Path to the Apocalypse

Albert threw a battered and broken AJ at Victoria's feet. "Apologize!"

AJ painfully maneuvered himself into a bow. "Um sowwy! Pwease fowgib me!" He pleaded through swollen lips, not taking his eyes off the floor.

Victoria looked down at him with a cold glare for a moment, before looking up at Albert. "I'm not forgiving someone who only regrets they got caught. If he was really sorry, he would have apologized on his own, long before now." A soft whimper came from AJ as she said that.

Albert growled in frustration, running his hand through his hair. "Why didn't you tell me he'd done this?!? I wouldn't have defended him if I'd known!"

"Because what would it accomplish?!? Do you really think a beating is going to change him?!? He's lost all sense that anyone other than himself is an actual person! All he thinks about is himself! All you're going to do is teach him to avoid beatings! The moment he's in power, he'll be right back to doing the same evil bullshit!" Victoria retorted.

"Then he'll never be in power!" Albert roared back.

"Fabber, no!" AJ exclaimed.

"Shut up!" Albert yelled at him, sending a powerful kick at him that sent him rolling into the wall. "I have taught you time and time again, that your priorities are family, people, land, then power! If you can't keep that straight, you don't deserve power!"

"She dib it burst!" AJ cried back. "She refoozed to mawwy da Duke for powah!"

Albert stared at him in pure incredulity. "There is a gods damned difference between deciding to pursue cultivation and helping a man rape your sister!" He was about to hit AJ again, before stopping himself and waving to some servants. "Get this disgrace out of my sight before I end up killing him!"

Victoria shook her head, sighing in disappointment. AJ was horrible, yes, but you couldn't get that bad without the right environment to foster that mindset. She knew she couldn't exactly blame Albert for it, but if he continued to just follow the culture of the times, how different would Calvin end up? He already thought he was above socializing with peasants. If one group of people was already below him, why couldn't everyone be below him? She didn't even think Albert actually thought that way! He obviously valued Maurice as both a friend and an advisor. "Why do you think commoners and nobles should have different rules?" She suddenly asked, startling Albert.

Albert frowned. "Victoria, this isn't the time for that! It has nothing to do with this!"

"Oh, but I think it does." Victoria retorted. "Think about it. What's the difference between what Duke Duhallis wanted to do to me, and what AJ did do to Beatrice?"

Albert scowled. "Servants are there to serve! We provide everything for them, so that they will do anything we ask of them! It is the arrangement that they agreed to!"

"And you can't see how that sort of logic is a slippery slope?" Victoria pointed out. "The problem is the implicitness of it. If it was outright stated and agreed to, then yes, I agree, but it isn't. It's just the way things are assumed to be by most of the parties involved. Since it's an assumption, then how far can that assumption spread? How many people can you see as dependent on you? Servants? Family? Subjects? You could get to the point that you believe anyone you give even a tiny bit of assistance to is now obligated to do whatever you ask!" Victoria paused. "I'm pretty sure that's the logic the [fae] use, and they're evil. Not great examples to follow."

"That isn't-" Albert began.

"Can you really say there aren't nobles like that out there?" Victoria interrupted him. "I've gotten to know a total of three since I lost my memory, and two of them were AJ and Duke Duhallis."

Albert hesitated. She may have a point… one of the reasons he'd initially pulled away from politics was due to his disgust at the way many of the nobles treated the common people. As if they were simply objects to be used, instead of people with thoughts and feelings. To blatantly disregard someone's humanity like that wasn't something Albert could stomach, and it was unfortunately quite common in noble circles, particularly in the younger men. That wasn't to say he hadn't had his fair share of dalliances with his father's maids when he was younger, but he'd never abused them in the way he'd seen other nobles treat their servants. He'd even grown rather fond of one, considering running away with her, before the early death of his father had forced him into responsibility and he realized how selfish such an action would have been. It was natural to enjoy the benefits of one's position, wasn't it? However, if that led to the development of people like AJ and Duhallis… Albert grimaced, rubbing his temple in frustration trying to reconcile the rights he believed nobles had with the horror of what they had obviously led them to become.

