The cat chuckled, a high, thrumming, melodic sound that filled the cramped living quarters.

"I understand, it is a lot to take in," it said. "But you have to understand, Sienna, the world has changed forever more. The monsters you encountered, were just the beginning. There are forces in motion that even I cannot fully comprehend."

I stared at the cat, my mind reeling. "What do you mean? Who are you?"

The cat tilted its head to the side as if considering how to answer. "I am what you might call a Guardian," it said finally. "We are protectors of sorts, tasked with watching over this world and ensuring that balance is maintained."

I frowned, not sure I understood. "What balance?"

"The balance between the Concrete and Abstract," the cat said simply. "You see, Sienna, there are powerful forces at work beyond this world. Forces that seek to upset the delicate balance that underpins the foundations of existence itself. The Concrete represents the physical world — the tangible things that we can see and touch. The Abstract represents the intangible things, like emotions, dreams, and ideas. It's the balance between these two forces that keeps existence in coherence."

I still didn't fully understand, but I stared at the cat in amazement, trying to wrap my head around everything it said.

"What about the powers I gained?" I asked, still trying to make sense of everything. "How did I save Albert? What do they have to do with this balance?"

The cat nodded as if expecting the question. "You have become a Magical Knight, a Concrete being empowered by the powers of the Abstract. Few are ever chosen to wield this strength, which has served humanity for generations by bringing them hope and progress. Our greatest threats are not evil beasts roaming outside, but rather an enemy we must face inside."

"The infected aren't our enemies?" I asked, confused.

"No," the cat said, shaking its head. "They are merely the pawns of the true enemy. An... intellect we understand little about, but a being that pre-dates written history nevertheless. Our human companions of ages past created the [System] so that the people of this age would have an opportunity for survival where those prior did not. Your forebears peered across the veil between worlds and witnessed countless Earths fall to an all-consuming, entropic, primordial Chaos. They understood that a time would eventually come for this enemy to rise again, as they enacted their contingency. And now, that time has arrived as foretold."

I felt a chill run down my spine at the thought of an ancient, malevolent intelligence lurking in the shadows.

"Of course, Supervillains, as we call them, will play as important of a role as the Magical Knights in this bitter war," the cat continued. "The [System] has granted them the ability to manipulate and control the Concrete, using their powers to keep the Magical Knights primed so they can one day defend humanity against the true enemy."

The implications rapidly ran through my head.

"Wait, Is this why supervillains are rarely ever, well, permanently taken out of the picture?" I asked, my mind racing with new possibilities.

The cat nodded sagely. "Indeed," it said. "Supervillains, or rather 'Rogue Elements', as we call them, are a necessary evil. They exist to maintain the balance of power between the forces of Concrete and Abstract. They act as catalysts, pushing the bounds of human potential and forcing the world to adapt, innovate, and evolve. Without them, the world would stagnate. Magic Knights would fail to come to maturity, and the balance would be lost."

I sat there in stunned silence, my mind trying to process the weight of everything the cat had just told me. The idea of an ancient evil pre-dating written history was almost too much to comprehend, let alone the fact that I had somehow become a Magical Knight.

"What do I need to do, then?" I finally asked the cat. "What next?"

The cat shook its head, "We understood that this day would come, but we do not know exactly how it will unfold," it said. "You must continue to hone your newfound powers, for you will be needed in the battles to come. The enemy is already here and spreading like wildfire."

I looked around the cramped living quarters, feeling the burden of responsibility settling on my shoulders. The people huddled together, seeking comfort in their shared fear, seemed so vulnerable. I couldn't let them down. I couldn't let Al down.

"The power of a lone Knight created by our [System] is a pale imitation of a true Avatar, unfortunately," the cat continued. "But you do not have to face this evil alone. Seek out other Magical Knights, their power will strengthen and supplement yours."

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"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath. "I'll do whatever it takes to help. Also, do you have a name?"

The cat let out a low purr, its eyes gleaming with amusement. "My siblings and I have had many names throughout the ages," it said. "But you may call me Bastet."

"Bastet," I repeated, testing the name on my tongue. It fit the mysterious feline well.

"I have many new knights to shepherd, so for now, I must take my leave," Bastet said, standing up and stretching. "But remember, Sienna, the fate of humanity rests on your shoulders now. Embrace your powers, take control of them, and seek out other knights. Together, you may just have a chance against the Enemy."

"Wait!" I shouted, "I don't know how any of this works? How do I use my stats? What do I do next? How do I transform?"

"Consider this a trial by fire, Sienna," Bastet stated. "You will learn as you go, Sienna. Just remember to trust your instincts and your powers. And remember, you are far from alone in this fight. We shall meet again if fate wills it."

