Behind the triple curtains, where the world falls silent and the eyes of spies stop, there was an Emperor dying and an Empress returning from death.
"Wait, you don't look well."
"Don't… call… anyone…"
His temperature is very high. Is it possible… no, no, this should not be the cause of his death… what guarantees that?
"Wake up… if you die, my fate will end the same way, maybe worse."
I clenched my teeth. My strength became weaker for some reason after I returned, but there is still something.
"I will help you, so endure a little."
[Sharing Circle, Linked Darkness, One Heart]
A mass of darkness formed a magical circle, then split and bound Leonardo and Morgana with a dark thread that disappeared immediately afterward. Leonardo's temperature began to drop, and Morgana's temperature began to rise.
Silence settled over the room, and the darkness of the night deepened. Then, after minutes, Morgana lost consciousness as well. After an hour, Leonardo opened his eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
"How much time has passed?"
Something heavy on my chest. Morgana? Why is she sleeping on my chest, and on top of that her temperature is high—what happened?
"Cube."
[Do you want me to simplify the previous events while you were asleep?]
"Please." It's good that it understands what I want to ask.
[According to the analysis, you are undergoing what is called an Ability Awakening. The result of an awakening differs from person to person. Morgana's awakening symptoms were seeing a dark future. You suffered from a high temperature, which is one of the symptoms of awakening the Flame Attribute, the Light Attribute, or the Radiance Attribute. Since you possess the Light Attribute, this is logical.]
"What is logical here? Anyway, what happened?"
[Your temperature is still high and continuing to rise. The awakening has not ended, but you are conscious because Morgana used her attribute to share your suffering at a 50%/50% ratio, which saved your life, because your body would not have been able to endure the awakening symptoms.]
"She did that?"
Why? We don't even know each other.
I looked again at the girl on my chest, then felt it. My temperature did not disappear—it is rising, and hers is too.
[I can cut the link if you wish, but you will die instantly. Or you can leave it, and you will suffer together. There is no danger; rather, there are advantages to enduring the awakening symptoms while conscious.]
"Why are you giving me this choice? This was not one of your abilities."
[It is the Communication Ability. I can cut the communication between you now. I am giving you a choice because I am programmed to present the available options.]
I sighed… this machine is stupid, it didn't understand. It has now given me a choice between death and letting something gentle like this suffer with me, but I cannot choose death.
"I'm sorry, but please endure a little."
This kiss I left on your forehead will be a mark so I do not forget this moment you are enduring for my sake. Please endure just a little more until this ends.
"Cube, when will this end?"
[Unknown. Ability awakenings differ from person to person. It may end in a second in which you see a future lasting years, like Morgana, or you may approach death, like my creator, or you may die, like most people. Special abilities are not like skills that can be discovered; they are abilities that transcend the laws of this world. I was created from my master's ability.]
"So you still didn't answer… how long will this take?"
[I do not know.]
Damn it… seconds began to turn into hours, and hours into days, while only minutes passed. I feel time moving forward and stopping each time, as if something is being written inside my body and soul, raising my temperature every time because of that… this weak body…
"Let's calm down."
I don't know, and I don't want to know, the reason for this awakening. The problem is that Morgana is suffering more than I am now. Her body is weaker, and I don't know if her endurance is good. I can even see hidden wounds and bruises. This is bad… she is breathing with such difficulty that I forced myself not to lose consciousness so nothing dangerous would happen.
My conscience screamed at me to stop torturing her, but my mind screamed that my death would mean her death as well. If I die here, she will be used in my place to bear the public's anger and be killed after an unfair trial.
Damn this. All of this is because of people who desire more than they deserve. I will make sure to preserve this anger for them, and I swear to return this pain many times over to everyone who caused this situation to reach this point… endure!
Finally, I began to feel as if a page in my soul had been emptied. The writing stopped, and my temperature began to return to normal, but—
"She's not breathing! Cube, do something!"
[I can revive her heart, but that will take half of my energy.]
"Do it, I don't care!"
[Please place me on her heart. The connection between you will be cut. The awakening has ended, so this will not affect you.]
"Hurry!"
Leonardo moved with difficulty, then the ring turned into a cube, and he placed the cube over her heart. Can he trust the Cube? He doesn't know, but this is the only solution now.
[You will be subjected to an electric shock if you keep holding the Cube. If you let go, efficiency will decrease. Please endure the shock. In your current condition, you may lose consciousness or your life—]
"Shut up and do it!"
