The senior mage and the queen descended the steps together. As they did, the queen surveyed the surroundings, noting that nothing had changed since her previous visits to the palace. The chambers were still empty, littered with hay and rodents. The queen detected a strange odour—unusual for a mage's quarters—before they reached a door at the end of the hall. The queen was surprised, as the palace had never before housed a royal conspiracy. The queen covered her eyes as rays of light shot out of the door. The elder mage chuckled as the queen commented on the brightness.
"You didn't tell me we were going here!" the queen exclaimed.
The elder mage nodded, knowing the queen was unprepared for the intense light. As they entered, the queen was startled to see a massive sphere hovering in the centre of the room, surrounded by cloaked elves chanting in unison. The queen observed the sphere and the mages, wondering how they managed to keep such a powerful object hidden.
"Elder, what purpose does this orb serve for the kingdom?" she asked.
The elder mage smiled and replied, "Your Majesty, this is a magical orb. It enhances the flow of magic throughout the kingdom. My people are enchanting it so that we can unleash its full power should a siege arise."
The queen followed the mage down a long corridor. This passage was cleaner than the last, with floral scents in the air and walls adorned with historical maps. As they walked, memories of her childhood returned—memories of Gaia, their mysterious homeland across the sea. The land had a dark history, marred by the 17-Year War, where entire species were wiped out. The queen knew her kingdom had suffered greatly, with many lives lost to poison wyverns during the conflict. After the war, seven great nations forged an uneasy alliance, hoping to prevent further bloodshed. But old grudges lingered, and tensions simmered beneath the surface.
Despite the alliance, the kingdoms of Elijah and Leilo had agreed to hold military exercises to prepare for a possible northern threat. But the kingdom of Leilo fell within five months, its army no match for the enemy's advanced tactics. The queen understood her kingdom's limitations—small borders, dwindling resources, and a lack of allies. She knew their defences would not hold for long.
Arriving at a chamber, the queen's thoughts shifted from war to the stone figure before her. A large statue of a woman knelt with her hand raised. The elder mage placed two crystal stones on the ground and began arranging them in a magical circle. The queen, curious, asked what she was doing.
"These stones," the elder mage explained, "are not ordinary crystals. They are capable of something far greater: Gateway magic."
"Gateway magic?" the queen echoed.
The mage nodded, focussing on the stones. She chanted softly, her staff glowing as a circle of light formed. The queen watched in awe as the magic unfolded before her eyes.
"Gateway magic allows us to open portals to other dimensions," the mage continued. "But these stones can do more—they let us observe and scout other nations from afar."
The mage paused, looking up at the dark sky. Her eyes filled with sorrow as she recounted her past.
"For seventy years, I've carried the weight of loss. My family and people were slaughtered during the 17-Year War by those who sought to cleanse our land. Despite our small borders, our nation became an economic powerhouse. But now, our allies are gone, defeated in mere months by an enemy we underestimated. Our forces are weak, our weapons outdated, and our walls vulnerable. The enemy will come with red dragons, and we are not prepared."
The queen trembled, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm not fit to lead this war! Our military is weak, our allies are gone, and we're outmatched. How can we possibly win?"
The elder mage smiled gently and replied, "There is another way."
With a wave of her staff, the mage enveloped the queen in darkness. When the light returned, they stood in a tranquil forest, birds chirping above. The queen was disoriented, realising the elder mage had vanished. She panicked until she felt a reassuring tap on her shoulder—it was the mage, smiling warmly.
"Where did you go?" the queen demanded.
"Apologies, Your Majesty," the mage replied. "I arrived a bit late."
They walked through the forest, the queen's weariness growing with each step. Finally, they emerged from the trees, and the mage called out, "Your Majesty, come see this!"
The queen, though tired, followed the mage's voice. As she stepped into the clearing, her breath caught in her throat. Before her lay a city with towering structures that seemed to touch the sky. In the distance, a massive red bridge stretched across the horizon.
"This," the mage said, "is a nation that has never been defeated. A superpower that brings freedom and strength to others."
The queen could hardly believe her eyes. "What is the name of this country?"
The mage gazed at the city and replied, "They call it the United States of America."