"You think slow." Victoria commented after watching Albert stew for a few seconds.

Albert scowled at her. "I'm an Essence Cultivator for a reason. Thinking has never been my strong suit and this is a complicated subject! You're suggesting that the very nature of how nobles and commoners interact allows- encourages nobles to turn into- into degenerates!"

"Yeah?" Victoria replied, as if it was obvious that yes, that's exactly what was happening. "If you tell someone their entire life that they deserve to take advantage of people, you can't really be surprised when they start taking advantage of people."

"It isn't-" Albert began, before stopping himself and letting out a frustrated sigh. "Nobles fulfill a necessary role in society, and that role comes with certain benefits. We provide safety and prosperity for the people, and all we ask is that we be free to enjoy the comfort of a few maids." He replied in a steady tone.

"Do you ask? Or do you just take and expect them to be okay with it?" Victoria retorted. "There are many women who would love to sleep with nobles! All you have to do is ask! Why do you have to force yourselves on the few women who wouldn't?"

"Why would you become a maid if you didn't want to sleep with a noble?!?" Albert countered

"What choice do these women have?!? Their only options are to be a wife, a whore, or a maid!" Victoria shot back.

"Then they should find a good man and settle down!" Albert declared.

Victoria scowled at him, before clicking her tongue and looking away. "This is off topic. The point is that the idea that you can simply take whatever you want from another person, without considering their desires, turns you into an asshole. Even if you have the right, taking advantage of it indiscriminately isn't healthy. For the nobles or the people." Victoria paused. "It's like food. You can eat whatever you want, in whatever quantity you like. However, if you eat sweets all the fucking time, you turn into a giant fatass! By the same principle, if you indulge in abusing your maids, you turn into a giant asshole! Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. It isn't saying you can't, it's saying you shouldn't."

Albert blinked. "I can agree with that… but what does it change?"

"Well, for starters, I'd say that if you don't want Calvin to end up like AJ, you should encourage him to build some real relationships with a few of the servants. Help him learn to see them as people, not as objects." Victoria replied. "It's harder to treat someone like crap when you can't dehumanize them."

Albert shook his head. "Maintaining a distance from the people is healthy. There will be times he will be called to make hard decisions that will hurt or even kill men. These decisions need to be made, and if he hesitates because the men involved are his friends, then everyone suffers."

"Making decisions to hurt people should be hard!" Victoria retorted. "Even if it needs to be done, it shouldn't be easy. That's how you turn into an asshole."

"Yes, but caring too much will only hurt you! If you live and die over every difficult decision, how long can you continue to make those decisions? How long until you shrink from any decision, just to save yourself the pain? Such a lord would be more than useless." Albert countered.

Victoria frowned, taking that in. If Tamara invaded, people would have to be sent out to fight, and most likely die. If every time you did that, you saw your friends dying… How long could you keep doing it? "Okay, I can see that. I don't necessarily agree, but I can understand where you're coming from." Victoria sighed. "Still, I think Calvin would benefit from some healthy interaction with commoners. Maybe not as a friend, but maybe a sparring partner or something? Or just encourage him to thank the servants for what they do. Something to drive in the concept that people aren't simple objects you can use and throw away for your own convenience."

Albert clicked his tongue. "I'll consider it." He agreed, before freezing as it suddenly hit home that he was talking to his daughter, not an advisor like Maurice. He was treating her as a peer, not someone to be taught and lectured at. And she was making good points! Where had this insight into human nature come from? From the strange knowledge she received from that other world? Or had losing her memory simply allowed her to view everything from a new perspective? Either way, it was clear his little girl wasn't so little anymore. He'd been fighting it, but it was now unmistakably clear. She didn't need him micromanaging her life anymore. She was an adult and while he might disagree with her at times, she was more than capable of making her own decisions. All he could do was support her.

*

Victoria returned to her room, grabbed Beatrice, and dragged her onto the bed, burying her face in her chest and letting out a long, weary groan. "V-Victoria, wh- what-" Beatrice stammered, flustered by her actions.

