My Moonlit Declaration

Chapter 15: Goddess Shell

“Wow, this is practically a cheating divine artifact.” This was simply too good. She loved the idea of pretending to be weak while actually being strong.

“Breaking this seal will take time,” Herman thought for a moment and said, “I need to leave for a while to find a way to undo it. I’ll probably be back in about twenty days.”

“But what about the Moon Oath? What if my mother forces me to go to the Moon Ember Clan to get married? Herman…” Elara tugged at her teacher’s sleeve, acting spoiled.

“The Moon Oath is simple. Once you return to the tribe, go to the Moon Spring. It’s very remote and rarely visited by others. You can use that time to get to know more spiritual flowers and medicinal herbs. The identification methods are all in The Origin of the Werewolf Clan.”

“I suggest you go with your mother to the Moon Ember Clan,” Herman said earnestly.

“Because I cannot teach you the methods to become a Pill Refiner,” his expression was very serious. “After you arrive at the Moon Ember Clan, you can propose to study at the academy to broaden your knowledge and abilities. The nobles of the Moon Ember Clan place great importance on the capabilities of the next generation. I believe your mother won’t object.”

Elara was a girl who knew how to read the situation. She fully agreed with Herman’s analysis. If she wanted to become stronger, she would need systematic learning, and attending the academy was the best choice.

“Alright,” Elara nodded.

“Then, when you come back in twenty days, I’ll already have moved to the Moon Ember Clan. How will we contact each other? Won’t you return to the tribe on the day of the Moon Oath?” Elara asked, a little worried.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get the message to you. If I return on the day of the Moon Oath, I’ll go to the Moon Spring to find you.”

Herman turned and walked out of the prayer room. “Elara, it’s getting late. Susanna has probably already sent people out to look for you. You should head back first.”

“Mm.” She nodded.

“The Goddess Shell can allow you to return to the tribe for the Moon Oath. The incantation is in the Origin of the Werewolf Clan I gave you.” With that, Herman quickly left.

Elara returned home, and sure enough, Susanna was already waiting for her in the small courtyard.

This time, however, she changed her approach to persuade Elara to return with her to the Moon Ember Clan. “Mom has already asked Erick to find a school for you…”

“So, I can go to school?” This time, Elara showed great interest. “I’m already eighteen years old and I’ve never attended a single day of school.”

“Then let’s set off tomorrow. The sooner we get back, the sooner you can enroll!” Susanna looked at Elara eagerly.

“Alright, it’s decided then!” Elara deliberately pretended to be just as eager.

Susanna visibly relaxed with relief. Seeing the expression on her mother’s face, the faint desire Elara had felt to get closer to her was instantly extinguished.

Herman had been right. Her mother had come with a purpose. Elara was nothing more than a pawn to help her consolidate her position.

The next morning, after daybreak, their group stopped in front of a stone gate in a carriage.

Six soldiers in iron armor stood on either side of the stone gate, each holding a long spear.

“Everyone get off the carriage and undergo inspection,” the lead soldier announced loudly.

After getting off the carriage with Susanna, Elara noticed that several other carriages had already stopped in front of the stone gate. Men, women, and children of all ages were lining up. Everyone remained quiet, looking straight ahead as they waited for inspection.

When it was their turn, Elara saw Susanna take five red stones from the pouch at her waist and hand them to the soldier.

They were Crimson Blood Agates — bright red and glistening, like solidified blood.

One Crimson Blood Agate could be exchanged for a thousand Bone Gold Ingots, and one Bone Gold Ingot could be exchanged for a thousand Claw Silver Coins. Selling one of her woven rattan baskets would earn Elara at most eight Claw Silver Coins.

In eighteen years, she had never even touched a Crimson Blood Agate. The most money she had ever held was the twenty-five Bone Gold Ingots she had saved up when she bought her small courtyard.

After paying the fee, there was no further inspection. The four of them, along with their carriage, were led by the soldiers into a passageway. At the end of the passage stood a ship.

