Freedom dillusion

"Ah, that's right! I was about to announce the merits of Clementine's campaign."

Theo placed a hand over his chest in mock apology, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. With his free hand, he snapped his fingers, expecting swift action.

The crackling of fire was soon drowned out by the hurried pattering of feet. A young maid, brown-haired and slight of frame, sprinted across the hall, her breath shallow, her grip tightening around a bundle of papers that rustled with each frantic step.

As she neared the grand stage, she skidded to a stop, barely balancing on the tips of her toes as she reached up, trembling. Her flat expression betrayed her nerves, her arms straining toward the Emperor.

Without hesitation, he snatched the scroll from her grasp, unfurling it with an effortless flick of his wrist. He didn't spare her a glance, only offering a lazy wave to dismiss her as his eyes devoured the contents in an instant. The golden hue of his irises flared against the parchment, casting a glow like torchlight. Then, suddenly - his lips curled into a smile, real and unmistakable. A chuckle rumbled from his chest.

He turned his gaze toward his son, amusement flickering in his expression.

"Now this," he mused, his voice smooth yet edged with something sharper, "this is interesting."

Taking a slow, deliberate breath, he exhaled sharply, as if relishing some newfound entertainment. His condescending smirk widened as he cast his gaze over the silent crowd. From the sea of lowered heads, his attention locked onto a single figure, gray-haired, amber-eyed, staring back at him.

Theo's lips parted slightly.

"I never would have thought," he began, his tone laced with mockery. His gloved hand lifted, sweeping toward the gathered nobility. "That the only one with potential would be a mere commoner?"

A ripple of unease passed through the air.

"How... insulting," he continued, though his disdain was not directed at the commoner, but at the nobles themselves.

None dared to respond. Heads remained bowed, their silence a quiet acknowledgment of failure.

The Emperor's disgust lingered for only a moment before melting into satisfaction. With a glance at the scroll, he began reading aloud.

"This commoner alone defeated four caliber-two Weavers. With the assistance of Orion Corvus, he devised a rather impressive strategy that led to the collapse of the kingdom's army."

His voice carried effortlessly, each word striking like a hammer against the stillness of the hall.

"He singlehandedly infiltrated the kingdom's castle, slaughtered every living soul inside, eliminated the suspected caliber-two Weavers assigned as guards, and retrieved the dragon core himself."

The hall remained utterly silent. The Emperor lowered the scroll, his golden eyes gleaming once more. Whatever thoughts lay behind them remained unreadable. But one thing was certain, and that was how entertaining this was for him.

"Now then, would you like to come forward, Cypher Ren?"

Every head turned in unison as a chair abruptly scraped against the floor. A young boy stood, confidence etched into every movement.

It was,.of course, Cypher.

He spared no one a glance, only briefly nodding toward Baron Drake before stepping away from his table. His movements were measured, calculated, yet effortless, as though each step were predetermined. The sharp gazes of the nobles followed him, their scrutiny pressing in from all sides.

More and more piercing stares hit the back of his head as he strode forward.

Finally, he reached the foot of the stage, coming to a halt beneath the Emperor's gaze. In one fluid motion, he kneeled, placing a hand over his chest in salute.

"Emperor, this subject thanks you for your praise. It is my honor to be here, for yourself and for the Empire." Cypher did not hesitate in his words. His silver crosses gleamed as he lifted his head, looking directly at Theo with all the respect he could muster.

And for all the arrogance the Emperor had shown thus far, Cypher truly did respect this man. Power, undeniable and absolute, radiated from him. This was a man whose strength was likely on par with Vanderwald's.

A walking natural disaster in human clothing.

If this were a regular society, he would have been overthrown ten times over. But here? The nobles could do nothing. Their cities could be wiped away with a single gesture.

Power demanded submission, and Cypher respected that.

Behind Theo, Alexander had lost his blank expression entirely.

"Father…" The prince's voice trembled, fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The thumping of his heart drowned out everything else. For the first time, the prince felt it. Excitement.

