small profiles a while ago, enjoy getting to know a bit more of the main cast of HLWC, some characters aren't here because they still don't have much of a highlight on this part of the story, but later on I do intend in sharing their profiles as well.
Thank you everyone for accompanying and reading this story, it means a lot, and hope you keep to do so next year when I continue updating this story. In case you don't accompany the side stories, have a good end of the year. Merry Christmas and stay healthy and safe :).
Profiles/Introductions:
Vahe/Nikias Gregor Chrysl
Age: 18
Birthday: March 21st
Family: Deceased mother, deadbeat father and deceased older brother (Zerah) as Vahe. Empress mother (Else), Emperor father (Magnus) and Crown Prince older brother (Alkaios) as Nikias.
MBTI: INTP-T
Sexuality: Gay
Favorites: Black, Peaches, Tea, Strong flavours and Classical music.
Dislikes: Floral scents, Coffee, Loud music and Bright colors.
Curiosity: There's always fresh tea in his room, usually Lowe or Fleuri are the ones fetching it, and most times is ginger tea, black tea or hibiscus, all without any sugar, at first this habit was created because he enjoyed the warmth of the teas, but later he started not being able to go through the day without his six usual pots of tea. Occasionally Alkaios sends him different herbal teas - medicine disguised as gifts, but he drinks them anyway.
Theme Song: Afraid of Quiet - Lydia the Bard
Relationship Theme Song: lonely bitch - Bea Miler
Lyor Noir Natrix
Age: 21
Birthday: July 2nd
Family: None.
Sexuality: Vahesexual /jk (not really)
MBTI: ENFJ-A
Favorites: Gold, Pomegranades, Flowers, Spring, Sweet scents, Philosophy and Reading.
Dislikes: Paperwork, Nagging, Bitter things, Winter, Being told what to do and Muted colors.
Curiosity: Never celebrates his birthday, it would be a miracle if anyone even knew the date, he considers it the worst day of the year and usually just moves on quickly saying he's older now, never saying when he got older.
Theme Song: Human - Rag'n'Bone Man
Relationship Theme Song: If You Fall - UNDREAM & Brad Arthur
Alkaios Theodore Chrysl
Age: 21
Birthday: December 21st
Family: Empress mother (Else), Emperor father (Magnus) and Prince younger brother (Nikias).
MBTI: ISTJ-A
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Favorites: Pink, Wild fruits, Scent of nature, Sparring, Evangelia, Nikias and Working.
Dislikes: Disloyal people, Being wrong, Lyor, His parents and Mellow tastes.
Curiosity: His eyesight is clearer at night, although he is not the Saint of the Moon goddess, he still has some abilities of such, not needing much light at night and his mind is definitely clearer when the moon is at its brightest, that's why he prefers working at night and sleeps almost nothing, usually only resting 3 to 4 hours each night.
Theme Song: Underneath the Mask - Royal & the Serpent
Relationship Theme Song: OBSESSION - DAMAGE & PRISET
Evangelia Petit
Age: 21
Birthday: April 1st
Family: Deceased mother and Viscount father.
MBTI: ENTJ-A
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Favorites: Alkaios.
Dislikes: Nikias.
Curiosity: Keeps a journal with all of her memories since she was 10, after her mom died she wanted to make sure to remember everything that ever happened after that day so that when she meets her mother in the afterlife she doesn't forget to tell her a single detail.
Theme Song: Never Say Die - Neoni
Relationship Theme Song: Would You Fall in Love with Me Again? - Jorge Rivera-Herrans & Anna Lea
Lowe
Age: 22
Birthday: Doesn't know.
Family: Doesn't know the location of his parents and has a younger twin brother (Raphael)
Sexuality: Demiromantic
MBTI: INTP-A
Favorites: Chocolate, Reading, Raphael, Being useful and Newspapers.
Dislikes: Other magicians, Nobles, Any type of music and Closed spaces.
Curiosity: Tried chocolate for the first time when Prince Nikias threw some away, has a sweet tooth but would never admit, so he usually steals from the Palace's kitchen or buys from town in disguise, he's so good at hiding it that not even his twin brother knows of this habit of his. The only person that knows this is Rainier, but he pretends not to know, always leaving chocolate beside his bed at night or asking his servants to offer Lowe sweet foods for breakfast when he sleeps over.
Theme Song: Sysiphus - Lilith Max
Relationship Theme Song: THE DEATH OF PIECE OF MIND - Bad Omens
Raphael
Age: 22
Birthday: Doesn't know.
Family: Doesn't know the location of his parents and has an older twin brother (Lowe)
MBTI: INFJ-T
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Favorites: Romance, Purple, Snacks, Lowe and Leading.
Dislikes: Being weak, Depending too much on others and Sour foods.
