"Save the world, little girl," the man's voice rang in her head as she walked through Wunderdum's streets for the first time. It was also the first time she'd been to the surface, and the first time she'd ever seen the sun's light. The warmth on her pale skin was unlike anything she'd ever felt before, and the world, while blinding at first, was full of vibrant colors she never knew existed. The city was tall and pristine, yet she didn't admire it in the slightest. As a matter of fact, her disdain only grew.
Just as her master had said, the people of the city were dancing and cheering like nothing was going on just beneath their feet. It was then that her resentment flew, all the way to its peak. She wished to stab every single one of them for their ignorance, but knew she couldn't. Not quite yet.
"Kill the queen."
As explained by her master, Queen Guinevere was the primary perpetrator when it came to abusing power. Using her status as the king's wife, she 'cleansed' the city by banishing criminals and the homeless to the underground, a sanction repurposed to accommodate the ever-increasing population. In reality, it was a place where those unfortunate souls couldn't be seen and eventually would starve to death. It was, in essence, a purge. A silent genocide.
But people were more resilient than she gave them credit for, and they eventually created their own city amongst the muck and grime of the world– one of endless sin and eternal torture. The queen might not have been the one cutting away at flesh, but the dagger began with her, and thus she would be the one to invoke its wrath. Once her body lay vanquished, only her deeds would remain, and the revolution against corruption could begin.
"You're the only one who can bring upon this change," her master's words echoed. "Be the hero of this city. They dance and laugh because they must. Once you take her head, their false smiles will change to cheers as you become their savior. You, young one, can make a difference."
For the first time in her life, that desolate girl had a purpose. As she stumbled through the streets of the overwhelming city, which were crowded by drunkards and vendors celebrating the annual summer festival, her resolve only grew fiercer. Using the blade given to her by her master, she would cut away the false world and open the doors to a new one free of power.
After meticulously following her master's drawn map, she finally arrived at the grand city square below the stairs that led to Tintagel Castle. It was the most crowded area of all, but being as small as she was, the girl was easily able to navigate unseen beneath the sea of people, weaving through legs and fat bodies. The closer she got to the podium where royalty sat and overwatched the festivities, the faster her heart beat. She was frightened to the point where her bones rattled, and she felt an impending air of dread grazing her heels. Through her uncertainty and terror, only her resolve kept dragging her forward.
Step by step, she eventually found herself at the platform where her target lay. Standing at the front of the podium was Arthur, who was telling jokes and making speeches to the crowds all around. Her master spoke ill of him as well, but assured his justice would come in due time.
Behind Arthur was a young girl whom she assumed to be the princess, silently sitting in a chair at the center, and next to her was the queen. Her master had said little about the princess, because he was certain she'd forever remain a shadow to her predecessors. She had potential as a soldier, but was much too soft to fight and unfit to be a ruler. The true villains were her parents.
As the girl climbed onto the podium, a soldier from Arthur's Guard put his hand on her shoulder. Her heart skipped a beat. She froze.
"Hey, little girl," he said with a smile. "You can't go up there. It's where our glorious king and queen are! Oh, and our darling little princess as well. You should hurry off and-"
"Oh, don't be a stickler," a voice said from behind. "She's just a little girl; she couldn't possibly cause any harm."
"But Sir Lionel-" the soldier started.
"Don't worry, I'll handle her," the man said. "There are some rowdy drunks over there getting too close to the platform. Surely they pose more of a threat than this child."
"Ah. Yes, sir!" the soldier said as he scurried off, clumsily clanking his armor as he jogged away.
"Well, what do we have here?" the man asked. The girl said nothing as he walked up to her and kneeled down, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Do you see that woman right there?"
The girl remained silent, but nodded her head, nervous as to what the man was to do to her.
"That's the queen," the man said. "She's the second most powerful figure in this land, second only to Arthur, and is responsible for keeping our noble city pure. She's also…"
The man leaned into the child's ear.
"The object of your hate," he whispered.
The girl's eyes widened. She remembered everything. Each time she went to sleep pained with hunger. Every carcass she tripped over in the dark. The times she got sick and lay on the ground for days, wondering if it was the end. She placed her hand in her pocket and clenched the black dagger by the handle tightly.
"If there's something you need to do, then do it without hesitation," the man said, smirking as he let her go and walked away.
The girl stopped for a moment and stared at the queen, who caught a glimpse of her. That woman's kind face stared at the child, smiling like nothing was wrong. It was then that the girl's hatred encapsulated her entire body and stained her heart black. She couldn't fathom how the queen could give one of the ones she'd oppressed such a kind smile as if she were innocent. Like she'd done nothing wrong. Like she cared.
On that day, the girl climbed onto that stage, and she ran. She ran until her dagger found its way into the queen's throat.
That was the day she fell from the bottom.