The cat vanished in a puff of amber light, leaving me alone in the dimly lit room. I stared at the spot where Bastet had been just moments before, still trying to process everything that had been revealed to me. Sure, I'd always dreamed about this, but I was just a high school freshman with newfound powers I didn't know how to wield.

[Status], I thought, opening my status screen:

Profile

Name: Sienna Russo

Occupation: High School Student [Magical Girl]

Level: 16

HP: 238/238 (??)

MP: 500/500

SP: 204/204 (??)

Status effects: None

Skill points: 8

Attributes

Strength: 4

Constitution: 6

Agility: 7

Intelligence: 17

Charisma: 11

Magic: 20

Skills

Luminary Conversion

Transformation

??

I closed my status screen and took a deep breath. I had a long way to go before I could unlock my full potential as a Magical Knight. But with Bastet's words ringing in my ears, I knew that I had to start somewhere. I stood up, feeling a newfound determination coursing through my veins. It was probably a good time to check on Albert and see if he was okay.

I decided to head over to a bathroom to clean up a bit before checking on Albert, still feeling a little overwhelmed by everything that had just happened. The bathrooms were separated by sex and had communal showers and changing areas. I walked into the girls' bathroom and was relieved to find it empty.

I stepped in front of a sink and splashed water on my face, cleaning some soot and grime off my face. Looking up at my reflection in the mirror, I noticed my eyes glowing faintly with a golden light. Then, my reflected image distorted, as if the glass was warping my features. I frowned and leaned in closer, studying my face intently.

The glow had disappeared, and it was just... plain old me. Bone thin, neck-length brown hair, freckles, hazel eyes, and a slightly crooked nose. Nothing special. I closed my eyes and sighed, feeling a bit disappointed. I had hoped that something would happen, that I could transform, but it seemed like I still had a lot to figure out.

I opened my eyes to see a beautiful, illuminated woman staring back from the mirror. She was clad in a brilliant dress that gleamed in the dim light of the bathroom. My hair had changed from its natural brown to a vibrant shade of strawberry blonde, and my eyes shone with a swirling, red and gold brilliance.

Startled, I stumbled back, accidentally tripping over my own feet. I caught myself before I fell and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.

I look back at the mirror, gasping for breath, only to see my regular face staring back at me.

The hair, dress, and eyes were gone, leaving me feeling both relieved and disappointed. I blinked, wondering if I had imagined the whole thing. But the sensation of power coursing through my veins was still there, like a hum of electricity just beneath my skin. I raised my hand, examining it closely, and noticed a faint amber glow coming from my fingertips.

So it wasn't just my imagination. I really was a Magical Knight. There was still so much to learn, so much to do.

I took a deep breath, trying to center myself, and then walked out of the bathroom.

I returned to the hospital ward they'd set up in the bunker, making my way toward the corner where I had left Albert earlier. As I approached, I noticed him sitting in a cot, looking much better than I had last seen him. His eyes immediately lit up as he saw me coming toward him.

"Hey there," I said, sitting beside him. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," he said. "Thanks to you, I'm alive."

I shook my head. "You don't have to thank me," I said. "I just did what I had to do."

Albert chuckled. "You're way too obvious, you know?" he said. "But seriously, Sienna, I don't know how to repay you."

I shrugged. "Don't worry about it," I said, bending to give him a quick hug. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat. You've always had my back, even back there. I couldn't ever stand to lose you, Al."

"But..." Albert trailed off, his expression shifting to concern. "What's going to happen now?

I took a deep breath and recounted everything that had happened with the mysterious feline. As I spoke, Albert listened intently, his eyes widening with each new detail.

"So, you're a Magical Knight now?" he asked, his voice hushed with awe.

"Yeah... I've always dreamed about becoming a Magical Girl, you know? But they didn't come to me when I was twelve, so I never thought it would actually happen," I admitted.

Albert looked at me with a mix of admiration and concern. "You know, Sienna, you don't have to do this alone," he said. "I can help you. We can figure this out together."

I smiled at him, grateful for his support. "Thanks, Albert. That really means a lot to me."

"So, how's some lunch sound?" Albert asked. "I don't know about you, but I'm hungry enough for canned peas and spam right about now."

I nodded, feeling my stomach grumble in agreement. "That sounds great, actually," I said with a blush.

Suddenly, we were interrupted by a loud, urgent voice coming from outside the bunker.

"Attention, all servicemen! We have received word that the Enemy is advancing toward our location. All soldiers, please report to your designated battle stations immediately. This is not a drill. All civilians — please proceed to the inner safety zones in an orderly fashion."

Albert and I exchanged wide-eyed glances.

"Ah, criminy," Albert muttered.