Chapter 6: The Hidden Necklace
1356 Words
The cottage erupted into chaos.
Splintered wood crashed across the floor as masked warriors poured through the shattered doorway. Smoke from the burning village drifted inside, making it hard to breathe.
Villagers screamed and scrambled to protect the children.
"Take the girl!" the leader roared.
"Alive!"
Two warriors charged toward Elara.
Before they could reach her, Rowan stepped in front of her, his hunting sword flashing through the smoky air.
Clang!
Steel collided.
Rowan blocked one blade and kicked the second attacker backward.
"Get behind me!" he shouted.
Elara clutched the moonstone pendant tightly against her chest. It felt strangely warm, as though it were alive.
Grandma Mira stood beside her, her weathered face calm despite the danger surrounding them.
"My child," she said softly, "listen to me."
"Grandma, we have to get you out of here!"
"There isn't time."
Another warrior rushed forward.
Grandma Mira suddenly raised her old wooden staff.
To everyone's astonishment, silver symbols flared across its surface.
A pulse of moonlight burst from the tip.
BOOM!
The warrior was hurled backward, crashing through a table.
The room fell silent.
Even the attackers stared in disbelief.
Elara's eyes widened.
"Grandma..."
"You..."
The old woman smiled sadly.
"I suppose I can't hide it anymore."
The leader of the masked warriors narrowed his eyes.
"So it's true."
"The Moon Keeper still lives."
Without warning, he drew a black dagger and threw it with deadly precision.
"Grandma!" Elara screamed.
The dagger struck.
It buried itself deep in Grandma Mira's side.
She staggered but remained standing.
"No!" Rowan roared.
With a furious cry, he forced the attackers back, giving Elara enough time to catch her grandmother before she fell.
Blood quickly stained the old woman's dress.
"Grandma...!"
"I'm alright," she whispered.
But Elara knew she wasn't.
The wound was too deep.
The blade had been poisoned.
Tears blurred Elara's vision as she pressed trembling hands against the wound.
"Please... don't leave me."
Grandma Mira gently held Elara's hands.
"You've always had such kind hands."
"You can still be saved!" Elara cried.
"I'll make medicine."
"I'll stop the bleeding."
"I'll—"
"My time has come."
Elara shook her head violently.
"No."
Grandma Mira reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of ancient cloth.
Inside lay the same moonstone pendant.
Its silver glow had grown brighter.
She carefully placed it around Elara's neck.
The moment the pendant touched her skin, a warm wave of energy spread through her body.
The silver mark on her wrist responded immediately, glowing beneath her sleeve.
Grandma Mira smiled.
"It recognizes you."
"What is this?"
"It belongs to your bloodline."
"My... bloodline?"
The old woman's breathing became weaker.
"There are many things I never told you."
"Because I wanted to protect you."
Elara's tears fell freely.
"Then tell me now."
"You deserve the truth."
Grandma Mira nodded weakly.
"Listen carefully."
"If anyone ever asks for this pendant..."
"Never give it to them."
"Especially..."
She grabbed Elara's wrist with surprising strength.
"...never let the Church have this."
"The Church?" Elara whispered.
"Why?"
Grandma Mira's lips trembled.
"They must never awaken..."
Her voice broke.
"They must never find..."
A violent cough interrupted her.
Blood stained her lips.
"Grandma!"
The old woman looked deeply into Elara's eyes.
"So much... like your mother..."
Elara froze.
"You knew my mother?"
A faint nod.
"She loved you..."
"...more than the moon itself."
Before Elara could ask another question, Grandma Mira's gaze began to lose focus.
Her grip weakened.
"No..."
"Please don't..."
The old woman smiled one last time.
"My brave little healer..."
"Live."
Her hand slipped from Elara's.
The light left her eyes.
Silence.
Elara stared in disbelief.
"Grandma?"
No answer.
She gently shook her shoulder.
"Grandma..."
Still nothing.
The woman who had raised her...
The only family she had ever known...
Was gone.
A heartbreaking cry escaped Elara's lips.
Outside, the flames continued to consume Ashford Village.
Inside, time itself seemed to stop.
Rowan fought desperately to keep the remaining attackers away, but even he lowered his head for a brief moment.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
The masked leader watched the scene with cold eyes.
"The old woman is dead."
"Take the pendant."
Three warriors rushed forward.
Elara slowly stood.
Her tears still fell, but something inside her had changed.
She held the pendant tightly.
"You can't have it."
The warriors laughed.
"You think a healer can stop us?"
They lunged.
The pendant suddenly blazed with brilliant silver light.
A deep humming sound filled the cottage.
Ancient runes appeared across the moonstone's surface.
The floor trembled.
A wave of radiant energy burst outward.
BOOM!
The attackers were thrown through the shattered walls as if struck by an invisible giant.
Several crashed into burning carts outside.
Others rolled helplessly across the ground.
Even Rowan stumbled backward in shock.
The silver light surrounded Elara like a protective veil.
Her hair danced in an invisible wind.
The pendant floated slightly above her chest.
"What... is happening?" she whispered.
The light lasted only a few seconds.
Then it vanished.
The pendant became still once more.
The cottage fell silent.
The surviving attackers stared at Elara in fear.
One of them whispered,
"It awakened..."
The leader's face darkened.
"So the legends were true."
He pointed his sword toward Elara.
"Retreat!"
"We've confirmed the pendant."
"We report to the High Priest immediately."
Within moments, the masked warriors disappeared into the burning night.
Only smoke, ashes, and grief remained.
Rowan slowly approached Elara.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Elara..."
She didn't answer.
She knelt beside Grandma Mira's body once more.
Her fingers rested on the glowing moonstone pendant.
Questions filled her mind.
Who had her mother been?
Why did the Church want the pendant?
And why had Grandma Mira spent twenty-two years preparing for this day?
Outside, the Blood Moon finally disappeared beyond the horizon.
But as the first rays of dawn touched the pendant, it shimmered once more.
A faint silver light pulsed from its center.
As if responding to something...
Or someone...
Far away.
- Writer
