Catherine’s expression softened.
She didn’t let go, but he could feel her take a slow breath before answering.
Her fingers tightened slightly on his sleeve, and her voice came out low.
"I... don’t know where to start," she said quietly. "That day, I thought I lost you too. But... Mother saved you."
Isaac’s eyes narrowed slightly, though his tone stayed calm. "Why?"
He made sure his voice carried no anger.
Catherine was already emotional, and he didn’t want to push her further.
He needed to stay steady, for both of them.
Catherine looked away for a moment, as if searching for words. "I didn’t awaken even after I thought you were dead. After that, I think my psyche would have shattered completely. So Mother made sure you were alive, and—"
"She used me as a hostage," Isaac finished for her.
Catherine’s breath caught.
He spoke in the same even tone, but there was something sharp underneath his calm expression. "If you didn’t follow her orders, she would’ve killed me. She knew it would eat away at your mind, and keep you under control."
Catherine didn’t answer, but silence told him enough.
Isaac knew his guess was right.
That was exactly how Mother worked, slowly tightening the chain until escape felt impossible.
He could picture it now.
Catherine constantly worrying about his safety, knowing that one wrong move would cost his life.
The stress would build until it broke her resistance, forcing her to awaken.
And then Mother would place her in even more dangerous situations to increase the pressure.
Isaac’s hands curled into fists.
His emotions flared up again, burning hot and heavy in his chest.
He was thankful he had learned that emotion-calming technique long ago.
Without it, he would’ve already lost control.
He forced out a breath, steadying his mind, and finally said, "I’m sorry."
"What?"
"It’s because of me Mother could hold you hostage. It would’ve been better if I hadn’t been there. Then, you could’ve refused her. You could’ve—"
"Don’t you ever say that," Catherine interrupted sharply.
Her tone wasn’t loud, but it carried weight.
"Never say it would’ve been better if you weren’t there," she said, her voice trembling with restrained anger. "If you weren’t there, I wouldn’t have had the courage to live. I would’ve ended myself that day when our siblings died."
Her words hit him harder than any punch.
He could feel the buried rage, grief, and guilt inside her voice.
It wasn’t just sadness, it was everything she’d been carrying for years.
Isaac looked down, quiet for a moment.
Then he made up his mind.
He would have his revenge on Mother.
It wasn’t something he needed to even think about.
Now that he had his memories back, he realized that this was what he’d been preparing for all along.
Every bit of training, every scar, every goal, it all led back to her.
But before he could say anything, Catherine sighed softly. "Don’t even think about it."
Isaac blinked.
She reached out and touched his temple while still holding him close.
A faint wave of calm spread through his mind, softening his anger.
"Why?" he asked. "Mother did—"
"I know what she did," Catherine cut in, her tone quiet but firm. "But we can’t do anything to her, Isaac."
He frowned. "You’re saying she’s still that strong?"
"I wasn’t sure before, but now I am. Only a Lord who rules over an Apex-rank species could even come close to defeating her," Catherine said slowly,
Isaac fell silent, thinking about her words.
Even the Florathi, known for their endless wars, were classified as a mid-rank species.
Their top warriors were strong, but most of their population wasn’t close to that level.
So, what kind of power would a Lord have if every one of their people was Apex-rank?
The thought was terrifying, but also motivating.
"You know," Isaac said after a pause, "I thought of a goal when I became a Lord."
Catherine tilted her head slightly. "What goal?"
"I’ll make sure every warrior and citizen in my city reaches Apex rank," he said.
Catherine went silent again.
His words told her everything she needed to know.
He wasn’t just setting a goal for power or pride.
He was preparing for war.
She bit her lower lip, realizing he wouldn’t change his mind.
He never did once he decided something.
That stubbornness was both his greatest strength and his worst flaw.
"Isaac..." she said softly.
Her voice trailed off.
She wanted to tell him to stop, but she knew it wouldn’t work.
After a few seconds, she sighed.
"Fine. But we will be in this together. I will fight with you, and you’ll must promise you would heed my words. Mother isn’t someone we can face without preparation. If you want to reach her, your city must first reach Apex rank for every citizen. Only then will we have a chance."
