The moon heir

CHAPTER 9 : Home sweet Home

Lyra staggered backward, struggling to catch her breath. Around her, all the students exchanged frightened glances.

“Did everyone hear that voice?”

“It called someone the Moon Heir.”

“It… it came from the sky.”

Whispers spread through the courtyard like wildfire.

Professor Alden stepped forward at once.

“Silence!” His booming voice echoed across the academy. “This matter is not to be discussed.”

No one moved. No one dared breathe.

A few moments later, the massive ebony doors of the Headmistress’ Tower opened.

Headmistress Seraphina descended the marble staircase with measured steps, her robes flowing behind her. Though she remained calm, the tension in her eyes betrayed the truth. She knew exactly what had happened.

Her gaze briefly met Lyra’s before sweeping across the students.

“What occurred today,” she said firmly, “must remain within these walls. No student is to speak of the voice or the lightning. Those who disobey will face severe consequences.”

The students bowed their heads.

“Yes, Headmistress.”

Seraphina paused before continuing.

“Due to today’s unfortunate incident, Corven Spire Academy will begin its midterm holiday immediately. All students are to return home before sunset.”

A wave of surprise rippled through the crowd.

“The holiday starts today?”

“We weren’t expecting that.”

“I need to pack!”

Within moments, fear gave way to excitement as students hurried toward the dormitories.

Only Lyra remained standing.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that her life had changed forever.

Suitcases rolled across the stone paths as students laughed, hugged one another, and made their way out.

“Lyra!”

A familiar voice echoed behind her.

It was Ivy, one of her roommates, jogging toward her with a small bag hanging around her shoulder. Beside her was Amelia, trying to balance both traveling bags in her hands.

“There you are!” Amelia exclaimed, slightly out of breath. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Amelia studied Lyra for a moment.

“Are you alright?” she asked gently. “You haven’t said a word since everything happened.”

Lyra forced a smile.

“I’m fine,” she replied, though her voice lacked belief. “I’m just tired.”

Ivy and Amelia exchanged worried glances, but neither of them pushed the conversation.

“Come on, let’s leave now,” Ivy said, trying to brighten the mood. “If we don’t leave now, we’ll miss the academy vehicle.”

Lyra nodded and followed her roommates.

But as they walked through the academy path, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that someone was watching her.

Kaelen stood silently in one of the corridors, staring at Lyra.

He slowly walked toward the three girls.

Both Ivy and Amelia trembled at the sight of him. They had never seen him talking to anyone since they had known him.

“Please, can I borrow your friend for a few minutes?”

The two girls quickly walked a little distance away from them.

“Hi,” Kaelen said quietly.

Lyra searched his face.

He looked calm, yet unreadable.

From where she stood, Lyra could clearly see the fear in Ivy’s and Amelia’s eyes.

She wondered what could possibly make them so afraid.

Lyra offered a small smile.

Silence lingered.

Finally, Kaelen spoke.

“Lyra… is that your name?”

She nodded faintly.

“Yes.”

“What are you, Lyra?” he asked, his piercing silver eyes staring deeply into hers.

She was stunned.

She didn’t know what to tell him.

She tried to speak, but no words came out.

Kaelen slowly walked away without turning back to see Lyra’s expression.

The two girls hurried back to her.

Amelia smiled nervously.

“You have to be careful with the Alpha Heir. He is nothing to joke with,” she warned.

Ivy added, “The Alpha Heir hardly talks to anyone. We haven’t seen him speak to anyone in years. He’s dangerous. At nineteen, he has defeated so many opponents in combat. Everyone in this school fears him.”

She continued,

“They say the heir has been this cold ever since he lost his father.”

Lyra listened in confusion.

“What do you mean… Alpha Heir?”

Ivy and Amelia looked at each other.

“When it’s time, you’ll know.”

“So many unanswered questions,” Lyra muttered.

The three girls walked toward the hut where the academy vehicle waited to take them home.

By late afternoon, Lyra arrived in her city.

She stepped onto the familiar dirt road leading home.

Everything looked the same.

The old tree stood beside the narrow path.

Wildflowers swayed gently in the cool breeze.

Lyra couldn’t contain her excitement when she finally reached their cottage.

The wooden gate creaked open.

Her adoptive mother came running outside excitedly.

“Lyra!”

She wrapped her arms around her daughter in a tight embrace.

Lyra needed it.

The embrace meant so much.

She had gone through so much over the past few days.

“Oh, thank God you’re here!” her mother said excitedly.

Lyra hugged her tightly once again.

“I’ve missed you, Mum.”

“Where’s Dad?”

“He has gone to his shop.”

The warmth of home slowly eased the fear that had followed her from the academy.

Together they walked into the cozy cottage.

The familiar scent of freshly baked bread and coffee filled the room.

Nothing had changed.

“I’ve missed you, Mum,” Lyra smiled again.

“You’ve been smiling ever since you came, baby girl. What’s up? I guess that school is doing you a lot of good.”

Lyra leaned closer and whispered into her mother’s ear.

“You are so inquisitive.”

They both burst into laughter.

She thought to herself she had never laughed this genuinely since she resumed at Corven Spire Academy.

The night became the warmest she had experienced in the past week.

They all sat outside chatting cheerfully.

Alaric suddenly spoke.

“Lyra.”

She turned toward her father.

“Are you alright? You’re looking thinner.”

“Dad, I’m good. Just the sleepless nights reading,” she replied with a forced smile.

Her parents chuckled.

“I’m going to feed you until you’re fatter before you go back,” her mother said radiantly, holding Lyra’s chin lovingly.

Lyra’s face suddenly turned pale.

“Going back?” she muttered inwardly.

She had already told herself she wasn’t returning to a school filled with mysteries.

But she knew she would have to explain everything she had encountered to her parents.

Night finally fell.

The town became peaceful.

Lyra stood beside her bedroom window, gazing at the full moon.

She unconsciously rubbed the birthmark on her wrist beneath her sleeve.

It didn’t react.

It didn’t burn.

There was no silver light shining from it.

“It was probably just my imagination,” she whispered.

“I just want a peaceful holiday.”

She closed the curtains and climbed into bed.

Within minutes, she was asleep.

⸻

Kaelen smiled as he stared at the full moon.

His wolf growled inside him, desperate to transform.

He felt the urge rushing through every bone in his body.

Just then, he heard a soft knock on his door.

A feminine voice spoke from outside.

It was Elara, Kaelen’s mother.

His wolf was still growling.

“Come in,” he whispered.

“Kaelen, is everything alright? Since you came back, you haven’t spoken about anything important.”

She hesitated before asking,

“What about the girl?”

“Mum, I need to rest. Everything seems like an imagination. One minute there is chaos, another minute there is peace. I don’t know who she really is. Just yesterday, a pulse of silver energy exploded the moment I held her wrist, and it threw us both to the ground.”

Elara’s eyes filled with shock.

For several seconds, she couldn’t speak.

She knew something wasn’t right.

“Mum… do you know the reason for that?”

She stuttered.

“You said… mark?”

Kaelen nodded.

“Yes.”

She continued staring at him, fear spreading across her face.

“Mum… is there something you know?”

Elara slowly turned toward him.

“I… I think…”

She looked directly into her son’s eyes.

Her face became deathly pale.

“She is with the…”

She paused, as though the words were too heavy to say.

“She is with the Blood Moon Mark… and also your—”

Before the final words could leave her lips, an invisible force slammed into her.

BOOM!

Elara was thrown violently across the room, crashing into the wall.

Kaelen’s eyes widened.