Amanda barely had time to catch her breath before the grand doors of the ballroom swung open, revealing a figure she hadn’t seen in what felt like a lifetime. Standing there, cloaked in deep crimson, was none other than Queen Isolde—the woman responsible for Amanda’s arrival in this world, the one who had set the wheels of destiny into motion.
The music came to a halt. The nobles, who had been merrily dancing and sipping on their goblets of wine, all turned to face the Queen. There was a tension in the air so thick Amanda could almost reach out and grab it.
Elias, standing beside her, instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword. “What is she doing here?” he whispered under his breath.
Amanda wasn’t sure whether to be furious or relieved. After everything she had been through—the battles, the betrayals, the heartbreak—seeing Isolde again made her stomach twist in knots. “Let’s find out.”
Isolde’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “Ah, Amanda, my dear. You’ve come so far. And yet, I see the doubt in your eyes.”
Amanda crossed her arms, refusing to let her voice waver. “You threw me into this world with barely an explanation, made me fight battles I never wanted to, and now you just waltz in like we’re old friends? Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t throw my shoe at you.”
Elias snorted beside her, but quickly disguised it with a cough.
The Queen chuckled, the sound eerily serene. “Because, dear hero, your journey is not yet over.”
Amanda narrowed her eyes. “Oh, forgive me, but haven’t I saved this kingdom like, three times already? What more could you possibly want from me?”
Isolde’s smile faded. “The final piece of the puzzle remains. The true enemy has yet to reveal themselves.”
A chill ran down Amanda’s spine. She glanced at Elias, whose grip on his sword tightened. “What do you mean?”
The Queen took a slow step forward. “You were never just meant to save this kingdom. You were meant to restore balance to both worlds.”
Amanda blinked. “Both worlds?”
Isolde’s gaze softened. “Your world and mine. They are connected in ways you cannot yet comprehend. If one falls, the other will follow. The darkness that lurks in the shadows has been waiting for the right moment, and that moment is now.”
Amanda exchanged a glance with Elias, then sighed dramatically. “Why does every prophecy have to be so vague? Just once, I’d like a straight answer.”
The Queen smirked. “That would take all the fun out of it.”
Amanda groaned. “Oh, of course, because life-threatening situations are so much fun.”
Elias placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “What’s the next step?”
Isolde looked at them both, her expression unreadable. “The final battle is approaching. You must be ready. And when the time comes… you will have to choose.”
Amanda frowned. “Choose what?”
But before Isolde could answer, the doors burst open again. This time, it wasn’t a single figure that entered—it was an army.
Amanda had barely a second to react before the first sword was drawn.
---
Chaos erupted in the ballroom. The nobles screamed and scattered, overturning tables and sending goblets crashing to the floor. Amanda instinctively ducked as a blade swung past her head, missing by mere inches.
Elias was already in action, drawing his sword in one fluid motion and cutting down the first enemy soldier who dared approach. “Stay close!” he called out.
“Oh, believe me, I’m not going anywhere!” Amanda replied, grabbing the nearest weapon she could find—a decorative spear mounted on the wall. Not ideal, but it would have to do.
The soldiers bore the crest of the Eastern Warlord, a name that had only been whispered in the kingdom’s darkest corridors. It seemed the true enemy had finally revealed themselves.
Isolde, unbothered by the chaos around her, lifted a hand. A pulse of golden energy radiated from her palm, sending several soldiers flying back. “You see now?” she called over the battle. “This is only the beginning.”
Amanda gritted her teeth as she blocked an incoming attack. “Yeah, yeah, point taken! Less talking, more fighting!”
The battle was relentless. Amanda fought with everything she had, dodging and striking, barely keeping up with the skilled warriors around her. But she wasn’t alone.
Elias moved like a shadow, his blade cutting through enemies with precision. Isolde remained in the center, casting protective barriers around the injured. And then there was Rowan—because of course he showed up at the last second, arrows whizzing through the air, striking down enemies before they could reach Amanda.
She huffed. “Took you long enough!”
Rowan smirked, nocking another arrow. “What, and miss all the fun?”
Amanda rolled her eyes but was secretly relieved. With him here, their odds of survival just improved.
Minutes felt like hours, but finally, the last soldier fell. The ballroom was left in ruins—shattered glass, broken furniture, and far too many injured nobles whimpering in the corners.
Amanda, panting, leaned against a nearby pillar. “Okay… if this is just the beginning, I really don’t want to see the middle.”
Elias wiped blood off his blade. “Agreed.”
Isolde stepped forward, her expression grave. “This was merely a warning. The real war is yet to come.”
Amanda groaned. “Of course it is.”
The Queen turned to her. “You must make a decision soon, Amanda. The fate of both worlds rests in your hands.”
Amanda exhaled, exhaustion settling in her bones. “Yeah, no pressure or anything.”
Elias smirked, wrapping an arm around her. “Don’t worry. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”
Amanda glanced at him, warmth spreading in her chest despite the looming danger. “Yeah… together.”
And with that, the dance with fate continued.