Power Vacuum

"Varokh will not rise from his slumber again."

"Someone must take over the leadership before the monster comes for us."

"But who?"

The elders turned their gaze toward a young woman sitting at the far end of the hut. She was also the only woman present.

Her name was Veera. She was the eldest daughter of the former village chief and the sister of Varokh, the current chief.

As the eldest, Veera had the people's support to lead.

Moreover, she possessed taming magic, which had long been a symbol of leadership.

However, their mother had left a will that contradicted this: "Only the strongest can succeed me."

Unwilling to harm her beloved siblings, Veera chose to step down from the succession battle.

Yet the massacre still happened, and Varokh emerged victorious. As the only surviving sister, rumors spread that Varokh often harbored hostility toward Veera, fearing she might threaten his rule.

'But his reign is now crumbling for another reason.'

Veera loved Varokh as much as she loved her other siblings.

And when the villagers urged her to seize power from Varokh after his illness, Veera could only say, "No."

"Then, if not you, who else?"

Veera averted her gaze. "Didn't Varokh already determine the succession process?"

Varokh had no heirs. His obsession with battle had driven him away from women.

The same brutal succession process would repeat, but this time, the participants were outsiders.

"But they will not be blessed by the Fire God."

Another man added, "I can't imagine our leader being someone unable to wield magic."

Yet Veera remained firm. "If there's nothing more to discuss, I'll take my leave."

Before she could leave the hut, an elder grabbed her arm.

It was Yruvhan, her mother's friend and the man who had raised her since childhood. "Can't you reconsider?"

Veera sighed and, left him with no answerr.

Veera stepped out. The village felt restless and wounded. She saw, along her path, at least one man being carried or treated for injuries.

The heartbreaking cries of children who had lost their fathers echoed around her.

Veera continued walking toward the largest house in the village. Its front was guarded by two burly men clad in straw armor.

"What do you want?" one of them asked.

"Do I need a reason to visit my own brother?"

The guard sneered. "The village chief cannot be disturbed. Leave!"

"I'm not here to disturb him."

"Your mere presence is enough to unsettle him, woman. Leave, or we will use force."

Veera smirked. "Try me. Let's see if ordinary men like you can defeat a magic user."

The other guard swallowed hard. They could probably subdue Veera here, but if she returned with a horde of beasts, it would be their death sentence.

The guard cleared his throat. "Ten minutes."

His partner looked at him, puzzled.

"Thirty minutes," Veera countered.

"Twenty. That's our final offer. Unless you don't want to enter."

Veera scowled and brushed past them.

Inside, the room was dimly lit with torches. Clay shards were scattered across the floor. At the center lay Varokh, powerless on his bed.

He looked even worse than Veera had imagined. His legs and arms were both severed, with pale stumps bandaged yet still seeping blood.

'If only someone could still use life magic.' It wouldn't regrow his limbs, but it could at least heal his wounds faster.

Veera knelt beside him. Her brother was struggling to breathe. She gently stroked his hair.

"M-Mother...?"

Veera flinched. "I'm not—"

"I'm ... scared. It's so cold here ... So painful ... So lonely ... I ... I don't want to suffer anymore. Please. Please take me away ..."

Veera left the hut even before five minutes had passed.

The guards stared at her in confusion, especially when they saw Veera walking not toward the village but toward the forest beyond.

At that moment, Veera made up her mind.

'This isn't the time for stubbornness. Varokh... I can't let you suffer anymore. I can't let you lead in this condition.'

If things continued as they were, the succession battle would take place tomorrow at noon.

The victor would undoubtedly be a brute who, upon seeing Varokh weakened, would finish him off without mercy.

'I won't let that happen.'

Veera summoned as much of her magic as possible and prepared herself for the coming day.

*#*

The village hall was bustling at noon the next day.

Not just the participants but also curious villagers had gathered to watch the succession battle.

Skilled hunters, towering men with muscular builds, and even a few claiming to have discovered ancient magical techniques were present.

Yruvhan scanned the crowd anxiously.

'Even at the end, she didn't come…'

He had hoped Veera would at least be present to witness the battle.

Whoever won today would need Veera's guidance to preserve the magical bloodline.

"Hurry up, old man! Start the match already! Can't you see how eager everyone is to witness my glorious victory?"

It was Thauren. His arrogance wasn't baseless.

Standing tall at 6'5", Thauren was the village's fiercest hunter, known for slaying two bears singlehandedly in the same battle.

With Varokh out of commission, Thauren had practically taken charge of all recent hunts.

He was undeniably powerful and might very well win today.

Yet he lacked what the past leaders, including Varokh, had—the spirit of change.

Yruvhan feared Thauren's leadership would leave the village stagnant, especially since he lacked magical knowledge.

The elder looked to the sky, praying.

'Oh Fire God, forgive our reckless actions.'

He then turned to the contestants, took a deep breath, and declared,

"Let the—"

"Stop."

A powerful voice echoed, sharp and commanding.

Veera emerged from the depths of the forest, staggering but determined.

Behind her followed dozens of wild beasts—wolves, bears, cheetahs, and even lions.

"There will be no battle. I will become the next village chief."