Chapter 104: The Shadow in the Sky
718 Words
The forest remained eerily silent after the creature disappeared.
Broken trees covered the ground.
Smoke drifted through the air from the distant village fires, and the warriors stood frozen, trying to process what they had just witnessed.
No one spoke for several seconds.
Then Darius finally broke the silence.
“Well,” he said, brushing dirt off his coat.
“That was definitely not a normal conversation with a monster.”
Commander Roran looked deeply troubled.
“Did that creature really say the Moon has returned?”
Kael’s golden eyes slowly turned toward Aria.
The silver glow around her arm was fading, but the mark still shimmered faintly.
“Yes,” Kael answered quietly.
“That’s exactly what it said.”
Aria felt the weight of their gazes on her.
“I didn’t do anything,” she said softly.
“I don’t even understand what’s happening.”
Kael stepped closer to her.
His voice lowered.
“Whatever power is inside you… those creatures recognize it.”
He glanced toward the cracked ground where the monster had vanished.
“And that makes you the center of this war.”
The words sent a chill down Aria’s spine.
Before anyone could respond, a powerful gust of wind swept through the forest.
Leaves and dust flew into the air.
The warriors looked up.
Something massive was moving above the clouds.
A shadow passed across the Blood Moon.
For a brief moment, the entire forest darkened.
Darius whistled softly.
“That thing is definitely bigger than the others.”
Kael’s instincts immediately flared.
“Everyone get ready.”
The warriors raised their weapons.
But the shadow didn’t descend.
Instead, it remained hidden behind the clouds, circling slowly like a predator watching its prey.
Aria suddenly felt another wave of strange energy.
Her vision blurred.
And then—
Another memory appeared in her mind.
She saw a towering temple built from silver stone.
The same ancient creatures from before surrounded the temple, kneeling in absolute silence.
At the center stood the mysterious woman again.
This time the woman lifted her head.
Moonlight poured down from the sky, surrounding her like a crown of light.
And then—
The woman turned.
For a brief moment, Aria saw her face.
Her heart nearly stopped.
The woman looked exactly like her.
Aria gasped and staggered backward.
Kael quickly caught her.
“What happened?”
Her voice trembled.
“That woman… the one from my visions…”
“Yes?”
“She looked like me.”
Darius raised an eyebrow.
“Well, that’s not terrifying at all.”
Kael’s expression turned serious.
“There’s only one explanation.”
Aria swallowed nervously.
“What?”
Kael spoke carefully.
“That woman might be your ancestor.”
The idea felt impossible.
“But those creatures are ancient,” Aria whispered.
“They’re thousands of years old.”
Roran nodded slowly.
“Which means your bloodline might be ancient as well.”
Before Aria could respond—
A deep roar shook the sky.
The enormous shadow behind the clouds moved again.
Two massive glowing eyes suddenly appeared through the red mist of the Blood Moon.
Every warrior froze in fear.
The creature watching them was far larger than the others.
Its wings stretched across the clouds like a living storm.
Even Kael felt the pressure of its power.
Darius let out a low whistle.
“Now that… is definitely the boss monster.”
The massive creature did not attack.
Instead, it simply stared down at the kingdom.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then its deep voice echoed through the sky.
“Moon’s Daughter…”
The words thundered across the valley.
Aria’s heart raced.
The creature’s glowing eyes locked onto her.
“Your awakening has begun.”
Lightning flashed across the clouds.
“And soon… the Blood Moon will claim its queen.”
With a violent roar, the enormous shadow vanished back into the storm clouds.
The sky slowly grew quiet again.
But the fear remained.
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“That creature wasn’t here to fight.”
Darius crossed his arms.
“Yeah.”
He looked toward Aria.
“It was here to announce something.”
Aria felt the silver mark on her arm burn again.
“What kind of announcement?”
Kael’s voice was grim.
“That the real enemy is coming.”
- Writer
