—

Blithe returned to the Dark Empire using a black hole she created. By the time she did, she had already composed herself and was back to the way she was.

The henchmen and servants were startled at the sudden appearance of the black portal. Even more surprised to see that she was drenched.

The black hole behind Blithe disappeared and she walked with an air of elegance, ignoring the whispers of henchmen and servants around her.

She didn't care about them and she also didn't care that she was making a mess on the floor with the water dripping from her hair and dress.

“It must be nice that she can travel almost anywhere in an instant with that power of hers, while we only get assigned two warp stones per job,” one of the henchmen whispered. “I mean, it would be great if she also transported us, no?”

“Nah, man, in hindsight, we’re better off with warp stones. She's the only one that can safely pass through her black holes without it tearing her apart,” the other henchman waved him off.

“Remember those three guys that wanted to test out if they could pass through it and sneaked in while she wasn't looking?”

The henchman flicked his fingers. “Splat! They came out dead on the exit point. And it was pretty gruesome.”

“Oof, wish I was there to see that,” the other henchman chuckled.

“Urgh, totally barbaric, you lot!” a female servant reprimanded them.

“Hey, we're doing this for the glory of the Dark Empire! What are you doing for the Dark Empire, huuuuh?” the henchmen snorted and pointed at the servants.

“Hmph! While you're there doing the dirty work, we’re here serving the Dark Emperor! It's an absolute honor!” another servant boasted and smiled triumphantly.

“Well, it's an absolute honor to expand the Empire's territory too, you know! To snuff out the lights those stars are emitting is exhilarating and glorious!” the henchman arrogantly countered.

Blithe could still hear them as she walked away. Their chatters started as whispers but then eventually became shouts as her distance increased.

“Unruly as ever,” Blithe said to herself emotionless but ultimately took note of how hypocritical the servants’ words were on how “barbaric” the henchmen were.

After all, the same emperor they delightfully and dutifully served was also the one who ordered these barbaric acts.

Her steps slowed down as she looked at the skies—a dark shade of blue almost to the point that it looked black.

The Dark Empire was perpetually, well… dark. It was only illuminated by dim fire and artificial lights. It made sense, since they were located in the dark space of the universe where no Luminar resided. All of the residents were considered Dark Matter. They had no light within them at all—including her, who was a black hole.

The only natural source of light the Dark Empire’s skies had was from the star clusters near the edge of the empire where small villages of Luminars resided. The same star clusters she was tasked to destroy by her father.

The star clusters were small star systems that have enough population to establish a community of stars but are still so small that they aren't able to become a galaxy or a part of a galaxy.

In the case of the star clusters appearing near the border of the Dark Empire, they were already doomed from the start. The nearest galaxy supercluster, a collection of galaxies under one territory that had the potential of taking them in, is billions of light years away.

Blithe looked at the star cluster she just destroyed from afar, its light already starting to fade into darkness.

She felt a cold breeze and realized that she was still wet from the rain there. The thoughts from earlier started to resurface again.

Burned-down houses.

Destroyed buildings.

Lifeless bodies.

Pocket watch ticking.

Rain.

She closed her eyes and sighed, pushing the thoughts away.

Her attention went elsewhere when she heard murmurs. She looked to her left and saw two of her henchmen whispering to each other from afar. They looked like they were arguing about something but they were too far for her to hear.

The two henchmen noticed her gaze and scrambled to straighten up and bow.

She ignored them after that and continued walking towards the main entrance of the castle.

The two guards in front of the door saw her and bowed.

“Your Highness, you're back!” one of the guards stated, a bit surprised by her current state.

“The Dark Emperor still has a prior engagement ongoing. Would you like to wait or—” the other guard didn't get to finish his question as Blithe already answered.

“I would like to enter.”

The two guards looked at each other.

“As you wish, Your Highness,” they both pushed the doors open and gestured inside.

As the doors opened, she could hear fragments of conversation coming from the room.

“Yes, Your Majesty, I have planted all the seeds. It will bear fruit when the time comes and it will be magnificent.”

“I look forward to it. Do not disappoint me, Rial.”

The Dark Emperor took notice of the door opening and smiled.

“Ah, Blithe, my beloved daughter! I’ve been waiting for you!” He stood up from his throne and spread his arms wide, welcoming her. His red eyes looked at her with delight.

He turned to the man he was talking to previously.

“Rial, you are dismissed.”

Rial bowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Blithe walked by the man.

Rial, one of the Dark Emperor's most loyal followers and high-ranking officials. He was a hunched man dressed in a dark blue tattered hooded cloak and had a wooden staff in hand as a support.

He turned his head towards Blithe who was walking by. Although his eyes were covered in bandages, she could see a tinge of anger and contempt on his face. His mouth inched downwards in a frown.

