The following morning, the Moonlight Sanctuary awoke earlier than usual.
Word of Aurielle's letter had spread throughout every village before sunrise. The mysterious First Kingdom, a civilization older than Lunaria itself, had become the only topic anyone wished to discuss. Some believed it was merely a legend. Others wondered if it still existed at all.
Yet the Crystal Compass continued to point west.
Its silver needle never wavered.
Lara stood beneath the Heart Tree, holding the compass in both hands. Every few moments, it pulsed with gentle moonlight, as though reminding her that someone—somewhere beyond the sea—was waiting.
Richard joined her carrying several rolled maps.
"I hardly slept."
Lara smiled.
"Neither did I."
He spread the maps across a stone table.
"I've searched e
