One would think she was one of Morgana's, with how similar she looked to them. But Brilliance stood out among them all. Whether the crowd was small or large, it never took much for all eyes to fall to her. She held herself high, far higher than any youngling would. Even one as small as her already had large aspirations. To stand above the rest, and find her own brilliance. But whether she could do it on her own was a concern. Maybe she could use a little guidance, not that she expected any with the way she was ostracized.

For now, with most others off doing their own thing, she played with a old piece of moss turned into a ball. Slamming it into one of the walls, she barely even needed to watch the bounce for her to be able to catch it and slam it into the ground underneath her. Digging her claws into it curiously, she kneaded it a few times before letting go and batting it towards the entrance.

She paused, now standing in front of the white she-cat. Mostly kept away from the main part of the group, she wasn't the most familiar with who exactly was who and what positions they had. She'd heard whispers of a new nemesis, but the queens(?) never gave any details. They spoke and spat low. But not many bothered to come this way, fewer who looked like her. Held the same aura as her. Walked like her. And looked straight through Brilliance like her.

"Pardon me. Might I have my ball back?" She asked, straightening herself up some and tilting her head to look at the she-cat's face. A twinge of nervousness stung at the back of her throat, but she kept her tone calm and confident.

Brilliance-chan blinked, attempting to clear her vision like she saw a ghost. The nursery continued as normal. Younglings whined for their mothers, the air stained with the scent of milk. Someone was being scolded in the back. It was the same, always the same. Nothing would change. She would go back to her corner, playing the same game. And no one would mind her any mind, the same game. Her eyes bored down at her mossball, staring at the indent in it that threatened to split the ball in two. It was no ghost. The tales she heard of them would send shivers down her spine, but this wasn't the same. Those eyes weren't the same.

A queen would turn her head at the sudden sound of footsteps. They were fast and hard, but light to everyone bigger than a youngling. She'd tilt her head in confusion, but go back to tending her kits as Brilliance-chan threw away the game. The only evidence of her existence left behind was the crumpled moss ball.

Brilliance-chan slowed as she approached the white she-cat, not fully expecting her to slow down for her. Taking a deep breath, she followed along. Her mind raced with questions. What did she want with her? Where were they going? Most importantly, just who are you? Those answers would come soon, she knew. It didn't alleviate her impatience to know, but she also couldn't quite open her mouth to ask. Something kept it shut, like a muzzle. It was a curious and alien feeling, that now she suddenly had to wait for the key.

She did. Keeping up with Mother E'tani, she got to distract her mind with staring at the manor as it came and went. Once a beautiful and refined place, now in worn down and in shambles. She hadn't strayed far from the nursery, so most of this was new to her. Every room held a mystery, cracked doors only offering a passing glimpse inside as they continued. Her mind wasn't quieted, only jumping from here to there in an excited haze. Dropping off the step, she approached the nemesis in the center of the room. Following her gaze, her young eyes landed on the pool. The macabre sight was bad enough for the soft youngling, but it was the smell that almost got her. Nose spoiled by the scent of milk, the sudden whiff of blood and flesh almost made her gag. It took everything in her not to run out of the manor, or at least hide behind the nemesis. She shook still, despite it, and looked up at the white she-cat; silently begging her to move on while a new emotion hit her gut. Fear.

"To make an impression...?" She tilted her head. It made the most sense. If you had to visit someone and they had... that, it would certainly show you they meant business. I mean, who else keeps a pool of eyes but... Wait, she had heard of this. Heard that the nemesis made this assassin do this to prove her worth or something along those lines. To fill a small pool with eyes. It was certainly what she expected from her home, a gruesome trial that separated the weak and the strong. Still why would this cat say she kept it, like she had the option to get rid of it? And this room was where she met cats? No one just has their own room to meet cats in. Only those of power do. Power. Power. Power. Wait, wasn't there...

Her chest tightened. She couldn't say the suspicion was true until she said otherwise, but there was a good potential this was the new nemesis. But what could she want with Brilliance-chan of all cats? Her blood was okay, nothing note-worthy. Still, she had to hold herself still. The weak and the strong. The divide here was like black and white. If she wanted to survive, she had to get stronger, feign strength for now.

"Brilliance-chan." Her voice was terse as she followed Mother, relieved they were moving out of the pool room. So, she was the nemesis. She was right. It makes sense she'd get confused, she was surrounded by mothers so hearing about another would have given her no rise. And she gave the right answer, it seemed. A stroke of confidence rose in her throat, but it wasn't over yet. It was only the beginning.

It was true, she had no blood impression. Her parents were distant memories. The only ones who would know them were themselves or whoever brought her to the League. It doesn't matter. She had to build her own impression. She practiced and trained, day in and day out. It was to follow her dream, but it also gave her an impression. A perfectionist, stand off ish, talented, maybe even important. She had built something out of nothing, a status that was only known to the younglings and mothers for now but would soon expand.

Still, what was Mother's end goal here? Those words tickled her tongue again, but held back again.

Brilliance paused in front of the hidden door, already impressed with all the secrets this manor seemed to hold. And that she could barely call her findings scratching the surface. Stepping into the room, she squinted instinctively as the light hit her in the eyes. Blue eyes blown out as she stumbled forward a few feet, she blinked the light out. Dark spots formed in her vision, and ahead of her she could only see Mother E'tani's silhouette. It was like her white coat was completely submerged in darkness, only her amber eyes left untouched. It was then that Brilliance-chan felt a shiver run up her spine, as if she had just been reminded where she was. And who she was dealing it. The Nemesis' word was law, and she had no reason to question her. As color came back into her vision, she wondered which was real and which was fake.

Approaching the couch cautiously, she didn't immediately jump up on it. She stood in front of her instead, "I see. And what kind of exploring do you have in mind?"

Brilliance-chan looked down, tiny claws flexing into the carpet as she thought. Their goals were the same. Brilliance wanted to become the best, a star member, perfection, brilliance; and would work till her paws cracked and bled to get there. And Mother E'tani wanted to get her there. Not anyone, not one with prideful blood or recognition. But her, the orphan. It was a good feeling, like her efforts or even just herself was being recognized and almost, loved? Though that was a far conclusion, it's always nice to be wanted. But the feeling was also alien and she held tight to a shred of doubt.

It was never that simple, the League was never that simple. In a place where you use and abuse others, blind faith was a silent killer. Mother E'tani said it was because she couldn't have kits, but would she go to the trouble of bringing someone up throughout their entire life? If Brilliance had that, she would try to become a den mother or something like that, not take on one orphan kit as a protoge.

Still, she had no reason to doubt other than that shred. There was so much ahead of her in this deal, and very little to leave behind, "Alright, I'm interested. What's the catch? Assuming there is one." She hadn't moved from her spot on the floor, eyes shining with curiosity rather than suspicion.