This caught the congregation’s attention, so they all turned their attention to the chamber doors as well. In one smooth motion, the doors swung open, revealing four individuals. To every single member of the congregation, these individuals were familiar.

In front stood a young woman, at seventeen years old, wearing a swirling, geometric tiara atop her brunette hair. She was Princess Anya, the recipient of the “Your Highness” title from Sete. She was accompanied by her second-in-command, Rika, who was much taller than her and had dark bronze-brown skin that shone through the Hall. Behind the pair stood Caleb, a heavy-built fighter, and Vincero, a slim Zonian Halfling who everybody just called Vinnie. The four entered the room with perfectly synchronized steps, as though they’d rehearsed their choreography together.

Upon seeing the princess, the Grand Elder stood. "All rise for Princess Anya of Auran."

The entire congregation rose from their seats and bowed as the Princess and her crew approached the center of the hall. When they reached Sete, he bowed in respect as well. Anya nodded her acknowledgment. Clearly, the two of them had an understanding.

"Thank you," Anya said to Sete before turning to the rest of the room. "You may all be seated."

As everyone settled back into their seats, the Grand Elder noticed that the princess was wearing something different than her usual royal attire. Instead, she looked ready for battle, in a full emerald active suit with white-and-gold trim and her twin swords strapped at her side. The others were also dressed for combat. The Grand Elder began to put the pieces together in his mind.

"It is a pleasure, Your Highness, to have you join us here today,” he said. “I imagine your lack of royal attire may have something to do with your presence here?”

Councilman Sete raised a hand to the Princess, asking for permission to speak. She nodded. He had clearly been prepared for this particular explanation.

He cleared his throat and then spoke. "Over the years, I have gathered the descendants of our most powerful warriors and prepared them for a moment like this one. I hope you all have not forgotten the great power of the Knights of Auran. The ones who stopped the war between us and the Dragons, the very same warriors who fought time after time in order for our people to thrive in peace. The councilman gestured his free hand to the youthful group. I believe they are needed once more, and these children—their children—will lead us to victory."

Elder Chandler narrowed his eyes in confusion. Everyone remembered the Knights of Auran, of course, but these warriors before them weren’t…really warriors at all. They were too young. It wouldn’t be wise to send young people with such promise into a battlefield as dangerous as this one. He looked at Sete with uncertainty.

"Councilman, you speak of those with years of experience. Do you actually believe that these…children are capable of handling a mission as important as this?" Elder Chandler asked.

Before Sete could answer, Caleb stomped forward, past Vinnie and Rika, toward the elders. "Children?!” he called out in a gruff voice.

He was stopped by an arm against his abdomen and turned to see the Princess glaring at him. She shook her head, as if to say he wasn’t to utter another word. Caleb stepped back slowly, still frustrated but obeying her.

The Princess lowered her arm and addressed the Elder. "Grand Elder, please, trust my judgement and the judgment of Councilman Sete. As you know, our parents risked their lives to save our people from threats of long ago. You yourself relied on them for safety and protection, and as a result, they have left a legacy that none will ever truly match. Yet, as is always true with the passing of the torch between generations, we will try to match them, though we are not fully able. We will approach this problem in our way, as only we can. We are here to protect you all, and we will fight to keep our home safe."

The Grand Elder knew it wasn’t wise to argue with the Princess. Yet, he couldn’t help his hesitation. "I understand that, Your Highness, but in two years, you will be queen. Should you choose this path and fulfill your father's role as a warrior, your life will be at risk. If anything should happen to you, our kingdom would be in jeopardy. We have not prepared for whoever would be next in line after you."

The Princess paused and glanced down at the floor. She knew there was risk. When the Councilman had approached her during her visit to her parents’ burial site, she had initially been filled with hope and pure optimism. She wanted to help her people more than anything. Yet, near the end of her training, she truly came to realize that they could fail. In an attempt to help her people, she could hurt them. She bit her bottom lip and took in the Elder’s words. Still, even now, she knew what she had to do.

"I understand your concern,” she said, her voice calm and level. “But my father left me with the fate of Auran on my shoulders. I can't idly sit by while others risk their lives. I want to do this. I must do this. It is my responsibility and my fate to look after Auran and protect it from danger.”

