Chapter 26

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“GREETINGS to the sun of the Empire, your Imperial Majesty,” I said as we entered the Emperor’s office. The Grand Duke followed my lead, bowing deeply beside me.

“Please, raise your heads,” the Emperor replied smoothly, setting down his pen and standing. His smile was as polished as ever, but there was something off, something unnerving about the air in the room. I straightened, and from the corner of my eye, I noticed the Grand Duke shifting uneasily. He was sweating—visibly. His hands twitched, and for a moment, he looked as though he wanted nothing more than to turn on his heel and leave.

Why is he so nervous? The Grand Duke, who always carried out the Emperor’s every whim without question, now seemed almost… fearful. What could the Emperor have said to shake him like this?

The thought lingered, gnawing at me. Is that tension somehow connected to me? A chill ran down my spine. Could I be part of something I don’t even understand? Like a piece on a chessboard, moved without even knowing the game.

“Shall we go to the High Priest now, Duke?” the Emperor asked, his voice light but commanding as he casually placed a hand on the Grand Duke’s shoulder.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the Grand Duke replied, though his tone wavered ever so slightly. His eyes flickered toward me, filled with something I couldn’t quite place—regret? Fear?

The Emperor’s gaze fell on me, and he smiled again, broader this time. It was the kind of smile that made my skin crawl, like he knew something I didn’t. He motioned for us to follow him, and I fell into step behind them, my mind racing.

The High Priest? What business did the Emperor have with him? My thoughts spiraled, chasing answers that seemed just out of reach. Their conversation ahead of me became muffled, a blur of words I couldn’t focus on. But there was one thing I knew for certain—something wasn’t right. The tension between them was thick, a thread wound too tightly, ready to snap at any moment.

And if I really am part of the Emperor’s schemes, what exactly does he need from me? Arthemice was reckless, a pawn who had never cared about politics. And I… well, I was no better equipped. So why did I feel like I was being maneuvered into a game far bigger than I’d realized?

“We’re here, Your Majesty.”

The servant’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up, blinking as the towering Sacred Hall loomed before us. What are we doing here?

As we stepped inside, the Emperor made a small motion with his hand. Without a word, the attendants and guards filed out of the hall, leaving only the four of us: the Emperor, the Grand Duke, the High Priest, and me. The heavy thud of the doors closing reverberated through the vast chamber, sending a chill down my spine. I glanced toward the altar where the High Priest stood, his back turned.

The air felt thick, almost oppressive, as though something unseen weighed it down.

“Shall I have your permission now, Your Grace?” the High Priest’s voice broke the silence as he slowly turned to face us.

I felt the Grand Duke’s gaze settle on me. His eyes... there was something unsettling in them. Why is he looking at me like that? My brow furrowed in confusion, and I instinctively took a small step back.

“My dear,” the Grand Duke spoke softly, though his voice held a tension I hadn’t noticed before. “The High Priest will open your magic core, allowing you to cultivate your abilities and claim what is rightfully yours.”

What? I stared at him, my thoughts racing. I didn’t read this part in the book. I had stopped before getting too deep into Sebastian’s side story, but this... this was new.

“But weren’t we supposed to go to the temple?” I asked, my voice laced with suspicion, my brows knitting together.

The Emperor’s smirk was sharp as he stepped forward, his slow, deliberate movements unnerving. He stopped just inches from me, his presence imposing. “Why bother with the temple,” he said, his tone laced with mockery, “when the High Priest is already here?” His eyes gleamed with something I couldn’t place. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came.

He clapped his hands twice, the sound echoing eerily in the empty hall, before turning his back to me. His steps were measured, deliberate, like he had all the time in the world.

“Then shall we begin this ritual, my lady?” the High Priest’s voice was steady, but there was something off, something that made my skin prickle.

I gave a hesitant nod, my mind whirling. I may not know what exactly is going on, but I’m not foolish enough to miss that there’s more to this than they’re saying. Something about all of this felt wrong, yet I had no choice but to play along—for now.

As I stepped into the center of the ritual area, a cold shiver crawled up my spine. The High Priest began chanting in a language I couldn’t understand—ancient Latin, perhaps—his voice resonating through the Sacred Hall like a distant storm. Beneath me, the arcane circle flared to life, its once dull etchings now glowing with an ethereal light. The symbols swirled slowly at first, rotating in a hypnotic dance, then accelerated until they spun like the hands of a clock, marking a time I couldn’t comprehend.

