The air outside the temple was rife with dust and havoc. Luna and her company staggered out into the night as the earth continued to quiver underneath their feet, the crumbling remains of the temple throwing wreaths of debris into the air behind them. The once-majestic temple, a trophy of ancient power, was being devoured by itself. A sign of olden times flagging down - and maybe about her future as well, thought Luna. Alec held her arm firmly, yet his eyes reflected concern. "Luna, are you alright? What was that thing back there?" Luna was out of breath and wiping the dirt from her face, "I don't know... I didn't mean for any of this to happen." Jax scrutinized the horizon, his body tense. "Whatever it was, it felt like it was pulling on us, a mix of light and dark. It's unnatural." Kade stepped forward and fixated his gaze on the smoking ruins behind them. "It said the balance has been destroyed. That we should build again. But what does that mean?"Luna shook her head, attempti
With its glowing eyes trained on Luna, the figure of Balance stood before them motionless; it emanated power, both dark and light. The very ground beneath their feet quaked with every step it took. The rest of them shifted nervously, glancing between balancing force and Luna, their hopes hinging on the side of the earth. "You have until the next full moon," the figure said, its voice a deep, sonorous blend of male and female tones which reverberated in Luna's chest. "After that, the balance will tip. You must decide before then, or the world will be torn apart by the forces you have unleashed."Luna felt her heartbeat speeding up and understood the weight of those words. Her throat tightened, but she made herself say: "What if I don't choose?"The Balance narrowed its glowing eyes. "The world shall fracture beyond repair. The light and dark will consume all before them, and you, Luna, will be the incendiary which ignites this horror. Nobody, in fact, will remain standing, not even th
This monstrous figure, surging above them, seemed to grow bigger with each passing moment. Its form transformed from light to dark, a combination of all things Luna despised. With eyes glowing with unearthly light, like the Balance incarnate, there stood something strange-that darkness was deep and damning.The splitting roar sent a tidal wave of nausea through Luna as the earth shook beneath them. The air grew thick and dense, making it difficult to breathe- and it was becoming unbearable to be pinned between two opposing forces.Alec yelled above the racket, his voice gaunt with panic. "Luna! We have to move, now!"But Luna's gaze did not waver from the creature. It was as though the creature locked its piercing gaze into her, pulling her closer. A semblance of familiarity wafted over her psyche with its energy, which tugged at the core of her being. Her heart raced, and the relic about her neck reacted by thrumming violently almost in rhythm with her panic."Luna!" Jax yelled as he
As the pack's eyes bore into her moving forward, Luna approached the Void with each step pulling various fear and resolve in her body. Behind her head, she could hear Alec's voice in growing desolation.“Luna, wait!” Alec hollered with a voice cracking with panic. “You don’t have to do this!”“Luna!” Jax practically shrieked, over-urgent. “Think about what you’re sacrificing! There has to be another way!”But the energy of the Void pulsated around her, a magnetic tether pulling her inwards. With each footfall, she felt the relic thrum against her skin; it became more aglow with each step into destiny.I'm not going to let you destroy everything! Luna retorted defiantly. It starts here and now!The Void flexed; light-turned darkness, another terrifying roar escaped it. The air cracked for as far as she could see, and the ground shook underfoot. There was power, then pressure, a stream of energy locking onto her, sensing her determination.“Luna!” Kael's voice, flooded with grief, broke
As darkness faded away, Luna stood in a great empty plain. It was unreal: nothing, no color, no sound - Nothing but that nameless sense of energy which filled the air. Luna blinked, trying to adjust her eyes to see in the surrounding gloom."Luna!" A voice floated back distantly. Gently familiar. "Is that you?"Luna turned around abruptly, heart pumping. "Alec?" she called, trembling, "Where are you?"In front of her, the landscape rippled like a mirage, the shadows danced like candle flames. In her panic rising, she started to see someone: a figure, just emerging from the shadows."Alec!" She rushed towards him as he stepped into the light, revealing the concern on his face. "I thought I lost you!""I'm right here," he whispered, pulling her into a warm embrace against the immutable background of the unnerving surroundings. "I was so afraid-""What happened?" Luna interrupted, her gaze searching into his eyes. "The Void was…so overwhelming…and then everything just went dark."Concern
She blinked open her eyes, and the blackness around her began to fade slowly, unveiling a large underground room. The walls were covered in markings of an unknown tongue, faintly glowing in the dim light. All over the air within the chamber, she could sense the ground pulsing as though alive with an invisible ancient force.She remained, breathless, seeking to establish where she was. Jorg had gone to thin air while Alec's voice in her mind called her name. But Seraphine's words kept echoing tauntingly in her head."Where... where am I?" she whispered, her voice hoarse.Then slow, bound footsteps drew near. She managed to lift herself up, aching all over her body, and finally saw emerging from the inky darkness a figure. A familiar countenance that sent an icy chill down her spine.Jax.But something was wrong with him, though. His eyes, strong and alive with feelings before, now dull, drained of vitality. Squaring his shoulders like a sentry, he stood in front of her; a frozen mockin
