03:15:12.
The weight of the moment pressed on Rhea's chest like a heavy blanket, stifling her breath. She could feel the cold hum of the building beneath her feet, the energy shifting in the air. The countdown had stopped. But the war wasn't over.
They had won.
At least, that's what she told herself. Kairo was gone, his vision of control shattered. But the system he left behind? It was still alive—breathing, waiting to be rebuilt.
And she, Rhea Lin, was now the one holding the pieces.
Her gaze slid over the data flickering across her console. The council members were restless, the alliances fractured, but the question remained: What next?
Beside her, Lucien stood silent, his presence a constant, grounding force. His eyes locked with hers, as always knowing what was going through her mind.
"You've always known what needs to be done," he murmured, his voice low, like a promise she couldn't escape.
But there was something deeper in his gaze now—an unspoken question.
Rhea swallowed hard. She had always been the pawn, the one used in a game she never understood. But now? Now, she was the one holding the power.
And with that power came a choice.
The Council
The council chamber was cold. The kind of cold that made you second guess whether you were truly in control. A long table stretched out before Rhea, the polished surface reflecting the faces of those who had once pledged allegiance to Kairo—and were now looking for a new leader.
Lucien stayed by her side, his hand brushing against hers. He never had to say much. His silence spoke louder than words ever could.
As the council members filed in, Rhea felt the weight of their gazes. Some were curious. Others were wary. But all of them were calculating. Waiting to see what kind of leader she would be.
Rhea stood tall, her spine straight. She wasn't the same girl who had walked in here years ago. She wasn't the girl who had let others decide her fate.
"I don't expect everyone to agree with me," she began, her voice ringing through the room. "But I will lead this council. And I will lead it with one purpose: to fix the damage we've done. To stop history from repeating itself."
A murmur ran through the room. The faces before her shifted—some softened, others hardened. But there was no going back now.
The Unforgiven
Kira's voice cut through the tension like a knife.
"And what about those who betrayed you, Rhea?" Her words were laced with venom. "Are we supposed to just let them walk away?"
Rhea's pulse quickened. She couldn't ignore the question. Kira was right. So many had betrayed her, starting with Kairo and extending to people she had once called allies. People who had used her, manipulated her.
But she wasn't that girl anymore.
"No," Rhea replied, her voice steady. "I'm not here to hand out second chances. But I believe in moving forward. We won't let the past define us."
Her gaze never wavered from Kira's. The council room fell deathly silent, the tension thick enough to slice.
"But that doesn't mean we repeat it," Rhea continued. "The future is ours to rebuild."
The Decision
Rhea looked at the council again. Their faces were a mixture of skepticism, curiosity, and desire for power. She could see the wheels turning behind their eyes—some were ready to fight, others to follow her.
But the price of this power? It wouldn't be cheap.
Lucien took a step closer to her, his presence a reminder that she wasn't alone. She never was. Not anymore.
"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice soft but carrying an edge of concern.
Rhea's eyes locked onto his. For a moment, everything else faded away. "There's no turning back now," she said quietly. "I'll do whatever it takes. To fix this. To make sure it doesn't happen again."
Lucien's jaw clenched, his eyes darkening with something unreadable. But then, he nodded.
"You'll need more than just me, Rhea."
Rhea held his gaze, her heart pounding. She knew what he meant. The fight was just beginning.
[To be continued…]