The First Test of Will

The peaceful rhythm of Firu was shattered the day the empire's soldiers arrived. Naolin had sensed the village's unease since the traders first brought news of the empire's expansion, but now, standing in the village square, she felt the full weight of that looming threat. The imperial soldiers were unlike anything Firu had ever seen. Clad in polished armor that gleamed in the sunlight, they moved with cold precision. They carried the authority of the emperor, and with it, the power to break anyone who defied them.

Naolin's father stood at the front of the gathered villagers, his face set in an expression of calm determination, though Naolin could feel the tension rolling off him in waves. Around them, murmurs rippled through the crowd as the soldiers unfurled a scroll and began to read the emperor's decree.

"By order of His Imperial Majesty, the village of Firu is hereby required to pledge its loyalty to the Gaze Empire. As subjects of the empire, you are to pay tribute in the form of crops and livestock, and supply able-bodied young men to serve in the imperial army."

The words fell like a hammer blow on the villagers, who had never known such demands. Fear spread quickly, and Naolin could see it in the wide eyes and tight grips of her neighbors, in the way parents instinctively pulled their children closer. Firu had always been a peaceful place, tucked away in the valley, untouched by the world's turmoil. Now, that peace was crumbling before their eyes.

One of the soldiers, a stern-faced man with sharp, predatory eyes, stepped forward. He looked directly at the village elders, his voice smooth but ice-cold. "The empire does not ask for much. A small tribute—crops, livestock, and men to serve in the emperor's legions. In return, the empire will grant you its protection and ensure your continued prosperity. Refuse, and you will face the consequences of defiance."

Naolin's father, the village elder who had always led Firu with wisdom and strength, stood tall. He did not flinch under the soldier's gaze, though Naolin could see the tightness in his jaw, the tension in his posture. His voice was calm but unyielding. "We are a simple people," he said. "We have lived in this valley for generations, in peace with the land and each other. We ask only to be left in that peace. We have no quarrel with the empire, but we will not give up our way of life."

The soldier's eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a thin smile that did not reach his eyes. "Peace," he said slowly, "is a luxury that only those under the empire's protection can afford. The world is changing, elder. War is coming to every corner of the land. Without the empire's shield, you will not survive. We offer you a choice—give your tribute freely, or the empire will take it by force."

A chill settled over the crowd. Naolin's heart raced as she listened to the soldier's words. She could feel the rising anger and fear in the people around her. Her father was a proud man, and Naolin knew he would never bow to such threats. But she also knew what the empire was capable of. She had heard the stories, whispered in the dark by travelers passing through. Villages razed to the ground, people enslaved or killed for refusing the emperor's demands.

Her father stood silent for a long moment, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. Finally, he spoke, his voice low but resolute. "We will consider your proposal," he said, his tone heavy with the burden of leadership.

The soldier nodded, his expression one of cold satisfaction. "You have one month to decide," he said. "Choose wisely."