Her head was throbbing, making it difficult to hold on to their sword, and her legs were on the verge of giving out. But she had to fight... they had to, for the sake of her mom and her brother. Although her mom had raised them as a single parent, she had done an incredible job. Memories of her family brought a smile to their face. The joy on her family expressed when they were accepted into the mage school, where the most powerful mage resided, was unforgettable. It was the best school for all mages, offering classes in martial arts, archery, swordsmanship, and even healing. She had recently graduated from there, reminiscing about the fun times with friends, doing things they weren't supposed to do. She missed those days dearly. She would do anything to go back in time.

"Why are you spacing out on me? Am I not a worthy opponent?!" Her opponent's shout brought them back to reality. Did her life just flash before their eyes? They stood about 13 feet apart, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of both familiar faces and strangers. Then it hit them once more - "Oh, right, we're at war."

Three months before the war began, she received a summons from the King of Humana, the realm of humans. She was puzzled as to why the king would want to meet someone like them. On her way to the king's chamber, the two guards noticed her, armed with spears and all the gear, though they seemed quite young for the role. As they approached the door, the guards pointed their spears at them and demanded, "State your purpose and reveal your name," said the guard on the left.

Caddel Francis confidently announced,

"My name is Caddel Francis. The king has summoned me here."

The guard on the right side lifted a piece of paper to his face and exclaimed,

"Hey, look here!" He gestured towards the other guard, pointing at her name on the paper.

"Her name is on the list of attendees. Miss, could you please place your finger where it says ID?"

She obediently pressed her finger onto the small square box on the paper, feeling a slight prick. Surprised, she quickly withdrew her hand.

"I-I'm sorry, miss. It's a new method of identification," the guard on the right stammered, trying to suppress his laughter while the other guard chuckled.

"Apologies again. It's our only form of entertainment to witness people's reactions to this prickly thing. Anyway, you may proceed inside," the guard on the right informed her. With a swift motion, the guards sheathed their spears, creating a sense of relief. The door was opened, and a radiant light poured in, illuminating the room. Squinting, she made her way forward and found herself standing before a long red carpet leading to the king's throne. The room was filled with wealthy-'s throne. The throne towered above the room, adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering jewels. The room was abuzz with the sights and sounds of wealth, as wealthy-looking individuals and children aged between 7 and 14 socialized and interacted.

As she approached the king, a nobleman intercepted her.

"What is a young lady like you doing here?" he inquired.

"My name is Caddel Francis, sir," she replied. Her response immediately caught the attention of the crowd, and they began whispering about her.

"Ah, so you're the girl the king himself was talking about," the nobleman remarked, his smile hidden behind his hand as he glanced in the opposite direction. Rolling her eyes internally, she continued walking. The nobleman walked alongside her, and as their clothes brushed against each other, he exploded.

"Who do you think you are? Did I give you permission to touch me?!" She couldn't help but smirk at his outrage.

"Oh, did I? I apologize for that," she nonchalantly responded, not a care in the world. Her casual reply seemed to have an effect, leaving him speechless.

"You're trying to piss me off even more!!!" he shouted loudly. He then leaned forward, grabbing her left hand. She then felt the urge to punch his stupid face in the puller he was leaning against just before calling her name.

I clenched my right fist and spoke with determination, "Listen, sir, I apologize if I have offended you in any way. However, I must assert myself and maintain my composure." Unsure if I should be the one apologizing, all I know is that I am standing my ground. "Consider this, would your parents or anyone living with you be proud of your actions? It appears that you lack empathy and compassion. You could be an orphan for all I know! Just look at yourself."

The frustration of having to leave her home and hometown for the encounter weighed heavily on her. The anticipation of reuniting with her mother and brother was swiftly replaced when the king summoned her. Packed belongings now threatened to be unpacked as she raised her fist, capturing the attention of the nobleman. His face grew pale and sweat formed on his forehead as he leaned against a pillar for support. In the distance, a voice responded to the king, causing the nobleman to tremble. A sound of dripping water filled the air, leading a little girl to comment on the nobleman's embarrassment. With a smirk, she added to his humiliation. Attempting to leave, the nobleman was halted by the king's stern voice. Dropping to one knee, he pleaded for forgiveness. The king called for her, Miss Francis, and she made her way towards him. However, her attention was diverted to a woman who caught her eye. This noblewoman, with fair complexion and blonde hair, defied expectations of a typical king's protector. As she introduced herself as Miss Francis, her warm smile and sparking gaze captivated her. They exchanged a handshake, and she was taken aback by the sudden transformation of Miss Francis' demeanor from serious to enthusiastic. The genuine kindness of Miss Francis surprised her.

Suddenly, the sound of fast footsteps approached from the right side of the room. Before I could react, a blur passed by, and in an instant, a man stood behind Sarah. "What did I just say?!" he exclaimed, striking her on the back of her head. She winced in pain, tears welling up in her eyes as she rubbed her head. "You're so stupid, stupid, stupid!" he continued, his face turning red as he pointed directly at her. "Griffin, you really need to keep a closer eye on your wife," he muttered, casting a sidelong glance towards Sarah.

Turning his attention back to Miss Francis, the king let out a sigh. "Now, Miss Francis, let's discuss your involvement in the upcoming war that will commence in a few months." Miss Francis nodded in agreement. "Yes, Your Majesty, she is ready to assist in any way possible."

The king absentmindedly stroked his beard as he contemplated. "Very well, then let us begin," he said.

"Do you already know about the ongoing war between the Dwargen Kingdom, home to the dwarves, and the Elvira Kingdom, inhabited by the elves and dark elves?" the king inquired. She responded affirmatively,

"Yes, Your Majesty, I am aware of the conflict between the Dwargen Kingdom and the Elvira Kingdom." The king's expression turned serious. "Well, did you know that the war between these two nations has now come to an end?" She was taken aback by this revelation. "No, Your Majesty, I had no knowledge of that," she replied. "Can you guess who won?"

She took a moment to ponder before responding to his question.

"In my opinion, the dwarfs had a greater likelihood of winning in this war between the two nations." She explained her reasoning. "This is because the dwarfs possess superior weaponry compared to the elves." However, upon further reflection, she recalls hearing that elves and dark elves possess the same level of intelligence as humans, while dwarfs excel mainly in weapon craftsmanship. He corrected her, saying,

"Well, you are mistaken. Having emerged as the winners in the war, the elves have now had a chance to relish power and its pleasures. They believe they can invade our kingdom and kill our people to flaunt their newfound power and knowledge."

She hesitated, but given the impending war, she decided to gather as much knowledge as possible to ensure her survival and return to her family. She asked, "What kind of power and knowledge did they gain by seizing the dwarfs' kingdom?" She was unsure if she should have asked, but it was essential for her survival. He revealed,

"The power they acquired is earth and metal magic, and the knowledge they possess is the ability to craft anything."

She struggled to comprehend the situation, exclaiming,

"How did they attain earth and metal magic? Only humans can wield all four elements, and now they're saying they can create anything. What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting they can create something from nothing?" Realizing her loss of composure, she listened as he explained, "The method by which they possess earth and metal magic remains unknown. As for their ability to create something from nothing, it is because they have the support of a god. I assume this is also why they possess earth and metal magic, although we do not know if all elves have this power, or if the dwarfs possess the same abilities as the elves now." When asked if she had any further questions, she replied,

"No, Your Majesty, I have no further questions." The notion of a god altering a race's elemental affinity seemed nonsensical to her. She was then informed that a young knight would guide her to her new room, causing her frustration, as she would have to move all her belongings again. With a bow, she expressed her gratitude to the king and was escorted to her new room.