Integrity failed her.
That was the truth Preye once carried like a wound that refused to heal.
She had believed in it.
Lived by it.
Protected it.
And in return—it had broken her, stripped her of everything, and left her standing alone in the rain with nothing but a question:
"How bad can it get?"
Years later,
She finally had her answer.
Opundi City – A Different Morning
The sun rose gently over Opundi City.
Not through smoke.
Not over broken rooftops or flooded streets,
But across something alive,
Something built,
Something earned.
Boats moved in steady rhythm along the river, guided by signals that were clear, trusted, and efficient. The docks no longer echoed with arguments or hidden deals only coordinated effort and purpose.
Markets opened without fear of sudden levies or silent enforcers.
Children ran through the streets—not watching their backs, but chasing laughter.
The city wasn't perfect.
But it worked.
The Current had evolved.
Not as a ruling force,
But as a structure.
Information flowed openly, managed with care but never hidden.
Trade moved freely, regulated for balance—not controlled for profit.
Protection existed—not as fear, but as assurance.
People knew where to go.
Who to trust.
How to build.
And at the center of it all,
Not a throne,
Not a ruler,
But a name.
Stormborne!!!
They still called her that.
Sometimes in awe.
Sometimes in respect.
Sometimes in quiet gratitude.
But Preye no longer needed the name.
Because she wasn't proving anything anymore.
She was living.
The House by the River.....
It wasn't grand,
It wasn't guarded,
It didn't need to be.
A simple structure stood near the edge of the river—where the water moved steadily, as if it had chosen to stay close.
Inside it resides,
Warmth,
Laughter, and
Life.
Timi burst through the door first.
"…I'm telling you, that strategy was flawless."
Nimi followed behind him.
"It worked by accident."
"It still worked," Timi insisted.
Boma shook his head, carrying a crate.
"You talk too much for someone who almost ruined it."
"I didn't ruin it!" Timi protested.
"I improved it."
Sotonye entered quietly, smiling faintly.
"That's one way to describe chaos."
Kuro leaned silently by the doorway.
Watching.
Always watching.
And then....
Denyefa stepped in.
"Enough."
The room quieted instantly.
Not out of fear.
But respect.
She had grown into her power.
Not wildly,
Not recklessly,
But deeply.
The river responded to her like an old friend.
Not commanded,
Not controlled, because she understood.
"It's a calm day," she said softly.
Timi nodded,
"I like calm days."
Denyefa smiled faintly,
"They don't last."
Timi sighed,
"I knew you were going to say that."
Preye Appears,
She stepped in last.
Not announced,
Not dramatic,
Just present.
And the room....
Shifted.
Not because she demanded it,
But because she carried something now,
Balance.
Preye looked at them,
Her people,
Her family.
Not bound by obligation,
Not tied by power,
But chosen.
"You're all loud," she said calmly,
Timi grinned,
"You missed it."
Preye raised an eyebrow.
"I doubt that."
The Quiet Moments Matter Most
They sat together.
Shared food.
Spoke without urgency.
No plans.
No battles.
No strategies.
Just,
Life.
A Walk by the River
Later that evening,
Preye stood by the water.
The same river that once carried whispers of control, fear, and unseen forces.
Now,
It flowed steady.
Free.
Denyefa joined her.
"It remembers everything," she said.
Preye nodded.
Including who we used to be.
A pause,
"And who we chose to become."
Preye looked out across the water.
"I thought integrity failed me," she said quietly.
Denyefa didn't respond,
Because she knew this wasn't something to interrupt.
Preye continued,
"But it didn't.
Her voice softened slightly.
"I just didn't understand it yet."
She turned slightly,
"Integrity doesn't protect you from the world.
"It prepares you to change it."
Behind them.....
Opundi City moved.
Not perfectly,
But forward.
People still argued.
Still struggled,
Still made mistakes,
But now,
They had something they didn't before.
A system that didn't trap them,
A force that didn't control them,
A future that didn't belong to someone else.
Timi's voice echoed from the house,
"Are you both coming back or are we eating everything?!"
Denyefa laughed softly.
"…We should go."
Preye smiled faintly.
"Let him try.
They turned.
Walked back together.
Not as survivors,
Not as fighters,
But as something stronger,
"Builders"
Once.....
Preye had asked:
How bad can it get?
Now.....
She knew the answer didn't matter anymore.
Because no matter how bad it got,
She had become the kind of storm that could rise above it.
And this time....
Integrity didn't fail her.
It led her home. 🌟 🌟 🌟
To everyone who has read "How Bad Can It Get? — The Rise of Preye",
Thank you.
This is my very first web novel, and the fact that you chose to spend your time reading it truly means more than I can put into words. You followed Preye from her lowest point to her rise, and that alone means everything to me.
I know many of you have been reading quietly—and that's okay, but moving forward, I want to grow, and I can't do that without you.
So I'm asking you:
If you enjoyed the story, please take a moment to vote.
Leave a comment—tell me what you felt, what you loved, what you want more of.
Share it with someone who might enjoy it too.
Your engagement helps this story reach more people and helps me become a better writer.
And most importantly…
This is not the end.
It's the beginning.
I have more stories to tell, more worlds to build, and I want you to stay with me on this journey.
Let's grow together.
The storm is just getting started.
Your Author 🌟