The storm outside showed no sign of relenting. The sky churned with ominous clouds, casting the royal palace in eerie half-light. Inside, the halls of Solarium Argentum were silent, save for the distant echoes of footsteps on marble. Jakob Monn moved through the corridors with purpose, his thoughts weighed down by the gravity of the conversations that had just taken place. Ghost and Prob were right—the Kingdom was on the brink. The storm wasn’t just in the sky; it was brewing within his own borders, in the hearts of those who once swore loyalty to him.
But he couldn’t afford to dwell on that now. There were matters more pressing—his family.
Jakob turned the corner into the royal chambers, the door sliding open with a soft hiss. Inside, Queen Tachi stood by a large window, her back to the room, gazing out into the tempest. She was a striking figure—her dark hair falling in waves around her shoulders, her posture regal, yet somehow distant. It was her eyes that Jakob always noticed first—eyes that saw far more than anyone would expect.
“Jakob,” she said without turning, her voice calm but laced with an edge of concern. “The storm is relentless tonight.”
“Like everything else,” Jakob replied dryly, stepping further into the room. His eyes fell on the intricate, gold-inlaid map of the Kingdom on the wall. “I spoke with Ghost and Prob. The situation’s worse than we thought.”
Tachi finally turned to face him, her expression softening, though she didn't move from her place by the window. “I’m not worried about the storm outside,” she said, her voice steady. “I’m worried about the storm within. The factions are growing bolder, Jakob. You can feel it too, can’t you?”
Jakob’s gaze darkened. “They’ll test us soon enough.”
“They already are,” she replied, her tone unwavering. “And they won’t stop until they see the Kingdom fall.”
Jakob nodded, his jaw tightening. He had known the risks, but hearing Tachi speak them so plainly made them all the more real. The Kingdom was powerful, yes, but it was a power built on fragile alliances, one that could easily fracture under the right pressure.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” he said, his voice quieter now. “If the Crimson Dominion makes its move, we’ll need to act fast. And we can’t just rely on the Royal Guard or the military. We need more than that.”
“You’re not alone in this,” Tachi said, stepping closer to him. “The people will stand with you. They may be uncertain now, but they’ll rally behind the true ruler of the Kingdom.”
Jakob met her gaze, appreciating the loyalty she spoke with. She wasn’t his lover, never had been, but her allegiance was unquestionable. Her strength, her clarity, had always been a source of support for him. She was a queen in every sense of the word—an advisor, a strategist, and an ally when Jakob needed it most.
“I hope you’re right,” Jakob said, rubbing the back of his neck, his mind still heavy with the weight of what was to come. “But I’m not sure the people understand what’s at stake. Not yet.”
Tachi was silent for a moment, then spoke again, her voice measured. “Maybe it’s time to remind them. You’re the King, Jakob. You may not have chosen this path, but it’s the one you’re on now. The time for hesitation is over. If the Dominion thinks we’re weak, we’ll show them how wrong they are.”
Jakob’s eyes narrowed. The words were simple, but they carried the force of the Kingdom’s future. He could no longer afford to wait for the storm to pass. He had to take control of it.
“We’ll make our move soon,” Jakob said firmly. “We’ll send a message to them and anyone else who thinks the Kingdom can be broken.”
Before Tachi could respond, there was a soft knock at the door. The door opened slightly, and Princess Lucy stepped into the room. She was still young, barely a woman, but Jakob could see the fire in her eyes, the same fire he’d seen in his own when he had been her age. Her presence in the room brought a rare warmth to Jakob’s heart, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that the storm was closing in on all of them.
“Father,” Lucy said, her voice carrying the weight of a future not entirely her own. “The city is preparing. The streets are full of whispers. There’s talk of the Crimson Dominion, of the Free Tribes of Wyrmfen. People are scared.”
Jakob turned fully to her, his heart heavy but his resolve hardening. “I know, Lucy. I know. But it’s not fear we need. It’s unity. We’ll remind them what the Kingdom stands for.”
Lucy took a step forward, her expression a mixture of concern and determination. “And you’ll lead them, won’t you?”
Jakob paused, staring at his daughter for a long moment. “I will,” he said, his voice thick with the weight of his promise. “But we’ll lead together. You, me, your mother... the people. We stand united.”
“I trust you, Father,” Lucy said, her voice filled with quiet confidence. Jakob could see in her eyes that she wasn’t just a princess. She was a future leader, someone who would one day have to shoulder the weight of a Kingdom, just as he had. But not yet.
As the three of them stood there, the storm outside intensified, but Jakob felt a new sense of clarity. The Kingdom might be on the edge of disaster, but it wasn’t too late to fight back. It wasn’t too late to show the world the power of the Golden Eternal Kingdom.
They weren’t just waiting for the storm to end. They were preparing to face it head-on.
---
End of Chapter Two.
YOU ARE READING
Eternal. (A Star Wars Story.)
Science Fiction"They stood with us, side by side, Fighting through battles as the nights got colder. Their blades once lit up the battlefield, And their voices were strong-but now, it's quiet. I can still remember the way they laughed, The way they'd charge into t...
