Night Wolf 's Dream

Liza awoke from her slumber to find herself lying atop the sacred Mount Yitu, beside the small town. The full moon's radiance amplified the stirring within her heart. Her snow-white fur was mottled with crimson stains, a testament to her uncontrollable transformation into a wolf, a curse that had worsened since she turned sixteen. As she watched her wounds slowly heal, a flicker of doubt arose, "Why did I lose control again? I haven't encountered any sorcerers lately." Her thoughts then soared, as Liza recalled her early years when she couldn't transform, and how on nights of the full moon, her father would turn into a wolf, howling and running out of the clan, while her mother, leading her, would sit on the bed, silently shedding tears... Liza rose and gazed at the starry sky, which seemed more resplendent than ever, casting the night not as boundless darkness but as a canvas for the moon's peculiar glow. Suddenly, darkness enveloped her, and her thoughts went blank. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself above the sky, the stars gone, replaced by an immense, cold moon in the endless night. Shivering in surprise, though it was summer, the high altitude was bitingly cold. Sensing her return to human form, she cried out, "Is anyone there? Where am I?" Initially flustered, Liza soon calmed, reasoning the strange celestial events must be connected to her presence here. As Liza pondered, a voice as soft as moonlight entered her ears: "Child of destiny, traversing through the ages, "Beneath the full moon, your birth is as a flower, "Fulfill the will of your ancestors, seek the secrets behind the moonlight, "The path ahead is fraught with peril, a shepherd boy will be your guide... The chant continued, and though only a voice, Liza recognized the mysterious figure, "The Moon Goddess." She suddenly remembered her mother, a priestess of the wolf clan, who had prophesied the appearance of the Moon Goddess to guide the lost. Recalling her father leading the clan against attacks, his body riddled with wounds, yet his gaze remained cold and piercing, Her mother fought to the death to protect her, even at the cost of her soul, transferring her to a distant small town on the edge of the map. Why was the Moon Clan besieged by surrounding clans, leaving her alone and wandering? A cold touch brought Liza back to her senses. Before her stood a person as gentle as moonlight, with starlight twinkling at the corners of their eyes, as if shooting stars streaked through, dazzling yet sacred and inviolable. The Moon Goddess smiled, her lips upturned, as she removed her hand from Liza's shoulder, "How are you, are you well?" "Ah, I am fine..." Liza began to feel nervous, unsure whether it was the goddess's appearance or the feeling of being seen through. The goddess frowned slightly and began, "I have found you because of the Moon Clan. Your mother, the priestess of the Moon Clan, my follower, received and spread my oracle, but the cycle of the moon cannot be stopped." A tear slid down her cheek, "When my power was at its weakest, a force unknown to me corrupted my believers, causing strife between the clans, leading to the Moon Clan's demise. Liza was somewhat surprised, yet it confirmed her suspicion; it was not a sudden attack but manipulation by a mysterious force. She asked, "Have you discovered the source of this power?" The goddess hesitated, "No, I can only detect the general direction, so I wish for you to become my follower and investigate this force, to find the reason for the Moon Clan's extinction." Faced with the prospect of uncovering the cause of her clan's demise, she naturally would not refuse, but her mother had risked her life to send her so far away, hoping she could live a peaceful life. If she were to investigate, would that go against her parents' wishes? Liza's eyes held both the passion to investigate and hesitation over the decision. Seeing her indecisive look, the goddess smiled again. "Have you decided?" "I haven't decided yet." Liza was a bit scared, afraid the goddess would be angry, call her cowardly, and fear she couldn't fulfill such a mission. But for a teenager, such a choice was indeed difficult. The goddess did not seem angry, instead, she gently traced Liza's eyes with her finger, then raised her hands, and countless stars began to shine, forming a star ring around the full moon. The two continued to rise to the center of the moon, and the Moon Goddess chanted an ancient spell, "The endless starlight, crossing the dark night, dances around the full moon, wisdom will descend beside you, enlightening the wisdom of the faithful." Suddenly, a starlight carrying the moonlight fell into Liza's forehead, and she felt her mental power immensely enriched, her mind clear, and her vision even clearer. This feeling was indescribable, and she could only stare blankly as the goddess continued to chant. "The source of life, the beginning of all things, life is singing, healing will always be by your side, healing the diseases of the faithful." Another warm current entered her body, flowing to every part, and Liza, without realizing it, transformed into a werewolf. She was surprised to find her fur covered with a halo like moonlight, and her wounds healed faster than ever. The goddess stopped chanting and said to Liza, "From now on, you are my follower, and you will gradually gain the power I have given you. This matter is not only related to me, but other deities have also been affected, so I have also let Starlight Elena and Healing Mela give you the power of wisdom and healing. I hope you can find the cause of the problem." "Can you let me think about it again? I haven't figured out some things yet," Liza said nervously, looking at the goddess. The goddess smiled again, this time with more softness, "My child, it's getting late, you will understand those issues, I will always bless you, go back." Liza had many words that hadn't come out in time and fainted. When she woke up again, she was still lying on the top of Mount Yitu, looking at herself and had turned back into a human, feeling a bit dazed, then looked at her palm, there was a pattern like the moon, which seemed to have stars twinkling. Then she stood up, stretched her body, looked at the rising sun in the distance, and didn't know what she was thinking. Then she said, "Is this my mission?"