by Tao Wong
“Working for Lord Braxton, she knows where the bodies are kept, how to clean it all up, who has to be cleaned up. And she can do it, now that you have your Paladins back. And once we let the world know what she did, what she really was, they’ll be a lot less doubtful about her suitability from the military. Especially since her first targets will be the nobles.”
I shake my head and wave. “I’ve also Shackled the major players. So you’ve got time. Time to let her train, to gain in Levels. Maybe not a lot, before the others take over, before the Generals we’ve Shackled are replaced. But enough. If you let her.”
Hasbata continues to frown, obviously not entirely convinced.
Then, before I can keep pitching the woman, Catrin puts a hand on my arm. I shut up as she steps around me, approaching the throne. Ayuri moves to block the way but stills at a glance from the Queen.
Hasbata’s retracted her Aura, making it easier for all of us to breathe, to continue healing. As Catrin strides forward, glancing between Ayuri, Lord Braxton, the other attendants, and the Honor Guards before her, I can only hope I was right. Silence stretches out before us as the click-clack of her heels on the floor resounds, the only noise within the expansive throne room. As she leaves, the hint of her scent, that nutmeg and musk, fades. We wait. The room waits.
Catrin finally comes to a stop at the foot of the stairs leading to the throne. She looks up, meeting the Empress’s gaze, and speaks.
“We should talk. Privately.”
Chapter 28
Not with a bang but with a whimper.
That’s how things get resolved in the end. They kicked us out, my team and me. We’re put on watch, even if the new Paladins are ushered out to be debriefed and checked over. They go without much complaint—for now.
Once the check is done, they’re released to do their thing, Leveling and searching down Quests to complete. Annoyingly, it seems that the Empress has been withholding a number of Empire Quests from me. Quite a number that are Paladin only have stacked up, giving the new Paladins a lot to choose from. It keeps the Paladins and their teams busy, Leveling and righting wrongs.
The Empress and the Empress Apparent speak for hours on the first day, before the announcement is made. Not that Harry’s transmissions hadn’t spread. But the official broadcasts reaffirm and ensure that Catrin’s place is officially backed. There will be no midnight assassination, no random body turning up, skewered by the Champion.
Our captors let us get news and messages from outside the cells they hold us in. Carefully monitored, but they let me read the news. Which is nice. I’m sure they’ll let us out eventually. Or so I hope.
The first to find me is Anayton. The Paladin finds me in my gray, drab, utilitarian cell with its single tiny window. She finds me staring at the ceiling, running over the experiences, teasing at the memories and information that the library expelled. That told me of what was to come when what I’d done to the Paladin initiates was spread around.
And staring at the single notification I’ve refused to dismiss.
System Quest Completion Rate: 89%
“Redeemer,” Anayton greets me softly.
I swing my legs from the bunk so that I can sit up and stare at her. “Not Paladin anymore?”
“Not between equals.” She takes a seat across from me, the nanites forming a chair for her.
“I’m surprised they let you see me.”
“I’ve… been given some additional privileges. Informally. Because of what they heard,” Anayton says, glancing toward the door she came in from, where the guards await.
“Ah, right.” My lips twist. “And you wanted to talk about that.”
“Yes.”
I pause, considering. “I’m sorry. For using your name. I needed—”
“A distraction,” Anayton replies. “I understand. Why me though?”
“Because you and the Empress Apparent are similar in many ways. Your sense of duty, your understanding of war and what it truly means,” I say. “Life on the frontier or the Restricted Zones.”
“You used me to test the waters with the Queen.” When I nod, she adds, with a little more heat in her voice, “Then why not just choose me?”
“Did you want it? Do you want it?” I say.
“Of course I don’t!” Anayton says. “To be trapped by politics and compromises, to weigh the needs of each person, each army with every single decision I make? Or refuse to make? Who’d want that?”
“Who would, I wonder?” another voice, this one softer, interrupts Anayton’s rant.
I twist my head to the side, raising an eyebrow. “How’d you get in here?”
“Why can’t I?” Catrin says as she sways over. There’s a little less sex kitten in her movements, more confident businesswoman—and damn is it hot. She smiles, as if knowing what I think, even as her new bodyguards behind her glare at me. “I am the Empress Apparent.”
“Your Grace.” Anayton bows and salutes, a blush creeping up on her face. “I-I meant no disrespect.”
“None taken. I wasn’t offered much choice either,” Catrin says, stopping before me.
She keeps smiling, even as she hauls back and slaps me into the nearby wall. I peel myself off the shattered cell wall, spitting out blood and a couple of cracked teeth.
“Owwww. And how?” I say. That was a powerful attack, but there’s no way it should have done that much damage.
“Empress advantage. Your resistances don’t work on me,” Catrin says lightly. She turns her head to the still-bowing Anayton. “And get up. You’re a Paladin. You shouldn’t be cowering. Look at John here. He didn’t cower when he made decisions on mine and your lives. Without asking.”
