The next morning, I awoke to the smell of fresh bread and spices wafting into my room. My maid stepped in, carefully balancing a tray laden with breakfast. She placed it gently on the table beside my bed and bowed.
"Good morning, Your Highness. The royal alchemist has requested a meeting with you."
I nodded and ate quickly. Once dressed, I made my way through the hallway, exchanging brief greetings with the few servants and guards I passed. Eventually, I arrived at the meeting room and waited. The heavy wooden door creaked open, and in stepped a man.
He was a tall, broad-shouldered wolf-kin, though unlike me, he lacked fur on his arms and legs. His posture was proud but reserved, and his sharp amber eyes gave away a keen intellect. He bowed politely.
"Your Highness," he began, his voice smooth but firm, "I believe I've found a solution to the issue you wrote about. However, it will be expensive. The material I need is a rare mineral found deep within coal mines."
I nodded thoughtfully. "That won't be a problem. We only need enough for a few individuals who will be operating the train. Once it's running, production will increase dramatically."
He bowed again and took his leave.
From there, I made my way to the rail construction site. The progress was impressive. Workers moved with purpose, sweat glistening on their brows under the morning sun. I stepped forward and addressed them.
"You've done excellent work. Soon, your burden will lessen. You'll only need to carry materials for another week. After that, the train will take over."
Their eyes lit up with relief and pride.
Satisfied, I continued to the dwarven workshop. The train's construction was coming along smoothly. I joined in, helping for a few hours. Together, we performed the first test of the steam engine. The sound of it roaring to life was music to my ears.
As the afternoon waned, I prepared to meet with the train operator trainees. But as I re-entered the castle, a maid intercepted me.
"Your Highness, a human is here requesting an audience."
Two maids assisted me in cleaning up and adjusting my attire. Once ready, I headed to the throne room and took my place. The guards brought the man in.
Before I could even speak, he began to talk.
"Please, listen! I was forced to come with the others. I didn't want any part of what happened. I want to switch sides!" His voice trembled with urgency. "They'll send an army in two months to investigate the missing knights. The demi-kingdom won't survive that. What are you planning to do?!"
I tilted my head slightly. "And why exactly should I tell you that?"
"Because I want to help!" he said quickly.
I raised an eyebrow. "How?"
He stumbled over his words, spewing incoherent nonsense and vague promises. It became abundantly clear that he had no real value to offer.
I sighed and raised my hand. "Silence him."
The guard struck him swiftly.
"If you continue talking nonsense," I said coldly, "I will torture you to death."
The man opened his mouth again, desperate to respond, but I cut him off.
"Take him away."
As the guards dragged him toward the doors, I muttered, "What a waste of time."
Just before the doors shut, I added with a smirk, "We'll annihilate the human army with ease."
He heard every word and began screaming as he was pulled out of the room.
I turned to a nearby guard. "Get the human ready for public execution."
He looked at me hesitantly. "What kind of execution, Your Highness?"
I smirked. "Just tie him to a pole in front of a stone wall. I'll handle the rest."
With that, I left the room.
As I sat down in my office, my thoughts drifted. I began to ponder the changes within me. Would I have killed so many if I were still human? What exactly had changed me? Was it this new body? The instincts that came with it? Were they slowly affecting my mind as well?
Suddenly, a voice echoed in my mind. It was God.
"Don't worry," the voice said calmly. "You are still yourself. I only gave you a little confidence boost, so you wouldn't hesitate too much. It wouldn't be fun otherwise."
I exhaled slowly, a smirk tugging at my lips. I did remember. I had promised to entertain Him.
"Are you enjoying this?" I asked him.
"Of course," he replied. "I love watching humans struggle. It's such a fascinating thing. You should give a speech to your people—let them know it's wrong to think I love humans more than anyone else. Tell them I love everyone equally."
I let out a quiet chuckle. "You just enjoy watching us squirm. Should I mention that in the speech too?"
He laughed. "If you love no one, it's not wrong to say you love everyone the same."
I smirked. "Fair point. Anyway, I have things to do."
As he began to fade, his voice lingered like an echo in my mind. "An army of 2,000 will come in two months. And beware—there are traitors among your people."
I called for my maid and handed her a letter. "Find Regal and get the weapon ready. Meet me at the public plaza where the execution will take place."
The maid nodded and left quickly to fulfill the order. I turned to the window, resting my hand gently on the cool glass. I took a deep breath through my nose. The air carried the heavy scent of the smithery mixed with the freshness of the surrounding forest—and something else.
Rain?
I narrowed my eyes at the cloudy horizon. Yes, it definitely smelled like rain was coming.
A faint smirk crept onto my lips. "Maybe God wants to add a bit of dramatic effect to my speech," I muttered to myself.
