I will strive beyond this cursed bloodline!

“Give me the job [Shadow Weaver],” Elizabeth said turning to her blue screen.

 

She could almost hear a sigh in the background, and then, her blue screen turned into static, her job selection reappeared on its own after a few seconds, this time however, it came back without the extra random jobs.

 

It even highlighted the advantages she could get by taking those jobs, for example. If she took [Mistress of the Undead], she could access the well of souls from Zaanam, and she would no longer be limited by the amount of mana she could channel, [The World] would take that.

 

It would also mean that the souls of Terra Invicta that she was carrying would join those who were part of the underworld of Zaanam.

 

On the other hand, should she pick [Shadow Empress], all her minions would be able to take into their former identities, and recover as much knowledge of their past as their souls still had, and she would only need to exert her will to raise the recently deceased as loyal subjects.

 

She would no longer be limited to only having Shadow Dragons and instead would command a true army of the dead. But this would be in another sense, for so long as there were shadows, she could summon any being that was within the purview of [The World].

 

On the other hand, should she go by any of the options that linked her to a deity, she would be guaranteed a spot at their pantheon after her demise, or if she managed to achieve the required level of power (Level 100) she would be able to directly ascend into their [Domains].

 

She could get access to their power and miracles while in the mortal world, and their churches would be at her beck and call, not like she wanted any of that, and besides, as of now the church of her parents was more popular, if she wanted to have a church at her command she could just ask her Mother. Chances were that they would listen if her mother sent an oracle. Or if she spoke to her apostle, Mother ought to have at least an apostle, probably a cute girl or something.

 

…oh god…Mother had an apostle….

 

*Shudder*

 

The last option that shone in her more reduced blue screen was [Daughter of the gods], it promised her access to her parents [Domains], a guarantee to succeed in her own apotheosis should she want it, and a place at their side. It also granted her access to the powers they had while alive. It was, overall, a combination of [Magical Girl - Legacy] and [Heroine - Legacy]. With the opportunity to transcend humanity and bring along anyone that she wanted.

 

She was tempted, very tempted. But below it was the option she had called, the job that really called to her, even though she hadn’t thought about it before.

 

[The Shadow Weaver]:

You already know what was expected from you, you are, however, finally taking the first steps in your way to truly accept what you were born to be. Accept your mission, and transcend the limits that were put into you. Embrace your destiny. By taking in the mantle of [The Shadow Weaver], you are pledging that you will take care of those who put themselves under your care, will you lead them to a new life? Will you guide them into the abyss? It is up to you Elizabeth Starbright. Only you can decide if you wish to shine as a bright star in the night sky…Or if you want to be a shining beacon of hope. Or perhaps you only wish to take care of those you love? Weave your options, think of your destiny, look upon your inheritance, and transcend the legacy left dormant within your cursed bloodline.   [Warning, accepting this job may isolate the souls you carry with you from joining the circle of transmigration within Zaanam.]   [Solidifies the link between you and the souls in your Domain.] [Opens the way for those that die and wish to continue serving you, should they decide it, they will join the Shadow Haven and be reborn within as entities shrouded by the shadows of your Domain.] [Starts a new circle of transmigration for those that follow you.] [Souls of those under your care will always return to you, be it whole or in pieces, but they will do so.] [All shadows claimed by you will remain under your command.] [All shadow entities will bow to you, should you prove yourself.] [You may appoint Apostles to represent you.]

 

………….Something was not quite right here. Now you may wonder what is Elizabeth speaking about? Is this another one of her patented bimbo episodes? And to that…Well. After waking up, no. After the first moment, this [System] made itself known to her two years ago…

 

Elizabeth has seen plenty of blue screens, some normal, some bugged, she has vague recollections of even seeing red ones! She has spoken to blue screen, and through blue screens, she meets their maker and even called him an asshole.

 

But this?

 

“This…isn’t blue….” The description for this job was on a black screen, one similar to the holoprojections that Nyx used, it also didn’t… it didn’t feel like most of the blue screens she had seen before. Elizabeth wouldn’t go as far as to say that the blue screens had a personality.

