Alicia lounged on the plush sofa of her room, her long white hair cascading over her shoulders. A holographic call flickered before her, and the familiar face of her mother, Serena von Crestvale, filled the screen.
For a moment, the call was filled with casual greetings and banter about Alex and the upcoming ball—until Alicia’s expression sobered slightly.
"Mother," Alicia greeted with a smile, adjusting the collar of her oversized sweater. Despite her usual poise, there was a softness in her eyes when speaking to her mother.
Serena’s holographic figure wore her usual dignified expression, dressed in a sleek silver-and-blue noble gown. Her graceful aura was undeniable—even as a projection.
"I’ve been meaning to ask—how is Father? I guess he’s doing fine, right?"
Serena’s expression twitched ever so slightly. She exhaled softly, her elegant features relaxing into a more somber tone. "He’s... well. Just incredibly busy as of late. He hasn’t been home in weeks."
Alicia’s smile faded. "Busy with what? Is something serious happening?"
The air between them thickened with unspoken tension. Serena’s hologram tilted her head slightly, then looked Alicia dead in the eyes.
"Yes. Something very serious has come to light," she said slowly. "The Cult of the Abyss—their head organization, Crown of Oblivion—has finally begun to move directly. And what we’ve uncovered... is terrifying."
Alicia’s brows furrowed. "Crown of Oblivion? But they haven’t made a move in years. What did they do?"
Serena’s lips pressed into a tight line. "They’ve created something—something unnatural. They’ve engineered human homunculi. Artificial beings... that can think, feel, and mimic human behavior with terrifying accuracy."
Alicia’s jaw nearly dropped. "W–What?" she gasped. "You mean... they’ve developed the technology to create life?"
Her mind raced. That kind of scientific and magical fusion—it shouldn’t even be possible.
"And not just life," Alicia continued, "Are you telling me they can mass-produce superhuman soldiers now?"
Serena shook her head slowly, brushing a strand of white hair behind her ear.
"No... not mass-produce. Their technology isn’t that advanced—yet," she admitted, her voice low. "The lifespan of these homunculi is still limited. Most expire within six months. But the horrifying part isn’t their longevity..."
She leaned forward slightly in the projection.
"They’ve created variants. A special branch of these artificial beings they call Ascendants."
Alicia’s eyes widened. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Artificial human Awakened... Ascendants."
"But that’s not the worst part," Serena added. "Most of the soldiers created are unawakened."
Serena nodded grimly. "We’ve codenamed them Marionnettes—puppets with invisible strings. The Ascendants among them aren’t just puppets... they’re intelligent, strong, and extremely dangerous."
Alicia’s lips parted, but no words came out. The implications were horrifying. "They... they can blend in with people, can’t they?"
"Yes," Serena confirmed. "That’s the most terrifying part. They’re being used as living bombs—weapons hidden in plain sight. You could be speaking to one, sharing a room with one, and never know it. And if the cult chooses... they can detonate them, or take control remotely."
A chill ran down Alicia’s spine.
"This is bigger than we thought," she said quietly, eyes narrowing. "If they’ve already figured out how to create these things called Ascendants, which are the awakened ones... what if they succeed in creating someone on the Monarch-level?"
"The entire world wouldn’t be able to stop them," she added, her voice grim.
Serena nodded again, her expression unreadable. "Which is why your uncle—the King—has summoned the High Nobles. Even Headmaster Aldric Verlane of Zenith Academy has been called. We’re seeking a united front before it’s too late."
Alicia folded her arms tightly across her chest. "That’s... a terrifying possibility."
Serena gave a small, reassuring nod. "Thankfully, there’s good news. From the limited number of Marionnettes we’ve captured and studied, not a single one showed Awakening potential beyond the High-Intermediate Rank.
And crafting even the unawakened ones consumes tremendous resources."
She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "So far, their progress hasn’t reached the point where Monarch-level puppets are even feasible."
Alicia let out a slow, relieved breath. "Well... at least that’s something. But..." she glanced up. "Why call them Marionnettes?"
"That’s the designation given by our researchers," Serena replied. "They’re artificial constructs with control mechanisms embedded within—puppets dancing on invisible threads."
Alicia frowned. "If they’re so indistinguishable from humans... is there any way to identify them?"
"One way," Serena said. "Their blood is black. Not red. And while they can mimic emotions, they don’t actually feel them. With careful observation, you can spot the differences. But it’s subtle."
"That’s not enough," Alicia muttered. "We can’t just accuse someone based on gut feeling or odd behavior. We’d need proof, not suspicion."
Serena’s sigh was long and deep. "I know, sweetheart. These are the only indicators we’ve found so far. Our teams are working day and night to uncover more."
Then, suddenly, Serena’s serious tone shifted into a sly grin.
"But enough about living bombs and puppets." Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "Let’s get back to something far more explosive—are you going to ask him out, or is he going to ask you?"
Alicia’s entire face turned crimson. "M–Mom!! That’s none of your business!"
Serena raised a teasing eyebrow. "Okay, okay! I’m just saying... also, try not to eat so much junk food, hmm?"
She smirked. "I can already see a little bit of pudge around your waist. You can’t hide it from your mother, you know."
Alicia looked down in panic, tugging her shirt up and frantically checking her stomach.
"What?! Where?!" she gasped in horror.
A second later, Serena burst out laughing. Her laughter echoed through the call, rich and utterly amused. "Oh dear, you should’ve seen your face just now!"
Alicia’s embarrassment turned to rage in an instant. "You tricked me again! That’s so mean!" she pouted, cheeks puffed adorably.
Serena chuckled. "Sweetheart, I just want you to eat healthy. Or else one day that little ’fat scare’ will come true."
The color drained from Alicia’s face again.
"I’ve got a brutal training regime, Mom. I’m not going to get fat!"
"I hope so," Serena replied with a warm smile. Then she glanced off-screen. "I’ve got work to do. So goodbye for now. And... go easy on your brother, will you?"
Alicia squinted. "You mentioned his name on purpose, didn’t you?"
Serena gave a wink. "Of course. That’s his punishment for not calling me in weeks."
Alicia huffed. "Figures. Bye, Mom."
The hologram faded away, and silence settled in the room.
Then, silently, Alicia murmured, "Looks like my baby brother needs some love from me. Guess I’ll have to pay him a visit. Also... where did he get this picture from?"
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