The giant swallowed them without any conscious knowledge of their descent to depth. Luna felt unsound; the ground under began to fall in, drawing herself down into the depth of the void with her companions. Shadows wrapped her like tendrils, clutching in tight lightning flashes, all that now occupied her attention; she was on the verge of losing consciousness. But almost as it had come, the strange - now had shifted from something into which she could faintly step - an unyielding ground under her feet.The sceneries doomed: she found herself alone in a strange, dimly-lit space that seemed to warp in more directions than one. All of the walls stretched high and were carved upon with symbols that moved and breathed. The only light in the room came from a flickering flame that stood suspended high in midair, casting long shadows upon the stone floor; they danced with pure dread."Hello," Luna called out, her voice echoing into the walls. But there was no answer.Just as panic was creepi
The hubbub of sound that was left in the wake of Kael's passing crushed typical speech. Luna felt her heart flutter. She stretched her hand out, hoping against hope that there was still a hidden trace of Kael. But her fingers touched only empty space, driving an icy torrent deep into her bones. The once-thought formal presence of Kael was now just a void, a hollowness that looked pleased as it fed off their dejected emotion.Alec broke the silence first, his voice a choked sound. "He is gone. Kael sacrificed himself... for us."Luna swallowed, fighting back tears. "He did it to save us from what the Void was doing. To weaken its hold. But... I can't believe that he is really gone."Kade's grinding teeth directed us (its, casual or formal usage) toward the pulsing shadows in the walls. "If this sacrifice was for the sake of this, then we can't let it go in vain. We must bring Jax back and end this."Sensing their revived hopes, the stone walls widened toward a dark narrow tunnel that t
"Then how do we pass it?" Kade asked, his voice tight with barely suppressed anger."We face it," Luna said, stepping forward despite Alec’s protest. Her voice steadied as she spoke to the figures. "If you’re here to test us, then let us prove ourselves. No more games."The figures all seemed to tilt their heads slightly, as if pondering her words. At last, one spoke. "Very well, Moonbearer, but know this: truth is a two-edged sword."The shadows receded a bit, but not enough to feel safe. The room changed again. This time, it was an oval arena with walls lined with mirrors. Each reflected a distorted version of their faces: anguish, rage, and despair."Choose," the voices said. "Look into the mirror that calls to you, and face what you fear most."Luna hesitated, her heart racing. The others were throwing worried looks around the group."This is insane," Jax said softly, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides."No," Luna whispered, matching his gaze. "This is our way forwa
Jax’s voice was softer now but still laced with uncertainty. “For what it's worth, I’m not going anywhere either.”Kade nodded silently and his presence a steady anchor.Even Morgana gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. “For now.”Luna looked at each of them as her heart ached with gratitude and fear. "Thank you. All of you."Before anyone could respond, the ground beneath them trembled a bit and there was a faint sound of a distant drum.“Now what?” Jax muttered, drawing his weapon.The mist in front parted to reveal a huge stone door covered with delicate symbols that appeared to glow faintly.“The Veil’s core,” Morgana whispered, her expression uncharacteristically serious.Luna stepped forward, her heart pounding. “What’s behind it?”She caught Morgana’s gaze, and this time there was a sincere note in her voice that was unexpected. “The truth.”Her hand reached out to the door, without laying on it a voice as if it from nowhere pierced her heart.“Luna…” That was her mother's
“I already made my choice,” Luna said firmly.“Have you?” the figure asked, almost mournfully. “Your heart is divided. It carries the weight of loyalty, love, and trust. Yet beware—hearts that are divided cannot survive under the burden of the Veil.”Alec stepped forward, jaw set. “Leave her alone. She doesn’t need your cryptic warnings from some ghost.”The figure turned its glowing gaze toward Alec. "And you, Protector, what will you do when the Moonbearer's light burns too bright for you to stand beside her?"Alec’s expression darkened, but before he could retort, the figure turned its gaze to Jax. “And you, Guardian of the Spirit. For how long will you mask your insecurities with wit?”Jax flinched, his mask of confidence faltering.“And Kade,” the figure said, turning to the silent warrior. “Do you ever intend to release the shackles of guilt, or will it drag you down into the darkness?”“Enough!” Luna shouted, her voice slicing through the tension. “You don’t know us. You don’t