I wince again, this time the dig being a little more pointed. When Catrin beckons, I walk over warily.
“Yes, Your Grace. But it seems you two have much to speak of…” Anayton slowly edges out of the room.
“Are you done then? Content with your place?” Catrin asks while I stop nearby, nursing my aching jaw. The worse part of losing teeth is feeling the System replace them in real time.
“I am, Your Grace. I was… unhappy with being used. But I understand the Redeemer’s choices. Even if I might not agree with them.” Anayton shoots me another glare.
“Very well. We look forward to seeing how you progress, Paladin Nichortin.”
Anayton scurries out, leaving me alone with Catrin. The Empress Apparent turns to regard me, her eyes trailing from my eyes to rest at my swollen jaw. At a mental command, the cell doors close at her bidding, blocking off the guards and bodyguards. I hear muttered imprecations from outside, but I ignore them.
I can’t help but marvel at the changes. She’s shed the false front, removed the ring that hid her true Class, dropped the dual Classes she had to take to help hide her Status. The things she needed as a Hound. And with it gone, her true Levels, her true experience shines through.
Empress Apparent Catrin Dufoff of the Erethran Empire, Empire Top Companion, The Hidden Blade, Class 2 Human Resource, Slayer of Goblins, Wexlix, Crilik, (more)… (Erethran Empress Apparent Level 2) (M)
HP: 2410/2410
MP: 3480/3480
Conditions: Aura of the Empire (retracted), Trust of the Empire, Never too Late, Pheromones, A Good Impression
She steps closer, and I tense as she brings her hand up, turning my red and bruised face from side to side, before she leans in and kisses me. Rather hard.
“Owwww…” I complain when I get my lips back.
“You idiot.” She steps back again, dropping her hand. “Why did you do that? Did you think I was some Artisan you had to save?”
I mentally wince, doing my best to hide my reaction. I doubt it works, but I have to try. There’s truth to her accusation, at least partly. Playing the white knight might have factored—did factor—into this. Saving others, helping them, it has become habit. Even if they felt they didn’t need it. But I know better than to say of that.
“Well?” Catrin arches an
eyebrow.
“Need! The Empire doesn’t need another General or noble or damn cultist. Could you imagine them? They all have their agendas, and none of those agendas give a damn about those beneath them—or the realities of the System. And it’s not as if I know that many others. Most who could, who would have worked, would turn it down. You…” I shrug. “I knew you wouldn’t. You’re already enmeshed in the political system and the power players, without actually being beholden to anyone but the Queen. You’re smart enough to know what needs to be done, and your background…”
“My background?”
“Your background means you’re likely to sympathize,” I say. “With those who are always crushed under. A monarchy isn’t the best option at times, but with the right person… it might work.”
“And my Levels? The fact that I can’t boost the army?”
“You were always going to need to grind to get the best Skills in your Class. But if you think your Skills don’t help the army, then you’re just as blind as the rest of them.”
“My Skills…” Catrin’s eyes go distant as she stares at the Skills that the System decided was relevant to pass on to the rest of us.
In turn, I pull up the information on my side.
Empathic Bond (Empress Apparent Title Effect) (A)
Understanding a target is paramount to extracting information from them. Empathic Bond allows you to sense and reflect the feelings of your target with greater accuracy.
Effect: +16.3% in empathic connection, emotional and body language recognition and reflection.
Data Analysis (Empress Apparent Title Effect) (B)
Data is just knowledge, unsorted. Data Analysis allows user to analyze and acquire information at an increased rate, increasing learning speed, and knowledge acquisition.
Effect: +11.4% in data analysis.
Never Too Late (Empress Apparent Title Effect) (A)
A socialite is never too late. They might be late, but they are never too late. This Skill gives a socialite a dual effect Skill, first in event timing and the second in movement speed.
Effect: +13.4% in event timing intuition. +47.2% movement speed when required
The first Skill was an Advanced Class Skill. I knew on her side, it actually had a much larger effect—one that allowed her to almost intuitively grasp what people all around her were thinking. In fact, at higher Levels like she had, it combined with the minimap option and offered almost a sixth sense, as the System fed in emotional readouts from even normally hidden attackers. It allowed a Skill holder to take the temperature of a room or read killing intent just as easily.
As for the second Skill, it’s a Basic Skill from her base Class. It’s a non-combat Skill, but its uses extend to training and duels, to practice and tactical analysis. As a base Administrative Class Skill, it’s the basis of a lot of their work and the ability to handle and deal with solar system levels of information.
The last Skill is the one that amuses me the most. It’s the Skill that might just be better than the Admiral’s, since it might get people to where they need to be, when they need to be there. I’m still not sure if it’ll play out that way, but there’s only one way to find out. I hadn’t expected that Skill to turn up, though I’d hoped.