Curiosity: Finds solace in reading romance books, his brother constantly buys him new ones as gifts and says they were on sale, Raphael enjoys the mystique behind soulmates and the idea of one day finding his other half, he is romantic by nature and recently he admires Prince Nikias in secret as he sees the Prince's relationship with the King as one worthy of praise and admiration.
Theme Song: Afraid - The Neighbourhood
Fleuri
Age: 20
Birthday: January 10th
Family: None.
MBTI: INTJ-T
Sexuality: Aroace (Asexual & Aromantic)
Favorites: Studying, Working and Reading.
Dislikes: Romance, Relationships and Being distracted.
Curiosity: After suffering during his childhood he started carrying a small vial of his own blood in order to use the acidity to hurt anyone that dares to approach him in attempts to harm him. Never truly used but carries it around anyway, when he first met Prince Nikias he strongly considered desfiguring the Prince by using his blood, but now he's glad he didn't, although he dislikes the bullshit of his colleagues, the job is fulfilling and the Prince isn't as stupid as he assumed him to be.
Theme Song: Straightjacket - Lenii
Rainier Bauldry
Age: 21
Birthday: December 25th
Family: Deceased parents and Adoptive Duke Father.
MBTI: ENTJ-T
Sexuality: Bisexual
Favorites: Caramel, Warmth, Working out, Hugging Lowe, Scent of burning firewood, Gardenias and Dogs.
Dislikes: Insects, Silence, Nikias, Sea and Losing his temper.
Curiosity: Sometimes he sits down in the library at his home, lighting up the fireplace and listening to classical compositions as he thinks about his day, used to use this time to think about Evangelia, but nowadays he's thinking more about Lowe. The scent of burning firewood reminds him of his deceased parents, so it's the only moment in his day that he lets go of his responsibilities and goes back to being just him, a broken boy without parents lost in a world he doesn't know how to navigate.
Theme Song: coming up for air - MisterWives
Relationship Theme Song: Bunny Love - Stela Cole
Scarlet Abel
Age: 20
Birthday: June 6th
Family: Margrave father, Margravine mother & older brother (Frode)
MBTI: ENFJ-T
Sexuality: Bisexual
Favorites: Swords, Musical Plays and Windy weathers.
Dislikes: Being underestimated, Frode, Bitter foods and Flowers.
Curiosity: When she was a child she was eager to make her father proud, that's why she first picked up a sword, however the moment she showed more progress than her brother she was shut out, slowly becoming more and more angry at the clear preference her parents had for her brother.
Theme Song: SLIP - Lenii
Dacre
Age: 18
Birthday: November 6th
Family: Deceased father and missing mother
MBTI: ESFP-A
Sexuality: Gay
Favorites: Pink, Having friends, Provoking others, Watching people's reactions to situations and Epic Novels.
Dislikes: Alcohol, Drugs, Pubs, Gambling, Liars and Nobles.
Curiosity: Although he is sure of his own sexuality, he never felt sexual attraction to another person until he met Jiwon, that's because he got used to being seen as a sexual toy by other men, so when he sees them all he sees is greedy liars instead of potential lovers. He enjoys watching those men grovel once he shows them stars, but at the same time he always felt slightly disgusted of himself after doing so.
Theme Song: Never Stay Down - UNSECRET & Sam Tinnesz
Relationship Theme Song: Taste - Jake Daniels
Jiwon Draeger
Age: 24
Birthday: February 14th
Family: Deceased parents and two twin older sisters (Hayun and Seoah)
MBTI: ESFP-T
Sexuality: Pansexual
Favorites: Dacre, His sisters and Fighting.
Dislikes: Being inactive, Dacre, Socializing and Being told what to do by those weaker than him.
Curiosity: Was first approached by the God of Love when he was a child, and after refusing the god, he kept appearing every year until Jiwon's parents died. He never saw himself as someone worthy of being a Saint, and he still doesn't, he just wants to be a good knight and live his life with his sisters safe and sound.
Theme Song: A Little Messed Up - june
Relationship Theme Song: Narcissistic - Jade LeMac
Cypress / Cypress White
Age: 23
Birthday: September 22nd
Family: King father, Queen mother, three older sisters and one younger brother.
MBTI: ESTJ-T
Sexuality: Gay
Favorites: Learning, Working, Morke Kingdom, Nature, Sound of the birds in the early morning and the Scent of dew.
Dislikes: Fire, Being overworked, Strong tasting meat, Getting dressed in the morning and Not sleeping well.
Curiosity: Dated Anwar for a month, after they found out they were both interested in the same gender, they hooked up, dating is actually too strong of a word, since all they did was hook up and nothing else, they stopped once Cypress noticed he didn't feel anything towards the knight and hooking up with him was taking too much of his time off work.
Theme Song: Nothing Left to Lose - Lydia the Bard
Who's your favorite character from the main cast?
Thank you for everything, see y'all soon!