When Cassandra opened her eyes, she was initially disoriented, but soon realized that an entire month had passed since she had fainted. The reason for her sudden loss of consciousness was a profound experience—her first Awakening. This mystical event explained why, upon waking, she felt a strange sense of maturity, as if she had been thrust forward in time. Her reflection revealed subtle changes; her features were more defined, her eyes brighter, and an aura of wisdom surrounded her that belied her young age.
A week slipped by since that life-altering moment, but it was not without its challenges. Her father, the Emperor, had taken it upon himself to impose strict restrictions on her. He had forbidden her from leaving her room, citing the common knowledge that individuals often felt exceedingly weak after experiencing their first Awakening, especially in the case of someone as young as Cassandra. It was a precautionary measure, meant to protect her from the uncertainties that lay beyond the sanctuary of her chamber.
Yet, despite the confines of her quarters, Cassandra refused to succumb to despair. Instead, she embraced the solitude and transformed it into a creative sanctuary. She swiftly filled the days by writing from morning until night, driven by an insatiable desire to change the future. Memories from her past life surged back to her with vivid clarity, fueling her determination. She requested blank books, which she filled fervently, documenting everything she could recall about her dreams and the stories she had once penned.
Currently, she was immersed in writing about the finale bosses of her narratives. These formidable figures, often portrayed as the ultimate adversaries, were not the true masterminds behind the chaos in her stories. Rather, they were significant subordinates of a far more sinister finale boss, a shadowy figure shrouded in mystery. This secretive group, to which they belonged, operated from the darkest corners of her imagination. Even Cassandra, during her previous existence as Annabel, had never been able to glimpse the identity of the true finale boss before her untimely demise. All she had witnessed was a cataclysmic scene—the world collapsing around her, consumed by monstrous entities and engulfed in fierce flames that burned with an insatiable hunger. Each word she wrote now served as both a cathartic release and a strategic preparation for the battles she knew lay ahead.
But even with her dreams, there were countless things she didn't yet know. Beyond that, considering what her mother had said about their family's unique abilities, it was possible that she might lose the capacity to see the future altogether due to its inherent limits. This thought weighed heavily on her mind, as each day passed without having a dream.
Cassandra glanced over at the small pile of books she had meticulously gathered, a tangible representation of her efforts to piece together the fragments of her dreams and the deeper meanings behind them. Each book contained notes and sketches, filled with all she could recall about the characters she had seen, the events she had witnessed, and the enemies that had been faced. There were about twenty volumes in total, but despite her diligent work, the collection felt painfully inadequate.
"It's not enough." She muttered to herself, rising from her desk with a sigh. Moving to the balcony window, she looked out at the bustling servants and gardeners, all diligently attending to their daily tasks. Their movements were routine, but Cassandra felt anything but ordinary. "In this world, I need four things," she continued, her small finger tapping rhythmically against the window glass as she enumerated her thoughts. "Money, power, influence, and intelligence." Each element was crucial for her survival and her quest to avert the impending destruction looming over her world. Yet, the dilemma loomed larger: Cassandra realized she wouldn't be able to acquire power and influence without first securing money and intelligence. This realisation left her feeling trapped in a web of uncertainty, each thread woven tighter by her own limitations.
But of course there was the problem with her being a princess, because even if the Emperor was a powerful and respected ruler, there were always those who looked to undermine authority and disrupt the status quo. The delicate balance of power meant that she couldn't use the palace's money for her own ventures; she needed to find a way to generate her own income under a different name to prevent nobles from interfering or, worse, sabotaging her efforts. This meant she would require someone else to run the operation as a figurehead in a sense, someone trustworthy who could navigate the complexities of business without drawing attention to her royal status.
Someone did come to mind, an individual who would later rise to become a well-known and influential figure in the world of commerce. However, the path to success would not be straightforward for him; in the beginning, he would encounter failure time and again, learning invaluable lessons from each setback. Additionally, there were a few other potential allies who came to mind, each possessing unique skills that could contribute to her business aspirations.
The only problem was that she had no idea where any of these individuals were or what their current situations entailed. Without that crucial knowledge, her plans would remain just that—plans without any tangible means of execution.
"I should start by finding him." She declared, her voice filled with determination, as she glanced back at her desk, where a pile of books awaited her attention. Each book was a potential treasure trove of information, filled with insights that could guide her in her quest. With a renewed sense of purpose, she resolved to sift through the pages, hoping to find a clue that would lead her to the right people and the right path.