THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT
The world of Nia’s first story unfolded around them with a surreal clarity, vivid and alive in ways she had never imagined when she first penned it. The lush green fields of Elarion stretched to the horizon, the golden spires of the capital city glinting under a sun that seemed too perfect to be real. The air smelled of jasmine and freshly tilled earth, a tranquil facade that belied the chaos lurking beneath the surface.
“This is your first story?” Eli asked, his voice tinged with awe as he surveyed the scene. “It’s... beautiful.”
“It was supposed to be,” Nia murmured, clutching the manuscript tightly as they approached the city gates. “A hopeful tale about unity, about a kingdom flourishing under a kind and just queen.” Her voice wavered. “But even here, I couldn’t resist adding shadows betrayals, heartbreaks. I thought the darker moments made it real, more compelling. Now, I’m not so sure.”
Jax snorted, his expression skeptical. “Let me guess. Your ‘benevolent queen’ wasn’t as perfect as she seemed?”
Nia glared at him but didn’t respond. He wasn’t entirely wrong.
The gates creaked open, revealing a bustling marketplace teeming with life. Vendors called out their wares, children darted between the stalls, and the scent of freshly baked bread filled the air. It was exactly as Nia had imagined it when she wrote the story down to the cobblestones worn smooth by years of footsteps.
But there was something else, a tension beneath the surface. People whispered in hushed tones, their eyes darting toward the castle that loomed over the city. The once-shining beacon of hope now cast long, ominous shadows across the streets.
Eli frowned, his hand brushing against the hilt of his sword. “Something’s wrong. They’re afraid.”Eli said.
“They should be,” Nia said quietly, her gaze fixed on the castle. “The queen she’s not what she used to be.”
“What happened?” Eli asked, his tone gentle.
Nia hesitated, her throat tightening her eyes filledwith unshead tears. “I wrote her as a symbol of hope, someone who would lead her people through the darkest times. But I also gave her too much to bear. The weight of the crown, the betrayals of those closest to her it changed her. In the end, she became the thing she fought against.”
Jax raised an eyebrow. “So, she’s the villain now?”
“No,” Nia said firmly. “She’s... complicated. She made mistakes, terrible ones, but she still believes she’s doing what’s best for her people.”
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“Sounds like every villain ever,” Jax muttered, but there was no malice in his voice this time.
As they made their way toward the castle, the streets grew quieter, the vibrant energy of the marketplace fading into a heavy stillness. Soldiers patrolled the area, their faces grim and their hands never straying far from their weapons. Nia’s stomach churned as they reached the gates of the palace, its golden facade now tarnished with streaks of black.
Inside, the air was cool and heavy, the grand hall bathed in an eerie light. At the far end of the room, seated on a gilded throne, was Queen Lysara the heroine of Nia’s first story. But she was not the radiant figure Nia remembered creating.
Her once-lustrous hair had dulled, her emerald eyes shadowed by exhaustion and pain. She wore a crown that seemed too heavy for her head, and her posture was rigid like a stone, as though she were bracing herself for an unseen attack. Yet, despite the weariness that clung to her, she exuded a quiet, commanding strength.
“Nia,” Lysara said, her voice low but unwavering. “I wondered how long it would take you to return.”
Nia froze, her heart pounding. “You know me?”
“Of course,” Lysara said, rising from her throne. “I am your creation. I have always known you. And I know why you’re here.”
Jax stepped forward, his smirk returning. “Well, this should be fun. Let me guess—you’re not thrilled about being abandoned?”
Lysara’s gaze shifted to him, her expression unreadable. “You assume too much, stranger. My grievances with our creator are my own.” Her eyes returned to Nia, and her voice softened. “But I do not hate you, Nia. I understand why you left. It’s just... things have not been easy since you’ve been gone.”
Nia’s throat tightened. “I didn’t mean to leave you like this. I thought... I thought your story was finished.”
Lysara shook her head. “No story is ever truly finished. And without your guidance, the cracks began to show. The alliances I built crumbled. The wars you ended reignited. I tried to hold it all together, but the weight of it...” Her voice broke, and for a moment, she looked every bit the broken ruler Nia had feared she would become.
“I’m sorry,” Nia said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I never meant for this to happen.”
Lysara stepped closer, her gaze piercing. “If you truly wish to make amends, then help me. Help us. The kingdom is teetering on the brink of collapse. The villains you created are rising again, and I fear I no longer have the strength to stop them.”Do something anything to stop it.
Eli placed a reassuring hand on Nia’s shoulder. “We’ll fix this. Together.”
Jax rolled his eyes but didn’t argue, his hand resting on the hilt of his dagger. “Let’s just hope her villains aren’t as overpowered as she made me.”
Nia managed a weak smile, the first glimmer of hope and shine sparking within her. She turned to Lysara, determination hardening her features. “I’ll help you. But first, I need to know what’s the most immediate threat?”
Lysara’s expression darkened. “There is a shadow gathering in the east. An army led by the one you called Tharos.”
Nia’s stomach dropped. Tharos the villain she had written as a fallen hero, a man consumed by grief and vengeance. He had been one of her most tragic creations, and she had abandoned his arc, unable to decide whether he should find redemption or destruction.
“I know him,” Nia said, her voice trembling. “And I know how to stop him.”
“Then we must act quickly,” Lysara said. “Because if we fail, there won’t be a kingdom left to save.”
Nia nodded, her grip tightening on the manuscript. The weight of her unfinished stories pressed down on her, but for the first time, she felt ready to face them. Together, they would rewrite the ending.