She just ignored it. She couldn’t understand what that felt or why he feels that way towards her anyway. She just learned that he was like this towards her through the gossiping servants and henchmen. She could only infer that it had something to do with the Dark Emperor's favor towards her.

“Your Highness,” he bowed in acknowledgment towards her, spitting the words through gritted teeth.

She assumed the greeting was just a formality since he couldn't afford to be rude in front of the Dark Emperor and nodded.

Once Rial left and the doors were closed, Blithe turned to the Dark Emperor.

“I greet the Dark Emperor. Father, I have returned,” she curtsied.

“Rise,” he commanded.

She straightened her posture at his order.

“My, my, what happened to you? You're soaking wet,” the Dark Emperor's brows furrowed and mouth curved downwards.

“And you left a mess on the carpet,” his tone carried annoyance and anger.

“I apologize, Father. I got caught in the rain before I returned. I didn't want you to wait as I know you value your time a lot. I wanted to give out my report to you as soon as possible so I didn't dry myself,” Blithe gave an explanation.

“Ah, of course, my beloved daughter is so dutiful and filial, not wanting for me to wait,” his previous expression was replaced with pride. “Tell me about your report.”

He already forgot his anger with her words.

Blithe was already used to this. It seemed like his anger and annoyance dissipates when she flatters him.

Blithe shrugged it off and gave the rundown of what happened in the star cluster, detailing the events of the destruction.

“Haha! Very good, very good! I am pleased. It must've been a wonderful sight. Soon, the Dark Empire will be able to expand in its place,” the Dark Emperor grinned.

Blithe looked at the man. Her thoughts suddenly drifted to the scene from earlier.

Burned-down houses.

Destroyed buildings.

Lifeless bodies.

Blithe winced, experiencing the feeling the scene brought to her once again.

And she wondered for the first time in her life—

What was so wonderful about that?

But of course, she didn't ask this out loud, because it didn't matter. All that mattered was that she did her job.

“Blithe.”

She turned to look at him when he called her.

“Yes, Father?”

“There are a few more clusters near the Empire. After finishing that, I’ll be assigning you to a bigger job,” he smiled.

“A bigger job?” Blithe looked up at him.

“Yes. I will have you venture out to further star systems—the ones that aren't on the edge of the empire,” his smile grew wider.

Blithe thought about it. The star systems there are more advanced and the galaxies obviously have a larger population. That meant they would face more opposition. Planets who have control over elements and asteroids that have exceptional strength would be their greatest adversaries.

They're also nearer to the closest galaxy supercluster.

She has heard stories of its ruler, a passing gossip from her henchman and servants. She heard that his soldiers venture out of their supercluster to help the neighboring star systems that aren't in their territory. If that was the case, there was a big chance that she and her henchmen would run into them. And if that happened, they would be at a disadvantage.

It would make things more dangerous and complicated.

“That seems… like a riskier job,” Blithe tentatively gave out her opinion.

“Hahaha! You were born with gravity so powerful that you can make black holes. I believe in that power that I gave you. You can do it,” the Dark Emperor smirked, pleased with himself that he was able to “create” someone like her.

Then, he frowned. “Maybe it can rival that bastard from that supercluster too.”

Blithe's ears perked up. There was also this one information she gathered from gossip and whispers.

The Dark Emperor has been at war with the ruler of that galaxy supercluster for millions of years.

The Light King.

Whatever the Dark Emperor destroys, the Light King restores.

He is the gravity that binds all of his galaxies in one cluster.

The light that rules them all.

She's only been alive for thousands of years. How can she even compare to someone who's lived for millions all while holding together tons of galaxies?

Her father seemed convinced that she can counter his forces, but it seems he was more convinced with her lineage of him rather than her own ability. She contemplated.

“You seem unconvinced. Do you not trust me?” the grin he was wearing earlier had disappeared. His red eyes bored onto her, mirroring her own.

Blithe looked at her father.

Trust? She was only looking at things in a logical perspective but she supposed it didn't matter. No matter what happened, she was to obey her father's orders.

“No, I trust your judgment,” Blithe answered. “I will prepare for the next jobs in the future.”

“Ah, wonderful,” he let out a satisfied smile at her answer.

“That star cluster you just destroyed is a bit large compared to the other ones you went to,” he rubbed his chin as he changed the subject of their conversation.

“Well, my beloved daughter. Rest and I will talk to you tomorrow about your new assignment,” he waved his hand.

“You are dismissed.”

“Thank you, Father,” Blithe curtsied once more and turned towards the exit.

Once she was out of the castle, she stopped to look at the star cluster she destroyed. It wasn't there anymore. The light has completely faded.

Sooner or later, the Dark Empire will claim that place as its territory.

Her body shivered at the cold air. She almost forgot that she was still wet from the rain.

With a wave of her hand, she created a black hole and entered it, preparing for a night’s rest.

C-R-A-C-K.