“W-Why are you trying to help me?” Diana’s lips trembled, her gaze fixed on Luna.

  Luna said nothing. She simply stared, her presence calm and unwavering, unmoving as if time itself had slowed around her.

  Suddenly, a sharp sound echoed through the hall like a knock on a door, leaving Diana disoriented and unsure of what she was hearing.

  “Someone is calling you. You should wake up now,” Luna said, her tone gentle, filled with a warmth that seemed to seep into Diana’s chest.

  “But… if I wake up, won’t the pain be unbearable?” Diana shook her head, her voice breaking. “I don’t want them to worry about me anymore.”

  Luna’s lips curved into a soft smile. She shook her head lightly, then, without warning, a gray light began to swirl around Diana, wrapping her in a cocoon of calm.

  “I will ease the pain you’ll feel when you wake up,” Luna said, her blue eyes locking onto Diana’s with a steady, reassuring intensity.

  “Trust me.”

  Diana’s eyes widened, a flicker of wonder crossing her face before she returned a small, grateful smile. “Okay… thank you.” Her eyes shimmered, bright and clear, like stars scattered across a night sky.

  When her consciousness returned to her body, Luna slowly seated upon her throne, an aura of quiet authority radiating from her as all eyes in the hall turned in awe.

  “You’re… somehow kind to Diana. Why is that?” The woman in the center asked, curiosity threading her voice. Her emerald eyes shimmered brightly.

  “I’m just giving her choices.” Luna chuckled, her voice soft. “Isn’t that fine?”

  The woman’s gaze narrowed, and she let out a slow sigh.

  “Giving advice is one thing, but helping her directly? I won’t allow it. She won’t become who she is meant to be if we keep spoonfeeding her with comfort.” Her eyes shifted to the God of Sun. “You understand, Solarion?”

  The God of Sun inclined his head in reluctant agreement, the weight of her authority leaving him no choice.

  Diana awoke from her dream and instinctively sat up, her chest burning with a familiar, dull ache. It wasn’t as sharp as last time, but the pain still stung.

  She pressed a hand to her mouth, trying to steady her breathing and keep the sound from escaping.

  A gentle knock echoed on the door again. Without hesitation, she pushed herself to her feet, but her vision blurred and sweat dampened her skin. The knocking continued, steady and persistent, echoing through the room.

  Wiping the sweat from her face with the blanket, she made her way to the door. When she opened it, her eyes met a pair of golden ones, beautiful, unwavering, and locking onto hers with an intensity that stole her breath.

  She let out a heavy sigh, leaning against the doorframe.

  “It’s just you, Leo,” she murmured, drawing a slow, steadying breath and pressing her lips together as she forcibly closed her eyes.

  Then, warmth encircled her waist. She opened her eyes to find Leo’s hand resting gently there, his golden eyes shimmering with concern.

  “I know you’re in pain,” he said softly, “but I had no choice but to wake you up. Something has happened neither of us could have predicted.”

  Diana’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Huh?”

  After a few minutes of walking, the night remained young. Moonlight spilled through the crystalline walls of the palace, scattering across the entrance where Diana and Leo had paused.

  Diana’s eyes widened in disbelief. They had known the Duke and his army were arriving in the capital this evening, but they had never expected this, a gathering of countless races: Dwarves, Elves, Lizardfolk, Harpies, Lycanthropes, Centaurs.

  As Diana stood at the palace entrance, the assembled forces slowly sank to their knees, silence rippling through their ranks.

  “We have come to aid you, Your Majesty!” they declared in unison, voices resonant with unwavering respect.

  Diana blinked, her mind racing. Huh? I never asked them for aid… I didn’t even remember ordering Finn to request it.

  All she had intended was for the Dwarves to build a vast underground basement.

  Yet Luna’s words suddenly surged back into her memory, and her eyes widened further, shock rooting her in place.

  Don’t tell me… she’s the one behind all of this?

  Back in the hall of the Gods, the woman seated at the center throne regarded Luna with quiet curiosity, her eyes gleaming with intrigue.