 

The only time she felt something akin to that was when she was speaking with Nyx’s Mother, and then again, she was actually speaking with someone. Or when it complained to her in one way or another.

 

But this? This screen? It felt…personal. As if she was speaking to…Alice.

 

But should she? This job didn’t….quite feel normal. There was something that she was missing, what would she be? This felt closer to accepting a job aligned with a deity. But there weren’t any mentions about a deity within the message? If anything it only spoke about her, about what would happen to her and those under her care.

 

“Will I be bound to anyone if I take this?” Elizabeth asked to the black screen. It trembled for a few seconds, as if offended, and then a new smaller black screen appeared on the side.

No.

 

And nothing else, as if that was all she needed to know.

 

“Will I be bound to anyone should I take one of your jobs?” Elizabeth said turning to the blue screen, the one that was sent by [The World].

 

You will not be demanded to do anything, no order will be sent your way. The only difference will be that the souls of those under you will join Zaanam’s circle of transmigration. You can be placed under your parent’s care if that is your wish.

…So she would be bound. Even if no order came her way, there was no way to guarantee that no order would ever come. Even if she was placed under her parent’s orders, if someone atop them sent an order…

 

She didn’t have enough power to refuse said orders, and if she couldn’t, perhaps her parents would revolt. And no one would be happy if that ever happened. Well, not [The World] or its inhabitants at the very least. A tantrum from an entity that could flatten continents wasn’t a tantrum but a cataclysm after all.

 

“I will take [The Shadow Weaver],” Elizabeth said pointing to the black screen, it shone in azure light for a second and…

 

As if waiting for her command it turned into a liquid that sank into her shadow, Elizabeth felt a sudden rush of energy and her understanding of the ruined city within her [Soul] became clearer, she understood the place in a way that she hadn’t before. She was suddenly aware of what her minions could do best, and how there were some scouts that would work better as knights.

 

How one of her knights could do a better job as a civil worker, she knew what the new minions could do. And…she knew that should any of their souls be broken, she would be able to restore them should enough time be dedicated to that…

 

And that recovering [Stabby] was impossible since he had died before her [Shadow Haven] arrived at this point.

 

What she found interesting was that she now knew what had been the past of most of her minions, or of those that were above a certain level of sapience, how most of her Royal Mages had been scientists. How only the leader of her Royal Mages and Royal Knights had full memories of their past lives.

 

“Beatrice,” Elizabeth said, summoning the High Valkyrie. One of the most important minions under her command…And the little girl that called Rossie Mother.

 

“Yes Mistress? What can I do for you?” The little girl spoke in a submissive tone, was…was she afraid of her?

 

“...do you know why I summoned you?” Elizabeth asked the little girl, it was interesting, the contrast between what she knew about the girl, and what she was able to know. It only took intent from Elizabeth and….

 

“....Is it about my past?” Beatrice asked, “About what I know about who I was before?”

 

“...how much do you remember?” Elizabeth asked, her eyes narrowing and turning draconic.

 

“What is your [True Name]?”

 

“....I…know that I had a life before, but didn’t know anything about it when I first woke up, then the Royal Mage told me that we had been resurrected. Asked me if I knew anything, but I didn’t.” Beatrice said in a small voice, so she was aware? But didn’t know more. “As for my name…I’m Beatrice Vi Starbright, it matters not what name I had before. I am Mother’s Daughter.”

 

…This cheeky brat, daring to glare at her, they grow so fast.

 

“Okay, do you wish to know about your past? If it’s now I may be able to grant it to you.” Elizabeth said as she raised her hand and materialized a blob of shadows, it took the form of an eagle, the same one that was the emblem of the Saintsworths in Aquila. “If it’s now while I am close to the [Source] of the job…I can do many things, but only now. So think fast Beatrice Vi Starbright.”

 

Was this the right thing? She knew parts of who Beatrice had been before, the ruthless woman who made sure the Saintsworth's political enemies met their downfall.

