---
Smoke rose over the hills like the world had set itself on fire.
I stood on a crumbling watchtower, wind whipping my coat like I actually knew what I was doing. Below me, two armies were lined up across the valley, banners flapping, swords drawn, war horns screaming like angry goats.
And me?
I was screaming internally.
What the hell is happening?!
One second I was trying to find a safe village, the next I was dragged into a noble's war council, declared a "strategic asset," and shoved on a horse like I was Napoleon with a cheat code.
"Milord!" a soldier panted beside me. "The enemy refuses to negotiate. The battle will begin any moment!"
Awesome. Just what I needed.
My first week in fantasy land, and I'm about to get turned into red mist in a historical reenactment.
The opposing general raised his hand. Hundreds of armored soldiers shouted and charged, blades flashing in the morning sun.
I panicked.
I stood up.
Held out both arms.
And shouted the first thing that came to mind.
"LEAVE!"
The sound exploded through the air like thunder.
Every soldier—ours, theirs, didn't matter—froze.
And then, like dominoes toppling in perfect harmony…
They turned around… and left.
Marching away.
Dropping weapons.
Backing off like I had just grounded them all at once.
Even the general who started it?
He looked confused as hell… then politely dismounted his horse and walked into the forest.
Gone.
Just like that.
...
The field was silent.
I stood there blinking, the echo of my voice still ringing in my ears.
A single bird chirped.
Then, behind me, someone whispered:
"…Holy crap."
---
Aftermath
Ten minutes later, I was sitting in a tent surrounded by stunned officers, all of whom looked at me like I was a divine miracle crossed with a nuclear warhead.
"You just ended a war," one of them said.
I nodded slowly. "With one word."
"Sir, if I may…" another began nervously. "Would it be possible to… weaponize this ability? Strategically?"
I glared. "You mean, make me yell at people until we win every battle?"
The guy actually considered it.
I groaned and rubbed my face.
This was the problem. Every solution felt too easy.
Every time I used this power, people stopped thinking. They stopped trying.
They just... obeyed.
And it was addicting.
Terrifying.
And kind of lonely.
---
Realization
That night, I sat by the fire, staring into the flames.
I thought of Aelira. How she looked at me like I was already lost. Like I was just another name on her list of mistakes to clean up.
I wanted to prove her wrong.
But deep down, I wondered…
Am I really doing good? Or am I just bending the world until it's quiet?
And more importantly—
What happens when I meet someone I can't just tell to go away?
---
[To be continued…]