Amanda stood by the castle balcony, staring out at the dark clouds looming over the kingdom. The air was heavy, filled with an eerie stillness, as if the world itself was holding its breath. She tightened her grip on the railing, her mind racing with the weight of everything that had happened.
Elias walked up beside her, hands tucked into the pockets of his coat. "You look deep in thought."
She sighed. "I was just thinking about how much my life has changed. One minute, I was worried about failing my history test, and the next, I'm here, caught up in a war I barely understand."
Elias chuckled. "Well, if it makes you feel better, I wasn’t exactly trained for this either. Royalty doesn’t come with a manual on dealing with unexpected heroes from another world."
Amanda smirked. "What? You mean 'How to Handle a Dimension-Hopping Disaster' wasn’t part of your studies?"
Elias laughed. "Unfortunately, no. But maybe after all this, we can write one together."
She smiled at him, but the weight of reality settled back on her shoulders. "Elias… do you think we can actually win?"
His expression turned serious. "I don’t know. But we have to try. And we have to be smart about it. That’s why we’re gathering as many allies as possible."
Amanda nodded, her mind drifting to the battle ahead.
---
Later that evening, a strategy meeting was held in the castle’s war room. The room was filled with knights, mages, and generals, all debating the best course of action.
"The enemy’s forces are marching towards us as we speak," one of the generals stated. "We estimate they’ll be at our gates within three days."
Amanda felt a pit in her stomach. Three days. That wasn’t much time at all.
Elias leaned forward, his golden eyes sharp. "We need to set up defenses along the outer wall. We can’t let them reach the city."
A knight stepped forward. "We could use the underground tunnels to launch surprise attacks. The enemy won’t expect it."
Amanda raised an eyebrow. "Wait, we have underground tunnels?"
Elias smirked. "Of course. Did you think we’d let an entire kingdom stand without secret escape routes?"
She shrugged. "I don’t know, I thought you guys just relied on the 'hope and pray' method."
The room chuckled, but the tension quickly returned as they continued planning.
After the meeting, Amanda found herself walking alone in the dimly lit corridors. She needed a moment to breathe, to process everything. She was so deep in thought that she didn’t notice Elias following her until he spoke.
"You’re worried."
Amanda sighed. "Obviously. I’ve never fought in a real war before, Elias. What if I mess up? What if I get someone killed?"
Elias placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch gentle. "You’re not in this alone, Amanda. You’ve proven yourself time and time again. Trust yourself. Trust us."
She looked up at him, her heart pounding. He always knew exactly what to say to make her feel like she could take on the world. "You’re annoyingly good at this whole 'leader' thing."
He grinned. "It’s a gift."
For a moment, they just stood there, the quiet hum of the torches flickering around them. Then, before she could second-guess herself, Amanda stepped forward and hugged him.
Elias stiffened at first, surprised, but then his arms wrapped around her, holding her close. "What was that for?" he murmured against her hair.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "For reminding me that I’m not alone."
He pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. "You never will be."
A part of her wanted to stay in that moment forever, but reality had other plans. The war was coming, and they had to be ready.
---
The next morning, the castle was bustling with activity. Soldiers prepared their weapons, mages practiced their spells, and the city’s people reinforced their homes. The tension was thick in the air.
Amanda, dressed in light armor, adjusted the straps on her gloves. "Alright, where do you need me?"
Elias handed her a dagger. "You’ll be with me on the front lines."
She took the dagger, twirling it between her fingers. "Are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean, I did win my last fight with dirt and dumb luck."
Elias smirked. "Then we’ll make sure you have plenty of dirt to throw."
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but laugh. "You’re ridiculous."
"And you love it."
She opened her mouth to argue, but before she could, the warning bells rang. A guard ran up to them, panting. "They’re here."
The laughter faded, replaced by a grim determination. Amanda tightened her grip on her weapon. "Guess it’s showtime."
Elias nodded, his playful demeanor gone. "Let’s give them a fight they’ll never forget."
And with that, they stepped into the battlefield, ready to face whatever came next.