I had long grown weary over the millennia of ruling over my vast empire. The endless repetition of everyday life had become indistinguishable from the eons of boredom I endured while traversing the universe before discovering life. The only solace I found now resided in the moments I spent with my beloved family. Everything else had become a burdensome duty I carried for eternity.

Finally, I reached a firm conclusion. Change was imperative, and I took decisive action. I named my daughter Empress in my stead, while I assumed the title of Overlord, satisfying my insatiable need to stand above all others, including my own children. Yet, a small part of me yearned for an equal companion.

What had once started as the assimilation of a few human tribes into my species had since burgeoned into a multi-galactic empire, fully colonizing hundreds of galaxies. This tremendous expansion was made possible by a pair of twins who each gained dominion over the Principal of Space. Their control over this principle defied everything I had previously known. Their abilities and the way they wielded them exposed my own incompetence in utilizing my own powers. While a Principle did grant control over a specific aspect, it also granted the ability to discard and reshape the rules according to the user's intent and desires.

This revelation ignited a revolution among those in my family who, like myself, had unknowingly placed limits upon themselves. Elizabeth's Principal of Fortune transformed from a rarely experienced phenomenon into an everyday occurrence. She gained permanent control over the weather and even manipulated astrological events. The world upon which I had initially settled, was supposed to have been consumed by our sun turning into a supernova aeons ago, yet it remained the official capital planet of our realm, all thanks to Elizabeth and her Principal of Fortune.

Her extended ability played a significant role in my decision to select her as my successor. Her power had the capacity to influence others to act favorably towards her. Although it fell short of the potency of my Principal of Tyranny in controlling people, her influence could sway them when my control was not necessary. With the activation of my Aura of the Tyrant, all would bow before me. However, such demonstrations of power were seldom required within our hierarchical society, as the lesser beings inherently submitted to those they perceived as superior, unless extraordinary circumstances arose.

Most of my exertions were directed towards humans and the half-breeds within the empire. Humans, like all animals, would inevitably attempt to bite the hand that feeds them. While I possessed a myriad of abilities at my disposal, I predominantly employed my "Aura of the Tyrant" to keep them in line. I understood that I should have eradicated them long ago, but I derived pleasure from keeping them as pets. Among the millions of planets we had colonized, they proved to be the most captivating companions.

The half-breeds, born of the union between Alexandrians and humans, skirted the boundaries of the natural order. However, their partial connection to my bloodline granted them a degree of tolerance. I employed my ability on them only when they overstepped their boundaries, instigating foolish endeavors such as revolutions or separatist movements. In such cases, I would personally step foot on the problematic planet, and my Principal of Tyranny would break their will.

I had long assimilated all the races I could find within this universe. Although other races existed, their differences were often superficial. Consequently, my pastime of assimilating new species and elevating them to join my lineage had long come to an end. In fact, I now proudly bear the title of foremother to 23 thousand distinct races, all united under the umbrella of the Alexandrians.

"Ah, those times were undoubtedly interesting," I muttered to myself, reminiscing about the past.

"What are you talking about, grandmother?" William, my great-grandson, asked, having likely overheard my words during our afternoon together.

"You are aware of my origins and how I created you and the other lesser races within the empire," I pointed at a human servant girl standing gracefully behind me. "Well, during that time, I would fragment myself and inhabit newborns to assume control over them. Those were some of the most exhilarating lives I have ever lived, and truthfully, I miss the experience of struggling, loving, suffering... or in other words truly living."

"Why did you stop? Was it because of the empire? Now that grandmother has assumed your duties, you are free to pursue whatever you please. Or is it that the vast distances restrict your abilities?"

"No, the empire is not the reason I halted such endeavors. In fact, many of the worlds we colonized were home to species that did not originate from our homeland and so I had to inhabit at least one of their members to see if they were worthy of joining us as Alexandrians. As for my abilities, they have no known limitations. However, I have a sense that I cannot split myself infinitely, not that I ever intended to do so. The reason I ceased was simply because there was no longer a need. Even if I were to create a hundred fragments and send them to inhabit new hosts, they would offer me nothing new. After all, what can I achieve by experiencing life as a Willem or any of the lesser races within the empire? I have already lived such lives countless times before."

"I understand," William replied thoughtfully. "But, grandmother, I have a question. You mentioned that memory is not necessarily a part of your theory of the soul. If that's the case, why don't you remove your memories and start anew? While the empire may not offer much novelty, what about exploring an uncolonized planet with life? It could provide you with new experiences."

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"An intriguing idea," I mused, considering his suggestion. "Even better, I could turn it into a game, adding rules to make it more challenging."

