Alyssia stood at the edge of the royal garden, the scent of blooming flowers and the gentle hum of ancient magic filling the air. Queen Nymeria had granted her unprecedented access to the heart of Valoria, allowing her to walk among the sacred groves and listen to the land's whispers. Gaia's presence was everywhere here—in the trees, the stones, even in the air itself. Alyssia had never felt such an intense connection to the world around her, and it was both humbling and terrifying.
But as she grew closer to Nymeria and learned more about Gaia's power, a growing sense of dread began to gnaw at her. She knew what was coming. In her timeline, Nymeria's death at the hands of the Empire's assassin, Lyra, had sparked the war between Valoria and Seraphis, the Empire's capital. That war had shattered Valoria and led to Gaia's downfall, paving the way for the Empire's dominance and the rise of the Abyss.
Alyssia knew she couldn't let history repeat itself. Yet revealing too much of her future knowledge could fracture the fragile trust she had worked so hard to build. Queen Nymeria and her advisors were already suspicious of her cryptic answers, her unwillingness to share more about her past. If they knew the full truth—that she had once been an agent of the Empire, that she had fought and killed Gaia in another timeline—it could destroy everything.
But the weight of that knowledge pressed heavily on her. Every time she looked at Nymeria, Alyssia saw the flicker of a future that hadn't yet come to pass—a future where the queen's body lay cold and lifeless, her kingdom in flames.
Meanwhile, in the shadows of Valoria's court, Lyra moved like a wraith. Disguised as a minor noblewoman, she had embedded herself deep within the kingdom, using her dark magic and sharp intellect to manipulate a faction of Valorian leaders who feared the Empire's growing power. With whispered promises and subtle threats, she had stoked their paranoia, convincing them that Nymeria's refusal to act against Seraphis would lead to their destruction.
Lyra's orders from the Emperor were clear: kill Queen Nymeria and weaken Valoria's defenses. The Empire sought to claim Gaia's power for itself, and Nymeria was the last obstacle standing in their way. Lyra had no personal vendetta against the queen—it was merely a task, a mission given to her by the Emperor. But she relished the challenge. Nymeria was no ordinary ruler, and Valoria was no ordinary kingdom. Killing the queen would require precision, patience, and a deft hand.
The arrival of Alyssia, however, had complicated things.
Though Lyra couldn't see the future, she was a master of reading people, and Alyssia's presence in Valoria sent alarms ringing in her mind. This woman was a threat—not just to the Empire's plans, but to Lyra's personal ambitions. If Alyssia were allowed to gain too much influence over Nymeria, the delicate balance Lyra had worked so hard to create would collapse.
She needed to act, and soon.
In the days that followed, Alyssia worked quietly to gather support from Nymeria's loyalists. Kira, ever vigilant and fierce, had become a trusted ally, helping Alyssia navigate the political landscape of Valoria. Together, they met with key leaders of the rebellion, those who had long opposed the Empire's tyranny and saw Valoria as a potential stronghold for their cause.
But even among Nymeria's inner circle, there were whispers of doubt. Some Valorian leaders saw Alyssia as a potential threat, an outsider who had appeared out of nowhere with too many secrets. A few even suspected she might be an agent of the Empire, sent to sow discord from within.
"The Empire's reach is long," one advisor had muttered during a tense meeting. "How do we know she isn't here to destroy us from the inside?"
Alyssia had remained silent during that conversation, her face unreadable, but inside, she had felt the sting of their mistrust. She couldn't blame them. After all, she had once been an agent of the Empire. But that part of her life felt like a distant memory now, something she had long since shed in her quest for redemption.
Despite the doubts, Alyssia pushed forward, determined to protect Nymeria and prevent the war that would destroy Valoria. Every night, she replayed the events of her past—the moment she had slain Gaia, the cries of the people as Valoria burned. She couldn't let it happen again. But how could she stop Lyra without revealing too much of what she knew?
Lyra, meanwhile, had accelerated her plans. With Alyssia's arrival, she knew her window of opportunity was closing. The faction she had manipulated was growing bolder, more vocal in their opposition to Nymeria's cautious approach. They demanded action, urging the queen to strike against the Empire before it was too late.
But Nymeria, ever wise and deliberate, had refused to be swayed by their fear. She knew that rushing into conflict would only play into the Empire's hands. Valoria's strength lay in its connection to Gaia, in the land's ancient power. And that power was not something to be wielded recklessly.
Lyra seethed at the queen's stubbornness. If Nymeria wouldn't act, then Lyra would force her hand.
One evening, as Alyssia sat alone in the palace gardens, her mind racing with thoughts of the future, Kira approached her, a grim look on her face.
"We have a problem," Kira said quietly, sitting beside her. "There's a faction within the court that's planning something. I don't know all the details yet, but I've heard whispers… they're planning to move against the queen."
Alyssia's heart sank. It was happening. Just as it had in her timeline, the forces within Valoria were turning against Nymeria. But this time, Alyssia was here. This time, she could stop it.
"I must protect Nymeria," Alyssia said, rising to her feet.
Kira nodded. "We need to be careful. There are eyes everywhere."