Corvin's smirk evapor, and for the first time, his face turned solemn. "The Moonbearer’s power is not a blessing, but a curse. To wield it is to become well beyond the norm, half the world more than likely would not recognize. It means sacrifices."“What sacrifices?” Luna demanded.He pointed to her friends. “The connections you’ve built. The life you’ve lived. The love you’ve discovered. It all could be lost.”Alec stepped forward, his voice resolute. "Luna, you need to listen to me. We're going to take on whatever we do together. Don't let him frighten you into the wrong choice."Corvin’s gaze flicked to Alec, and his silver eyes narrowed. “You say that now, but wait until she turns into something you can’t protect anymore. Something you can’t even begin to understand?”“I’ll take that risk,” Alec said without hesitation.Luna’s world turned to mud as she looked at the people who had shaped her world. Alec, Jax, Kade, even Morgana with her sick twist had been part of her story. And
Luna turned to Alec, her voice shaking. "What is he talking about?"Alec’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t answer.Jax stepped in, his voice calm but thick with guilt. "It's true. We swore to protect you, but... part of that oath was to keep certain things from you. Things about your parents and their connection to the prophecy. Luna, it's the same prophecy and truth that all these people are always referring to".Luna felt as if her heart was sinking. “You knew it? This whole time you knew it and said nothing. That is my pain”.“We didn’t want you to be burdened with it,–” Alec began with a pleading voice. “You already had so much trouble, Luna. We thought it was the correct decision to make.”“Right for who?” she snapped, her eyes blazing with anger. “For me or for yourselves?”Kade stepped forward. "Luna, they were trying to protect you. We all were. That doesn't make it right, but their intentions were good.""I don't care about intentions!" she yelled, her voice cracking. "I care abo
“Who the hell are you?” Kade demanded, stepping forward, his blade raised:The figure laughed, a sound laced with bitter sarcasm. "You may call me Corvin. I've been waiting a long time for this moment to arrive."Luna’s blood ran cold. “Waiting for what?”"Then the truth shall come out," said Corvin as his hood fell back revealing a jagged angular face and piercing silver eyes. "And then you'll find out who your friends actually are."“What are you talking about?” Alec growled, his body tense.Corvin's eyes zeroed in on Alec and Jax, his grin spreading. “Oh, don’t pretend you don’t know. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”Luna’s heart pounded. “What is he saying?”Alec felt Luna's pain and shook his head. "Luna, don't listen to him. He's just trying to play with your mind."“Am I?” Corvin said, feigning ignorance. “Or am I simply revealing the truth they’ve been hiding from you all along?”Jax stepped forward, his jaw tight. "You don't know anything about us."Corvin raised a
But Luna couldn't look away. "But it looks like her. It sounds like her...""The Moonbearer has great potential," the figure—her mother’s apparition—said, her eyes glowing with an unnatural light. "But potential means nothing if you cannot control it. You are not yet worthy of the power you seek."Luna shook her head. Her heart was pounding in her chest. “No. I… I am worthy. I can control it.”"You're mistaken," the figure said, her voice rich with a profound resonance. "Luna, you pose a threat to this world. You are its very foundation to ruin."“Stop!” Alec shouted, pulling Luna backwards from the apparition that was getting closer to them. “This isn’t actually happening, Luna. It’s only a test. The Veil is testing you. Don’t believe in it.”But Luna couldn’t look away from the shape of her mother. Those words pierced her heart. Key to its destruction. The exact words that had haunted her since learning about the prophecy.“I don’t want this,” Luna whispered, the tears rising in he
Morgana clasped her hands, her sound making a sharp contrast in the tense silence. “Oh no the drama of every thing...Just like a story book family. That's so sweet.”"Why are you here, Morgana?" Jax snapped. "What do you want?"“I want what I’ve always wanted,” she said, her smile fading. “To see the Moonbearer fulfill her destiny. And to stop those who betrayed us from doing any more harm.”Her gaze settled on Alec and Jax, her features hardening. "They are not whom you think they are, Luna. They are more than your allies. They are your soulmates. Bound to you by destiny, true: but also by their individual choices. And those choices of theirs have not always been virtuous."Luna’s head spun with the weight of Morgana’s words crashing down upon her. “What does that mean?”“It means,” Morgana said, her tone dripping with venom, “that they’re as much your guardians as they are your possible downfall.”Before anyone could make an objection the earth shook as if it would fall to pieces a
She paused and turned to him. “But it seems you have lied to me. Every single one of you. How am I supposed to trust any of you if you continue keeping secrets from me?”Kade stepped forward, his face a mixture of emotions. "Luna, we were just trying to protect you—"“Don’t say that again!” she screamed, her voice wandering amidst the trees. “I am not a child, Kade! I expect the truth however ugly or even painful it is. Perhaps you have never felt completely clueless about your destiny?”The group fell silent, it was so obvious that her words carried great weight.Alec mentioned in a low voice, “I didn't want to lose you,” his eyes gleamed.“You already have,” she whispered, her voice breaking.The wolf’s growl echoed through the forest, drawing their attention.“We should keep moving,” Mira said, her tone uncharacteristically subdued.Luna wiped her eyes and looked away from Alec, following the wolf. The others followed in silence, a sign of the fractures beginning to form in their r