“This is a spatial jump point,” Susanna said happily as she held Elara’s hand. “Once we board the flying boat ahead, we can return to the Moon Ember Clan in just one day and one night.”

The flying boat was about ten meters long, with pointed ends like a willow leaf. It was covered in glowing runes that sparkled under the sunlight.

“Let’s go aboard.” The maidservant who went first carefully supported Susanna’s hand as they stepped onto the second floor of the flying boat.

Though it didn’t look large from the outside, the interior of the flying boat was surprisingly spacious. The second floor had over thirty private cabins, the first floor had rows of wide seats, and below that was the area for storing carriages.

Soon the flying boat was fully occupied and set off.

There was no sound, no vibration, and no sensation of movement.

Elara spent a boring day and night on the flying boat. At dusk on the second day, she finally saw the Moon Ember Clan.

Looking down from the sky, the Moon Ember Clan was completely different from the Snow Moon Clan. The Snow Moon Clan was built inside a mountain — a solemn, ancient city of stone, with vast fields, winding rivers, and scattered villages. The villagers lived in harmony, and it could be described as an egalitarian and peaceful tribe.

The Moon Ember Clan, however, was situated on a plain. Besides castles and manors, there were vast stretches of single-story houses. The distinction between nobles and commoners was clear and strict.

The flying boat landed in an open area. Susanna’s group finished preparing themselves, disembarked, and continued into the city by carriage.

“Head straight back to Nebula Castle once we enter the city,” Susanna instructed the coachman.

About half an hour later, the carriage stopped. “Madam, Nebula Castle has arrived,” the coachman said respectfully as he placed the footstool outside the carriage.

The castle before her eyes shocked Elara just as much as her first visit to the Snow Moon Tribe.

Thick, ancient stone walls were covered in lush green vines that swayed gently in the evening breeze.

Inside the walls, the pointed tops of the towers pierced the sky, with flags fluttering noisily in the wind. A large black iron gate was engraved with the totem of a wolf.

At the end of the road stood the castle itself.

As the heavy iron gate creaked open with a long “creeeak,” Elara’s gaze was instantly drawn to the stone statue opposite her.

It was a statue of a Guardian Wolf: sleek and powerful in build, its ears alert and pricked up, its round eyes staring vigilantly into the distance. Standing closer, one could almost hear its low, rumbling growl.

Behind the gate was a long corridor lined with guards — twelve in total, six on each side. Every one of them had golden eyes, strikingly different from the silver-white eyes of the Snow Moon Clan.

“Welcome — Madam —” There was no Moon Salute. They simply placed their right fists over their chests as a form of greeting.

Elara followed behind Susanna, walking through the corridor. Suddenly, the view opened up before her. The entire garden was divided into two sides. On the left stood ancient trees, thick and sturdy, their canopies covering half the sky.

On the right was a vast lake area. In the center of the lake stood a white pavilion, glowing with a golden sheen under the setting sun.

“Welcome to ‘Nebula Castle.’ From now on, this is your home,” Susanna said proudly, pointing toward a magnificent building in the distance.

An open-top carriage drove over from the side. A servant wearing a gray uniform and a round hat opened the carriage door. “Madam, please get in!”

Susanna took Elara’s hand and helped her into the carriage, which then headed toward the castle ahead.

Nebula Castle had walls in a gradient of blue and white, topped with a large sky-blue dome. In front of the entrance were more than twenty wide steps made of massive white stones, flanked by gentle ramps suitable for carriages.

The carriage stopped at the foot of the steps. A man dressed in a formal black suit stood beside the stairs. His hair was impeccably combed, and his tie was perfectly straight. He bowed slightly, a perfectly measured smile on his lips. “Madam, you’ve finally returned. The master has missed you dearly!”

“Hmm.” Susanna handed him her handbag and hat. “Erick is always like this. He gets anxious whenever he can’t see me.”