The Hills of Hazel Hilly had never been so alive. The people had gathered for the grand contest—a battle between Lady Sword, the fierce warrior, and Lady Pen, the quiet strategist.

The stakes were high. If Sword won, she would be declared the greatest force in Hazel Hilly. If Pen won, she would be honored forever as the true power behind the world’s greatest victories.

But while the crowd watched the battle of strength and words, something else was happening in the shadows.

Something neither Pen nor Sword knew was coming.

A Secret Letter, A Secret Love

The night before the contest, Lady Pen received a letter.

It was sealed with deep red wax, the symbol of secrecy and passion. It had no sender’s name, but the words inside made her heart race.

"I have watched you from afar. Your words move mountains. Your mind is sharper than any blade. If you win tomorrow, I will reveal myself. But if you lose, our story ends before it begins. Fight, my Lady. Win… and find me."

Pen clutched the letter to her chest.

Who was he?

The ink was bold, the handwriting firm and decisive. It wasn’t soft poetry—it was commanding. A man of power. A man of mystery.

A man she wanted to meet.

She had to win. Not just for herself. But for this unknown admirer who had been watching from the shadows.

The Contest Begins

The next evening, the square was filled with eager faces. Lord Stone, the Chief of Hazel Hilly, raised his hand.

"Let the contest begin!"

Sword went first.

She dazzled the crowd.

With a flick of her wrist, she sliced through flying fruit. With a powerful spin, she shattered wooden planks. Then, with a final mighty blow, she split a boulder in half.

The crowd went wild.

Sword turned to Pen with a smug smile. “Try topping that, dear rival.”

Pen stepped forward.

She took out her parchment. Dipped her tip in ink.

The crowd held their breath.

And then… she began to write.

The Words That Stopped Time

"There was once a warrior who could break stone with her sword," she read aloud.

The crowd fell silent.

"But when her battles ended, and the wars were over, she was forgotten."

Sword frowned.

"There was also a poet, who wrote about her battles. And long after she was gone, his words remained. His words kept her alive."

The tension in the air was thick. Even Lord Stone leaned forward, listening intently.

"Power is not in the strike of the sword. It is in the memory of it."

The crowd stilled.

And then, a single voice rose from the back.

"She is right."

Everyone turned.

A tall, cloaked figure stood at the edge of the square. His voice was deep, smooth, familiar to Lady Pen even though she had never heard it before.

Could it be…?

The man removed his hood.

Pen’s breath caught in her throat.

He was striking—dark eyes full of fire, strong features chiseled like a sculpture, and an air of mystery that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Who are you?" Sword demanded.

The man ignored her. His gaze locked onto Pen.

"I am the one who sent the letter."

Pen’s heart raced.

"And I am here to claim what I promised… if you win."

The crowd gasped.

Lord Stone smirked and turned to the people. "Who do you declare the winner?"

A deafening roar filled the air.

"LADY PEN!"

Pen had won.

She turned back to the mysterious man, her fingers trembling as she clutched the letter in her hands.

"And who are you?" she whispered.

He stepped closer, his voice barely above a murmur.

"You will know soon enough. But first…"

He leaned in, just enough for only her to hear.

"Meet me at midnight. The top of the hill. Alone."

And then, before she could speak, he disappeared into the night.

Lady Sword scowled but let out a reluctant chuckle. “Fine. You win. But tell me, dear rival… will you use your victory to change the world?”

Lady Pen smiled softly, her fingers brushing over the letter.

"Perhaps. Or perhaps… I will let the world change me."

And so, as the crowd celebrated her victory, Pen’s mind was far away…

Thinking of the man who had just stepped into her story.

The End… Or The Beginning?

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Now, tell me… who do you think the mysterious stranger is? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

Drop your thoughts in the comments below