"Shhhhhh." Victoria interrupted her, lifting her head to place a finger on Beatrice's lips. "Long day. Need cuddles." She murmured, before shoving her face back into her cleavage. Beatrice flushed, unable to keep from smiling as she carefully held Victoria's head, pulling her a bit closer. They laid like that for a few minutes, before Victoria let out a sigh and sat up. "Sorry about that. Just… today was rough."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Beatrice asked.

Victoria hesitated. "It's… complicated, and until certain things pass, it wouldn't be good for you to know too much. Basically, the Lord Inspector came to investigate the disappearance of Duke Duhallis and I had to go over everything that happened that night. The only positive is that AJ got thrown under the [bus] without you getting dragged in after him."

Beatrice's eyes widened. "Oh, no, that- that must have been horrible! Reliving all that… are you okay? Do- do you want me to-"

"I'm fine." Victoria insisted. "It was just stressful, mentally, not emotionally. I'm not too bent out of shape over what happened. He tried, he was stopped, he was punished, and that's that."

"It- it doesn't bother you? That something like that could be done to you?" Beatrice asked in a disbelieving tone.

Victoria frowned. "Not really? Nothing actually happened, and as long as I keep getting stronger, the risk of anything like that happening again gets smaller and smaller. Even if it does… I'll deal with it. I'm more than capable of making the life of anyone who crosses me a living hell." Victoria finished with a growl, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes.

Beatrice curled in on herself, her eyes going dull. "I- I wish I could be that strong… I still flinch sometimes when I'm walking through the halls and I think I hear someone behind me… I- I have nightmares… that all this has been a dream and I'm still- he still-" Her voice caught, unable to continue as tears began to pool in her eyes.

Victoria pulled her into her arms, carefully consoling her. "Shh, shh, it's okay, you're safe! He can't do anything to you anymore. He can't do anything to anyone anymore." She whispered, doing her best to help as Beatrice began to actually sob, breaking.

"Why- why am I so weak?!?" Beatrice cried. "I-I couldn't keep myself from- from peeking. I-I betrayed you to keep myself safe! I did everything he asked! All I do is give in, over and over and over!"

"Beatrice, you-" Victoria froze, feeling her chest tighten as she struggled to find the words to help. "Why- why don't you just change?"

Beatrice froze. "Wh-what?"

"Well, if- if you don't like something about yourself, then shouldn't you work on changing it?" Victoria elaborated. "I'm not saying it'd be easy, but… you can at least try, right? Learn from what you did wrong and try to be better next time. That's how people improve." She continued more confidently. "Life isn't about being perfect all the time, but constantly improving, always trying to be more and more the person you truly want to be. It's hard, and sometimes you'll make mistakes, but you only lose when you stop trying. Does- does that help?" She asked hesitantly.

Beatrice nodded slowly. "I-I think so…"

Victoria breathed out a sigh of relief. "Good. Good. Now… why didn't you tell me you were going through this shit!?!" She hissed angrily. "How am I supposed to help you if you hide everything you're going through!" Victoria paused for a moment as she felt a bit of whiplash from being on the opposite side of this conversation after only a few days. She shook her head, refocusing. "If we're going to make this relationship work, you can't just pretend everything is okay. I need to know when you're in trouble, when you're hurting, or angry, or- or anything!"

Beatrice flushed, looking away in embarrassment. "You- you have so much bigger things to worry about… how can I bother you with my insignificant problems?"

Victoria grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at her, staring her directly in the eyes. "You are my girlfriend. None of your problems are insignificant to me. If something is making you unhappy, it makes me unhappy."

Beatrice's eyes widened. "G-girlfriend?"

Victoria nodded. "Yup. So stop being dumb and let me help you!"

Beatrice blinked. "What- what's a girlfriend?"

