Amanda barely had a moment to catch her breath before the doors to the war chamber burst open. The generals, clad in their ornate armor, stepped forward with grave expressions. The weight of their gazes settled on Elias, who stood at the head of the table, his fingers drumming against the wood in contemplation.
"We've received word from our scouts," one of the generals began. "The enemy forces are amassing near the southern border. If we do not act soon, they will reach the capital within days."
Amanda felt her stomach tighten. The war had been looming for weeks, and now it was finally knocking at their doorstep. She glanced at Elias, who remained calm, though she could see the tension in his jaw.
"We need to strike first," Elias said. "If we wait for them to attack, we’ll be at a disadvantage."
The generals exchanged glances, but none dared to argue. Amanda leaned forward, her voice steady. "What about the civilians in the southern villages? If we launch an attack, they’ll be caught in the crossfire."
Elias nodded. "We’ll send evacuation orders immediately. But we must move swiftly."
A map was spread out before them, detailing the battlefield. Amanda studied it carefully, trying to absorb the strategy. She had never been a military tactician, but she had played enough strategy games back in her world to understand the basics.
One of the generals, an older man with a scar running down his cheek, pointed at a narrow valley near the enemy’s location. "If we can lure them into this pass, we can ambush them from both sides. It would give us a significant advantage."
Elias smirked. "A trap? I like the way you think."
Amanda crossed her arms. "And what if they realize it's a trap and flank us instead?"
"Then we’ll have to ensure they don’t realize it until it’s too late," Elias said, his golden eyes gleaming. "We’ll need a decoy."
Amanda’s stomach dropped. She had a feeling she knew where this was going. "You want me to be the bait, don’t you?"
Elias grinned. "You catch on quickly."
Amanda groaned. "Why do I always get the dangerous jobs?"
"Because you’re the hero," Elias said simply, winking. "And heroes always do the impossible."
---
The Battlefield
The wind howled as Amanda rode at the head of the small scouting party. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her grip firm on the reins. The plan was simple: lure the enemy into the valley, make them think they had the upper hand, and then signal for Elias and the main army to strike.
Of course, nothing ever went according to plan.
The moment they reached the valley’s entrance, a dozen enemy riders appeared over the ridge, their armor gleaming under the midday sun. Amanda's grip on her sword tightened. "Well, that was faster than expected."
"What now?" one of her soldiers asked.
Amanda exhaled. "We stick to the plan. Lead them in."
She turned her horse and bolted toward the valley, the enemy hot on her heels. The thunder of hooves echoed against the rock walls as they charged forward. As planned, Amanda pulled ahead just enough to keep them chasing her.
Then she saw him.
A lone figure stood on the opposite ridge, watching the battle unfold. Clad in dark armor with a crimson cape billowing behind him, he exuded an air of authority and danger. His piercing eyes locked onto Amanda, and a slow smirk curved his lips.
Amanda’s blood ran cold.
"Elias!" she shouted through the communicator crystal. "We have a problem."
His voice crackled through. "Define ‘problem.’"
"I think their general just showed up."
There was a brief silence before Elias replied, "That complicates things. Hold your ground. We're moving in."
But Amanda knew she wouldn't have the luxury of waiting. The enemy general spurred his horse forward, cutting across the valley floor with alarming speed. Within seconds, he was upon her.
"You must be the so-called hero," he mused, his voice smooth and taunting. "I expected someone more… impressive."
Amanda scowled. "And you must be the villain. I expected someone more… terrifying."
He chuckled, drawing his sword. "Let's see if you still have that sharp tongue after I cut you down."
Amanda barely had time to react before he swung. She blocked his strike, the force of it rattling her arms. He was strong—too strong. Her horse reared, nearly throwing her off balance. She quickly recovered, but he was already attacking again.
She ducked, dodging his blade by inches. "Okay, okay, I get it. You’re good. No need to show off."
He didn’t answer, pressing his attack. Amanda gritted her teeth, searching for an opening. Then, she saw it—his left side was slightly exposed whenever he swung downwards.
Taking a gamble, she shifted her weight and feigned a retreat. He took the bait, lunging forward. At the last second, she twisted and slashed at his side.
Her blade met resistance before slicing through his armor. Blood splattered onto the ground.
The general staggered, eyes wide in disbelief. "You—"
Before he could finish, a loud horn sounded from the ridge above.
Amanda grinned. "And that would be my cue."
Elias and the main army descended upon the battlefield like a tidal wave. The enemy forces, caught off guard, scrambled to reorganize. Within moments, the valley was filled with the clash of steel and the cries of battle.
Amanda turned back to the general, who was clutching his wound. He growled, glaring at her. "This isn’t over."
"Oh, I know," she said. "But for now, you should probably run."
The battle raged on, but Amanda knew they had the upper hand. As Elias rode toward her, his face was a mixture of relief and amusement.
"You just can’t stop getting yourself into trouble, can you?" he teased.
Amanda huffed. "You know me—danger just has a thing for me."
Elias laughed. "Come on, let’s finish this."
And with that, they charged into the fray, side by side.