The Cube glowed, but it did not send only an electric shock—it also sent magical energy into Morgana's body. Rai clenched his teeth. His body stiffened, but he did not lose consciousness. The shock stopped. He tried to take a breath, but before he could, another shock struck, and Morgana's breathing returned with it.
Rai smiled when he saw that she was breathing, then collapsed unconscious.
…
The next morning, I did not wake up because of an alarm or the sound of a rooster. I don't even know if there is a rooster or an alarm in this castle, but there is something else that wakes the dead even if they are asleep.
It was the sharp sound of heavy curtains being violently pulled, followed by cold winter sunlight stabbing my closed eyes.
"Your Majesty… morning has come. Please wake up."
I opened my eyes with difficulty, as if my head weighed a ton of lead. I suddenly felt the cold air. Wait… putting that aside, the last thing I remember is that I was some kind of Emperor. Who dares to use my mother's way of waking me in another world?
I opened my eyes. Ah… that handsome face you hesitate to spit on. It is the face of my close aide, the most insolent person after the Duke.
"The important thing is Morgana."
I ignored the advisor, who stepped back slightly when he saw Morgana sleeping while hugging my hand. I thought she was asleep, but she was awake, and on top of that she was smiling at the scene the advisor created—though the smile looked more annoyed than happy.
I know you want to curse him, and I do too, but let's endure for now. Let's see how his face will help him after he is dragged naked through the capital. Let's invent a reason later.
Something like disturbing the Emperor's birds' nest.
"Leave. This is not a place you should be."
"Your Majesty, the Empire's problems will not—"
"Just leave. This is an order, as long as you still listen to orders."
He stopped there, looking at me. At least pretend you heard the order and leave.
"Very well, I will wait for Your Majesty in the office."
Fine, he left, but there are servants behind the curtain. This is annoying. I wanted to talk to Morgana, and I can't believe I'm going to send her back to that prison again. I sat down and felt better, looked at Morgana behind me, and leaned closer to whisper in her ear:
"Can I rely on you to deal with the dogs near you?"
Morgana nodded shyly, then whispered back into my ear as well. It tickled, but how do I answer her?
"What about you?"
What about me? The problems on my side are in front of the execution guillotine.
"I will handle it. I have some ideas. I am smarter than this rabbit."
"A rabbit? Is that how you describe yourself now?"
What a beautiful smile. Fine, add the punishment of stone-throwing to that aide while he wanders the capital naked, because he ruined a morning that could have been better.
"Take care of yourself. Come tonight so we can continue our talk."
She whispered again and replied in a whisper so the servants would not hear.
"Alright, but… my authority is tied to yours. If you are just a puppet, I can't do anything. My father is watching me too. Do something about that. I'm relying on you."
Relying on me… what a motivating word. On top of that, a kiss on the cheek—add another punishment for that aide.
"Alright, don't get hurt."
Of course I must return the kiss, even if it's on the cheek, and it's better that I leave now. I took my clothes, went to the bathroom, and changed. As for the servants, their concern was the bed; perhaps they would find the lost treasure of Atlantis.
Let's add another punishment for that aide again, because I don't know the names of those servants—just wait until I know exactly where to start.
"Cube, can you tell what kind of ability I obtained? Maybe something that destroys the world, considering I suffered to awaken it."
[The cause of the suffering is the weakness of your body. I can analyze your ability and identify it if it exists in my records after you use it.]
"How do I use it?"
[You will feel it instinctively, like breathing after birth. You only need a slight push.]
A slight push… oh, it worked! This was easier than I expected. Something moved inside me the moment I wanted to move it, then it became easier afterward. My instinct told me that something was happening, but I couldn't see it.
[You can stop to avoid consuming your energy. The ability has been identified.]
Stopping was easier, thankfully.
"So what is it?"
[Photonic Pressure: the ability to control the density of light. It can "compress" light particles into a very small, extremely bright point that is unbearable. This point possesses immense heat and energy but lacks "mass."]
"Great."
Wait… is it great? What is this?
"Do you mean I can create a sword of light or something like that?"
[The limits of your ability are bounded by your imagination. Some abilities are powerful, but in the hands of failures they become mere trash, and this ability is one of them.]
"I feel insulted."
[You are imagining things.]
"It better be."
I put on dazzling clothes again and went out. I glanced at the bed; Morgana was still there. She waved her hand at me in front of the servants. The previous interaction and this one will give her a bit of the authority I still possess, but I felt embarrassed by these clothes.