The ocean-blue glow intensified, enveloping me in its light, as if the very air was crackling with unseen power. Just as quickly, the light blinked out, and the circle vanished. The wind, which had whipped around us moments before, stilled. A heavy silence settled in the room, thick with the weight of something ancient and forbidden.

I glanced at the High Priest. His face was drained of color, his eyes wide with awe—and fear. He took a step back, nearly stumbling. His hands trembled as they clutched the sacred relics, his knuckles turning white. The look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. The smirk tugged at my lips. So, he knows.

The High Priest could see what others could not, a gift passed down through generations, bestowed only upon the current and the next chosen High Priest. It was an ancient, sacred power known as The Sight of the Souls. Through this power, one could peer beyond the physical form, into the very essence of a person’s being.

The color of a soul revealed everything—its purity, its corruption, its origins. Most souls in this world glowed with shades of silver, gold, or light blue, marking their natural place in the mortal realm.

But mine… mine was different.

The High Priest must have seen it now—the flickering, foreign hue that did not belong in this world. No mortal soul, no being born of this realm, could carry such a color. Only someone not of this world could possess it. And now, the High Priest stood frozen, the truth revealed to him through his ancient power.

I remembered the old tales: The Sight could discern who a person truly was, even what fate awaited them. It could see through any illusion, any mask. And now, the High Priest had seen me—the soul of someone not written into this world’s design.

“W-Who are you?” he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. “You don’t belong in that body…”

His words hung in the air, as sharp and clear as a blade. His voice trembled, breaking under the weight of the revelation. He knew I was not the rightful inhabitant of this body, that my soul was foreign, unwelcome, an intruder from another realm.

Behind me, a sharp, mocking laugh broke the tension. I turned slightly to see the Emperor lounging in his seat, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He was enjoying this far too much.

“M-My dear, is it true?” the Grand Duke’s voice trembled with disbelief. His eyes darted between me and the High Priest, as if the very ground had been pulled from beneath him.

“I told you, Daryl,” the Emperor muttered, his eyes locking onto mine. “The time has come…”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the world around me began to spin. My vision blurred, the hall fading into a whirlwind of colors.

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The plot has now changed. The storyline is now in your hands. Please craft the narrative wisely, dear player.

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I froze, my mind processing the system’s sudden announcement.

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The system will no longer intervene in your future plans.

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A slow grin spread across my face. Finally, I thought. This was the best news I’d received since I arrived in this cursed body.

“Your Majesty—” the High Priest’s voice wavered, but he didn’t finish. The doors to the Sacred Hall burst open, and one of the royal servants stumbled in, his face pale as death.

“Your Majesty! The monsters have breached the Capital!”

Panic erupted. The High Priest's composure shattered, his face contorting with fear. The Grand Duke, frozen for a moment, looked at the Emperor in horror. But the Emperor remained calm, his expression indifferent, as if the chaos was all part of his grand design.

I remained silent, my heartbeat steady. Of course, this would happen. I knew the monsters would come, but not this soon.

The Emperor stood, his eyes cold and calculating. “Let’s go,” he ordered, his voice like ice. He strode toward the doors without a glance at anyone. “And Daryl,” he paused at the threshold, turning his head just slightly, “take good care of your daughter.” With that, he disappeared through the doors, the click echoing ominously through the hall.

The Grand Duke trembled, torn between his duty to the kingdom and his daughter standing before him. His eyes met mine for a brief moment, guilt flickering within them. Then, without another word, he turned and rushed out of the room, his footsteps echoing as he hurried after the Emperor.

The hall was left in an eerie silence, and I stood there with the High Priest, the weight of the unfolding events pressing down on me. The ritual had revealed much, but it was only the beginning.

“Well, it’s just the two of us now,” I mused, turning to face the High Priest, whose face paled as he instinctively stepped back. His eyes darted nervously around the room, searching for an escape.

I smiled, the expression slow and deliberate, as I took a step forward. “I won’t hurt you, your Holiness,” I continued, my voice soft yet laced with an unsettling calm. My steps echoed in the now-empty Sacred Hall, closing the distance between us.

“But,” I added, my tone shifting to something more playful as I reached out and gently placed my index finger under his chin, lifting it slightly so he had no choice but to meet my gaze, “why don’t you tell me what the Emperor’s planning?”

His body went rigid at my touch, trembling as if my presence alone sent a chill through him. His eyes flickered with a mix of fear and rage, and then, without warning, he slapped my hand away, his face twisting into a mask of terror.

