The Tyrant’s Cherished Flower

As she lay helplessly on her deathbed, Kalliste heard the whimpers of her two treasured pets from outside her door. Their cries created a melodic sound in her ears and blasted a hole in her heart with a freezing altitude. It seemed that they felt their master's life fading away.

Kalliste sighed.

She knew this would be where they parted ways. Reflecting on the past, she realised that her diagnosis of 'Phthisis Cutis' occurred exactly one year ago. Her body slowly succumbed to an incurable and repulsive skin disease. Not even the bones were spared by this dreadful illness.

The faith healer theorised that she was now reaping the terrible karma for all her unpardonable sins, contrary to the experts' claims of a curse. She believed the latter's statements. If this was her destiny, so be it. She was already exhausted and wished nothing more than to leave this shell of a body.

With all the strength that she had left, Kalliste slowly scanned her surroundings.

The faint lights in her almost empty room gave her eyes a pleasant feeling.

"Would I finally die this time around?"

A bittersweet smile etched on her face. She could not even lift her hands, let alone a finger. She could hardly move her head slowly from side to side.

As the cold breeze entered her room through the open windows, the fragrant scent of lilies and roses bombarded her nose. From where she lay, Kalliste watched how the magnificent rays of the sun slowly hid behind the darkness of the night. The scintillating moon now hung over the horizon, causing the Emerald Forest to seem like a gateway towards a fantastical realm.

"Had I chosen another path, would I have been happy?" As she gently closed her eyes, Kalliste's long lashes flattered. Her mind wondered towards a distant past.

Kalliste was an orphan; however, she was not sad about it. She had numerous siblings in the orphanage. Their mother figure was a compassionate woman who loved them all dearly.

Growing up, she was like a moon surrounded by billions of stars. She embodied the essence of a supreme deity, lost in the mortal realm. No matter how beautiful the other ladies might be, they always seemed to miss something in comparison. If the other girls were lovely fairies, then Kalliste would be a goddess basking in the moonlight. The world referred to her as the epitome of existence. She possessed a remarkable talent for various forms of art, to such an extent that it was terrifying.

She hated attention, though, and would rather lock herself up in her room. Growing up, she only had one wish. She aspired to lead a normal life, shielded from the scrutinising gaze of others. Find a worthy man, have a family of her own, grow old with her loved ones, and die with a contented smile on her face. However, those aspirations remained unattainable. Just as she reached her fifteenth birthday, Earth was invaded by powerful cyborg machines. That was how the first war broke out.

That moment turned her world upside down. The sudden invasion took the lives of almost four billion people. The remaining humans had no choice but to fight. She was one of those survivors. The massive trauma and her strong will to live caused something inside of her to awaken the dormant powers that she had unknowingly possessed.

As she walked the path of a legend, she became the last hope and light of humanity. However, no one knew the unbearable sorrow and grief that she bore.

Being a warrior robbed her of everything that she truly wanted. She did not even have an opportunity to shed tears for her fallen comrades, as she was always on the battlefield.

When she got rid of the Cyborg King, Kalliste thought that the world would finally have some peace.

However, as soon as she got back, she was immediately deemed a terrifying monster to be kept alive. Despite everything she had done for them, they all turned their backs on her. The shock she experienced that day was so intense that she nearly lost her mind.

When she got to her senses, Kalliste realised that she had to survive. Thus, after destroying the organisation, she fled for her freedom. Soon enough, they hunted her down as a traitor to humanity.

After over a century of constant war, Kalliste finally learnt valuable lessons. A true warrior learnt to live with pain and guilt that never healed. Accept hatred and anger like sweet honey, and embrace anguish as a part of her life.

For a war veteran such as her, engaging in ceaseless battles and eliminating billions of people like insects. It became a daily routine for her. Yet she still struggled for her goals. To see another sunrise, to fight another day. For over a century, she strived for dominance, knowledge, and supremacy. Kalliste knew that her fate was sealed, but not her dreams.

Her desire for a peaceful life would remain unfulfilled as long as she walked the path of the legendary Kortik. A monstrous and bloodthirsty beast of the battlefield.

Beauty, prestige, honour, skills, intelligence, and power. In the end, nothing really mattered when one was already on the brink of death.

Crash.

The loud sounds of lightning and thunder brought Kalliste back to reality. However, she was too worn out to keep her eyes open. As her vision faded to nothingness, the last thing she saw was the dusty book that was sitting on her table. Her only source of joy in this exhausting existence.

She smiled as she tried to reach for it. However, her eyes slowly closed as her breathing became heavy.

