Justina stood poised before the grand doors of the throne hall, her hand rising to knock once before the massive doors creaked open.
She stepped inside with practiced calmness, her eyes scanning the room as she walked along the red carpet that stretched from the entrance to the throne.
The knight statues lining the walls seemed to exude a fierce aura, one that rivalled her own.
She nodded slightly in acknowledgement, and the statues appeared to nod back in response.
As she reached the throne steps, Justina dropped to one knee, her voice steady and respectful.
"The Royal Guard Justina Clyde, greets His Majesty, the Emperor."
The Emperor's voice boomed through the hall, "Acknowledged. You may rise, Justina."
Justina rose, her eyes meeting the Emperor's as he spoke again, "Report."
Her voice remained calm and respectful, "His training has been progressing well, sire. The boy is a prodigy, his innate talent with weapon-related combat is exceptional."
The Emperor's response was thoughtful, "Hmmm, I see."
Justina continued, "We trained in various combat styles, including sword, spear, staff, daggers, and gauntlets."
The Emperor's eyes narrowed, "And which ones did he excel in most?" Justina's response was prompt, "The sword and spear, sire. Although he showed proficiency in all areas, those two stood out as his strongest suits."
The Emperor nodded, his expression unreadable. "I see. And did you give him the crystal as instructed?" Justina nodded, "Yes, your majesty. Along with your instructions for him to proceed to the assessment room."
The Emperor's eyes gleamed with interest, "Good. I shall accompany you to the assessment room and evaluate the boy's abilities myself."
As the Emperor stood, his voice took on a commanding tone, "Come with me, Justina, Kluivert."
Justina rose immediately, her response automatic, "By your will, sire."
A male voice echoed through the hall, "By your will, your majesty." A figure emerged from the shadows behind the throne, reappearing beside Justina.
He had striking purple hair and matching eyes, his face youthful despite an air of quiet confidence.
Justina's expression remained calm, but inwardly, she was taken aback. She hadn't sensed his presence when she entered the hall, nor could she follow his movements.
Her assessment was swift, 'He's strong, at least Level 9.' The man, Kluivert, smiled unsettlingly as he greeted her, "Hi, I'm Kluivert, an Operative of the Shadow Guard."
As Kluivert mentioned the Shadow Guard, Justina's eyes narrowed slightly, her eyebrows twitching downward in a fleeting moment of concern.
Her expression quickly returned to its usual composed mask, but the faint tremble of her lips betrayed her brief lapse in composure.
As a royal guard, she was well-acquainted with the Shadow Guard's reputation - an elite group of operatives who worked in the shadows, answering only to the Emperor.
Justina extended her hand, her palm firm as she met Kluivert's gaze. "Justina Clyde, Royal Guard operative," she said, her tone measured and professional.
Kluivert's smile, still unsettling, broadened as he took her hand in a firm handshake. "Pleasure to work with you," he said, his voice dripping with an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance.
"The pleasure is mine," Justina replied, her tone neutral, as she withdrew her hand from Kluivert's grasp.
She turned to follow the Emperor, her eyes fixed on his back as they proceeded out of the throne hall.
The sound of their footsteps echoed through the hallway, accompanied by the soft rustle of their clothing.
The Emperor's expression remained inscrutable, his eyes fixed on some point ahead, while Kluivert walked beside Justina, his eyes gleaming with an unnerving intensity.
As they headed to the assessment room.
**************
I strolled through the grand hallways alongside Sarah, the soft echo of our footsteps off the marble floor the only sound breaking the silence.
After a refreshing bath, I had decided to head to the assessment room, and Sarah had kindly offered to accompany me, sensing my unease.
As we walked, my mind began to wander, and a nagging feeling started to gnaw at my thoughts.
Why was Father suddenly taking an interest in me? According to my memories and the game's storyline, he should be indifferent, even dismissive, towards me.
After all, as a child, he only acknowledged me because of my connection to Mother and her influential clan.
But now, after nearly five years of neglect, he was showing me attention. It didn't add up.
I furrowed my brow, trying to make sense of it all. But the more I thought about it, the more my head spun.
I let out a deep sigh, deciding to push the thoughts aside for now. "Forget it," I muttered to myself.
I'd deal with Father's sudden interest in me as it came. For now, I had more pressing matters to attend to – the assessment room awaited.
I glanced over at Sarah, who was watching me with a concerned expression. I forced a reassuring smile onto my face.
"Let's go," I said, gesturing towards the assessment room. With a nod, Sarah fell into step beside me, and together we continued down the hallway.