The grand hall of the Council was as imposing as Min Hee remembered—massive pillars of enchanted marble, golden chandeliers illuminating the room with an artificial brilliance. A place designed to inspire awe, but to her, it reeked of arrogance and decay.
At the center sat the twelve Council members, the so-called rulers of the kingdom, dressed in their ceremonial robes embroidered with intricate magical runes. Their expressions were a mix of curiosity, skepticism, and something she had seen too often—fear.
Because they knew.
They knew Min Hee wasn't someone they could control.
And that terrified them.
A Trial in Disguise
"Commander Min Hee," a sharp voice called out, breaking the tense silence.
She turned to the speaker—Lord Alderan, a man known for his political cunning and his disdain for independent magicians.
"You were summoned here to explain your insubordination," Alderan continued, his voice laced with cold authority. "Disobeying direct orders from the higher-ups. Refusing to engage in an immediate offensive. Do you deny these charges?"
Min Hee didn't even blink.
"I don't," she replied, her voice calm. "But I stand by my decisions."
Murmurs spread through the Council chamber. Some members exchanged wary glances, while others leaned forward, intrigued.
Alderan's lips curled into a sneer. "Do you truly believe you have the right to decide military strategy on your own?"
Min Hee met his gaze. "If my choices save lives, then yes."
Alderan's face darkened, but another voice spoke up before he could respond.
"You have grown bold, Min Hee."
An elderly man at the center of the Council leaned forward, his piercing gaze locking onto her. Grand Councilor Xanthus—the most powerful political figure in the kingdom.
Min Hee had met him only once before, years ago, when she was first recruited into the Magic Force. Back then, he had dismissed her as just another rising talent.
Now, he looked at her differently.
"You have made a name for yourself on the battlefield," Xanthus said. "Even your critics cannot deny your achievements. But tell me, do you understand the burden of power?"
Min Hee's jaw tightened. "I understand it better than anyone."
Xanthus studied her for a moment before speaking again.
"The kingdom thrives on order," he said. "If soldiers decide their own strategies, chaos follows. We cannot allow one individual—no matter how powerful—to act beyond the chain of command."
Min Hee knew what this was.
It wasn't just about her battlefield decisions.
They saw her as a threat.
And now, they were testing her loyalty.
A Game of Power
She took a step forward. "And what if the chain of command is flawed?"
Silence fell over the hall. Some Council members stiffened. Others frowned.
Min Hee continued, her voice unwavering. "I have fought on the front lines. I have watched my soldiers die because of reckless orders sent by men who have never stepped onto a battlefield. I refuse to be a tool for your political games."
Alderan scoffed. "You overstep your bounds."
"Do I?" Min Hee tilted her head. "Or am I simply saying what everyone else is too afraid to say?"
More murmurs. A few Council members shifted uncomfortably.
Xanthus remained silent, observing.
Then, he smiled.
"You truly are your father's daughter."
Min Hee's blood ran cold.
She knew what he was doing.
Bringing up her father—the man whose legacy had been both admired and feared—was a deliberate move. A reminder of the past. A warning.
But she refused to be rattled.
"I am not my father," she said evenly. "I make my own path."
Xanthus chuckled. "Indeed, you do." He tapped his fingers against the armrest. "The Council has discussed your actions at length. Many believe you are reckless. A liability. But others recognize your potential."
Min Hee narrowed her eyes. "What are you saying?"
Xanthus leaned forward. "We are prepared to offer you a place among us."
The chamber erupted into whispers. Even Alderan looked taken aback.
A seat on the Council?
Min Hee hadn't expected this.
It was a trap, of course. If she accepted, they would use her—force her into their system, make her part of the corruption she despised. But if she refused, they would brand her as an enemy.
A carefully laid snare.
But Min Hee wasn't the same girl who once followed orders without question.
She smiled. "I appreciate the offer," she said. "But I have no interest in politics."
Alderan smirked. "So you reject the Council's authority?"
Min Hee turned to face him fully. "No. I reject corruption. I reject incompetence. And I reject those who see soldiers as disposable pieces on a chessboard."
The tension in the room was suffocating.
Xanthus, however, merely chuckled again.
"You are as stubborn as ever." He stood. "Very well. You may continue serving as Head of the Magic Force. But understand this—your power does not make you untouchable."
Min Hee held his gaze.
Neither are you, old man.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and left the chamber.
An Unexpected Encounter
The moment she stepped outside, Nichole was waiting for her.
"How did it go?" he asked.
Min Hee exhaled. "They tried to leash me. I refused."
Nichole grinned. "Good. I was worried you'd start wearing those ridiculous robes."
She smirked. "Not in a thousand years."
But before they could leave, a voice called out.
"Commander Min Hee."
She turned to see a hooded figure approaching. She tensed, sensing powerful magic.
The man stopped a few feet away, lowering his hood.
Min Hee's breath caught.
It was Elvin.
"Elvin?" Nichole stepped forward. "What are you—?"
Elvin raised a hand, silencing him. His golden eyes locked onto Min Hee's.
"We need to talk," he said. "It's about the Classers."
Min Hee froze.
The Classers.
Leywin's organization.
Her heart pounded.
"What about them?" she asked.
Elvin's expression darkened. "They're planning something. Something big. And Leywin… he's at the center of it."
Min Hee clenched her fists.
After all these years…
Leywin was finally within her reach.
And she was going to find out the truth—no matter what it took.