**Chapter 32: The First Story Keeper**
Eliza stood at the foot of the tree, its golden leaves casting dappled sunlight onto the ground around her. The wind carried a sweet, almost musical whisper through the branches, like a melody that existed just on the edge of memory. Every time she came here, she felt the connection to Alexander more deeply, as if his spirit lived in every fiber of the tree's being.
But now, it was time to move forward.
Triton, Elsa, and the other leaders had gathered to discuss what came next. The realms were fragile, newly healed, and while the immediate threat had been vanquished, everyone knew the delicate balance would need careful tending. The Forgotten had found some peace, but they too were still lost, unsure of their place in the world that had reshaped itself.
And the Heart of the First Story was gone.
Eliza walked toward the council tent that had been set up near the tree. As she entered, she found Triton deep in conversation with Fa Mulan and Tiana, both of whom had played crucial roles in rallying their people in the final battle. Elsa sat at the far end, her face unreadable, though her eyes carried the weight of everything they had lost.
"We need a new order," Triton said, his deep voice resonating through the space. "The power that held the realms together—both the Heart and the magic—isn't centralized anymore. It's dispersed. We must find a way to channel and protect it."
Mulan crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "You're suggesting we rebuild something akin to the council of old?"
"No," Elsa interjected, shaking her head. "The council of old failed because they tried to control the magic. We need something different this time—something that ensures the magic flows freely, without one person or group trying to seize it."
Tiana nodded in agreement. "We've seen what happens when power is concentrated in one place. The realms need someone who can protect the stories, guide them, but not command them."
Triton sighed. "But who? Who among us could take on such a burden?"
All eyes turned to Eliza.
Her heart thudded in her chest. She had known this moment might come, but still, the weight of it took her breath away. She looked down at her hands, hands that had held Alexander's in the final moments, hands that had touched the tree where his spirit lived on. The idea of guiding the realms, of taking on such responsibility, terrified her.
But there was something else too—a quiet certainty that had been growing inside her since the day Alexander sacrificed himself. She had promised to carry on his story, and this, perhaps, was how she could fulfill that promise.
"I... I'm no ruler," Eliza said quietly, looking around the table at the faces of the leaders who had fought beside her. "But I believe we need more than just a ruler. We need someone who understands the stories, someone who can feel the magic when it starts to go wrong. The stories don't just live in the Heart—they live in all of us now. We need to protect that."
Triton nodded, his eyes kind. "And you believe you could do this?"
"I believe I have to," she said, her voice firming. "I was there when Alexander gave his life to restore the balance. I felt the magic, felt the way the stories pulse through everything. We need someone to listen to them, to make sure they're told, remembered, and protected. Maybe that's my path."
Mulan exchanged a glance with Tiana, who smiled softly. "We've all seen your strength, Eliza," Tiana said. "You've done more than fight—you've guided people, brought them together when things were at their worst. I think you're the one we've been waiting for."
Elsa's gaze softened. "It's not about ruling, Eliza. It's about keeping the stories alive."
Eliza felt the weight of their words settling over her, but instead of fear, there was a sense of purpose. "Then I'll do it," she said, her voice steady now. "I'll become the first Story Keeper. I'll make sure the realms stay in balance, and that no story is left untold."
The room was silent for a moment, as if the weight of the decision hung in the air like the calm after a storm. Then, slowly, Triton nodded, and one by one, the others followed.
"So be it," he said, his deep voice carrying the decision into the wind. "Eliza, Keeper of the First Story, we entrust you with the magic of the realms."
Eliza swallowed hard, her heart pounding as the reality of it sank in. She had become something new—something she had never imagined. But she would not be alone. She had allies, friends, and the legacy of Alexander to guide her.
And she had the stories themselves.
As the leaders began to make plans for the future, Eliza stepped out of the tent, her gaze lifting toward the tree once more. The golden leaves shimmered in the sunlight, and for a moment, she could swear she saw Alexander standing there, his familiar smile filled with quiet pride.
"I'll make sure your story is never forgotten," she whispered again.
And with that, she turned, ready to begin her new journey as the Keeper of the First Story.