SS rank Xalvathar: The Soulweaver

Diana stood on the castle balcony, staring out at the distant horizon where smoke rose like dark scars against the golden sunset. The cries of the people echoed faintly, a haunting reminder of what was at stake. She gripped the stone railing tightly, her knuckles turning white. Could she really do this? Could she be the queen everyone expected her to be?

Behind her, footsteps approached. It was Takumi. He stopped beside her, his expression unreadable. "You're thinking too much again."

Diana sighed. "How can I not? They're looking to me to fix everything, but I don't even know where to start."

Takumi tilted his head toward the horizon. "Start there. Out there is where you'll find the answers."

She turned to look at him, confusion flickering in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

Before Takumi could respond, Finn appeared in the doorway, his voice sharp as ever. "We have a problem."

Diana spun to face him, her heart sinking. "What now?"

Finn's jaw was tight. "The northern villages. They're under attack."

The words hit Diana like a blow to the chest. "Already?"

"Yes," Finn said, his voice grim. "Whoever is behind this war isn't waiting for us to get organized. They're moving quickly."

Rowan entered behind Finn, his face pale but determined. "We can't sit here anymore. We have to send forces to defend the villages."

"But we don't have enough soldiers!" Diana protested. "The kingdom is in ruins. How can we defend everyone?"

"Then you need to choose," Finn said coldly. "Where do we save, and where do we sacrifice?"

The room fell silent. Diana's mind raced. How was she supposed to make that decision?

"It's not fair," she whispered. "Why must anyone be sacrificed?"

Rowan stepped closer. "Because that's what it means to lead, Diana. You'll have to make the hard choices, even when they tear you apart. That's what the crown demands."

Takumi looked at her, his voice quieter but no less firm. "This is the burden of a ruler. You don't have the luxury of hesitation."

Diana's hands shook, but she clenched them into fists. She turned back to the balcony, staring once more at the rising smoke. In the distance, she imagined the faces of the villagers, terrified and waiting for someone—anyone—to save them.

She took a deep breath. "Send half our forces to the northern villages. The other half will stay here to defend the capital."

Finn frowned. "Splitting our forces weakens both sides."

"It's a risk we have to take," Diana said, her voice steady. "We can't lose the capital, but we can't abandon the villages either."

Liyana, who had been silent until now, stepped forward with a small smile. "It's a wise decision. A hard one, but wise."

Diana nodded, though her heart felt heavy. She knew this was only the beginning.

As the others left to carry out her orders, Takumi lingered behind. "You're stronger than you think, Diana," he said quietly. "Don't forget that."

For the first time, Diana allowed herself a small smile. She wasn't sure if she believed him yet, but she knew one thing for certain: the people were depending on her, and she would not let them down.

The smoke in the distance would clear, one day. But for now, it was a symbol—a call to action that Diana could no longer ignore.