Kael walked through the narrow streets, keeping his hood pulled tightly over his face, trying to ignore the involuntary glances that kept turning toward him. Each step was a cruel reminder of the curse he carried—the beauty that hypnotized and attracted, even without his desire. The newly-activated Affection System pulsed faintly with every presence around him, emitting a subtle sense of energy, almost imperceptible, yet enough to make him uneasy.
This is going to drive me insane, he murmured to himself, sitting on the ledge of a cold, dirty wall. He ran his hands over his face, as if he could wipe away his own appearance, but he knew there was no escape. Aphrodite had been clear: the beauty was both the tool and the prison that would define his destiny.
Kael recalled the conversation with the goddess again. The Affection System was not just a game of power; it was a subtle weapon, a way to measure involuntary emotions. But he could not fully trust it yet—he did not know what would happen when he confronted someone with intense, conflicting feelings, like the Zombie Emperor.
" Zombie Emperor…" he murmured, the words heavy on his lips. He only had fragments of information, old stories, and rumors told by travelers and bards. It was said he was over three thousand years old, immortal even before becoming a zombie, and that his body, due to the transformation, was slowly becoming feminine and voluptuous.
Kael felt a mix of fear and confusion. If zombification was making the Emperor's body more feminine, that, in theory, could make his mission to impregnate him easier. But there was a crucial detail: he knew almost nothing about the Emperor's personality or desires, nor if he even cared about mortals.
Determined to learn more, Kael began walking toward the busier part of the city, where merchants and beggars exchanged information for coins or favors. He needed any detail that could help him plan.
"Hey! You there!" called a burly merchant, noticing Kael approaching. The boy quickly looked away, feeling a spike of involuntary affection pulse through the System. Kael frowned; the sensation was confusing, almost painful. He could not let the power the System offered affect his decisions now.
" I… I'm just curious about the Zombie Emperor" Kael said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Do you know anything about him?"
The merchant's eyes widened, visibly nervous. " Who wants to know? No one talks about him without permission." He swallowed hard. "Just rumors… they say he lives in a palace surrounded by impossible walls, that he protects the realm of the living and feeds his people with… with his own body, or something like that."
Kael nodded slowly, absorbing every word. Each detail confirmed his perception: entering the realm of the undead would not be a simple visit, and any approach without preparation would be suicide. Additionally, he remembered the monster hunters' guild. Missions inside the zombie realm were offered only to Rank A or higher. Kael did not yet have that level, and any infiltration attempt would be nearly impossible.
" Rank A or higher…" he murmured, staring at the ground. He was just a thief, physically weak, with no formal training. All he had were his stealth skills and Aphrodite's curse. But would that be enough?
Kael began reflecting on his past once more. Memories of his mother teaching him to survive in the streets, stealing small things to avoid starving, surfaced in his mind. Every harsh lesson he had learned now seemed strangely relevant. Survival was no longer just about outsmarting guards or merchants—it was about outsmarting fate itself.
He would need to use his intelligence and the Affection System strategically. Perhaps he could accumulate enough power from people around him without letting himself be overwhelmed by the involuntary attention his beauty provoked. But that would require extreme caution.
Kael decided to visit a small tavern, known for being frequented by travelers carrying rumors about distant territories. He settled into a dark corner, discreetly observing everyone who entered. The Affection System began giving subtle signals, indicating gazes and curiosity. He tried to block the effects, maintaining control, while his hands clenched into tight fists.
"So this is it… I need to learn to manipulate this" he murmured, watching as small sparks of energy danced in the air around people who came too close. "If I don't… the curse will consume me."
An old woman selling herbs and potions approached. " I see you carry a heavy burden, boy. " Her eyes, tired yet alive, fixed on him. " I feel something… strange from you. It's uncommon, even among thieves."
Kael stepped back slightly, but the woman continued, ignoring the hood. " Your power attracts, even without trying. But be careful: not everyone who feels drawn to you will want your good. Some only want to take."
The Affection System pulsed stronger. Kael felt a wave of energy rush through his body, and for the first time, he realized it was more than just glances or attention. There was real potential for power—but also enormous risk if discovered or misused.
" I need to learn to control this," he murmured, leaving the tavern. The city around him seemed small now, but every alley, every merchant, every resident could be a source of information or power.
Kael walked to the top of a nearby hill, observing the entire city under the pale light of dawn. He thought of the Zombie Emperor, surrounded by impossible walls, unreachable, and at the same time vulnerable in a way no one could perceive. The feminine, voluptuous body, the immortality, the emotional coldness… all of it was a challenge that made him tense, but also awakened a strange determination inside him.
"I cannot fail" he said, clenching his fists tightly. "Three years. Three years to discover, manipulate, and… make him care for me."
Kael breathed deeply, feeling the cold air fill his lungs. Every thought seemed clearer, every detail more important. He needed to carefully plan every step: learn about the undead realm, about the emperor, about potential allies and enemies. The Affection System would be a powerful tool, but also a double-edged weapon.
As the sun rose, slowly illuminating rooftops and alleys, Kael remembered his entire life up to that point. Every cold night, every desperate theft, every narrow escape… all of it seemed to have been preparation for something greater. And now he stood on the edge of the impossible, carrying not only his life but also the destiny Aphrodite had imposed on him.
"Then let's begin" he murmured. "Step by step. Information, power, planning… and if it all goes wrong, at least I will have tried."
Kael took a deep breath once more and descended the hill, disappearing into the city streets. The mission Aphrodite had given him seemed impossible, but he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time: a spark of hope.
The world could be cruel, the curse could be crushing, but Kael had something few possessed: intelligence, cunning, and now, a blessing that could change everything.