"T-the...the F-first...E-Emperor?" She choked out, stumbling over the syllables.
Alvator Valtirium, the first emperor, the man himself who had conquered vast swathes of territories as effortlessly as a breeze that persevered amidst the rugged terrains, the clamor of battle, and the ever-raging flames. He who wielded a sceptre of unknown origins, and who built an empire indomitable in its might... now stood before her, transformed into a diminutive ball of furry innocence.
A cat.
A cat whose head is barely a size of a human palm.
Emerging from the chokeholds of a river's underwater and seeing a woman underneath her, only to found out that it was her own reflection was absurd enough. But to encounter a cat who announced itself as the founding figure, possessing a deep, sonorous and masculine voice that instantly made one feel inferior in their own form, pushed her to question....
Why?
What is with these unfathimable absurdity?
"You must be jesting.. This can't be real. A cat claiming to be the First Emperor? It's utterly ridiculous," she managed to squeak out through her incredulity, desperately trying to convince herself that this was all just a bizarre dream.
The First Emperor nonchalantly shifted on his paws and circled around her until he stood beside her, his unnatural, blank, white eyes resembled those of a livestock animal - unblinking and devoid of life. He spoke up, his tone casual, "You, Argider Valtirium, are the son of Novan Valtirium, the assassinated emperor himself, right?"
He halted, sitting down on his haunches, and continued, "The least of all sons. A nightmare for proper women. One who has fathered countless bastards. The one who was not born lucky, but lucky to have been born... The world is quite the circus, isn't it? It's always the tainted and the corrupt who are lucky. Afterall, you are not much different from your father."
With a surge of strength, Argider strained against the confining chains, launching herself forward in a vain attempt to reach her mysterious visitor. But no matter how hard she tried, the chains that bound her pulled her back, slamming her forcefully into the wall. She was in a flurry of madness. Especially at such comparison.
An apple doesn't fall far away from the tree, they said.
And she was acutely aware of the bitter truth - that she was the apple that had fallen from the tree, which was her father. Yet whereas he had been the tree, Argider was the one bearing the seeds of corruption, the fruits sprouting anew and rapidly, perhaps beyond redemption.
The irony of it all was that her entire youth was a relentless barrage of condemnations and curses, all leading to the bitter, sobering reality - she had become exactly like the person she despised more than anyone else. She had become like her father. A pitiful scum.
She slumped back onto the hard ground, her head hanging low, defeat creeping over her. "Why are you even here? Just to mock me? To relish in my pathetic state? If that's all you seek, you might as well end my wretched existence."
"No, but I will be fulfilling as your guide from now on."
"A guide?"
Argider's tension eased somewhat, her shoulders slightly relaxing. The sound of wailing and suffering often filtered throughout her time of living, which left her tortured and her heart heavy. The presence of the first emperor, with his ancient wisdom, brought a much-welcome respite.
"But why? You're the First Emperor. How in the world do you appear like this?"
"It was a cost I had to bear due to a covenant. Thus, a piece of my consciousness has fused with the framework of the system and in each emperor that I guided, I'd take on a form they like. I must say, it's quite a refreshing to thing to know that you love cats more than ladies."
"W-wh-what? H-how did you-" She winced, her attempts at hiding her true feelings shattered. She had always been a secret admirer of all things cute, and the sight of the First Emperor had invoked a burning desire to gently pet him. Alas, her secret had been revealed, leaving her utterly flustered.
Amidst their conversation, dim, flickering torch light suddenly spilled into the cell, its wavering glow casting elongated, straight shadows across the metal bars. The steady, measured footsteps echoed through the room, a constant metallic jingle joining the rhythm. It was unlike the sound of boots, however - the measured and deliberate footfalls had a distinctly different cadence, suggesting a pair of slender shoes rather than the heavier boots common to the soldiers stationed here.
Argider desperately looked towards the First Emperor who sat beside her, her thoughts racing as she urgently whispered, "Quickly, hide behind me. They mustn't see y-" but her words were cut short as the cell was suddenly engulfed in darkness.
She twisted her head towards the front, her eyes met with the distinct silhouette of a figure looming in front of her. Their shoulders were broad and their legs long, and they carried themselves with an air of effortless elegance.
It was the damned traitor, Denzelle.
The sight of him made everything come back to Argider. The violence. The betrayal. The falsehood of their friendship.
"Fear not," the first emperor murmured. "He cannot perceive my presence. You are the only one who can sense me."
She nodded.
Denzelle chuckled, catching sight of how Argider's gaze seemed to linger on empty space. His smirk widened as he spoke up, "Why are you looking at nothing?"
Argider clutched the cold steel bars with a white-knuckled grip, her eyes blazing with a fiery red hue. "You bastard.." she seethed, her voice laced with venom.
"Careful," Denzelle simply uttered, unfazed. "You wouldn't want yourself pierced, do you?"
Beside him, two formidable guards stood. They were clad in ornate armor of the highest caliber, each piece of gear bearing testament to the knight's high status and prowess. Their helms were embossed with intricate designs that fully encased their faces, leaving only their eyes visible.
When she looked back at Denzelle, there was no sign of sympathy, nor any trace of compassion in their immovable expression that Argider felt herself crumble further, the weight of her pain multiplying beyond measure. Her eyes twitched and stung, desperate to find release in the form of tears, yet her eyes remained painfully dry.
"Then why didn't you just kill me? What's even the point?!" Argider lashed out in anger, trembling with resentment.
Denzelle met her gaze unflinchingly, his tone even and unsympathetic. "I was intending to kill you, until I discovered your possession of the system. You see, it's not surprising that anyone would underestimate your worth - you've never been capable of anything. That's why I revealed your location - it seemed logical that the Valtirium Family line would finally end with you. And perhaps, we thought the system finally decided to go beyond your bloodline."
"Is that why my system warned me about imminent civil war?" she asked through gritted teeth.
"So, your system told you about the possibility of a civil war, did it? In that case, it was correct."
"Then are you the one who killed father and the rest?"
"How flattering for you think so. But unfortunately, I'm just a puppet. He had to be killed because he never had a system in the first place."
Argider became solid. 'No system?'
"Then who schemed it?"
"I couldn't exactly point out who. Everyone in the palace has their own ambitions and schemes, which is why I will remain as your advisor. My master, however, says that he expects of your best behavior."
The heavily armored guards entered the cell, the metal door clanking open. One approached Argider and removed the iron chains from her wrists. When the restraints were finally lifted, deep, reddened welts were visible on her pale skin, a painful reminder of how tightly the bindings had dug into her flesh.
Argider was taken aback as she was gruffly yanked out of the cell. She let out a startled gasp, her eyes widening at the unexpected treatment. When she glanced back, she was surprised to see Alvator hovering in the air, his loyal presence following her as they departed.
"W-where are you taking me?" She protested with a meek whisper.
"We're returning you to your responsibilities," Danzelle answered.
"I have become a woman... Wouldn't that be odd if I show myself now?"
"It can be of use," her traitor of a friend said. "For now... you will meet your wives."
.