2. Reputation System

The object in Ravenna’s hands resembled a Rubik’s cube, but unlike any she’d ever seen. Crafted from metal and glass, it gleamed faintly under the moonlight, revealing delicate flower petals preserved inside the glass compartments of each cube section. It looked ancient, with patches of rust on the metal framing and faint scratches on the glass, suggesting it had been crafted centuries ago.

“This must’ve once been a magical device,” Ravenna murmured thoughtfully, her fingers tracing its edges. "There’s no other reason for it to contain flower petals.” In The Light’s Conquest, magic was inherently tied to flowers, with various types required for different spells. Mages cultivated unique species—some grown only in specific regions—to perform specific effects, and spells were cast by burning, cutting, or crushing the blooms to unleash their powers. Cross-breeding flowers to create specific magical properties or combining petals for multi-faceted spells is a sophisticated practice. Even the lights in the palace relied on flowers for magic, using them as catalysts to illuminate the rooms after sunset. It made sense, then, to assume that this peculiar cube was a magic artifact.

At first, Ravenna was hesitant to tamper with it, fearing a hidden danger. But considering that it might be connected to the hidden vault, her curiosity won out. Carefully, she rotated one of the cube’s sections as if solving a puzzle. For a few moments, nothing happened, and she almost sighed in disappointment, assuming the mechanism had broken after all these years. But then, without warning, the flower petals vanished, and the cube began to dissolve in her hands, the substance liquefying and seeping into her skin before she could react.

“No! Stop! Get off!” Ravenna gasped, frantically trying to rub the substance off her palms, but it was too late—the cube had completely absorbed into her skin. Panic clawed at her as she considered what she might have unleashed. “Was it a weapon? Some sort of poison?” The thought drove her to the edge, and she turned, ready to dash toward the Imperial Mage Tower to seek help.

Suddenly, a strange sensation pulsed in her chest. She placed her hands over her heart, feeling warmth radiate through her body. The sensation climbed to her throat, then surged up to her head. Ravenna stumbled, her vision shifting as something materialized before her—a translucent screen, floating in midair. Blinking, she recognized the outline, which resembled a modern interface from her past life. As it focused, words formed on the screen in Minlin, the empire’s language, though they soon morphed into English.

“What… in the world?” Ravenna reached out, attempting to touch the screen, but her hand passed straight through it.

“Wait—does that mean…” Ravenna trailed off, her eyes widening. It sounded like the device was trying to read both her own mind and whatever remnants of Ravenna’s original memories lingered in this body.

The screen flickered, glitching as it shifted from a book-like form to a flat panel again, as though struggling to decide on a familiar shape.

Realizing this would take some time, Ravenna sank onto the floor, watching as the spell continued loading like a game screen from her previous life. She had no idea what tasks this strange device would assign, but with any luck, they would reveal something about the hidden vault.

The screen glitched again, then resumed its text.

After a few tense moments, it seemed to complete its scan, and a new line of text appeared.

“Wait—are you using the real Ravenna’s memories to assign tasks?” she muttered, trying to decipher the meaning.

“Reputation… system?” she questioned aloud, frowning at the panel as it continued to flicker in and out.

Just then, a knock at her door interrupted her thoughts. She turned to see a knight bowing respectfully.

“Your Highness! The carriages are ready, and everyone awaits your command.”

At the Imperial Palace’s entrance, carriages were lined up, ready for her departure. The air buzzed with quiet urgency, and Ravenna noted the absence of any formal farewells from her siblings or even the emperor. It was clear to everyone: this was not a journey of honor, but an exile disguised as a royal reward. The nobles, especially her siblings, were all too pleased to see her go, relieved of the competition for the throne.

Stepping into her luxurious carriage, she observed the opulence inside—a stark contrast to her current circumstances. Thankfully, the magical suspensions in the carriage softened the ride’s movement, sparing her from the uncomfortable rocking of an ordinary carriage. With a sigh, Ravenna settled into her seat as the head knight gave the order to move.

“I suppose I should review my notes,” Ravenna muttered, reaching into one of her bags for a small, leather-bound book. She had been documenting every memory she retained from the novel in this journal. Memory is fleeting, she reminded herself, and as time went on, her recollection of the story might fade, leaving her vulnerable. This book would be her guide, a lifeline to navigate the treacherous world ahead.

In the novel The Light’s Conquest, Ravenna was a minor villainess, a member of a faction that opposed Prince William. He, a central figure in the protagonist, Eugene’s life, would later become a staunch ally to the hero. Ravenna’s involvement didn’t last long; her role in the political struggle would come to an end after she was outmaneuvered by a rumour that she killed her own Mother, resulting in her exile. In the story, her ruthlessness was legendary, her enemies whispering tales of her cruelty and sharp wit. She was said to operate with cold precision, inspiring fear and respect in equal measure.

