Amanda tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. The battlefield before her was a chaotic swirl of armor, dust, and the clash of steel against steel. Every muscle in her body screamed in exhaustion, but she couldn’t stop now—not when they were so close.
Elias fought beside her, his golden eyes flashing with determination as he blocked an enemy’s attack with his blade. "Amanda, behind you!"
She barely had time to turn before an enemy soldier lunged at her, sword raised high. Instinct took over. Amanda dodged, twisting her body to the side, and with a swift counterattack, she knocked the soldier’s weapon from his grasp before kicking him to the ground.
"Nice move," Elias said with a smirk, slashing through another opponent with ease. "Are you sure you're not secretly a warrior princess?"
Amanda rolled her eyes. "If I were, I’d demand a much nicer outfit. This armor chafes."
They pushed forward, cutting a path through the battlefield. In the distance, she could see the enemy's commander standing at the top of a ridge, watching the battle unfold. Amanda knew that taking him down would be the key to ending this war.
"We need to get to him," she said to Elias, nodding toward the ridge. "If we take out their leader, we might have a chance to stop this."
Elias nodded. "Then let's not waste time."
Together, they charged forward. The battlefield was treacherous, filled with fallen soldiers and stray arrows. Amanda narrowly avoided a spear thrown in her direction, diving behind a broken wagon for cover. Elias wasn’t as lucky—a deep cut now ran across his arm, but he barely winced as he continued fighting.
"Elias! You're hurt!"
"I'll live," he said, gritting his teeth. "Focus, Amanda."
Amanda swallowed her worry and pressed on. As they neared the ridge, a group of enemy soldiers blocked their path. Elias engaged them head-on while Amanda spotted a hidden path leading up the ridge’s side.
"I have an idea!" she called to Elias. "Cover me!"
Without waiting for a response, she sprinted up the narrow path, dodging incoming attacks. She reached the top, her chest heaving from the effort. The enemy commander turned to face her, his eyes narrowing.
"So, the hero of another world finally arrives," he sneered.
Amanda raised her sword. "And you’re about to regret ever bringing me here."
The commander lunged at her with surprising speed. Amanda barely blocked his first strike, the force rattling through her arms. She countered, aiming for his side, but he twisted away, his movements precise and deadly.
"You're skilled," he admitted. "But you’re not strong enough."
Amanda smirked. "Yeah? Watch me."
She feinted left before twisting right, surprising him with a well-placed kick to his knee. He stumbled, and Amanda seized the opportunity, swinging her sword in an upward arc. The commander barely managed to block, but the force knocked him off balance.
Just as she was about to land the final blow, an arrow whizzed past her, striking the commander’s shoulder. Elias had made it to the top, bow in hand, his injured arm trembling from the effort.
"Did you really think I’d let you have all the fun?" he teased.
Amanda laughed breathlessly. "You're ridiculous."
With one last strike, Amanda knocked the commander’s sword from his grip, pointing her blade at his throat. "Call off your forces. Now."
The commander hesitated before raising a hand, signaling his troops to retreat. A horn blew across the battlefield, and slowly, the enemy soldiers pulled back, disappearing into the horizon.
The war was over.
Amanda let out a shaky breath, exhaustion settling over her like a heavy cloak. Elias walked over, leaning against her shoulder. "Told you we'd win."
She smirked. "Yeah, yeah. You were right."
As the sun began to set over the battlefield, Amanda knew one thing for certain: they were one step closer to finally going home.
---
The Calm Before the Storm
Amanda stood at the balcony of the grand castle, gazing at the kingdom below. The city lights flickered like fireflies, a stark contrast to the unease brewing in her heart. The war was approaching, and while they had managed to secure some temporary peace, she knew it wouldn’t last long.
Elias appeared beside her, his golden eyes reflecting the moonlight. "You’re thinking too much again."
She sighed. "Can you blame me? A few weeks ago, I was just a regular girl stressing over exams. Now I’m supposed to help save an entire kingdom."
Elias smirked. "And you’ve done a remarkable job so far. Who would’ve thought you’d go from nearly passing out at a ballroom to outwitting an entire war council?"
Amanda playfully nudged him. "Hey, I’ve improved. Besides, sarcasm is a powerful weapon."
"Indeed," Elias chuckled. "But Amanda, you don’t have to carry all this weight alone. You have me. You have all of us."
She turned to face him. "Yeah, but what if I fail? What if I make a mistake and—"
Elias took her hand, squeezing it gently. "Then we’ll figure it out together. That’s what partners do."
Her face warmed at his words, and she quickly turned away, hoping he wouldn’t notice. "Well, as long as you’re around to bail me out when I inevitably do something reckless."
Elias smirked. "Oh, I fully expect that. It’s part of your charm."
Before Amanda could throw another witty remark, a voice called from behind them.
"Your Majesty! Lady Amanda! The council is ready for you."
Amanda groaned. "Great. More serious discussions. Just what I wanted."
Elias offered his arm. "Shall we, my lady?"
She rolled her eyes but accepted, and together, they headed to the war room.

---
Inside the council chamber, the atmosphere was tense. Maps covered the massive table, red markers indicating enemy positions. General Rowan stood at the head, arms crossed, looking particularly grim.
"We’ve received reports that the enemy is moving faster than anticipated. They could reach our borders within three days."
Murmurs filled the room. Amanda frowned. "That’s… way too soon. We’re not ready yet."
Rowan nodded. "Precisely. We need to make a move before they do."
Elias leaned forward. "What are our options?"
A strategist spoke up. "A preemptive strike could work, but it’s risky. If we don’t hit hard enough, we’ll only provoke them further."
Amanda tapped the table. "Then we need to be smart about it. What if we sabotage their supplies? No army can fight on an empty stomach."
The room fell silent. Then, Rowan grinned. "A bold strategy. I like it."
Elias nodded approvingly. "We’ll need someone to infiltrate their supply routes."
Amanda raised a hand. "Ooh! Ooh! Pick me!"
Elias sighed. "Amanda—"
"Look, I’m small, fast, and not an obvious threat. No one will expect me. Plus, I’m great at sneaking around."
Elias pinched the bridge of his nose. "By sneaking around, do you mean getting caught and talking your way out of it?"
"It works, doesn’t it?" she grinned.
Rowan laughed. "She has a point, Your Majesty."
Elias sighed in defeat. "Fine. But I’m sending someone with you."
"Deal."
As the meeting continued, Amanda couldn’t shake the feeling that this mission would be a turning point. They were running out of time, and soon, they’d be forced into the battle they had all been dreading.
And yet, despite the looming war, she couldn’t help but feel a little excited.
After all, she had a kingdom to save—and a prince to keep on his toes.