Isaac nodded slowly. "I understand."
He thought for a moment, then asked, "What were you doing with Mother all this time?"
Catherine didn’t reply.
Her silence said enough.
He sighed and gave her a small nod.
"It’s fine. Take your time. Tell me when you’re ready."
She nodded back, eyes soft but distant.
She spoke, slowly, "I would’ve been with her forever. But Master saved me."
"Sword Empress?"
"Yes, she’s the reason I can live without that fear now. Because of her, I can talk about this without collapsing," Catherine said.
Isaac looked at her closely. "Sword Empress is that strong?"
Catherine shook her head.
"No, it’s not about strength," she said.
There was a small, genuine smile on her face, one Isaac could not see due to their position.
Her voice softened as she continued, "Master has strength, yes, but what saved me wasn’t her power. It was how the Three Colors saw her."
It was strange seeing her like this.
Catherine, who usually carried herself like a calm, and mischievous seductress, now looked almost human. Warm. Vulnerable.
Normally, she would act mature and collected. Always composed, never showing weakness.
But when she spoke about her Master, there was a fondness in her tone.
"Master never told me everything, but I know one thing. Mother’s organization, the Three Colors... Master was involved with their founding members."
Isaac’s expression tightened. "She was part of them?"
"That, I’m not sure of," Catherine said. "However, because the founding members know her, they treat her with a certain level of respect. But they had a fallout when she took me away. After that, they didn’t go after her. Still, she lost any power she had to command them. They stopped listening to her words."
Isaac stayed quiet for a few seconds.
He had expected the Sword Empress to have a complicated past, but this was beyond what he imagined.
To think she was tied to the origin of Mother’s organization... it made the situation heavier.
The silence between them stretched.
The faint sound of wind brushing against the walls filled the room.
After a moment, they finally let go of each other.
Catherine stepped back first, brushing her hair behind her ear.
Isaac’s tone turned serious again.
"About Alice. The Calloway estate, and the banquet that day . Everyone there was controlled by Mother. Why?"
He now knew that the mysterious person he had met was Mother.
Catherine frowned.
"I’m not sure. But I think... Alice is like me," she said, lowering her voice.
Isaac blinked. "A Conqueror Candidate?"
"A dormant one," Catherine explained. "To become a true Conqueror, one must first awaken as a Candidate. Then, they have to complete certain Quests to reach the next stage."
Isaac frowned. "So she hadn’t awakened yet?"
"No," Catherine said. "But it’s possible Mother wanted to force her awakening. Maybe the banquet, the control over the people, it was all part of that. Only a Conqueror would make Mother attack a city that is under Master’s protection."
Isaac didn’t say anything at first, but the realization hit him hard.
He knew of the future.
If he hadn’t helped Alice awaken, her family would’ve turned against her.
She would have been cast out, blamed for everything, and left to survive on her own in the wilderness.
He could picture that version of events clearly.
Alice, wandering the wilderness, angry and broken, trying to get strong enough to take revenge.
By the time she returned, the city would’ve been gone, destroyed completely.
And that scene would’ve broken Alice.
That was the kind of person she was.
Cold on the surface, distant and sharp with her words, but deep inside, she cared too much.
She always had.
Even if she returned to the city in the future for revenge, she would’ve still cared about her family.
She was kinder than anyone Isaac knew.
That was probably what Mother wanted.
To give her a mental shock so severe that it broke her completely.
To awaken her as a Conqueror Candidate through grief and anger.
Isaac’s jaw tightened.
He could feel it again, the familiar anger boiling up in his chest.
His fingers curled slightly, and for a moment, his aura flickered.
The hatred he felt for Mother was deep and bitter, far beyond what words could describe.
He took a slow breath, forcing himself to stay calm.
Still, his thoughts kept racing.
The destruction that was meant to happen in the future... it was coming tomorrow.
Isaac had been wondering why it was coming early.
But now he knew.
This disaster was caused by Mother.
"You don’t need to worry about Alice," Catherine said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Isaac turned toward her. "What do you mean?"