The Moon Goddess Trial
995 Words
Nysera slowly opened her eyes.
She stood in a temple unlike anything she had ever imagined.
The floor shimmered like liquid silver, reflecting countless stars beneath her feet. Towering white pillars stretched endlessly toward a sky filled with three glowing moons.
The air was peaceful.
Almost too peaceful.
“Where… am I?” she whispered.
“You are beyond the mortal realm.”
The gentle voice echoed through the temple.
Nysera turned.
The woman before her radiated an aura so powerful that the temple itself seemed to bow in her presence.
She wore a flowing gown woven from moonlight, and a silver crown rested upon her long white hair.
Her eyes held the wisdom of countless centuries.
“You are…”
“The Moon Goddess.”
Nysera instinctively knelt.
The goddess smiled warmly.
“You have your mother’s kindness.”
“And your father’s courage.”
Nysera looked up.
“You knew them?”
“I watched over them.”
The Moon Goddess extended her hand.
“Come.”
As Nysera touched it, the temple disappeared.
She found herself standing in a beautiful palace garden.
Children laughed as they chased butterflies.
A younger Queen Elara smiled while holding the hand of a little girl.
Nysera’s heart stopped.
It was her.
Across the garden stood the Shadow King—not in black armor, but dressed in royal white robes.
He looked happy.
He lifted little Nysera into his arms, spinning her around as she laughed.
“They loved each other…” Nysera whispered.
“They did,” the Moon Goddess replied.
“What happened to them?”
The goddess’s smile faded.
“They trusted the wrong person.”
The vision changed.
The peaceful garden dissolved into chaos.
The palace burned.
Soldiers fought desperately in the halls.
Queen Elara clutched little Nysera tightly.
“You must live,” she whispered.
“I won’t leave you!” the Shadow King shouted as he battled masked assassins.
Then…
A man wearing shining silver armor appeared.
His face was hidden behind a mask.
He raised a strange black blade.
Queen Elara turned just in time to shield her daughter.
The blade pierced her heart.
“No!” Nysera screamed.
The vision froze.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“It wasn’t Draven…”
“No.”
“It wasn’t my father…”
“No.”
“Then who killed my mother?”
The Moon Goddess looked toward the frozen figure in silver armor.
“The enemy you have yet to meet.”
Everything faded once again.
The temple returned.
Nysera struggled to steady her breathing.
“My whole life has been a lie.”
“Not a lie.”
“A hidden truth.”
The Moon Goddess placed a glowing crystal in Nysera’s hands.
“This is the Heart of the Moon.”
“It belonged to the first queen.”
The crystal pulsed softly.
“What does it do?”
“It reveals truth…”
“…and destroys deception.”
Before Nysera could ask another question, the crystal suddenly darkened.
The temple shook.
Cracks spread across the marble floor.
The Moon Goddess frowned.
“He found this place.”
“Who?”
A deep laugh echoed through the heavens.
“So…”
“Even the gods hide behind secrets.”
Darkness poured into the temple.
The stars disappeared.
A man stepped through the shadows.
He wore silver armor.
Golden eyes.
A cold smile.
Caelan.
The last king of the Silver Bloodline.
He bowed mockingly.
“My Goddess.”
The Moon Goddess raised her hand.
“You were forbidden from entering this realm.”
“I’ve broken far greater laws.”
Caelan’s eyes settled on Nysera.
“There you are.”
Nysera instinctively stepped back.
“What do you want?”
“You.”
His answer came without hesitation.
“The three bloodlines are finally complete.”
“You cannot stop destiny.”
The Moon Goddess moved protectively in front of Nysera.
“Leave.”
Caelan laughed.
“I didn’t come alone.”
Behind him…
Hundreds of silver-armored warriors emerged from the darkness.
The temple trembled.
The Moon Goddess closed her eyes.
“I can protect this realm…”
“…but only for a few moments.”
She turned toward Nysera.
“You must return.”
“I can’t leave you!”
“You must.”
She placed the Heart of the Moon against Nysera’s chest.
The crystal dissolved into light, merging with her body.
“Find the three sacred relics.”
“The Crown of Dawn.”
“The Blade of Eclipse.”
“And the Tears of the Moon.”
“Only then can you stop the coming darkness.”
Nysera nodded through her tears.
“I promise.”
The Moon Goddess smiled.
“I know.”
She raised both hands.
A brilliant pillar of moonlight engulfed Nysera.
The last thing Nysera saw…
Was the Moon Goddess facing Caelan’s army alone.
Then everything disappeared.
Nysera crashed onto the palace courtyard.
Draven caught her before she hit the ground.
“Nysera!”
She opened her eyes.
Relief flooded his face.
“You came back.”
The Shadow King hurried over.
“Are you hurt?”
Before Nysera could answer…
A silver symbol suddenly appeared on the back of her hand.
Lady Selene gasped.
“The Mark of the Chosen Queen…”
Draven stared at it in disbelief.
“What happened?”
Nysera looked toward the crimson moon.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“The real enemy…”
“…is coming.”
Far beyond the kingdom…
Caelan stood atop a frozen mountain.
The Moon Goddess’s temple burned behind him.
He smiled as he looked toward the Moonborn Kingdom.
“The game has finally begun.”
The Moon Goddess has entrusted Nysera with a quest to find three sacred relics, while Caelan prepares for war. Unknown to everyone, one of the relics is hidden inside the Moonborn Kingdom itself, and someone close to Nysera has been secretly guarding it all along.
- Writer
