I kept looking for her everywhere.
The gardens were empty. The library, closed. The Botany classroom, unlit. Lianza's private room where she used to rest in her free time, locked.
I had already asked Alexia, Caspian, Liryl Taint, Oladior Garialys... No one knew what part of Mayorka she was in.
Defeated, I walked toward the dormitories. The hallway of the west wing was deserted at this hour. Only lamps swaying in the wind could be seen, making the shadows they cast vary in size, adding an eerie aura to the entire length of the corridor.
Turning the corner, I stopped.
Layda was in the distance, at the other end of the hallway, leaning against the wall. Arms crossed. Her usual messy braid falling over her shoulder. Her closed notebook in hand.
It was as if she had been waiting for me.
"I knew you'd come this way," Layda said, opening her notebook. "You took half an hour longer than usual. Our dear Dariel Elcronne is quite in love, isn't he?"
"What do you want? Do you know where Princess Lianza is?"
"To talk." She stepped away from the wall. "We're alone."
"I have nothing to talk to you about."
"Is that so?" she smiled, taking a step toward me. "A little bird told me you have a certain watch in a certain pocket. One use... Or am I wrong?"
I stepped back.
It was impossible for Layda to know that. Unless she...
No, it couldn't be.
"How do you know that?"
Layda didn't answer. She just smiled.
A chestnut-brown Empero began to emanate from her.
And immediately, I knew.
Layda wanted to assassinate me here, where there were no witnesses. But why?
"I never thought someone like you could become such a big threat, Dariel Elcronne. I suppose I'll have to speed things up."
Layda pointed her index finger at me, and her chestnut Empero was expelled like a projectile against me.
Taking advantage of the fact that I was still close, I shielded myself behind the corner column.
Still no Empero to confront her. What could I do?
Besides, why does she want to kill me? What the hell is going on with the Layda of this novel?
Is there something about Layda you haven't told me? I asked the Harem System.
[🤐]
If I die, you won't have anyone to mock. Your fun will be over.
[If a toy breaks, I just have to buy a new one, dear Romeo.]
Isn't this System supposed to give the protagonist all kinds of benefits in these types of novels? Damn it, come on, give me at least some help! A deus ex machina! Plot armor!... Anything.
[We don't do that here, dear Romeo. Here you have to earn everything yourself. Come on, show me what you're capable of! Prove to me you're worthy! 😊]
Damn it. I was on my own in this.
Layda's footsteps grew louder.
"You have to get past me to reach your precious Lianza," she said. "And don't think fleeing will help you, Dariel Elcronne."
You owe me something, I told the System. I'm not asking for a favor, I just want you to pay me what you owe me. Tell me what my Empero is.
[It's not possible to do so yet. Something... is obstructing it.]
Something? I questioned, going over everything that had happened to me until now. Adrenaline made my mind race non-stop, searching for a way to save myself from this...
But nothing.
How can a simple human survive Empero?
Wait a moment. The Harem System had told me something at the Welcome Ball, a couple of hours ago.
It told me I was a Dormant.
An idea occurred to me.
"Layda, I don't know what you want from me. I don't understand anything you're doing, but you can still live."
"Live? What will you do? You're a lowborn noble who hasn't awak—" Layda realized. "Wait!"
But it was too late for her.
Advancing toward her, I did it.
"Awaken!" I shouted to the Harem System.
[Order received. Congratulations, Dariel Elcronne. You are now an Empero user.]
I expelled a concentrated blast of black Empero toward Layda.
All of it was directed at her with murderous intent. The situation was life or death, and I couldn't afford to die without seeing my Lianza be happy.
Layda barely managed to react, concentrating her chestnut Empero into the form of a barrier.
My control was too mediocre to bypass her barrier by going around it, so I focused my forces on the projectile I had expelled toward her, hoping to pierce through.
As my projectile struck the barrier, the surroundings were bathed in a dark gray, the product of the collision.
A dark gray. That meant my quantity of Empero was superior, but I knew the difference was due to my Awakening, so I had to take advantage of my edge.
Pressing Layda from the distance, I kept pushing; she kept retreating.
Her armor was being pierced little by little.
Victory was assured...
...until Layda pulled out her book.
Opening it and aiming it toward me, she traced a horizontal white line with her index finger.
"Eliminate," she shouted.
The white line passed right through the middle of my projectile, causing all the Empero it touched to vanish.
What the hell had she done?
[It's her ability.]
Isn't the Layda from The Throne of Ashes and Thorns supposed to have healing as her ability? Her Empero was white and pure, and everything it touched was healed.
[You still think she's the same Layda? How innocent, Romeo. 🤭]
Then who is she?
[🤐]
I watched as that line kept splitting my Empero right down the middle, while it approached me, slow, but without stopping.
Within a few seconds, that line would reach me. I had to find a way to face Layda.
At least now you can tell me what my Empero is, right? I asked the System.
[🙂↕️]
THEN DO IT, DAMN IT, I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR YOUR GAMES!
[How aggressive, Dariel! 🫢]
[Alright, Dariel Elcronne. As you know, your Empero also has a type. There are elemental ones, like Lianza's, Ardwyn's, and many other nobles'. There are also physical ones; some can even tame creatures. You see, Dariel Elcronne, your Empero belongs to a peculiar category that few belong to. It's a conceptual Empero. After all, Empero is the materialization of your being...]
I don't have time for an info dump! Tell me what my Empero is, damn it!
[Why do you treat me like that? I have feelings too, you know? 🥺]
[Yours is the Writer's Empero. Happy? An ability worthy of a literature student, don't you think? Its potential is limited to your capabilities. But I'll tell you this: well used, it has no rival. 😉]
The Writer's Empero, huh?
Smiling at the imagined possibilities, I realized I still didn't know how to use it.
And how is it used? I asked the System.
[🤐]
Damn it! Stupid Harem System.
The line Layda had traced was now centimeters away from reaching me.
I managed to duck.
The line passed over me, cutting a few strands of my hair.
All the Empero my Awakening had released was exhausted... All thanks to that line Layda had traced.
Layda was in front of me, advancing again, her notebook open and her finger pointing at me.
I had an ability I didn't know how to use and was already running out of Empero reserves.
I looked like I had no way out until I remembered it.
The pocket watch.
Raising the watch, I aimed it at Layda.
She was the biggest threat, even more than Ardwyn.
"Don't do it!" she shouted.
"Status of Layda," I ordered the Harem System.
It was time to find out what she was.