“Acting like her has been my best move so far,” she murmured. Upon realizing her new identity, Ravenna had resolved to embody the character’s infamous attitude. Sudden changes in behavior would easily arouse suspicion, and for now, playing the role of the “villainess” would allow her to keep control of her situation.

Ravenna shifted her focus to the mysterious panel that had appeared earlier. “Let’s see what this thing does,” she muttered, willing the display to activate again. The floating screen reappeared, glowing faintly.

“What’s a reputation system?” she thought aloud, watching as the panel morphed in response.

“Universal Origin?” she echoed, her eyes widening. The Universal Origin was said to be the ultimate magic, wielded only by the legendary hero Luminous. In ancient lore, Luminous had described it as a magic that could adapt to its user’s needs, granting near-omnipotent power.

“Why was something like this just lying around in the imperial palace?” she muttered, her mind racing. If this “reputation system” was really linked to such an ancient and powerful force, then she may have just stumbled upon the greatest tool at her disposal.

The panel flickered, showing additional details:

“So, this is a stepping stone to using that power?” Ravenna mused aloud, feeling a surge of excitement. She hesitated before murmuring, “Main menu?” Instantly, the screen shifted, displaying a list of her current stats.

[Reputation System v0.1

User: Ravenna Solarius / Joy Cha Kim

Reputation Level: 60 (4300/8200)

Current Reputation Points: 12,000

Reputation Rate: 34% decrease in last 24 hours

Titles: Raven of Sun Palace, Unruly Princess

{Reputation Points Log} {Spend Reputation Points}]

“This really is like a game,” she muttered, noting the layout of the interface. Her “level” at 60 seemed high, but given Ravenna’s notoriety as an imperial princess, it made sense. Infamy, it seemed, was just as valuable as fame.

“Guess any publicity is good publicity,” she joked, noting her points and reputation rate. Her standing had dropped since her exile, as expected. “With me out of the capital, Ravenna’s influence is waning fast.”

Curious, she clicked on “Titles,” and descriptions for each title appeared:

[Raven of Sun Palace:

Bestowed by the nobility of Ancorna Empire after Ravenna dismantled three major houses for offending her, without a drop of blood spilled.

Effects: Increases fear and respect from nobility by 7-12%. (Cannot be unequipped)]

[Unruly Princess:

Given by palace workers and citizens for Ravenna’s extravagant spending and her habit of dismissing workers and guards for minor offenses.

Effects: Increases prices on purchases by 4-9%. (Cannot be unequipped)]

“What? A penalty on prices?” Ravenna groaned, realizing the downside of her infamy. As if her finances weren’t strained enough, this title would make every transaction more costly. Frustrated but undeterred, she refocused and selected the "Spend Reputation Points" option, curious to see what it might offer.

As she opened the menu, a list of options appeared before her, each promising powers and resources that seemed almost surreal:

Access to the Internet: 100 Points per HourAccess to Magic Spell Library: 100 Points per HourGeographical Scans: 5 Points per 1 KilometerNullify Minor Poison Damage on Self: 250 PointsNullify minor Poison Damage on Others: 350 Points per EntityMinor Heal: 1,000 Points per EntityMajor Heal: (Locked)Lie Detector: (Locked)

Ravenna’s eyes widened as she skimmed through the list. "Access to the Internet? A Magic Spell Library?" The possibilities thrilled her; the idea of tapping into knowledge and magic with ease was incredibly appealing. If she could unlock more abilities, she might have a real chance to rise above her situation and chart her own path.

Her gaze lingered on some of the pricier abilities, wondering just how useful they could be. Then, a question arose in her mind, "Wait... how exactly do I earn Reputation Points?"

Almost as if the system were listening, a new panel appeared in response to her query:

Daily Points: Gain 100 Reputation Points per day for every 10 reputation levels.

Ravenna’s eyes lit up as she did the math. "So, with my level at 60, I’d get 600 points every day?" She scrolled further, and sure enough, the log displayed a breakdown of points she had earned and her daily accumulation rate.

Daily Points: 600 PointsEarned 2 Points: For making an unforgettable impression on the nobility.Earned 1 Point: For causing an unforgettable annoyance to the Imperial Prince.Spent 1200 Points: Emergency Nullify Major Poison Damage on Self

"So, I can earn extra points from events, even if they're minor? It’s something, at least." She couldn’t help but smirk at the idea that her notorious acts could actually help her gain an advantage. Even if individual events didn’t earn many points, every bit counted.

Ravenna leaned back, absorbing this information. This system, though unpredictable, might just be the key she needed. If she could master it and strategically earn points, she could access knowledge, magic, and even healing abilities that would turn her exile into an opportunity.

While thinking this, she suddenly noticed the latest log, “What I was poisoned?!”