Chapter One: The Girl Beneath the Silver MoonThe moon had never been red.Not once in the thousands of years recorded by the High Oracles.Yet tonight, it bled across the sky.The forests of Eldrath fell silent. Even the immortal phoenixes stopped singing, and somewhere deep beneath the mountains, ancient dragons opened their eyes after centuries of sleep.Something had awakened.And it was searching for someone.Liora Vale had spent her entire life believing she was ordinary.She lived in the quiet village of Ashbrook, hidden at the edge of the Whispering Woods, where people warned children never to enter after sunset."The forest whispers your name," the elders always said. "If you answer... you never return."Liora laughed at the stories.Until tonight.She hurried home with a basket of herbs, unaware that someone—or something—was watching her from the trees.Golden eyes.Too bright to belong to any human.A shadow moved between the branches.Then disappeared.Liora stopped."...Hello?"Only silence answered.A cold breeze swept through the woods.Her heart began pounding.Snap.A twig broke behind her.She spun around.Nothing.Another snap.Closer this time."Liora..."Her breath caught.Someone had whispered her name.She looked everywhere.No one.The voice came again."Liora..."This time... it sounded almost... sad.Suddenly the ground beneath her feet glowed with strange silver markings.Runes.Ancient ones.Before she could scream, a blinding flash swallowed the forest.Miles away...A young man dressed in black armor slowly lowered his sword.His silver hair danced in the wind.Behind him lay the bodies of monstrous beasts known as Void Crawlers.Their blood hissed against the ground like acid.One of the soldiers nearby knelt."My prince... the prophecy has begun."The young man closed his eyes."So...""She has awakened."He looked toward the crimson moon."I've finally found you."Prince Kael Draven mounted his enormous black griffin."Prepare the army.""But Your Highness... if the Shadow King learns she's alive—""He already knows."Kael's voice turned cold."And he's coming."Liora woke beneath an enormous crystal tree.Its branches shimmered like stars.She slowly stood."This... isn't Ashbrook."The sky itself was different.Floating islands drifted overhead.Massive dragons circled distant mountains.Mermaids sang from glowing rivers.Elves walked through gardens made entirely of crystal flowers.It was beautiful.And terrifying."What... is this place?""A prison."The voice came from behind.Liora spun around.Standing there was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen.Tall.Silver-haired.Golden eyes.Pointed ears.A sword rested on his back.He looked almost... unreal."Who are you?" she whispered.Instead of answering...He stepped closer.His eyes widened."...Impossible.""What?""You..."His hand trembled."You have her eyes."Liora frowned."What are you talking about?"He reached toward her face...Then stopped."No..."His expression hardened."It can't be."Suddenly—BOOM!!The ground exploded.Dark smoke filled the air.Creatures made entirely of shadows crawled from massive cracks in the earth.Their eyes burned crimson.Liora screamed."What are those?!"The stranger immediately drew his sword."Stay behind me."The blade burst into silver flames.The monsters lunged.In one graceful movement—Slash.Three creatures vanished instantly.Another attacked.Kael spun.Its head rolled across the ground before dissolving into ash.Liora stared in disbelief."How are you doing that?!""No time."More shadows appeared.Hundreds.Thousands.Kael cursed under his breath."They found you faster than I expected.""Found me?""They're not here for me."He looked directly into her eyes."They're here for you."Far away...Deep beneath a castle made from black stone...A man sat upon a throne of bones.His face remained hidden beneath a hood.Only his glowing crimson eyes could be seen.He smiled."So...""The Moon Child lives."A kneeling demon lowered its head."My king...""Shall we send the army?"The king laughed softly."No.""They'll fail."He slowly stood.Darkness spread across the room."I'll retrieve her myself."Every candle went out.Even the demons trembled.Because they knew...When the Shadow King moved...Entire kingdoms disappeared.Back at the crystal forest...Kael grabbed Liora's wrist."We're leaving.""I don't even know who you are!""You will.""When?""If we survive tonight."Before she could argue—A giant dragon landed before them.Its emerald scales shimmered beneath the moon."Get on."Liora blinked."...That's a dragon.""Yes.""...People actually ride dragons?"Kael sighed."We're being chased by creatures that want to kill you."He extended his hand."And that's what surprises you?"Despite everything...Liora laughed.A tiny laugh.It surprised even her.Kael looked at her for a second longer than he should have.Then...For the first time in years...He

THE COMBINATION OF FANTASY ROMANCE AND DRAMA🔥🔥