Rhiannan and her mates, still basking in the warmth of a peaceful breakfast, rose with full bellies and excited hearts. The courtyard buzzed with anticipation as the inner circle and their bonded partners made their way to the eastern edge of the castle grounds, where Kaleb and Arwen had been laboring for weeks in secrecy.
The air shimmered as they arrived. The trial field was enormous, chiseled into the earth and reinforced with ancient runes and magic. A massive obsidian arch crowned the entrance, etched with glowing words in divine script: Prove Thyself Worthy.
Kaleb and Arwen stood proudly at the front, arms crossed, grinning like proud wolves.
"We present to you," Arwen said, voice booming across the field, "The Trial of Valor."
Kaleb stepped forward, gesturing with glowing hands to summon a magical projection above them. "The trial consists of three brutal stages. Each one harder, more dangerous, and more revealing than the last. Pass Stage One? You earn your place as an Initiate. Pass Stage Two? You become Elite or Officer Rank. Survive Stage Three? You'll be considered for the highest command ranks!" Kaleb's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Rhiannan raised a brow, impressed. "And how many will survive?"
"Not many," Arwen said bluntly, grinning wide. "And that's the point."
Rhiannan walked the field slowly, her hand on her belly, inspecting the setup with a proud smirk. "You two outdid yourselves," she murmured.
Arwen winked. "Wait 'til you see the elemental obstacle gauntlet."
Kaleb chuckled. "And the arena illusion realm. We really went hard."
Rhiannan nodded. "Approved."
Within seconds, Arwen flicked a switch on his smart brain, and their faces appeared live on FaeNet.
"THIS IS A CALL TO ARMS!" Arwen bellowed, voice echoing into the realms.
Kaleb grinned devilishly. "In 48 hours, the Trial of Valor begins. You've got two days to prepare, train, and pray."
A countdown clock appeared in the top corner of FaeNet feeds across Andopeer.
⏳ 47:59:59 and counting…
Comments exploded beneath the feed.
💬 "I'm SO in. here I come!"
💬 "Can we use weapons?? Asking for a friend."
💬 "If I die, I want my last words to be 'worth it.'"
Rhiannan watched with teary eyes as the realm prepared to fight, not just for her, but beside her.
War was coming.
And her army was rising.
The midday sun cast golden warmth over the thriving village of Emberreach, and Elisha couldn't stop puffing smoke in pride. He strutted down the cobbled main path, gesturing grandly as Rhiannan and her full entourage followed. Her mates. Her siblings. Her sentinels. The ladies in waiting. Everyone was here for the grand tour.
"Over here is the general store," Elisha said, gesturing to a beautifully carved wooden building with dragon motifs. "Witch run. Charms with every purchase. Don't ask questions about the bread, it's haunted."
They all chuckled as he led them on.
"This is the blacksmith's forge, already enchanted to handle dragonsteel and soulsteel."
"This one's our apothecary slash café," he added proudly. "It's run by two very anxious lesbians who brew potions with espresso shots. You're welcome."
He pointed out the school next, and Sable immediately beamed. The training yard behind it was packed with children sparring with foam swords and casting little spells under supervision.
"Playground. Nap room. Spell lab. Snack vault. Organized chaos," Sable said proudly.
"There's even a bathhouse next door for the kids. Trust me, it was necessary," he added, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow.
Finally, they stopped in the heart of the village, beside a modest stone bank with crystal windows that shimmered with enchantments.
"Built it myself," Elisha said, practically glowing. "Every household has a job, a task, and a purpose. We trade, we earn, we save. And they're happy. But…"
His smile dimmed slightly as he looked around at the bustling town square. "We need someone to run this place. Like, officially. As it grows."
Rhiannan frowned thoughtfully. Her bump gave a small flutter, like it agreed.
"We need more than just someone to run Emberreach," she murmured. "We need… a royal court. Lords. Ladies. Advisors. A ruling system. Something stable."
Kaleb nodded. "People we trust."
"People who won't turn into power hungry shitbags the second they get a taste of control," Azarion added dryly.
"Fuck around and we will find out," Arwen said, cracking his knuckles.
Rhiannan turned toward Sasha, who was quietly projecting a floating village map above her palm.
"What do you think, Sasha? How do we pick the right people?"
Sasha blinked. "You want my opinion on monarchy?"
"Yes," Rhiannan said. "You're logical and you don't like people. You'll see the red flags before we do."
"Fair," Sasha muttered. Then she brightened slightly, the map glowing brighter.
"Host a council selection trial. Not just by strength or magic, by values. Make them answer real questions. Let the people vote, but you and your court approve the final picks. That way, it's democratic and divine."
"Hot damn," Liam muttered. "Sasha, you've got a brain like a dagger."
"I know," she replied, smug.
Rhiannan nodded slowly. "Then that's what we'll do. Let's build a court by the people, for the people. No thrones for tyrants here."
Faenet lit up instantly with people throwing in ideas, name dropping their favorite community leaders, and tagging themselves as "future Court material."
The kingdom was growing fast.
And Rhiannan?
She was ready to build it the right way.
The sun had just started to sink behind the western towers when Rhiannan and her mates wrapped up the village tour. Emberreach was alive and thriving, pulsing with new magic and purpose. Elisha was proud as hell, walking them through the last few additions like a proud dragon dad showing off his hoard.
The entourage finally made their way back to the castle, tired but glowing. As they reached the front steps, Mo and Mela appeared, giddy and flushed, and introduced their new mate, beaming with pride. Rhiannan welcomed him with open arms and a warm hug, immediately sensing the truth in the bond that shimmered between them. It was one more piece of the divine puzzle falling into place.
As they headed into the dining hall, Rhiannan sent a quiet mental note to Sasha:
"Hire a magical menagerie caretaker, someone seriously qualified, experienced, and trustworthy. The creatures deserve a guardian who understands their needs."
Sasha responded instantly. "Already assembling candidates, My Lady. You'll have a list by morning."
The feast was rich and satisfying, and laughter echoed off the high stone walls as the chosen family relaxed together. Afterward, the group split off toward their chambers, full bellies and lighter hearts softening the tension that had been coiling tighter each day.
In a quiet alcove near the private gardens, Reyna pulled Rhiannan into a small sitting room. The two women sank into each other's arms without words, their bond fierce and unshakable.
"I missed you," Rhiannan whispered, voice thick.
Reyna hugged her tighter. "I missed me too. But I think I found myself again. Thanks to you."
They talked. They cried. They held each other until the moon rose high, and the castle outside stilled.
As Rhiannan finally drifted off to sleep in her chamber, belly full and heart steadier than it had been in moons, Reyna was jolted awake by a vision.
The Bone Seer stood beneath a veil of black mist, but her face had changed.
It was Lorelei.
Reyna sat bolt upright, panting.
"Nope. Not tonight. This can wait until morning."
She turned over, whispering a protection chant under her breath as Faenet blinked with a final message:
⚔️ Trial of Valor Begins in: 24:00:00 ⚔️