I had sworn not to wear them again, but the wardrobe contains only one style with different colors. Fine, I can't ignore her. I waved back and left. The aide was still at the door.
Fine, let's add another punishment because his face is annoying. How dare he be more handsome than the Emperor? Just wait—I will build muscles for this rabbit and teach you how rabbits grow beards.
I accompanied him to the office while he talked about the Empire's situation. The same record repeating, the same words he said to the owner of this body. Was he trained, or what? Why does he repeat the exact same phrases?
No, maybe I am seeing the future of what he is about to say.
Nonsense… he is really repeating the same words.
"Alright, alright, I understand. What about the response from the Duke of the West?"
"The transfer gates were disabled due to a shortage of mana stones and mana crystals, so I could not go. I sent a messenger to him and returned to assist Your Majesty because I know how bad the situation is."
In other words, you ignored the Emperor's order and did what you wanted.
Fine, add another punishment.
"Then go and arrange a meeting for me with the Master of the Blue Tower."
"Why?"
"To drink tea… tell him that. The Emperor wants to set aside time to drink tea and visit the Blue Tower."
"The Tower Master is busy. I don't think he can spare time for tea, especially in this crisis."
"Then what is the use of you?"
I paused for a moment. This really started to annoy me. He asks too many questions, and when he realized I didn't want to tell him the reason, he began trying to find an excuse to prevent the meeting. I know the Master of the Blue Tower is one of the strongest mages in the Empire, who does not interfere in political matters but is loyal to the Empire. Is he afraid I will convince him to help me, or what?
Fine, I plan to do that, but not the way he thinks.
"Go and send a message, or don't come back."
"Your Majesty, are you serious?"
Yes, I must take a slap from reality. I can't fire him without a reason; I would look strange. But what can I do? I am truly trapped from every direction, and even Morgana is in the same situation. I can only strike the weakest part while she guards my back. Just a small shake will achieve what I want. I will not retreat.
"Didn't you say the situation is worse than yesterday? Why are you standing here? Hurry, we must save what we can. I just want to make sure he doesn't go to any other country."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, it's impossible that—"
"Don't say it's impossible! Didn't the other aides also leave when you said that was impossible?"
"But that was because of the salary."
"Then what reason would keep him here? Loyalty? I trusted the loyalty of the Duke of the West as you said, and he betrayed me yesterday. I would not have made this choice if it were just rumors, but the disruption of the transfer circle proves he truly betrayed me. So hurry, I'm really annoyed—hurry before I hear news of his departure as well."
"As you command, I will arrange a meeting."
Good… he fell for it. Half of my words were improvised, but it doesn't matter; it sounds logical. I even gave a hint for the reason behind my strange actions and threw the blame on that Duke, but how long will this last?
The advisor left, and I also went again toward the treasury. I took something from the first room and hid it under my clothes, then returned to the office to review the documents. The atmosphere in the palace became colder; it seems the magic crystal stones inside the palace have decreased.
That is understandable. All industries and mines are distributed among the nobles. The rabbit's father used what remained to satisfy the nobles and bind them to the land, but look at the situation now.
The Imperial treasury is losing and not recovering. No one pays taxes anymore, and the financial wealth of the treasury is running out. Worthless currency enters the treasury, while gold, mana stones, and crystals that can back the currency are rapidly decreasing.
It is astonishing that the Empire is still standing thanks to the massive wealth it once possessed, and this shows that it was not a small Empire, but a great Empire destined to fall.
My gratitude after the treasury goes to those who still possess loyalty toward this Empire and are still trying to raise it. The Blue Tower and the Red Tower are among them. Despite the deterioration of the situation, reports of their work still arrive every day. Some people from security and the army, as well as the knights, go out every day to help suppress chaos despite their delayed pay.
Even some commoners and beggars still have hope that this Empire will rise again. Perhaps darkness fills the sky, but I must not forget the beauty of these stars that shine strongly, trying to burn themselves to become the Empire's only light.
"I feel like I'm going to cry."
The door opened and the aide returned. Damn it, even this beautiful moment he ruined. He sat at first babbling, then finally fell silent at a nearby desk to review reports as well. At least he did his task, and I can meet the Master of the Blue Tower in the evening. Although I had intended to go to him, the message deliberately asked him to come. It seems they refuse to let me meet him secretly or personally. Let's deal with that later.
At least there is still some hope and some cards I can use to save this Empire. Those stars may not know it, but thanks to them, the speed of the Empire's collapse has decreased. I must think of something—anything—even if it is killing this traitorous aide.
I truly want to save this Empire now.