Victoria blinked back at her. "Uh… huh. It's- well, it's a relationship stage from my world. Basically it goes, stranger, friend, girlfriend, fiance, then married." She paused. "I suppose that doesn't make it seem terribly significant, but it means that I'm serious about being with you. If things keep going like this, I may even like to spend the rest of my life with you! But that isn't going to happen if you keep hiding things from me!"

"You- you- r-really?" Beatrice stammered, stunned. Victoria wanted to spend the rest of her life with her? Or at least considered it a possibility? But… she- she was just a servant! They could enjoy their time together, but… they- they couldn't actually have a future could they? Eventually Victoria would find the person she actually wanted to be with, and she would be put aside. If she was lucky, then Victoria would keep her around as a mistress, and maybe they'd have a bastard together… Beatrice still wasn't sure how she felt about that, but if Victoria wanted it… Beatrice flushed. All she wanted was to make Victoria happy. But… would- would Victoria really be satisfied with her? Only her?!? "I- I'm not- why would you choose me?!?"

Victoria paused. "Well, for starters, you're the only other [le-] crap, you don't know that word either… uh, nevermind, not important." She attempted to make a joke before abandoning it. Probably wasn't the best way to assuage Beatrice's worries anyway. "Why wouldn't I choose you? You're sweet, ridiculously adorable, insightful… not too shabby in the sack." Victoria chuckled. "You're always there when I need you… I mean, I know that's what you do, but… you care about me. It isn't just a job to you. I always enjoy talking to you, playing games, talking through whatever we're going through… even when I'm angry at you, I still want what's best for you. If that isn't love, I don't know what is."

"I- I- but- but I'm just a servant!" Beatrice exclaimed. "How- how could- I'm not-"

"You're not just a servant!" Victoria retorted fiercely. "Being a servant is your job! Who you are is Beatrice, and I like Beatrice!"

"But- but you're a noble- a Cultivator! I'm- I'm just-" Beatrice stammered back, before Victoria interrupted again.

"I'm just Victoria. That's all that matters. Everything else is just fluff." Victoria stated firmly, before pausing. "Also, just spend ten points and you'll be a Cultivator, too."

Beatrice hesitated. "But… if I become a Cultivator, I- I wouldn't be able to be your maid anymore…"

Victoria frowned. "That- that's a good point… we could keep it secret? I could help you with your Runes and training… though, apparently people can notice cores once you have them, so that would be an issue, though not for at least a week or so. Probably more, unless you happen to be just as talented as I am. By normal standards, you should have a few months until you need to worry about that, which would be when I'm supposed to go to the sect anyway, so… if I can bring you in as my servant, the sect shouldn't care about you until you have two cores, right? If you ever do…"

"But all- all I want to do is be your maid…" Beatrice replied, flushing. "I don't- I don't need to be a Cultivator for that."

"Beatrice…" Victoria sighed helplessly. "Look, being a Cultivator… it just makes you better at whatever you do. If you want to be a soldier, the Runes help you be a better soldier. If you want to be a seamstress, they'll help you be a better seamstress! If- if you just want to be my maid, then… they'll help you be the best damn maid in the entire world! There really isn't a downside."

"I- I guess…" Beatrice agreed hesitantly, still not sure. She'd seen how much work Victoria put into her cultivation… the only time she could give up to do that would be the time she spent with Victoria, and that- she wouldn't do that. Still, if Victoria wanted her to Awaken… it wasn't as if she had any other use for these points she kept getting. She still had no idea why it would reward her just for doing what she was already going to do… She let out a sigh. Everything around Victoria was just so strange!

"So, are you going to do it?" Victoria asked expectantly. "I can help you Acquire your first Initial Rune right now! The main thing you need to watch out for is you can't reject the Rune, you have to accept whatever comes." Victoria paused. "You also can't get distracted. You have to focus on the Rune as it forms to keep it stable. We have a special room for it here, but… I'm not sure if I can sneak you in. But don't worry! I'll make sure no one disturbs you." She assured her.

Beatrice hesitated, before letting out another sigh. She was just going to have to do this, wasn't she? She focused on the strange symbols in her vision, thinking of pressing them like Victoria explained, pulling up the 'status page'. She focused on the 'Awaken' option, hesitating again for a few moments, before hardening her resolve and firmly pressing it… Beatrice blinked. She- she didn't feel any different… "Did- did it work?" She asked.