"Not now, Alexander. You'll have your chance," Theo said, halting him with a single glance.

His attention remained fixed on the commoner.

"Tell me, Cypher. What is it that you want?" There was something akin to curiosity in his voice.

'This is it.'

Cypher's breath steadied. His moment had come, "My Emperor, I wish to study alchemy."

A beat of stunned silence.

Then, the hall erupted intoLaughter, rolling through the chamber like a wave of thunder.

"Haha!"

"This brat is funny!"

"A mere commoner seeks to breach Empire laws?!"

One by one, they jeered, their voices rising in amusement.

"If you do not shut your mouths, I will strip your status and throw you to the dogs."

Instantly they were silenced. Jaws clenched tight enough to draw blood.

Theo inhaled slowly, irritation flashing in his gaze before he let out a small, malicious chuckle. He looked down at Cypher once more, his smirk widening.

"So, you want to learn alchemy, huh?" His voice was thick with amusement. "Unfortunate. But you see - you are a unique case."

Cypher's pupils dilated. A small pain writhed in his chest.

"Usually, I would allow a Dreamweaver to study that language. However, that privilege is reserved for nobles." Theo gestured to the balcony, where the archdukes silently shook their heads as if rejecting Cypher's wish automatically.

"Also without noble status, you cannot freely use the dragon arrays. You would need permission each time."

The weight of his words hit like a blade to the chest as Cypher's hands trembled. His breath came sharp and uneven.

'No!'

His shadow warped, lengthening unnaturally as it curled across the floor

"Emperor?" His voice quivered. He tried his best to hold back, a paper thing smile struggling to maintain itself on his fsce

Theo simply watched, unbothered.

And then the ballroom vanished Infront of Cypher.

Nobles, chandeliers and grand columns all faded as he slipped into his own mind. Even the Emporor had dissapeared without a trace.

Only sand remained remained Infront of him now. An endless, raging desert. A storm howled around him, grains of white whipping across his skin. Above him, his soul core thrashed against its chains, trembling and straining to fight back against something l invasive.

Cypher looked up and something finally snapped.

"Fucking bastard! I'll kill them!" His voice cracked as the storm surged in response, the world itself trembling.

Each movement of his hand sent walls of sand cascading outward in voilent and uncontrolled fury.

"Can't move freely?! I'll show you how free I'll be when I snap your fucking neck!"

His body flickered between forms - a boy, and something more monstrous.

A crooked figure with an open beak, black voids where eyes should be. The sand beneath him twisted, trying to form impossible staircases, but each attempt collapsed in on itself.

Then, an agonizing pain. A sharp, foreign sensation crawling beneath his skin, tendrils coiling through his veins.

Cypher gasped before clutching his chest as something inside him stirred. The skin beneath his clothes writhed and squirmed as if to spread across his body.

"I can kill them all…" A whisper slithered through his mind. The familiar voice of the Man in the Wall. But this time, the voice was different. More primal and hungry.

"Let me eat your soul," it cooed, distorting at each syllable ,"And we'll never have to listen to anyone ever again."

'No.' His breath came ragged, 'No, this isn't right.'

Cypher gritted his teeth. He looked towards the formuling staircases as they collapsed under the pressure of his soul core. Only now did he realise that his illness, the paradox that had infested his body was now sleeping into his mind.

Either he would ascend too higher ranks, or he would die. If his soul core remained in its current state, it would simply not have the power to fight back. The end result could only mean one thing... insanity or death.

Cypher exhaled sharply ,'Keep Calm, maintain Control.'

Trying to recall the conversation, Cypher found something to latch onto. Luckily, he was still logical, as without it he would have been checkmated by the Emporors game forever.

"Damn it…" A small, bitter laugh escaped his lips ," I almost missed his little trick."

Then he blinked, and, he was back.

Still kneeling as the Emperor's golden eyes locked onto him. The sorrounding nobles all watching him like vultures waiting to hear his words.

Cypher whispered, his voice just for Theo, "Emperor… what if I become a noble?"

Theo simply smiled in playful amusement, not saying a word in response.