Chapter 20 - Firehorn P-2

Ravenna stood at the top of a sand dune, looking down at the group of Firehorns below.

Her heart was full of mixed feelings. She was excited to try out her new armor and it's skills, but the thought of killing made her uneasy. Raised as a princess, she had always been surrounded by love and care from her family.

Before her kingdom fell, she had never seen blood. That day, seeing the bright red blood had broken her heart.

It was a hard truth that even a loving upbringing couldn't protect her from the world's cruelty. As the saying goes, "You can hide the fire, but not the smoke," and Ravenna's innocence had been burned by the fire of war.

In her childhood, she had been gentle and protected, like a flower in a safe garden.

She had stayed away from the kingdom's politics and the harshness of the world.

She lived in a world of fairy tales and soft lessons, very different from the reality she now faced. It was like trying to teach a lamb to hunt lions.

Her hesitation now was because of that gentle upbringing. The child who was born with everything now faced a struggle that seemed too hard. "Even the softest clay can become the hardest brick," she reminded herself, but the change was very hard.

Seeing blood for the first time had been a shock, a harsh welcome to a reality she wasn't ready for.

The memories of her fallen kingdom, the cries of her people, and the sight of her home destroyed were stuck in her mind.

She had never been part of the politics or violence that took her kingdom. That day changed her world forever, and now she had to step into a role she never wanted but was born for.

As she stood there, her heart ached with the pain of her past and the worry of her future. She knew she had to push through and turn her hesitation into strength.

The road ahead was full of challenges, but she had to rise above them, just like the sun rises each day even after the darkest night.

Lumina, sensing her inner turmoil, floated beside her. "Ravenna, the earth always revolves around the sun, carrying the weight of billions without complaint. It's her duty to bring night and day, to maintain balance. Just as the earth fulfills her role, you must transition from princess to queen. It is your duty."

Ravenna clenched her fists, her heart heavy with the weight of Lumina's words.

The journey from princess to queen was not an easy one. It was a path filled with challenges, just like the earth's endless journey around the sun.

Lumina continued, her light flickering gently. "Becoming a queen is not a path filled with roses. It also includes the thorns of hardship. But after enduring the pain of those thorns, you get to smell the sweet scent of the rose. You receive the fruit of your struggles."

Ravenna's eyes flickered with understanding, but doubt still lingered in her heart. "But can I truly kill them?" she asked, her voice still trembling.

Lumina's tone became more firm, her light growing brighter. "Rise, Ravenna. Do your duty. Judge with your mind, see with your eyes, and resolve your heart. This path will not be easy. It is not a walk through a garden of roses but a journey through a field of thorns. If you do not have the resolve to continue, then you might as well quit now."

Ravenna took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing with determination. Lumina was right.

This was her second trial, and she had to prove her resolve. She had to transform from a princess filled with tears to a queen filled with determination.

Lumina's light flickered softly, almost like a comforting hand on Ravenna's shoulder. "I want to see your resolve, your heart filled with determination. Show me the queen within you, not the princess with tears in your eyes."

Ravenna's mind flashed back to her childhood, when she had been fascinated by learning about monsters.

Her eyes had widened with the glow of happiness, and she had imitated knights, pretending to slay every monster with enthusiasm. She had been a cute, small princess, laughing and dreaming of the day she would grow up and face these creatures.

But now, standing at the top of the dune, the reality of her situation was dark.

The Firehorns below were not just stories from her childhood. They were real, and she had to face them.

She straightened her back, her hands clenching into fists. The Firehorns below were not just monsters; they were her test. She would face them with the strength of her armor and the toughness of her spirit. "Strength doesn't come from physical power," Lumina reminded her, "It comes from a strong will."

"I am going in," Ravenna said, her eyes now burning with desire.

She was no longer just a princess made of roses; she was ready to embrace the pain of thorns.

With determination in her heart, she clenched her fists and took her first step forward, ready to prove herself.

"Do you really plan to kill them?" Lumina's voice cut through Ravenna's resolve just as she was ready to prove herself.

Ravenna's step halted, her foot suspended mid-air. She turned to look at Lumina, who floated behind her, shimmering softly. Doubt flickered in her eyes, but determination still burned within her.