The cold fury that had simmered within Seraphina now ignited into a blazing inferno. Poison. They dared to use poison on the Empress of Aethel? Even in this pathetic body, her instincts screamed for retribution. But raw power was not an option. Not yet. She needed to be cunning, to use her intellect, and most importantly, to leverage this mysterious System.
"Quest: Survive the Night. Objective: Avoid fatal harm until dawn. Current time: 22:15. Dawn: 06:00."
The System's detached voice reminded her of the immediate task. She couldn't confront them directly. Not when she was weak, unarmed, and trapped. Evasion or counter-attack. Evasion was the smarter choice for now. But how?
Her gaze swept the meager room again. The window. It was her only way out. But it was on the second floor, and below lay a cobbled courtyard. A fall would likely break her already fragile bones.
"Host has detected a potential escape route. Evaluating feasibility… Low probability of success without external aid or enhanced physical attributes."
"No kidding," Anya muttered, a hint of her old sarcasm returning. She needed to think. What resources did she have? The System. It had offered a reward: a basic cultivation technique and System Points. Could she use those now?
She focused on the translucent panel in her mind. 'Skills.' She tapped it mentally. Nothing. 'Inventory.' Empty. 'Shop.' A new panel appeared, filled with glowing icons and cryptic descriptions. Her eyes widened. There were pills, elixirs, weapons, even… cultivation manuals. But each had a price, listed in 'System Points.' She had zero.
Frustration gnawed at her. She was a queen, a master of her own destiny, and now she was reduced to this, a beggar in her own mind, dependent on a digital interface. But then, a thought struck her. The 'Basic Cultivation Technique' was a reward for completing the quest. What if she could start the quest now, and gain some immediate benefit?
She mentally navigated back to 'Quests.' The 'Survive the Night' quest was still active. She focused on it, a desperate hope blooming in her chest. Is there a way to… activate the reward early?
"Negative. Rewards are granted upon successful completion of the quest. However, Host can utilize existing resources to improve chances of success."
Existing resources? She had none. Unless… Anya looked at her hands again. They were weak, yes, but they were hers. And her mind, though burdened by Anya Volkov's memories, was still Seraphina's. She had centuries of combat experience, of strategic thinking, of understanding the flow of energy.
She closed her eyes, trying to recall the feeling of Aether flowing through her meridians. It was a faint echo, a ghost of a memory. But it was there. This world might not have Aether, but it had something. Life force. Vitality. She could feel it, a subtle hum in the air, in the plants outside, even in her own weak body.
She began to circulate her internal energy, not Aether, but the raw life force of this body, in the patterns of a basic cultivation technique she had learned as a child. It was rudimentary, almost laughable compared to the profound arts she had mastered, but it was a start. A faint warmth spread through her limbs, a tingling sensation that promised more.
"Host is attempting self-cultivation. Detecting rudimentary energy circulation. Efficiency: 0.01%. Recommendation: Continue practice to improve physical attributes."
It was slow, agonizingly slow, but it was progress. She felt a minuscule surge of strength, enough to perhaps… jump. She looked at the window again. It was still a dangerous leap, but now, perhaps, survivable.
She heard footsteps approaching the door. They were coming. She had to act now. With a surge of newfound determination, she pushed the window open, the cool night air washing over her face. Below, the cobbled courtyard seemed to stretch endlessly. She took a deep breath, channeling every ounce of her will into her weak limbs. This was not just about surviving. This was about proving them wrong. This was about the Empress of Aethel, reborn.
[End of Chapter 3]