 

“...I have no need for that information Mistress. I, like my Mother, have no need for useless things like those.” Beatrice said eyeing the blob of shadows, “Was that all you needed from me, Mistress?”

 

“Yes, sorry for bothering you Beatrice,” Elizabeth said crushing the past of Beatrice, it would probably be better for Elizabeth if she returned those memories, the help from a woman capable of managing the public relationships of an intergalactic empire wasn’t something to scoff at.

 

“Thank you, Beato, for choosing Rossie over your past.”

 

“...It’s not a problem.” Beatrice said bowing to her and walking to the door, “And I also choose you Mistress, whoever it was that woman’s past. She didn’t work for you, she probably didn’t work for those that she represented either.”

 

…khuh….right in the heart….cheeky brat.

 

“Thank you anyway, spread the word among the minions, if any remembers their past life and wants a job better suited to that, they only need to ask. Hell, they don’t even need to ask, just put them in those jobs.” Elizabeth said waving away the little girl.

 

“All will be done as you command, [Shadow Weaver]” And in that tune, Beatrice disappeared in a burst of shadows.

 

Was that her Shadow Step?

 

Cheeky brat.

 

“Now, what changed for me? Besides the obvious.” Elizabeth wondered aloud to herself within the [Soulscape]. “[Identify]”

 

And this time, without wasting time, she used the skill on herself, it felt different, while before the skill seemed to radiate a mana pulse and use that information to decode what she wanted. This time the pulse was attuned to her [Shadow Mana], and instead of traversing her body. It only sent a ripple into her shadow.

 

It worked, and it did show her status, so everything was in order, what changed, however, was more…interesting than what Elizabeth could imagine, why you ask?

 

Well, for starters her status hadn’t changed that much.

“[Magical Girl - Shadow Attuned] / [Villain - Shadow Attuned]?” Her job section iterated between those two options. It continued to do so till she assigned one of those descriptions to one of her [Layered Status].

 

The second she did that, the second unused Layered status got the other description. As if it wanted to make sure Elizabeth knew where it was. As for her true status? It changed the description (Again), only this time it showed a different job.

 

[Mana Entity (Shadow Weaver)]

 

And that wasn’t even the main problem, the other thing was that her skills didn’t change that much, granted most had evolved to show an X instead of a number, but still! She wanted new good skills!

 

Even if most of what she had was probably stuff that she wouldn’t ever need. Her status didn’t change much either…. A quick prompt at the job showed that it would grant her 20 status points per level… While it was good…she was getting 21 as it was, so that change didn’t affect her, if anything, it would mean that she would lose 40 points if she ever took those points over what she was already getting.

 

As for the reason she took this job?

 

“Nyx,” Elizabeth spoke aloud to her shadow.

 

“[Yes Mistress?]” And her loyal dragon showed itself, she could get the vague feeling that it was annoyed because it was in his cute form…but Elizabeth didn’t care since Cute was justice!

 

“Any new about Alice?” She asked her loyal minion. Elizabeth couldn’t feel the minion she had left protecting her former [Shift], nor could feel the girl even after she sent the second dragon with [Shadow Weaver] to Alice.

 

“[None so far, whoever or wherever they are. It is a place far away from what we can go.]” Nyx answered turning to look at the city. “[We will find them, I have sent some minions to patrol the outskirts of Aquila. Should those dragons attempt to return we will find them.]”

 

….Oh right, they could always return here….

 

Why hadn’t they? It had been almost a year since she was separated from them.

 

“Keep me posted, is the anything else I need to do before leaving?” Elizabeth said extending her senses across the ruined city. Nothing seemed important enough for her to take care of. Most of the time her minions solved the problems as they came.

 

And part of the area surrounding the spire she was in at the moment was restored, now it didn’t look like a ruined city, but it was closer to a rural setting!

 

Progress!

 

“[Nothing important enough to delay your return Mistress.]” Nyx said shaking its head.

 

“[...Do you want me to punish Lady Beatrice for her disrespect?]”

 

The what now?

 

“What are you talking about Nyx?” Elizabeth asked, had Beatrice disrespected her?

