Eternal. (A Star Wars Story.)

The Eye of the Storm

The storm outside raged, as if the heavens themselves were in revolt. Lightning split the sky over Solarium Argentum, flashing across the city's towering golden spires and casting brief, jagged shadows over the royal palace. The thunder that followed was deafening, a constant roar that reverberated through the stone walls of the chamber.

Jakob Monn stood by the window, his back to the room, staring out into the chaos. The storm mirrored the turmoil within him-he could feel it, the pressure of leadership bearing down on him. The Kingdom was strong, yes, but it was slipping, slowly, silently, like sand through fingers.

Behind him, the murmur of conversation grew louder as Ghost and Prob spoke in low tones, strategizing over the latest intelligence. Jakob heard it all, but his thoughts remained distant. He was used to the weight, used to the loneliness of being the King. Everyone looked to him for answers, but who did he turn to?

"They'll come soon, Jakob." Ghost's voice was rough, familiar, but serious. Jakob didn't have to turn to know the grin behind it, the one that always seemed to remain, even in moments like these.

"You think so?" Jakob finally asked, his voice low, almost drowned out by the storm outside.

Ghost, the Royal Guard Captain, chuckled, moving toward the large table where several maps and reports were spread out. His boots clicked against the marble floor with a casual rhythm. "I know so. Crimson Dominion isn't gonna wait long. They're itching for a fight." He leaned over the map with Prob, his arms crossed over his chest. "We've had reports that their forces are mobilizing along the border. It won't be long before they move."

Jakob sighed, running a hand through his dark hair, eyes never leaving the storm. "You think we can hold them off if it comes to that?"

Prob, ever the strategist, looked up from the map, his gaze steady. "It's not just them we're worried about," he replied, the edge in his voice cutting through the tension. "It's everything else-The Shattered Coalition, the Veiled Enclave, all of them circling like vultures. And if we don't stop them now, we'll have a full-scale war on our hands."

Jakob nodded but didn't speak right away. The burden of keeping his Kingdom together, of keeping his family safe, was never easy. He could feel the weight of his father's absence, the years of leadership thrust upon him far too early. The people of the Kingdom trusted him, but Tachi, his queen-though not his lover-remained his unshakeable ally, a pillar he could lean on in a way few others could understand. No one questioned her loyalty.

"Jakob," Ghost's voice cut through his thoughts. Jakob turned slightly, catching the knowing look on his old friend's face. Ghost didn't carry the weight of formal titles like the others. To him, Jakob was still just Monn, his old friend.

"You've got the strength to hold it all together," Ghost said simply, his voice low but genuine. "But you don't have to do it alone. We're with you, always."

Jakob let out a breath, turning away from the storm finally. He glanced at Ghost and Prob. Both of them had been with him for years-long enough that their words carried the weight of brotherhood. But this was different. It always felt different when the storm was right outside your door.

"I don't doubt you two," Jakob said, his tone quieter now. "But I'm not sure how much longer we can keep everyone in line. We're stretched thin already."

"We'll manage," Ghost answered with a grin, though his eyes held a seriousness that Jakob couldn't ignore. "You've got the right people around you."

Prob, now standing by Jakob's side, folded his arms. "But you need to stay ahead of them. You need to lead, Jakob. They won't wait forever, and neither will we."

Jakob let his gaze drift back to the storm, the distant lightning illuminating his face for a moment, casting hard shadows across his features. For a moment, the weight of the future seemed unbearable.

"I'll lead," he said finally, his voice resolute. "But not without the people who've stood by me. We lead. All of us."

There was a pause, and then Ghost clapped him on the back, hard enough to send Jakob stumbling slightly. "That's the King we know."

Jakob glanced at him, half-smiling for the first time in what felt like days. "I'm not your King, Ghost."

"Sure you are," Ghost said, grinning widely. "You just don't know it yet."

Jakob let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. But even as the storm raged outside, Jakob Monn could feel a calmness settle within him. He had his people. He had his family. And that, for now, was enough to face whatever came next.

---

End of Chapter One.