"Oh, I have a rule!" William exclaimed with enthusiasm. "You should be forbidden from changing the world too drastically. Your actions should align with the cultural and scientific norms of the time, adhering to their rules and customs. And no teaching them how to make Ultron Vast Quantum Refracted Equations!"

I chuckled at his rule, appreciating the lightheartedness he brought to the conversation. "I could also limit the use of my available principles to add an additional layer of complexity."

"I would hope so," he responded, grinning. "Otherwise, the first time you become upset, you might unleash your Principal of Nihility, causing everyone to perish. I must admit, I regret attempting to teach you my Principal of Space. I still can't comprehend how you transitioned from Space to Nihility."

"It's simply the next natural progression," I explained. "If you haven't grasped it by now, I'm afraid I can't help you. However, if you and your brother put your heads together, you might make progress on your own paths."

"You mean your theory on how Principals are ranked," he interjected. "With all due respect, grandmother, I disagree with it. No aspect should be considered greater than another. They are merely different aspects, and none should be deemed superior."

"That's why I call it a theory," I conceded. "And honestly, I don't place much belief in it myself. I mostly shared it to gather opinions and gauge the rest of the family's perspective. However, I do have reason to see it as valid, as my Principal of Tyranny doesn't burden me as heavily as my Principal of Life."

"Grandmother, you've mentioned that Life is too vast to ever be fully mastered, while Tyranny is merely a means to influence others. You can't compare the two. One is equivalent to a galaxy, while the other is like a planet."

"But you forget about my Nihility," I countered. "It is almost as burdensome as Life, and far more so than Tyranny. Understand that I don't mean to belittle your power. However, from my perspective, Nihility represents the next evolution of your Principal. After all, I have witnessed destruction and true nothingness. Space is merely a by-product of creation."

William furrowed his brow, contemplating my words. "If that's the case, you should have gained the Principal of Creation, not Nihility. It seems to contradict the natural progression."

"Yes, that puzzled me as well," I admitted. "But the fact remains that I can do everything you can, only better. I can create teleportation paths, manipulate celestial objects at will, and control gravitational forces. I possess all the capabilities of your Principal of Space, and that's not to mention my ability to turn anything into nothingness. Remember my experiment with the supermassive black hole RIB 507? While you struggled to influence it, I was able to reverse its formation and reclaim all the matter it had absorbed."

"But that had more to do with gravity and matter," William argued.

I interrupted him, scolding gently, "And those are part of your ability. Don't downplay your shortcomings. It's unbecoming of you. Instead, accept your limits and strive to surpass them."

After a moment of silence, I decided to shift the conversation. "Returning to our initial topic, I think I will follow your suggestion. Do you have a specific world in mind?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," William replied, his voice filled with excitement. "There is a planet where I sensed a peculiar spacetime fluctuation. It felt as though someone attempted to utilize something similar to my abilities but with their own unique approach. It was heartrending, and I feared that the world would revert to the nothingness you described in your stories."

"Are you suggesting that someone on that planet has awakened a Principal of their own?" I inquired; my curiosity piqued. "But you know that's impossible. Firstly, they would need to be alive, as in truly alive not like the pets. Secondly, they would require a fully formed soul. And thirdly, they would require a tremendous amount of energy, the nature of which I have yet to determine. I can guarantee that no one in this world possesses the capacity to achieve such a feat, unless they are part of our family. Even then, it would require my interference to alter the course of life in this world."

"I understand," William replied with a touch of disappointment. "But what if... and please hear me out... what if they are like you? You emerged from absolute nothingness. What if there exists a being similar to yourself? If that's the case, they too could easily acquire Principals. I mean, you have around seven potential Principals that you simply choose not to burden yourself with."

I quickly stood up; my gaze fixed upon William. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner? When did this happen?"

Caught off guard, the poor boy struggled to speak under the weight of my "Tyrant's Aura." Though he managed to stammer out his response. "L... last week, forgive me, I didn't mean to hide anything from you. It's just a conjecture on my part. Please forgive me, grandmother." His words were interspersed with sobs, and I realized the immense pressure I had inadvertently placed on him. I took a deep breath, calming my aura and embracing a more compassionate demeanor.

"You have done nothing wrong, William," I reassured him, hugging him close. "I appreciate your honesty. We will explore this further, but for now, let us set aside any worries and enjoy the rest of our day together."

As the sun began to set, we continued our conversation, delving into the possibilities and implications of a being on that distant planet awakening their own Principal. The prospect intrigued me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that my days of boredom would end permanently.