Chapter 46: Whispers of the Moon
693 Words
Chapter 46: Whispers of the Moon
The journey back to the castle was strangely quiet.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting pale silver light across the long road leading to the Lycan kingdom. Warriors rode ahead and behind, escorting their king and the woman who had just changed the fate of the battlefield.
But no one spoke.
Not openly.
Yet Aria could feel their eyes on her.
Whispers followed wherever she walked.
“That’s her…”
“The Moon’s Chosen…”
“She healed the king…”
The words floated through the cold night air like ghosts.
Aria tightened her cloak around herself, trying to ignore them.
Everything had happened so fast.
Just hours ago, she had been fighting for her life among monsters.
Now everyone looked at her like she was something… else.
Something powerful.
Something dangerous.
Beside her, Kael rode his black horse silently.
His sharp golden eyes were fixed ahead, but Aria could feel his attention drifting toward her every few moments.
Finally, he spoke.
“You’re quiet.”
Aria glanced at him.
“So are you.”
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
“I’m thinking.”
“That’s comforting,” she replied dryly.
Kael chuckled softly.
But the amusement quickly faded from his expression.
“About the prophecy,” he said.
Aria looked down at the glowing mark on her wrist.
It had faded slightly, but the crescent moon symbol was still visible under the moonlight.
“You think it’s real?”
Kael didn’t hesitate.
“I think the battlefield proved it.”
Aria sighed.
“That doesn’t mean I understand it.”
Neither of them spoke again for several minutes.
Ahead of them, the towering walls of the Lycan castle finally came into view.
Torches burned along the stone walls as guards opened the massive gates.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, dozens of warriors and servants gathered.
Word had already spread.
The moment Aria stepped down from her horse, the crowd fell silent.
Then slowly…
One warrior dropped to one knee.
Then another.
Then another.
Within seconds, nearly everyone in the courtyard had bowed their heads.
Aria froze.
“What are they doing?” she whispered.
Kael stepped beside her.
“They’re showing respect.”
“For what?”
His gaze moved toward the glowing mark on her wrist.
“For the woman who might save their world.”
Aria felt her heart race.
This was too much.
She wasn’t a hero.
She didn’t even understand her own power yet.
Before she could respond, a sudden voice echoed from the castle entrance.
“Well… well…”
Everyone turned.
A tall man dressed in dark royal robes slowly walked down the stone steps.
His sharp blue eyes studied Aria carefully.
A cold smile appeared on his face.
“I leave the kingdom for a few days,” he said calmly, “and suddenly we have a legendary heroine.”
Kael’s expression hardened instantly.
“Darius.”
The man stopped a few steps away from them.
“Brother,” he replied with mock politeness.
Aria blinked.
Brother?
Kael’s voice was dangerously calm.
“You weren’t expected back yet.”
Darius shrugged.
“I heard rumors about monsters attacking the kingdom… and about a mysterious girl fighting beside the king.”
His eyes slowly moved to Aria.
They lingered on the glowing mark on her wrist.
Interest flashed across his face.
“How fascinating.”
Aria felt a chill run down her spine.
Something about this man felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Darius tilted his head slightly as he studied her.
“So this is the famous bride my brother bought.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“Watch your words.”
But Darius only laughed.
“Oh relax, brother.”
His eyes gleamed with curiosity.
“I’m simply wondering if this woman is truly the Moon’s Chosen…”
His smile widened.
“…or the beginning of our kingdom’s downfall.”
The courtyard fell silent again.
And for the first time since the battle ended…
Aria realized something terrifying.
The next danger might not come from monsters.
It might already be living inside the castle.
- Writer