The other Elders looked to their leader, awaiting his response.

Despite every voice in Chandler’s mind urging him otherwise, he found himself agreeing with the Princess’s words. He and many others had hoped she would one day take after her father and protect their kingdom. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, sometimes hope came at the cost of danger. He nodded slowly and placed a hand over his heart.

"Very well,” he said. “Councilman Sete, you may send your Knights on this mission. We hope, for your sake and for ours, that they do not fail."

Then, he slammed his gavel on its block, and the meeting was closed.

Inside the castle’s hangar bay, the Knight's aircraft crew busied themselves with preparations. They’d been prepared to depart, but there were still final details that had to be taken care of, now that the Council had approved of the mission. Vinnie and Caleb were in charge of hauling supplies and medical kits aboard the airship in case survivors were found. Rika supervised and ticked off items on the inventory list as they were loaded into the ship.

"Do you really think there are survivors out there?" Vinnie asked as he loaded a crate into the aircraft.

"It's possible,” Caleb replied, dropping a particularly heavy container almost twice his size with a careless thud. “But it may just be a retrieval mission."

Rika winced at Caleb’s comment and his aggressive dropping of supplies. She snapped in his direction. "It’s also possible not to break our rations and medical supplies while loading the ship! If you could be a little more careful!”

Caleb just shrugged and walked off to grab another crate. He loved to ignore what Rika said to him, and she knew it. Rika sighed, threw up her hands, and then approached Vinnie, who was going back for another crate. She reached out and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, okay?” she said. "Those girls made it out alive. Hopefully, there are still others hiding. That’s a big reason why we’re doing this."

He nodded silently and continued his work. It felt good, at least a little bit, to know that all of them understood the importance of their mission. Even Caleb knew, despite not showing it.

From the hangar’s upper balcony, Princess Anya observed the preparations. The crew was smart. They checked fuel levels and maintenance systems, gathered supplies and prepared for all potential emergencies. Yet, Anya’s once-confident expression now showed concern. Whenever she watched the video of the soldier being mauled by those creatures, she felt nervous. That thing was barbaric. She tried to keep doubt from creeping in.

"Ahem," a voice behind her said softly.

Anya turned back to see Councilman Sete standing in the doorway. "Councilman, what are you doing here?"

"I came to commend you for a job well done,” he said. “Take it from me, Grand Elder Chandler is not easy to convince. Your father would've been proud of your confidence and poise in there today."

The Princess looked away from him and back toward her team below. She reached out for the balcony’s railing and squeezed it. It was difficult for her to process praise, even though it meant so much to her. She heard Sete approaching slowly, but she didn’t look at him.

"You seemed troubled, my Princess."

She remained silent, hesitant to speak. She knew she had to say something. She swallowed hard.

"You say my father would be proud of me for leading the knights,” she said. “To be honest, I believed that too, until now. I mean, now it’s actually happening. I'm terrified."

Her hands clutched the railing, trembling.

“Since I was a child, I wanted to avenge my father and prove my worth to my people. But now…what if I can't? What if I let everyone down?"

Her words took the Councilman back to a time many, many years ago. He had been lucky to advise so many brilliant minds. This particular moment reminded him of Anya’s father. He had felt the same way after the passing of his beloved wife, the Queen. Anya’s father had wanted to be there for his daughter, but ruling the kingdom and serving his people as a Knight took precedence. He had told Sete all about the guilt he felt, and Sete had consoled him about this intense set of priorities.

Then, Sete remembered the gift Anya’s father had given him during that same conversation, a gift to offer to Anya when the time was right.

" I almost forgot," Sete said. He reached into the inner pockets of his long robe and retrieved a palm-sized object. He gestured to Anya to open her hand, and when she did, he held his closed one above it.

“Maybe this will lift your spirits,” Sete said. "I was supposed to save this for your coronation, but I believe now is the time it will have the most power."

He opened his hand.

Anya felt a cold object settle onto her palm. When Sete removed his hand, she saw a small, egg-shaped ruby set in a golden brooch. Surrounding the glistening red gemstone were white crystals that sparkled in the light. She felt tears well in her eyes.