  “You move quickly,” she said, her tone laced with both amusement and admiration. “How did you manage to inform them that the Queen seeks their aid, Luna?”

  Luna’s lips curved into a knowing smile, and she gave her a subtle wink.

  “Worry not, Stella. I didn’t send any of my people down from the heavens to deliver the message in person. I merely whispered a little guidance through their dreams.”

  Stella’s eyes widened slightly, then narrowed in appreciation.

  “You’re clever. Before you even instructed Diana to unite the races, you had already set the pieces in motion, ensuring every race would converge at the palace as swiftly as possible.”

  A soft laugh escaped Stella, her amusement bright yet tinged with respect.

  Diana’s gaze swept across the courtyard, her breath catching. She had not expected it to happen so soon yet it did. One after another, the leaders of five different races rose, their movements deliberate, each step echoing with weight as they advanced toward her.

  The dwarf was the first to speak. His thick fingers brushed thoughtfully along his beard as he studied her face, eyes narrowing as though to test her resolve. Then, a smile broke through his rugged features.

  “Good evening, Queen Towa of Apocrypha. We have come to answer your call.” His voice was gruff, yet carried the steadiness of stone.

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  “A yellow-haired gentleman came to our land and told us of our nation’s plight. We could not stand idle while ruins drew near. That is why we have come.” He dipped his head respectfully, the gesture curt but sincere.

  “Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner. I am Kargan, ruler of the kingdom carved deep within Mount Tarok.”

  Before his words had fully faded, another figure stepped forward with quiet grace, his long, pointed ears catching the glow of the moonlight that filtered into the hall.

  Golden hair cascaded over his shoulders, and for a heartbeat Diana found herself stilled by his otherworldly beauty.

  “We have long observed the turmoil in our nation. My scouts speak of plantations laid to ruin, as if foul creatures itself had descended upon the land.” He placed a hand lightly over his chest, bowing slightly.

  “My people’s forests, the lands we cherish, would be imperiled if Apocrypha falls. That is why I stand before you. In unity, our strength is woven; in unity, the night may yet be driven back. I am Velandor.”

  With that, he lowered himself to one knee, his piercing eyes never wavering from Diana’s. Determination burned within them, fierce and unyielding.

  Diana’s heart tightened. She could feel the weight of his resolve, the desperate will to protect his people, to shield what he loved from the oncoming storm. Then another sound broke through the silence: the heavy, deliberate step of a warrior.

  She turned, and saw the lycanthrope. Without hesitation, he sank to one knee before her.

  “My name is Gardath. The reason I stand before you," he began, his voice gravelly, strained by anger barely contained, "is because one of my merchants was slaughtered, torn apart without mercy by an army of beasts. When I tracked them myself, I immediately knew they were no rabble to dismiss. Wyverns. Dark mages. Ogres. Even devilkin united in dreadful purpose."

  His gaze locked on hers, a low growl vibrating in his mouth as his fists tightened.

  "And when I traced their path…" he inhaled sharply, the sound almost a snarl, "…I knew where they were heading. I was shocked. They march straight for the capital of Apocrypha."

  He struck his fist to his chest with a heavy thud, bowing low but never breaking eye contact.

  "The Lycanthropes are few, a small pack among great nations but we will not cower while shadow spreads. For the future of my people, Your Majesty… we must fight as one, and tear them down, no matter the cost."

  Diana could feel the raw dedication in his voice, and a faint smile touched her lips.

  One by one, the remaining leaders of the races stepped forward, each introducing themselves, explaining why they had come to stand against the army of beasts and each speaking of the strange dream that had guided them here.

  At last, Diana took a single, deliberate step forward. The moonlight caught her eyes, making them shimmer like stars against the quiet night.

  “Apocrypha stands on the brink of collapse,” she declared, her voice steady but carrying the weight of her guilt. “And I… the Queen who governs this nation… have done nothing to prevent the problems that have plagued us for decades.”

