To be Understood [Original fiction]

Title: To be Understood
Fandom: Alternate* (Original fiction) 
* Technically not a fandom at all. It's my novel. But one day, oh yes...8D
Character(s): Echo Nightingale (mentions Vaidryn Benitez)
N.B.: This takes place in a half-fantasy setting. Echo is turning 11, Vaidryn is 23 turning 24. In the to-be book, Echo betrays the 'good' side to join the 'evil' side, which Vaidryn commands.

They told her she was a genius; they told her she was perfect. They told her that in the next few years, she would rise to become one of the most successful commanders in their battle against Vaidryn Benitez. People who passed her in the corridors stopped just long enough to tell her how amazing she was, just long enough to ask her to demonstrate an illusion or two.

There was really just one problem.

She wanted fame, and not within the next few years. She wanted it now.

Not to mention there was something strangely alluring about joining the side of darkness. No cookies, nothing of that sort. She was just sick of being so...used. Every day, it felt like she was nothing but a tool for the Seniym to win. It felt like she wasn't really needed if she couldn't fight, or if she couldn't gather information, and that everyone would just forget about her if she fell sick, or died, because nobody really cared.

Those people in the corridors didn't like her. They were only awed by her, and though that was fine, she wanted to be loved. Loved by someone who truly knew her, not just some strangers who happened to pass her by.

And then one day, the letter came. It wasn't signed, and it mentioned nothing of importance, but she knew its purpose immediately. It was from someone who wanted her abilities and personality and actually appreciated who she was as a person. It was from someone who wanted to know her personally and to give her everything she had now, and much, much more.

It was from Vaidryn Benitez, but she wasn't about to tell anyone.

The letters kept coming, and suddenly, there was an outright question. Will she give her life up here, to join and gain so much more on the other side?

Echo Nightingale smiled, and began packing her bags.