"It should have…" Victoria frowned, not sure how to tell. "Try closing your eyes and emptying your mind? If you're Awakened, you should be able to enter your Runescape that way."

Beatrice nodded, taking a deep breath and doing as she said. Victoria watched her carefully, looking for any sign that she'd succeeded or if she was in trouble. Suddenly her eyes shot open in shock. "I-I saw it! It- it was like a blue sky full of fireflies!"

Victoria breathed out a sigh of relief. The system worked! Of course, it always worked, but still, whenever she did something new, there was a vague anxiety that somehow the system would fail as she finally found its limit. Not today though. "Okay, now, get back to that state and just call for a Rune. And remember, no matter what it is, don't lose focus or reject it."

Beatrice nodded, closing her eyes again, returning to her Runescape. She stared off into that strange sky full of lights, a hint of trepidation making her hesitate yet again, before she cursed herself and pushed through it. If she was going to do it, she should just do it! Why did she have to be so fucking scared all the time! She refocused on the deep blue expanse with a determined gaze. *Come, damn you!* She called, and the sky shook! She let out a small yelp as the pressure descended, lines etching themselves into the sky, a hint of fear tempting her to shrink back, but she quickly hardened her resolve and refocused on the forming Rune. She would not let fear control her anymore! It was fear that kept her silent and obedient after AJ caught her. If she'd been braver, she could have gone to Victoria and told her the truth, or denied AJ and faced whatever consequences came her way! Even if she died, it would have been better than becoming AJ's puppet, a toy for him to use. She hated that she'd allowed that to happen, and she wouldn't let anything like that happen to her again!

Beatrice let out a breath as her Rune finished forming, opening her eyes. "What did you get?" Victoria asked curiously, suddenly feeling like she'd jumped the gun. What skills did Beatrice have? She should have helped her train up a few decent skills before letting her Acquire her Initial Rune.

Beatrice smiled. "I got Clean!" It was perfect! Her entire job as a maid was making sure everything stayed clean and tidy! This Rune could help her do her job so much better!

Victoria's expression twisted. "Damn it! We should have waited! You could have used the system to develop some real skills first."

Beatrice frowned. "But… I like Clean. I- I want to be useful to you, and cleaning is something that always needs to be done… everything gets dirty."

Victoria blinked at her. "But-" She began, before pausing with a frown. She was about to say it wasn't powerful, but… why couldn't it be? Was Clean any less of a skill than Craft or Bladework? Sure, it had a lower barrier of entry, but that didn't mean it was easy. You could plainly tell the difference between a maid who'd just started and a maid who had been working for years. Victoria couldn't say exactly what the difference was, but clearly one cleaned better than the other. Her thoughts turned to the garbage Runes Maurice had told her about when she'd first arrived, Runes like Jump and Eat. Sure, they seemed like simple Runes, but… She remembered the jumping competitions from the Olympics, how skilled those athletes were. She remembered competitive eating, and how intense that got. Was it really that the skills were simple, or was it that it was easier to be decent at the skills, and most people just gave up and Assimilated the Rune once they were at the level of decent? If Beatrice did the work and took Clean all the way to the point of Advancement… Who's to say Clean would be any less than Craft or Design? "Okay, yeah, nevermind. It's a good Rune." Victoria nodded, causing Beatrice to smile happily. "Now all you have to do is learn from it. Don't forget to spend points on the skill in the skills page as well. That will help you a lot. Also, try to think outside the box. Is cleaning just sweeping floors and washing clothes? Or is it something more? What is it at its core? Figuring all that out will help you Advance the Rune, which will let you use your… Qi? Clean is probably a Qi Rune, right? Doesn't matter. You'll learn how to use whatever type of cultivation you get to help you clean even better." Victoria explained. "Oh, and don't forget to use your points to get rid of your exhaustion. No need to waste valuable time sleeping."