Reincarnated Into A World Of Elves As The Only Man

She pointed her sword toward the horizon. "Out there, beyond the veil between worlds, the Veilwalker awaits rescue. Warrior Viva awaits rescue. And the future of our elements hangs in the balance."

Her voice dropped, forcing the warriors to lean forward to catch her next words. "When your grandchildren ask where you were when the elements themselves were threatened, what will you tell them? That you stood aside? That you refused to fight alongside former enemies?"

Maria sheathed her sword with a decisive motion. "Or that you stood with us—ALL of us—and saved the world they would inherit?"

The silence that followed was deafening. Then, near the back of the crowd, a Thornvale warrior slammed the butt of her spear against the ground. The sound—a sharp, hollow *thunk* that echoed across the clearing—was joined by another, then another, until the rhythmic pounding created a heartbeat that pulsed through the gathered army. *Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.* The steady cadence grew louder as more warriors joined, transforming individual acts into a single voice of solidarity.

Maria stepped back, nodding to Lyra who moved forward to take her place at the platform’s edge. The pounding ceased as she raised her hand, the assembled warriors waiting expectantly for the princess’s words.

"Moonlight and Thornvale have gone to war before," Lyra began, her voice clear and strong despite her youth. "Our blades have crossed, our elements clashed, our blood stained the same earth. I will not pretend those conflicts never happened."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the silent warriors. "But I will tell you something many of you don’t know—something kept from the histories, something your commanders and queens never shared."

Lyra’s expression hardened, her silver eyes flashing with intensity. "Those wars were never our choice. They were orchestrated, manipulated from the shadows by the one called Kaida—the First Eternal—the same being who now holds our Veilwalker captive."

Shocked murmurs spread through the crowd as warriors turned to one another in disbelief.