All three Skills are more subtle in their effects, less in-your-face than a General’s XP increase, or a damage upgrade from a Sargent. It’s not as powerful, by far, as the Admiral’s if she had taken over. Her domain Skill would have made some clear changes to merchants, to interstellar commerce. But, I believe—I have to believe—that these Skills will have a wider effect. Because everyone, anyone, will have access, will use these Skills every single day.
“Empathy, knowledge, and social grace?” Catrin smiles at me. “And you gambled the Empire on these soft skills?”
“Hey, I’m a West Coast kid. We’re all crystals, granola bars, and sunshine.” I don’t stop to let Catrin answer, because I know she can’t understand the reference. Or is unlikely to, at least. “And I didn’t know, not for certain, but I had a guess. The rest of it, you can grind up. You’ll have to.”
“Yes.” Catrin touches my face again, the bruise on my jaw already faded. My skin is unmarred again, smooth and perfect. “I will. The Queen has given me a year to Level. To prove myself, to prove that your choice was not a complete mistake. To convince everyone else.”
I pause, then nod slowly. It makes sense. A stay of execution for my non-combat-based choice. “When do you leave?”
“Today.”
I open my mouth to ask where, then clomp my teeth together. Best not to ask, best not to know. She’ll be safer that way.
“I came to ask. And to say goodbye. To cut ties.”
I step back, putting space between us. Offering her a half-smile. “I know.”
I knew. The moment I made my choice.
I bow low, sweeping a hand behind my back, bending my knee. “Empress Apparent, Catrin Dufoff. Rule well. Rule long.”
Catrin steps back too, offering me the barest inclination of her head. Accepting my words, my offer. And if there’s regret there, of what could have been. Only the two of us will ever know.
“Live well, Paladin.”
***
When she’s gone, I close my eyes and breathe. I let the emotions exist for a time. Let them rest within my mind, let my breathing go heavy and tired. And then, like everything else, I sweep it up and bottle it away. Put it in that box where I store away all the pain, all the loss, all the anger of an apocalypse. It’s hard, harder than before. Because this time, I can’t blame the System, can’t blame a cruel and uncaring world. Or fate, forcing me apart.
It’s hard this time. Because I chose this ending.
I draw a deep breath and let it out, and with my mind clear, my path cleansed, for the first time in days, I turn to my notifications.
Level Up!
You have reached Level 50 as a Paladin of Erethra. Stat Points automatically distributed. You have 14 Free Attribute Points and 14 Class Skills to distribute.
That had arrived when I finished the Empire Quest. I shouldn’t have gained five Levels from a single Quest like that, even if it was a Heroic Level Empire Quest. But my cheaty experience requirements meant I jumped up fast. Of course, I wasn’t the only one who cheated. Mikito gained some experience from her Skill too.
Just as important is the next notification.
Heroic Class Possible!
Would you like to challenge your Heroic Class Quests? Available Quests include:
- Grand Paladin of Erethra
- The Lord of Light
- Shield of Rage
- more…
Unfortunately, my little stunt with the System had seen that taken away from me. My choices, my options. In a bitch slap that robbed me of some of my experience from the Quest, that robbed me of some of the benefits of my Level Up, the System had also enforced a new Class. One that I only dared to look at now, when I’m alone and certain of my safety.
I turn my gaze to the small window and look at the twinkling night lights of the city in the distance. The cell, the corridor outside, the prison, they echo with an emptiness that seem to wrap me up, remind me of how alien this world is.
And then I stare at my new Status Screen.
Status Screen
Name
John Lee
Class
Junior System Admin (Grand Paladin)
Race
Human (Male)
Level
1
Titles
Monster’s Bane, Redeemer of the Dead, Duelist, Explorer, Apprentice Questor, Galactic Silver Bounty Hunter,
Corrupt Questor, Class Lock
Health
5170
Stamina
5170
Mana
4660
Mana Regeneration
434 (+5) / minute
Attributes
Strength
368
Agility
446
Constitution
517
Perception
300
Intelligence
466
Willpower
529
Charisma
220
Luck
121
Class Skills
Mana Imbue
5*
Blade Strike*
5
Thousand Steps
1
Altered Space
2
Two are One
1
The Body’s Resolve
3
Greater Detection
1
A Thousand Blades*
4
Soul Shield
4
Blink Step
2
Portal*
5
Army of One
4
Sanctum
2
Penetration
7
Aura of Chivalry
1
Eyes of Insight
1
Beacon of the Angels
2
Eye of the Storm
1
Vanguard of the Apocalypse
2
Society’s Web
1
Domain
2
System Edit
1
(Grand Cross)
(1)
External Class Skills
Instantaneous Inventory
1
Frenzy
1
Cleave
2
Tech Link
2
Elemental Strike