By The Moon's Light

The Veilwood Trials

(Malikye’s POV

We moved as a group now.

That alone felt strange.

For most of my life, I had traveled alone or passed briefly through the lives of others—temporary connections, fleeting conversations, nothing that lingered long enough to matter.

Now I was surrounded by people who not only knew what I was…

But expected something from me.

I wasn’t sure which part unsettled me more.

The Veilwood thickened as we pressed forward, the trees growing taller, their trunks wider, their roots pushing up from the earth like ancient bones. The air felt colder here, heavier, as though the forest itself was holding its breath.

Lyra led now.

She moved with confidence, her steps silent despite the uneven terrain. Up close, I noticed more about her—her build was strong and athletic, her shoulders squared with quiet authority. Faint scars traced along her arms, old but not forgotten, each one telling a story she hadn’t shared.

She was someone who had survived things.

Dangerous things.

The others spread out around us, forming a loose perimeter. One of them scanned the trees constantly, bow ready. Another walked with twin blades resting loosely in his hands, his movements relaxed but alert. The last stayed closer to Selene, his fingers brushing the air occasionally as if feeling for something unseen.

None of them looked careless.

None of them looked afraid.

But they all looked ready.

I walked beside Kael, keeping close enough that if something tried to kill me—which seemed likely—he’d be the first to deal with it.

“That’s comforting,” I muttered, glancing at him.

“What is?” Kael asked, his tone calm as he continued walking.

“That you’re still here,” I said, seeing his expression carefully.

“I told you I would be,” Kael replied, his voice steady, like a promise he didn’t take lightly.

“Yes, but considering everything that’s happened tonight, I feel like that deserves acknowledgment,” I said, half serious.

Kael didn’t respond immediately.

Then, more quietly, “I don’t leave people behind,” Kael said, his voice firm, with a hint of something deeper beneath it.

I studied him for a moment.

There was no hesitation in his tone.

No doubt.

Just truth.

I nodded slightly.

“Good,” I said.

Ahead of us, Lyra suddenly raised her hand.

We all stopped instantly.

“What is it?” I asked, lowering my voice as my eyes scanned the dark trees.

“The path changes here,” Lyra said, her tone sharp but controlled.

I frowned.

“The path… changes?” I repeated.

Selene stepped forward, her expression calm but focused.

“Yes,” Selene said softly. “We are entering the inner Veilwood.”

“That sounds ominous,” I said.

“It is,” Selene replied simply.

Of course it was.

Lyra turned slightly, her eyes locking onto mine.

“The forest won’t let just anyone pass,” Lyra said.

“I’m sensing a pattern where nothing lets us do anything easily,” I said dryly.

A faint smirk touched her lips.

“You’re learning,” Lyra said.

“That’s debatable,” I replied.

She stepped aside slightly.

“Go first,” Lyra said.

I blinked.

“Why me?” I asked.

“Because this part of the forest is reacting to you,” Lyra said.

“That’s becoming a recurring problem,” I muttered.

Kael glanced at me.

“You’ll be fine,” Kael said.

“That’s not convincing,” I replied.

Selene smiled faintly.

“Trust yourself,” Selene said gently.

“That feels like dangerous advice,” I said.

Still—

I stepped forward.

The moment my foot crossed the invisible threshold—

Everything changed.

The air shifted.

The forest seemed to inhale.

Silver light spread beneath my feet, glowing lines weaving across the ground like veins. The trees shimmered faintly, their bark catching the light as if reflecting something unseen.

I froze.

“Well… that’s new,” I said quietly.

Behind me, Lyra muttered something under her breath.

Selene remained calm.

“Keep going,” Selene said.

“Of course I should keep going,” I replied.

I took another step.

The light followed.

Brighter now.

Stronger.

The mark in my palm burned, heat climbing up my arm.

Then—

The forest shifted.

Not physically.

But something changed.

The shadows deepened.

The air thickened.

And suddenly—

I was alone.

I blinked.

The others were gone.

The forest remained, but darker, quieter… focused.

“Alright,” I said slowly. “This is not concerning at all.”

A voice answered.

“You walk a path you do not understand,” the voice said, calm and distant.

I spun around.

No one.

“Very helpful,” I muttered.

The voice came again.

“You carry power not yet claimed,” the voice said.

“I’m starting to feel like everything I do comes with commentary,” I said.

The air shimmered.

A figure appeared.

A woman, made of silver light, her form soft and glowing, her eyes like distant stars.

She watched me.

“Great. Another mysterious figure,” I said.

“You are the Moon-Born,” the woman said.

“Yes,” I replied. “That’s been established.”

“You doubt yourself,” the woman said.

“That’s also been established,” I said.

“You fear what you are becoming,” she continued.

I hesitated.

“…yes,” I admitted quietly.

She stepped closer.

“You cannot reach the temple without accepting your power,” the woman said.

“I didn’t realize I had a choice,” I replied.

“You do,” she said.

“That’s new information,” I muttered.

She raised her hand.

The air shifted.

A vision appeared.

Me.

Standing beneath the moon.

Power glowing in my hands.

Then—

Another vision.

The same power.

But out of control.

Destruction.

Fire.

Everything breaking apart.

I staggered slightly.

“That’s not reassuring,” I said.

“It is truth,” the woman replied.

I ran a hand through my hair.

“So what exactly am I supposed to do here?” I asked.

She looked at me steadily.

“Choose,” the woman said.

“Choose what?” I asked.

“How you will wield what you are,” she said.

“That feels like a very large decision for someone who learned about this five minutes ago,” I said.

“Time does not change truth,” she replied.

“…that’s not helpful,” I muttered.

She gestured to my hand.

“Call it,” she said.

I frowned.

“Call what?” I asked.

“The power,” she said.

I hesitated.

Then lifted my hand.

The mark glowed.

Stronger.

Brighter.

The familiar energy stirred.

“Alright,” I said quietly. “Let’s try not to destroy anything.”

I focused.

The light responded.

Not violently.

Not wildly.

But steadily.

Silver threads wrapped around my hand, controlled, calm.

She watched.

“You begin to understand,” the woman said.

“That felt different,” I said.

“Yes,” she replied.

“Less chaotic,” I said.

“Because you accepted it,” she said.

“I don’t like that I have to accept it,” I said.

“You already have,” she replied.

The forest shifted.

The light faded.

She began to disappear.

“Wait,” I said. “What happens now?”

“You continue,” her voice echoed.

Then she was gone.

And I was back.

Kael stood in front of me.

Lyra beside him.

Selene watching closely.

“You’re back,” Kael said.

“I left?” I asked.

“For a moment,” Lyra said.

“That’s concerning,” I said.

Selene studied me.

“You passed the first trial,” Selene said.

“First?” I repeated.

“The Veilwood doesn’t make it easy,” Lyra said.

“I’m starting to notice that,” I replied.

Kael gestured forward.

“We keep moving,” Kael said.

I nodded.

And as we stepped deeper into the forest, one thought settled clearly in my mind—

This journey wasn’t just about reaching the temple.

It was about becoming something I wasn’t sure I was ready to be.

And the forest—

Was just getting started.