Chapter 14: The Moon Ruins

The journey to Blackwood Forest took nearly half a day.

The deeper they traveled, the quieter the world became.

Birdsong disappeared.

Even the wind seemed reluctant to pass through the towering black trees.

Serena sat in front of Aero on his horse, trying not to look as uncomfortable as she felt.

'You can relax,' Aero said from behind her.

'Easy for you to say.'

'Why?'

'You're not trying to balance on a horse you've barely ridden before.'

'You're doing fine.'

'Really?'

'You've only almost fallen twice.'

Serena looked over her shoulder.

'Was that supposed to encourage me?'

'It was meant to be honest.'

'You're terrible at comforting people.'

Magnus, riding beside them, laughed quietly.

'That's actually one of His Majesty's better attempts.'

Aero gave Magnus a brief glance.

'Whose side are you on?'

'Today? Definitely Lady Serena's.'

'Traitor.'

'I'll accept that title.'

The lighthearted conversation faded as the forest grew darker.

Ancient trees stretched high into the sky, their twisted branches blocking most of the sunlight.

The horses became restless.

'They're nervous,' Serena observed.

'Animals sense danger before people do,' Magnus replied.

Aero slowly raised a hand.

'Stop.'

The entire group halted immediately.

'What is it?' Serena whispered.

Aero dismounted and crouched near the ground.

Fresh footprints covered the damp earth.

Hundreds of them.

'Black Fang warriors,' Magnus said.

'They passed through here recently.'

Aero examined one of the tracks.

'Less than two hours ago.'

'We're close,' Rowan murmured.

The group continued on foot, leading their horses through the dense forest.

After another thirty minutes, the trees suddenly opened into a vast clearing.

Everyone stopped.

Massive stone pillars surrounded the clearing in a perfect circle.

Each pillar was carved with ancient wolf symbols glowing faintly beneath layers of moss.

At the center stood an enormous stone gate.

Unlike any doorway Serena had ever seen.

Its surface shimmered with silver veins that pulsed like a heartbeat.

'The Moon Ruins,' Rowan whispered.

'They're beautiful,' Serena breathed.

'And dangerous,' Aero added.

Something immediately caught Serena's attention.

'Where is everyone?'

Magnus looked around.

'She's right.'

'There should be soldiers everywhere.'

The clearing was completely empty.

Not a single Black Fang warrior remained.

'Spread out,' Aero ordered.

'Stay alert.'

The royal guards carefully searched the area.

Broken weapons.

Scattered shields.

Deep claw marks across the stone.

But no bodies.

'It's as if an entire battle happened here,' Magnus said.

'Yet no one survived to tell the story.'

Serena slowly approached the ancient gate.

The closer she moved, the warmer the silver mark on her wrist became.

'Aero...'

'Don't touch anything,' he warned.

'I wasn't planning to.'

The mark suddenly began glowing.

Bright.

Brighter.

Until silver light surrounded Serena completely.

'Step back!' Magnus shouted.

Before anyone could reach her, the stone gate trembled.

A deep rumble echoed across the clearing.

Ancient dust fell from the towering pillars.

'It's reacting to her,' Rowan exclaimed.

Cracks of silver light spread across the surface of the gate.

Symbols that had remained dormant for centuries slowly awakened.

'Serena!' Aero called.

'Move away!'

'I can't!'

She wasn't lying.

Her feet refused to move.

It felt as though an invisible force held her in place.

Then...

A familiar female voice echoed through the clearing.

'Child of another world...'

The Keeper of the Moon Gate appeared once again.

This time, her glowing figure stood directly before the ancient doorway.

'You've come at last,' the spirit said gently.

'Who are you really?' Serena asked.

'I was once the guardian of the worlds.'

'Can you send me home?'

'Not yet.'

'Why not?'

'Because the gate remains incomplete.'

'Incomplete?'

'One seal has awakened.'

'Two still remain.'

'What seals?'

The spirit slowly looked toward Aero.

'The King's courage awakened the first.'

'The second will awaken when trust overcomes fear.'

'And the third?' Serena asked.

The spirit smiled sadly.

'Only love can awaken the final seal.'

Serena froze.

'Love?'

Before she could ask another question, the spirit suddenly turned toward the forest.

Her peaceful expression vanished.

'They're here.'

'Who?' Aero demanded.

The spirit slowly faded.

'Beware the shadows...'

'They wear familiar faces.'

The silver light disappeared.

The clearing fell silent once more.

Then...

An arrow shot out from the forest.

It struck one of the royal guards directly in the shoulder.

'Ambush!' Magnus shouted.

Dozens of masked warriors emerged from the trees.

They wore neither Silver Moon armor...

Nor Black Fang colors.

Their black cloaks hid every symbol of allegiance.

Aero immediately drew his sword and stepped in front of Serena.

'Protect her!'

Steel clashed against steel as the mysterious warriors charged.

But what shocked everyone most...

Was the man slowly walking out from behind them.

Alpha Darius.

He smiled calmly at Aero.

'I've been waiting for you.'