[ Reputation System v0.1 ]

  User: Ravenna Solarius / Joy Cha Kim

  Reputation Level: 60 (8021/8200)

  Current Reputation Points: 2,321

  Titles: Raven of the Sun Palace, Unruly Princess

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  “And my points... they're dropping so fast,” she groaned, swiping her hand through the air to scroll through the interface. The holographic text shifted fluidly under her command, and she studied it with a critical eye. "I can’t keep spending hours surfing through the internet to solve this one single issue, it’s eating away all the points."

  Leaning back in her chair, she let out a long, exasperated sigh. The reports on her desk crime statistics only added to the weight pressing down on her. The constant high crime rate on Jola Island felt like an insurmountable problem, one that no amount of policies or ideas could magically solve.

  “Maybe I should do public executions,” she mused aloud, her voice low and contemplative. The thought lingered in the air. “It would give me more reputation points and send a clear message to the criminals…” She trailed off, tapping her fingers rhythmically on the polished wood of her desk.

  But even as the idea formed, Ravenna dismissed it with a shake of her head. “No, it won’t work. Fear might make them fall in line for a while, but it’ll only last until public executions become just another routine spectacle. People adapt to fear, and then it stops being effective.”

  Her mind raced for alternative solutions. “A fear of the divine might work,” she muttered thoughtfully. “I’ll have to speak with High Priest James.. About it.”

  Then, Ravenna turned her attention to another pressing issue: securing an external source of revenue for Jola Island. Her dark black eyes fell on the large map sprawled across her desk, the intricate lines detailing the coastline and trade routes of the Ancorna Empire.

  “Everything will be a big deal,” she muttered, tracing her finger along the map. Most of the surrounding towns and trade hubs were either loyal to Prince Landon or Prince William. Even if she managed to convince merchants to trade with her, selling iron or steel being highly valuable resources in this era—would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention.

  If her influence grew too much, the other imperial siblings would focus on her again, convinced that she was re-entering the imperial succession race.

  “I don’t want to get involved in the main story of the novel at all!” Ravenna groaned, slumping forward dramatically onto her desk.

  Salt, again being another valuable trade commodity, wasn’t an option either. The market was oversaturated in the empire, with three sides of the Ancorna Empire bordered by coastlines that produced most of the salt and spices on the continent.

  “Everything I think of leads to a wall,” she muttered, placing her head in her hands. The weight of her responsibilities was suffocating, and every potential solution felt like it came with its own set of impossible hurdles.

  Just as she was about to bury herself deeper in thought, a sharp knock echoed from the door, pulling her back to the present.

  “Master! I’m here,” came a cheerful voice from the other side of the door.

  Ravenna recognized it immediately. It was Marie, her young and eager disciple, here as usual to learn under Ravenna’s guidance.

  “Come in,” Ravenna called out, sitting up and straightening her posture. The large wooden door creaked open, and Marie stepped inside, her chestnut brown hair shining in the afternoon light. She was carrying a wooden board of some kind, her expression bright and excited.

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  “What’s that?” Ravenna asked, raising an eyebrow as she gestured toward the board.

  Marie placed it on the desk with a smile. “It’s a game! Everyone in the church’s study classes has been playing it. And from what I heard, everyone on Jola Island plays it too!”

  Ravenna leaned forward, intrigued. The board Marie had brought was simple yet elegantly designed, it's dark wood polished to a shine. Intricate carvings lined the cross-shaped playing field, with tiny embellishments that hinted at divine symbolism. As her fingers brushed across the surface, she noticed the title etched at the top in delicate, flowing script.

  “Ascend to Celestia Castle” Ravenna murmured, her deep dark eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Herptian Faith’s traditional board game? Yeah, I’ve heard of this.”

  Marie’s face lit up with excitement. “You know it? That’s perfect! Let’s play a round!” she chirped, setting the bag of game pieces and cowrie shells on the table.

  Ravenna chuckled softly, leaning back in her chair. “Sure, why not? It’s a good distraction from all the chaos.”

  As she reached for the bag, her mind briefly wandered to the game’s origins. Ascend to Celestia Castle was no ordinary pastime. It was said to have been created during the era of the gods, a time when the Absolute Being ruled the world in what the scriptures described as an age of chaos. According to Herptian Faith, the game symbolized Goddess Herptian’s perilous journey to Celestia Castle, where she ascended to discuss the state of the world under the Absolute Being’s turbulent reign. Each element of the game, from the cross-shaped board to the cowrie shells used as dice, was steeped in religious significance.

  “So, do you have the cowrie shells?” Ravenna asked, inspecting the game pieces Marie had begun placing on the board.

  Marie nodded eagerly, pulling out a small, weathered pouch. “Here!” she said, handing it over.

  Ravenna took the shells, admiring their smooth texture, and placed her four pieces at the center of the board’s cross. “From what I remember, I need to kill at least one of your pieces before I can ascend to Celestia Castle, right?”

  Marie nodded, her tone eager as she explained. “Exactly! Players move their pieces starting from the center, heading down the middle track to exit Celestia Castle. Then we move counterclockwise around the outer track until we make a full circuit back to the center. But you can’t enter the castle unless you’ve killed at least one of your opponent’s pieces.”

  Ravenna smirked, rolling the cowrie shells to determine her first move. “Alright then, I’ll go first. Prepare to be defeated, Marie.”

  Marie grinned mischievously. “You’re underestimating me, Master! I’ll have you begging for mercy by the end of this!”

  The game began, and soon the room was filled with the clattering sound of cowrie shells and playful banter. For the next two and a half hours, the pair engaged in a fierce battle of wits and luck. Marie’s enthusiasm was infectious, and Ravenna found herself laughing more than she had in weeks.

  There were moments of comedic brilliance, like when a crucial roll sent Marie’s piece straight into Ravenna’s path, resulting in a dramatic “kill” and a round of exaggerated protests from Marie. Other times, they yelled in frustration at poor rolls or debated over strategies with mock-seriousness.

  As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the room in warm hues of orange and gold, the game reached its climax. Ravenna’s final piece was just a few spaces away from victory, while Marie’s last piece lagged slightly behind.

  Ravenna rolled the shells one last time and moved her piece triumphantly into the castle. “Finally! My last piece ascends to Celestia Castle!” she declared, throwing her hands up in victory.

  Marie groaned dramatically, slumping against the table. “No! If I had just rolled a one, I would’ve won before you!”

  Ravenna smirked, taunting her with a playful grin. “Well, you didn’t. Better luck next time, Marie.”

  As they tidied up the board, Marie pouted. “You know, I should’ve made you bet something. It would’ve been way more fun if there were stakes. Without a prize, I wasn’t playing seriously!”

  Ravenna chuckled, shaking her head. “Sure, Marie. The real issue was your lack of motivation, not your terrible strategies.”

  But as she teased her apprentice, an idea began to form in her mind. Her playful grin shifted into a thoughtful expression, and her eyes gleamed with sudden inspiration.

  “Wait…” she murmured, sitting up straight. “Gambling.”

  Marie blinked, startled by the change in Ravenna’s demeanor. “M-Master? Why do you have that… look on your face? What are you thinking?”

  Ravenna rose from her chair, her earlier stress replaced by a newfound determination. “Marie, go find Sarah and tell her to gather all the woodworkers and blacksmiths in town. We’re going to start producing board games.”

  Marie tilted her head, confused. “Board games? Why would we—”

  “And,” Ravenna continued, her grin turning almost devilish, “we’re going to open a gambling house.”

  Marie’s jaw dropped. “A g-gambling house? Master, are you serious?”