The Hidden Relic
804 Words
The palace courtyard was silent.
Every pair of eyes remained fixed on the glowing mark on the back of Nysera’s hand.
“The Mark of the Chosen Queen…” Elder Cassian whispered. “It hasn’t appeared in over a thousand years.”
Nysera traced the silver symbol with her fingertips.
It was warm.
Almost… alive.
“What does it mean?” she asked.
No one answered.
Even the elders looked uncertain.
Finally, Lady Selene stepped forward.
“It means the Moon Goddess has chosen you.”
Draven frowned.
“Then the legends are true.”
Inside the royal library, ancient scrolls were spread across a massive oak table.
Elder Cassian carefully opened the oldest of them.
“The three sacred relics were created after the First Blood War.”
He pointed to a faded drawing.
“The Crown of Dawn.”
“The Blade of Eclipse.”
“The Tears of the Moon.”
Nysera remembered the Moon Goddess’s warning.
“She told me I must find all three.”
Cassian nodded gravely.
“But no one has seen them for centuries.”
Draven folded his arms.
“There has to be a clue.”
Cassian’s eyes widened as he reread the scroll.
“There is.”
Everyone leaned closer.
“When the Chosen Queen returns, the first relic shall awaken where the first oath was sworn.”
Nysera looked up.
“The first oath?”
Lady Selene gasped.
“The Hall of Kings.”
Deep beneath the palace lay a forgotten chamber.
The stone doors had remained sealed for generations.
As Nysera approached, the mark on her hand began to glow brighter.
Rumble…
The massive doors slowly opened on their own.
Cold air rushed out.
Inside stood twelve ancient statues of former Moonborn rulers.
In the center of the chamber rested an empty stone pedestal.
Draven looked around cautiously.
“Stay close.”
Nysera walked toward the pedestal.
The closer she came…
The louder a strange heartbeat echoed through the room.
Boom…
Boom…
Boom…
She reached out.
The moment her fingers touched the pedestal, the entire chamber shook.
Silver light burst from the floor.
Ancient runes climbed the walls.
One by one, the statues lowered their heads.
Then…
A hidden compartment opened beneath the pedestal.
Inside rested a magnificent silver crown.
Tiny moonstones sparkled across its surface.
“The Crown of Dawn,” Elder Cassian breathed.
Nysera carefully lifted it.
The instant she placed it on her head…
A wave of power exploded from her body.
Her silver-black hair shimmered with light.
Her blue eyes glowed like twin moons.
Outside the palace, every werewolf suddenly felt the surge of ancient magic.
Even the Shadow King looked toward the palace in surprise.
“She found the first relic.”
Far away, atop a frozen mountain…
Caelan smiled.
“So… the game truly begins.”
Back inside the chamber, Nysera suddenly cried out in pain.
Fragments of unfamiliar memories flooded her mind.
She saw the First Queen kneeling before three warriors.
She heard a prophecy.
“When the crown is claimed…”
“The betrayer shall awaken.”
Nysera gasped and stumbled backward.
“The betrayer…”
Before anyone could help her…
One of the twelve stone statues cracked.
Then another.
And another.
The chamber trembled violently.
Draven immediately drew his sword.
“Everyone, back!”
The statues shattered.
From within the broken stone stepped twelve ancient warriors clad in silver armor.
Their eyes glowed an eerie white.
They raised their weapons in perfect unison.
One stepped forward.
Its hollow voice echoed through the chamber.
“Only the worthy Queen may wear the Crown of Dawn.”
“Defeat us…”
“Or surrender your life.”
Without warning—
The twelve guardians charged.
Steel clashed against steel.
Magic exploded across the chamber.
Nysera instinctively raised her hand.
A beam of moonlight erupted from the mark on her palm, knocking three guardians backward.
Draven fought beside her, his sword flashing through the air.
The Shadow King, sensing the danger from outside the palace, raced toward the underground chamber.
But before he could reach them…
A massive stone door slammed shut, sealing everyone inside.
Nysera looked around desperately.
“We’re trapped!”
The lead guardian pointed his sword directly at her.
“This is only the first trial.”
“The second begins… now.”
The chamber floor split open beneath Nysera’s feet.
She screamed as she fell into the darkness.
Draven lunged forward.
“Nysera!”
His fingertips brushed hers…
…but it was too late.
She disappeared into the abyss.
Nysera has been separated from everyone and has fallen into a mysterious underground realm beneath the palace. Unknown to her, someone has been waiting there for centuries—the last Guardian of the Moon, who knows the truth about the betrayal that destroyed her family.
- Writer
