Heena had barely stepped past the heavy, dragon-carved wooden doors of the Emperor's hall when the suffocating, heavy aura of the throne room finally broke. She took a deep breath of the crisp, unadulterated evening air of the capital, letting the chill clear her lungs.
Right on cue, a familiar, glowing blue orb phased into existence beside her right shoulder. The System hovered in the air, its digital interface displaying an expression of profound, unadulterated judgment that seemed to physically radiate from its pixelated form.
"Host," the System deadpanned, its voice ringing in her mind like a disappointed bell. "Do you actually know what the concept of shame is?"
Heena didn't even break her stride. Her custom-forged, silk-stuffed tactical metal kneecaps clicked softly underneath the heavy hem of her dark military gown with every step she took down the pristine white marble stairs.