I stepped out of my office and began my walk to the plaza. The moment I set foot in the hallway, silence followed me like a shadow. No one dared to meet my gaze. The air around me was heavy—cold, determined. Even without trying, I could feel the fear radiating from the people I passed. Their unease only deepened as they caught sight of the faint smirk on my lips.
I arrived at the plaza just as the human was being bound to the pole. I took a moment to assess the scene, then raised my voice clearly.
"No one is to stand behind the pole."
I stepped onto the stage and waited until the murmurs and whispers fell into silence. The entire plaza was packed—every citizen, soldier, and noble had gathered.
As I scanned the crowd, my eyes fell on Regal standing off to the side, a wooden case in his arms. The shape and the way he carried it made it obvious what it contained.
I gave him a small nod. It was time. Time to introduce our new weapon not just to the military—but to the entire kingdom.
I took a breath and raised my voice.
"Thank you all for coming here today."
The crowd shifted uncomfortably, exchanging confused glances.
"You may be wondering why I called you here. Let me explain. A human army is coming. In two months' time, they will arrive at our borders."
Gasps echoed through the crowd, and a ripple of fear passed through the masses.
"But do not worry," I continued, voice steady. "We have a new weapon. One that will change everything."
Now the crowd looked confused, murmurs rising again.
"This man tied to the pole," I said, gesturing toward the prisoner, "was part of the group that invaded our lands. He claimed he wanted to help. He lied. He wasted our time. He thought we were weak."
Anger began to flicker in the crowd. Some turned their faces away from the bound man, others stared with rage.
"We are not weak. And we are not abandoned."
I let that hang in the air for a moment before continuing.
"Some say God loves only humans. But they are wrong. God loves everyone equally. And I will no longer let anyone twist His name for their gain. I will take the faith of this kingdom into my own hands."
Some of the crowd cheered while others looked uncertain, but a new energy was building.
I turned back to Regal and took the weapon from the case. The murmurs returned, this time more curious.
"This is the power that will ensure our survival. Our victory."
I loaded the magazine and aimed.
"To the traitors among us," I said, my voice like steel, "I am not angry. But know this—if you continue to betray us, your fate will be the same as his."
I pulled the trigger. A single shot echoed across the plaza, striking the man in the thigh. Then I switched to full auto. Carefully, I avoided his vital areas—no shots to the heart, lungs, or brain. Instead, I aimed at his limbs and abdomen, calculating every round to inflict maximum pain and suffering without ending his life too quickly. Each shot punched through his flesh, tearing muscles and shattering bone. Blood sprayed in wide arcs, and bits of flesh and sinew flew across the stage. Behind him, the stone wall cracked, pocked with deep gouges where the rounds passed through his body and kept going.
Screams erupted from the man, raw and agonized, but quickly lost under the unrelenting mechanical roar of the weapon. When the final round discharged and silence reclaimed the plaza, all that remained of him was a mutilated, twitching form barely hanging by the ropes.
I turned back to the crowd, the weapon still smoking in my hands.
"The first 100 soldiers will be equipped with such weapons. And more will follow. Before the humans arrive, we will intercept them—and take every supply they carry."
I gave them one last look before turning and walking off the stage.
The crowd erupted into cheers, the sound thundering across the plaza.
I handed the weapon back to Regal and said, "Get the others ready for the soldiers. After that, meet me in my office."
With that, I returned to my office to prepare a document for Regal.
On the way, I met the general of the first company and told him to get the 100 special soldiers ready.
In my office, I settled behind my desk and began working through paperwork until Regal entered.
Without a word, I pulled out a new plan and spread it across the desk.
"This," I said, pointing to the drawings, "is a handgun. I want you to make a few of these—for me and some of the higher-ranking soldiers who already have weapon training. Once the mine is operating and production increases, every soldier will get one."
Regal leaned in, studying the plans with a thoughtful expression.
"That won't take more than a few days," he said confidently.
"Only after the train is finished," I reminded him.
He nodded and went back to the smithy.
I leaned back in my chair and muttered to myself, "Tomorrow, I'll need to look into how magic works."
With that, I had a short meeting with the train trainees and went back to my room. My maid helped me wash up and tried to calm me down. She clearly sensed the unease in her queen.
As she brushed my hair, she finally spoke. "Your Highness, you've seemed... distant. Are you alright?"
I hesitated, then whispered, "Do you think... I'm going too far? Should I really be killing all these humans?"
The maid paused, then gently took my hand. "They would have done the same to us. They already have. You've only made it possible for us to fight back. Even if you weren't here, we would have tried at some point."
I looked into her eyes and nodded slowly. Her words didn't lift the weight from my shoulders—but they helped me carry it.
As I laid down in bed and the maid left, I slowly drifted into sleep, hoping to get a good rest.