 

“[She priorized her own feelings over your needs, if she had embraced her past…She could have attained a human form like Lady Aura. Then with the land the Singh gave you as dowry, she could cultivate a business powerful enough to grant you riches beyond what these puny Humans have seen.]” Nyx spoke pointing with his adorable paw to the landscape. “[She had been the one at charge of making the money for this city before.]”

 

….Elizabeth did think about that option yes.

 

“[But she prioritized her own feelings and fear, she didn’t want to lose the relationship between her and the Lady Consort.]” Nyx said in an even tone. “[She prioritized her own feelings over what she could achieve for you.]”

 

“Do you have memories of a past life too Nyx?” Elizabeth said, turning the conversation in another direction.

 

“[No Mistress, I was made from nothing by Mother. I have no past, and my only future is that which you grant me.]” Nyx answered confused, “[You know this Mistress. Only those that dwell within the darkness like Lady Aura and the other Minions have a past.]”

 

“I too have a past, as you are aware,” Elizabeth said summoning a shadow in a form similar to the one she had for Beatrice, only this one…was empty. It had the form, it even had a crown similar to her crown of sin. But the interior? Empty.

 

“[We are aware, you once ruled as an Empress to a world.]” Nyx said looking at the crown of sin, “[This ruined city is an example of what you achieved, and what you had. Riches beyond what a

mortal could spend…not even immortal could empty your vaults.]”

 

“Indeed, my former self had everything, if he so much wanted he could purchase a nation, from their leaders to those in the slums….” Elizabeth smirked at the idea, “If he wanted, he was able to raise a poor nation into a powerhouse in a week, armies would swear their loyalty. Nations would crumble at his wish…Solar systems would disappear at his command…. The world was his toy and nothing was outside of his grasp.”

 

“[...Indeed a mighty past for you Mistress.]” Nyx said confused, “[What does this have to do with Beatrice?]”

 

“That life wasn’t me. If you ask me, he was an idiot. If I was given the choice of taking in his memories…I would also say no.” Elizabeth said, “Even if the knowledge would grant me power, even if the knowledge could teach me how to rule everyone in Zaanam. I would still not take it.”

 

“[...]”

 

“Do you know why?” Elizabeth asked her minion.

 

“[You fear that taking the memories would taint you?]” And so Nyx asked.

 

“I know they would taint my perception, Alexanders may have been an annoying asshole. But he was powerful, not only in knowledge but in power. I am good with Mana, but he was a monster. And this is coming from someone who only saw him messing around. I have access to the knowledge he decided to leave me. And…” Elizabeth shuddered, “He learned to manipulate mana without having [Mana Circuits] he didn’t have a Soulscape to help him, nor a way to tame Mana. And yet he managed to do it anyway.”

 

“[So even though it could grant you power, you don’t want to risk it?]” Nyx asked, “[So does Lady Beatrice, she doesn’t want to risk the memories of her past life changing who she is?]”

 

“Exactly, just like how Michael is now haunted by his past life in Aetheria. God knows how much he saw, but what little I saw from Akira’s past…it wasn’t pretty.” Elizabeth didn’t want to remember what happened there, what she was of Michael always ended in his death.

 

“[But then why do you want to rescue your former Shift?]” Nyx asked back, “[Wouldn’t those taint your memories? One of them has memories of an alternate life.]”

 

And wasn’t that an interesting question?

 

Yes, Alice Ashcroft had memories of an alternate timeline, a life that she didn’t live.

 

“Isn’t it obvious Nyx?” Elizabeth smiled at her most loyal minion, one that didn’t mind asking the hard questions, “When you know a cute girl is in trouble, you go and rescue her!”

 

And that was the crux of the matter, she [Knew] that both Alice and Elemental Weaver were in danger, she was aware of how both girls were at risk of disappearing, the last vestiges of Elizabeth Starbright pre-advent.

 

The last remaining embers of her life before consuming Chloe….What would happen when she managed to find them? Would she even be able to?

 

What happened to them? How had they survived? She had all the questions…and none of the answers.