The Core’s Influence

The more Lena relied on the Core, the more she felt its presence consume her. It had become an indispensable part of her strategies—calculating, predicting, guiding her every decision. It had become almost like a shadow over her, whispering promises of victory, but at what cost?

Lena found herself drawn to the Core late one evening, staring at the shimmering, alien object pulsing with a light that seemed to resonate deep within her. She hesitated for a moment, then allowed her thoughts to reach out to it.

"Do you think I'm making the right decisions?" Lena asked aloud, half-expecting no response.

[Your path is clear. The Rhytil will fall, and the galaxy will be yours.]

The Core's voice was cold, calculating, and comforting in its certainty. But Lena recoiled at the lack of warmth in its words.

"But what about the people we're supposed to protect?" Lena's voice trembled slightly. "I feel like I'm losing touch with what's right. My people… they trust me, but they're starting to question my judgment."

[The war demands sacrifice. Strength comes from unity and purpose. You are on the path of destiny.]

Lena's hands clenched into fists, torn between the Core's seemingly infallible guidance and the nagging feeling in her heart that something was wrong. Was she the one making decisions now, or was she just a vessel for the Core's ambitions?