  Her faint smile faded, replaced by a gravity that reached the very core of her being. Pressing a hand against her chest, she drew a deep breath.

  “But I give you my word. I will make this land a nation where every race has a place to live in comfort, where our histories are no longer divided, but written as one, where our cultures intertwine, shared openly instead of hidden away.”

  Her eyes swept over leaders who stood firm, her voice ringing with sincerity.

  “From this day forward, this nation will not belong to one race alone. It will belong to all who dwell within it. And I will welcome them not as outsiders, but as my own people.”

  Leo’s eyes widened, utterly captivated by her words.

  Something stirred deep within him, a warmth that spread through his chest, fierce and unfamiliar. Every heartbeat seemed to stretch into eternity as he watched her

  Then she turned, her gaze brushing over him for the briefest moment.

  The world around him blurred, fading into insignificance until only she remained in his sight. When her lips curved into a smile, it pierced through him like an arrow, sharp yet strangely tender. Without realizing it, he smiled back.

  This girl… is truly a very interesting one.

  When her speech ended, silence lingered. Everyone was lost in thought, caught between awe and doubt. Her vision of unity was breathtaking, almost too beautiful to imagine but also daunting.

  Could races so different in culture and belief truly live side by side?

  And yet, when their eyes met hers, shining like stars against the night’s darkness, hesitation gave way to warmth.

  Something in her gaze carried hope strong enough to overcome their fears.

  One by one, they lowered their heads. Then, in perfect unison, the entire assembly bowed before her. Even the leaders of the great races, who had stood tall and unyielding only moments before, bent the knee before Diana.

  “Wait!!!”

  The voice tore through the night, echoing across the courtyard and halting every breath. Every head turned sharply toward the ramparts, where a lone shadow stood against the pale moonlight.

  There, against the moon’s silver glow, a lone figure stood cloaked in shadow. Slowly by slowly, the light unveiled her, a woman whose crimson hair lashed wildly in the wind, her violet eyes shimmered brightly.

  A ripple of murmurs spread among the onlookers, hushed whispers carrying names Diana couldn’t catch. But the way they spoke. It feels like they knew exactly who this woman was.

  Then the woman’s eyes locked on Diana. In the blink of an eye, her body vanished from the wall only to reappear before Diana, blade arcing downward in a heavy swing.

  Yet Diana did not flinch. Her gaze never wavered, her face calm, her body still as stone. The sword whistled through the air, closing the last breath of distance then stopped cold, its edge hovering just close to her chest.

  The woman’s sharp gaze bore into Diana’s as her lips pressed into a hard, unreadable line.

  “You… you never wavered. You didn’t even try to dodge the attack.” Her voice was sharp, low, carrying a weight that lingered in the air.

  Diana’s lips curved into a faint smile as she reached out, her fingers brushing the cold steel at the sword’s center.

  “And yet, you also stopped your strike.” She paused, her eyes locked with the woman’s, unyielding. “Or should I say… you were testing me. Testing if I was worth following.” Her words carried no hesitation, only a steady fire burning within.

  The blade shimmered, then dissolved into drifting ashes. Slowly, the woman’s lips curved into a smile.

  “Your eyes… they burn with quiet resolve.” She gave a small nod. “You are indeed a remarkable leader. I like that.”

  Extending her hand, she spoke with newfound respect.

  “I am the leader of the Catfolk. Forgive my insolent behavior, I had to be certain I would not kneel to someone unworthy. By the way, I’m Nymera…It’s a pleasure to serve you, Your Majesty.”

  Diana did not hesitate. She clasped the woman’s hand with a graceful smile.

  "It's a pleasure to have you with us, Nymera.”

  At that moment, Diana felt the weight upon her shoulders lighten. She had gained not just an ally, but a formidable army, one that could stand unbroken against the trials ahead.

  For the first time, she felt the truth settle deep in her heart: in the battle that awaited them, they would not stand alone.

  Every race within the nation was uniting, rising together to face what is coming for them.