“Don’t touch me, intruder!” His voice cracked with desperation. He turned and bolted toward a small door at the side of the hall, his robes billowing behind him as he ran like a frightened animal.

I watched him go, a soft chuckle escaping my lips.“Hmph. What a pest.”

As I left the Sacred Hall, the cool air outside did little to calm my racing thoughts. Panic surged through me, though I did my best to hide it beneath a mask of composure.

Now they know. The High Priest had seen my soul—an undeniable proof that I didn't belong here. My soul wasn’t Arthemice’s. It came from another dimension, another world. The sacred power that revealed the color of souls had laid bare the truth. What will happen to me now?

I couldn’t shake the questions circling in my mind. What will the Grand Duke do to me? I could already picture his reaction, the realization that his daughter wasn’t his daughter anymore. He would see me as an imposter, a threat. He would punish me, right? Perhaps worse.

And the Emperor… His cold gaze haunted my thoughts. What would he do with this knowledge? Was he already planning something behind the scenes? What possible game could he be playing, knowing that I didn’t belong to this world?

A hollow feeling settled in my chest. My head spun with the uncertainty of it all. The stakes had just been raised, and I had no idea what was coming next.

I walked through the chaotic palace grounds, barely noticing the frenzied people running in all directions. Their faces etched with panic as shouts filled the air. Servants, guards, and nobles alike were scrambling, desperately trying to find safety or make sense of the monsters that had breached the Capital. The once orderly palace grounds had devolved into utter madness.

Amidst the confusion, my eyes caught sight of Zacharias. He was moving swiftly, cutting through the chaos like a blade. His face was set in grim determination as he headed toward a secluded area of the palace, away from the frantic crowds. Something about his movement felt purposeful, and I knew wherever he was going, it was important.

“Wherever one of the main character goes, the story follows,” I muttered under my breath, slipping through the throngs of panicked people to follow him.

The air grew eerily still as I approached the quiet corner where Zacharias had stopped. He stood tense, sword drawn, his eyes fixed on the figure before him. A woman’s voice rang out, smooth and sultry, laced with amusement.

“My, my, dear boy, you’ve found me,” she purred, her words dripping with mockery.

I narrowed my eyes and moved closer, watching as Zacharias squared his stance, his body coiled like a spring ready to strike. “I didn’t expect you to hatch this early,” he spat, his voice tight with frustration. “This is your doing, isn’t it?“

Hatched? I furrowed my brows, trying to make sense of his words. Did I hear that right?

“Oh?” the woman responded, her laughter soft and haunting. “So, you’re the one who tried to kill me while I was still… fragile, hmm?”

I stepped out from behind the shadows of the palace, my eyes widening as I finally saw her clearly. She was floating effortlessly, her body hovering just above the ground as if gravity itself was beneath her notice. Her long black hair cascaded down her frame, nearly as long as her body, shimmering under the dim light. Her skin, a rich brown tone, gleamed with an ethereal glow, making her beauty both alluring and dangerous.

Zacharias clenched his teeth, fury blazing in his eyes. “I should have killed you back then,” he growled, tightening his grip on his sword. He lunged forward, his blade slashing through the air with deadly precision.

But the woman moved like a shadow—silent, graceful, and untouchable. She dodged his attack effortlessly, her body twisting in midair as if the wind itself carried her out of harm's way. Her laughter echoed in the secluded garden, filled with a taunting sweetness.

“You foolish boy,” she mocked, her gaze shifting past him to where I hid behind a bush. “And you,” she said, her voice dripping with amusement. “It’s not polite to watch us from the shadows, little lady.”

I flinched at her words, my heart skipping a beat. How had she known I was there?

There was no point in hiding anymore. I stepped out from behind the bushes, my eyes locking with Zacharias’s. His eyes widened in disbelief.

“What are you doing here, my lady?!” he shouted, his voice rising with a mixture of panic and frustration.

Before I could answer, the now familiar holographic image materialized in front of me, its glowing letters casting a cold light on the unfolding chaos.

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A new predicament has emerged!

Trial of the Forgotten Echo

Decipher the echoes of your past and overcome the monster!

Reward: Audience with the Gods, and 10% increase in your lifespan.

Failure: Death

Decide your course with great caution!

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I smirked, the pieces finally falling into place. So, she was part of the trial. I couldn’t say I was surprised.

fin.