As the sun rose over the Kingdom of Eldorath, a unified force of knights moved through the forests in their daily drill. Clad in full combat fatigues and bearing the sigils of their storied orders, their disciplined movements were as much a part of the landscape as the trees themselves.Ser Ironclaw, the 24th Commander of the Golden Mane, rode beside his men, his lion sigil catching the morning light. The Golden Mane was the first order ever established in Eldorath's long history, and their presence commanded respect wherever they went. This order was also home to Aedric, who had squired under Ser Ironclaw before ascending to knighthood himself.Not far off, Lady Evlina of the Shining Grove led the Silver Horn through their drills. Their unicorn banners marked them as the Queen's personal army, the only all-female order in the kingdom. Each step they took was graceful and precise—a reflection of their commander's leadership.The Order of the Stag, their mage knights moving silently through the trees, flared briefly with magic. Head Mage Orelios, their 103rd Commander, watched over them with the calmness of one who had faced death many times.Far from the other orders, Father John of the Crimson Shield led his own diverse group of knights. Their shields bore red crosses, marking their role as peacekeepers in Eldorath. Here, squires rejected by other orders found their place, forming the largest and most varied order in the kingdom.Elara had her head resting on her desk, half-asleep, when a sharp slap roused her."OW!" Elara cried, looking up at her attacker: Granny Ann, the Royal Tutor. The deep wrinkles on her face matched the number of times Elara had failed to meet her expectations."Your Highness, I have taught your aunts, your father, your grandfather, and the top nobles from across the lands! Yet you can't even keep your head up and maintain proper posture! When you sit on that throne, all eyes will be on you! If you can't hold yourself properly here, what hope will you have out there?" Granny Ann scolded, her voice cutting through the sleepy haze in Elara's mind.Elara, however, was already tuning her out. She stared out the window instead, watching the knights as they made their way up Crescent's Peak in the distance. She could hear the clinking of armor even from here, and she longed to be anywhere but in this stuffy room."But Gran, must I devote my time to such trivial lessons?" Elara asked, turning her gaze back to Granny Ann with a mischievous smirk. "Who needs Aristotle, anyway? I bet the man's fashion sense was truly terrible—no color, no flavor, and certainly no appreciation for the finer things in life. Just endless books and 'Metaphysics.'"Granny Ann gave her a look of pure exasperation. "Your Highness, every royal before you has studied the works of the great philosophers. I understand that, to you, these words may seem outdated or irrelevant, but if you wish to be even half the ruler your predecessors were, you will read these texts." She waved her hand toward the portraits lining the walls: King Thaddeus in military attire, King Rowan in dark robes and a hood, Queen Elowen surrounded by elven nobles.Elara's gaze lingered on the paintings for a moment before she turned back to the window. The knights on Crescent's Peak moved in perfect synchronization. How easy it seemed to simply follow orders, march through forests, fight for something clear."Why must everything be a competition?" Elara muttered. "I don't want to be better than my predecessors. I just want to be me... Is that so much to ask?"Granny Ann sighed deeply. "Yes, Your Highness. Yes, it is. Now, continue reading from paragraph sixty-five."Elara hesitated, then slowly picked up the book again.At Saint Medes Orphanage, one of many funded directly by the royal family, Queen Catelyn made her rounds, ensuring that the orphans of the kingdom were well-cared for. She was accompanied by Mr. Stevens, a former veteran turned owner of the orphanage."Your Majesty, I appreciate all you've done for us already, but we could truly use more beds to expand our operation," Mr. Stevens said as they walked together."Don't worry, Mr. Stevens. The moment we have beds to spare, they'll be sent straight here. You have my word." Queen Catelyn smiled warmly as they descended the steps into a large green space, where the children played in the morning sun."But I am curious—why the sudden need for more beds?" she asked, her tone softening. "You're doing commendable work, but it seems like there's been an increase in residents lately."Mr. Stevens nodded grimly. "Your concerns are well-placed, Your Majesty. Many of the children are war orphans, rescued by the Order of the Christ from the Nebune region.""Nebune? The land of the dark elves?" Catelyn's brow furrowed as she bent down to help a child who had tripped."Yes," Mr. Stevens continued. "There's been a change in leadership there, and from what we've heard, they've been harsh on the human inhabitants."Queen Catelyn paused. "Harsh? How, exactly?""Beatings, tortures, executions," Mr. Stevens said quietly. "Many of these children... they've lost their parents to one or the other. Some... have experienced it themselves."The queen gasped, covering her mouth in shock. "How could they? How could the dark elves treat people this way after we helped them rebuild? Why hasn't the crown been informed?""The dark elves have kept this tightly controlled," Mr. Stevens replied, glancing at the children. "Even I didn't know the full extent until recently."Catelyn straightened up, her face now resolute. She turned and headed toward her waiting carriage, her two guards from the Silver Horn, Mary and Grace, stepping forward."Where to, Your Majesty?" Mary asked as she opened the door."To the castle. I must speak to the king immediately," Catelyn ordered, her voice steely.Grace mounted the horse. "We'll be there in thirty minutes, Your Majesty!"