For the last time, Kalliste drew a deep breath as she finally entered her eternal slumber with a smile on her face.

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Kalliste did not know how long she was asleep, but she regained her consciousness because of the muffled voices around her. As she opened her eyes, her vision became blurry. Everything was dark, and the loud sounds immediately assaulted her ears. She cringed. She wanted to say something, but her throat was parched. Not even saliva could pass through, as it was painful with every swallow. Her body was stiff. It felt like all muscles rebelled against her will.

'Water.'

Minutes passed, and the voices became clearer. She could also define some objects and the colours of her surroundings.

Though her memory was still vague and clouded, one thing was for sure. She died.

'Am I already in hell? I guess I am. My whole body, as well as my soul, was tainted with so much blood. For over a century, I could not even imagine the number of people that I killed with my hands. Even in death, I could never atone for the terrible sin I committed.'

Kalliste sighed.

'If this was truly an inferno, I would gladly accept any severe penalties imposed upon me. Perhaps this would alleviate my remorse for the innocent lives lost.'

After waiting for some time, the sudden submersion of her body in water startled her. Of course, she struggled. Who wouldn't? But then again, perhaps her punishment already began? She could barely see anything in the dark, but who cared? However, something was wrong. As she sank to the bottom, it got harder and harder to breathe.

'Was this normal? I was already dead, so I shouldn't have felt this way. Or was I?'

Kalliste attempted to return to the surface, but something thick and slimy stuck to her foot.

'Algae! Why now?'

As she struggled, the cold water slowly found its way into her mouth. She lost control. With that split second, her lungs and stomach were already overwhelmed with so much liquid. It had become difficult to breathe. The powerful currents pounded her body with immense force. Because of severe fatigue, her consciousness faded to nothingness for the second time around.

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Kalliste woke up with a loud and long inhale. Her heart thumped like mad as she gasped for some air. Even though her throat was dry and her breathing was painful, she was able to relax. The first thing she saw was the luminous moon, which illuminated the clear blue water with a pearly glow.

"What in the world! Why am I in a cave?" Kalliste quickly scanned her surroundings. The ground was full of dead twigs, carcasses of animals, and insects that crawled everywhere. The ceiling was also full of stalagmites and stalactites that looked like giant bones and fangs, which made the place creepier. It was infested with large bats. They slept within their folded, velvety wings. She narrowed her eyes. It was her first time seeing a chiropteran the size of an adult's arm.

When a strong and cold breeze suddenly shrieked through the large cave mouth, Kalliste immediately covered her mouth and nose. The smell of decay and animal faeces almost turned her stomach upside-down. It made her nauseous. She also saw how the bat's wings fluttered, as though they were awoken by the wind.

'Shoot! I have to get out of here before I become their snack.' With that in mind, Kalliste tried to stand, only to fall on her knees. That was when she finally noticed a change in her frame.

"Huh? Why are my hands this small?"

Kalliste immediately inspects her whole body. It took her some time to realise what was going on.

"No way! It can't be!"

Ignoring her faltering legs, she glanced down on the water. What she saw almost knocked her unconscious. Instead of an old woman with white hair, wrinkled skin, and exposed bones, she saw a kid with an alluring charm, even beyond words. The moon's radiance glimmered on her long, silky golden hair. It played gently with the wind, as if it had its own sentience.

"Who is this child? Am I hallucinating now?" Kalliste frowned and immediately reached for the water to disperse it, but the child in the water simply mimicked her actions.

"Hey! Stop copying me!"

Her shout echoed within the cave. For the next few minutes, she was like a madman as she tried everything to eliminate the trick.

"I give up. I can't do this anymore."

Kalliste stared at the reflection. Even though it was only a child, all would be gobsmacked with lustful and flaring eyes with only one glance. Even the word "supreme beauty" was not enough to describe her. The child possessed an exquisitely peerless beauty that reached far beyond an unbelievable level. An impeccable masterpiece under the heavens. Long, velvety lashes that fluttered like butterfly wings with every move. Lips that would shame the colour of blood, as well as a flawless complexion that looked even more divine under the glimmer of the moon. She also had a well-proportioned eye that complimented her heart-shaped face. A countenance that would surely be coveted by all, even by the gods.

Somehow, the child looked familiar. It reminded Kalliste of herself when she was only a child. However, it had been more than a century since she last looked in the mirror. As soon as the war broke out, she had no time to look in the mirror.

After careful observation, reality slammed into her.

"What the hell? How was something like this possible!"

She was looking at her reflection when she was just a child!