Same Memory || Another Story

→• The New Leventis

Too soon.

Maybe forever.

Y/n leaned against the railing, eyes blurry but unblinking. She would miss this. She would miss the food stalls at midnight. The festivals. The way the sunlight hit the castle's stained glass windows in the morning.

But she wasn't going to wallow.

No.

She'd had her 72 hours of spiraling. Of asking why me. Of questioning if fate and destiny had gotten drunk and rolled dice.

But tonight?

Tonight she chose purpose.

She was the Leventis. And yeah, maybe she wasn't ready. Maybe she'd scream the first time a fireball came her way.

But she'd go down swinging. She'd make this Queendom proud. She'd protect those she loved. Love, the innocent, the weak and those in need.

And she'd return.

Victorious.

With bruises and a dumb smile. She'd marry her noble or farmer wife, have two kids to love,laugh at, annoy, get protective of. eat until her pants popped, and live like a woman who survived a thousand lifetimes.

The universe had chosen her.

So she would choose herself too.

She straightened her back, fists clenching at her sides.

"No more running," she said to the wind, voice steady for the first time in days. "I'm gonna break a leg. Cuz I'm pussy and cunzy."

She glanced at the stars above.

"Purrr. " then whispered, "Let's. fuckin'. go."

---

---

The sun rose far too quickly.

It rose through the misty dawn like a flame, turning the castle's marbled halls and silver-trimmed towers golden.

Y/n stood on the castle's west landing-the departure point for the Leventis and her chosen companions.

She had dreamt of this moment as a kid, sure... but in those dreams, she was tall, powerful, and radiant. In reality? She had barely slept, still looked like a confused sandwich, and her stomach had decided now was the perfect time to declare war.

The courtyard buzzed with activity. Goodbye hugs. Quiet cries. Strong attempts at pretending this wasn't the most terrifying moment of their young lives.

Everyone looked ready. And she didn't know if that made her feel better or worse.

Jihyo was pacing near the gates, murmuring a mental checklist under her breath. Jeongyeon stood still as stone beside her, arms crossed, questioning if her friend is about to lose it or not. Momo was tying and retying her boots, muttering "Just in case. Just in case."

Tzuyu and Taehyoung were towering over their older sister, Nayeon was trying to show off a trick to her brothers and failed three times before laughing it off. Chaeyoung was sitting on the ground legs spread like a toddler.

And Dahyun-

Y/n's eyes found her easily.

Dahyun stood a little apart, next to her mother and younger brother. Her head was slightly bowed as she held her mother's hands between her own. She nodded gently-probably promising she'd eat properly, sleep enough, write letters. The usual things a child says to soothe a parent before they do something incredibly stupid and brave.