"I don't know how I got here," Selena replied, keeping her voice even. "And I don't know where the old Selena went. It's all... Confusing."
It wasn't a lie. She genuinely had no idea how her transmigration into Selena's body had occurred, nor did she know where the original villainess had gone. Perhaps the cat would accept her vagueness.
Selena kept the information about this world being just a story, a figment of some author's imagination to herself.
The feline's golden eyes narrowed, studying her intently. After a moment, it nodded, its expression unreadable. "Fair enough," it said. "You're not her, but you bear her body. You've inherited her burdens, whether you like it or not. I suppose it's only natural you'd have questions for me."
Selena exhaled quietly, relieved. "Then let's start with this: why dark magic? Why would she risk using it when it's so hated in this world?"
The cat stretched, its claws kneading her lap lightly before it settled again. "Dark magic isn't just hated," it began, its tone calm and deliberate.
"It's feared—and for good reason. It's not like the elemental or light magic of this world. Those draw from nature, from the balance of the world's forces. Dark magic, however... It's man-made. It's a manipulation of life's very essence, and it always demands a sacrifice."
Selena frowned, leaning closer. "A sacrifice?"
The cat nodded, its tail flicking back and forth. "Dark magic is greedy. It doesn't flow naturally like other magic. To cast it, you must offer something of value: blood, memories, emotions... even lives. The greater the spell, the greater the cost. That's why it's considered savage. It goes against the world's natural order."
Selena shivered. She'd known from the novel that dark magic was taboo, but hearing it explained in detail made it feel all the more sinister. "So why would she use it? What was so important that she'd pay such a price?"
The cat tilted its head, its gaze far away. "That's a question only she could fully answer. But if you ask me... She was desperate. Master wasn't born with the natural affinity for magic that others had. And yet, somehow she managed to practice dark magic and create me."
"So... You're saying that Selena who had no affinity with any kind of magic should never have been able to wield this dark magic." She asked... Slowly things were starting to make sense and at the same time, the mystery surrounding the original Selena was deeping.
The cat purred and nodded.
"She began studying dark magic to bridge the gap," the cat continued. "She wanted power. Recognition. Respect. And for a while, she succeeded. But dark magic always comes at a cost. The more she used it, the more it changed her. Her body, her mind, her very soul... all tainted by the darkness."
Selena bit her lip, her hand pausing mid-stroke on the cat's fur. "Changed her how?"
The cat glanced up at her, its eyes solemn. "She became colder, more ruthless. The sacrifices she once hesitated to make became easier over time. She stopped caring about what—or who—she had to destroy to get what she wanted."
"And who she wanted was... Nicholas Hawthorne." Selena added. She just didn't understand Selena... That man was an absolute prick to her!
"My master was a very strong and talented person... But she was not without faults." The cat hissed at the mention of Nicholas. She thought that as Selena's familiar the cat would like him too but it seemed like the cat was truly a sentient being.
Selena quickly remembered the setting in the world, more specifically about the magic wielders. They were rare... And their numbers were dwindling.
"Then why was she so hated?" she asked softly. "If magic users are so rare now, shouldn't they have admired her for her strength?"
The cat's tail flicked irritably. "Rare doesn't mean valued. In this era, magic is seen as outdated, a relic of the past. People rely on their brains and logic now—machines, tools, inventions. Magic users are viewed as dangerous, and unpredictable. And dark magic users? They're the worst of all. To practice dark magic is to willingly become an outcast."
Selena frowned. "But what about light magic? Surely that's still revered, isn't it?"
The cat sighed, its expression weary. "Light magic is rare, yes. Revered? Perhaps in theory. But even those who wield it face scrutiny. People fear what they don't understand, and magic—of any kind—is increasingly seen as a threat to progress. Most magic users hide their abilities now, blending in with society. Those who don't... Well, they're either exploited or hunted."
She kind of understood the world she was in better... This world... They don't take too kindly to magic wielders anymore, they are viewed as disruptions.
Everyone views them as people who would try to rein over them if given the chance so they try to nip the problem in the bud before they grow and cause terror... At least that was their mindset.
Selena absorbed the information, her mind racing. This world was far more complex than she'd realised. Magic wasn't just a tool or a gift—it was a curse, a mark that set people apart in a society that no longer wanted them.
"Was Nicholas so important that she would place a literal target on her head?! Just what was she thinking?! Tell me more about her past..." Selena eagerly asked. She needed to know more!
The cat hesitated, its ears flattening slightly. "That... I can't fully answer," it admitted. "My birth is recent, I do not know of events that transpired before that..."
Selena leaned back against the headboard, her thoughts a whirlwind. She'd always assumed the old Selena was motivated purely by selfishness. But this? This painted a very different picture.
"Do you think she regretted it?" She asked quietly. What could have caused her to be obsessed with Nicholas so much... She knew that something happened, but she didn't know where to begin.
The cat tilted its head, considering the question. "Regret is a complicated emotion," it said finally. "She was proud of her strength, but she also carried a heavy burden. Whether that burden was regret... I can't say for certain."