Chapter 13: Raven's Arrival
766 Words
A cold wind swept through the Valley of Echoes.
The ancient temple trembled as Aria held the First Key tightly in her hand. The silver symbols glowing on the walls slowly faded, but the strange feeling in her heart remained.
She had unlocked the first step toward her destiny.
Kael looked at the glowing key before turning to Darius.
"You said this is only the First Key."
Darius nodded.
"There are three keys."
"The Moon Vault cannot be opened unless all three are brought together."
Lord Magnus frowned.
"Where are the remaining keys?"
Darius walked toward an old stone wall covered in faded carvings.
He brushed away years of dust, revealing a map of the ancient Lycan Kingdom.
"The Second Key lies inside the Forest of Spirits."
"The Third Key..."
He hesitated.
"...was hidden beneath the Royal Palace."
Cedric's eyes widened.
"The palace?"
"How did no one know?"
"Because only the royal bloodline can reveal its location," Darius replied.
Before anyone could ask another question...
Boom!
A powerful explosion shook the valley.
The entrance of the temple collapsed behind them.
Massive stones crashed onto the ground, sealing the exit.
Dust filled the air.
Cedric immediately drew his sword.
"We're trapped!"
A slow clap echoed through the darkness.
Clap...
Clap...
Clap...
Everyone turned toward the sound.
A tall man stepped out from the shadows.
He wore black armor decorated with crimson markings.
A silver mask covered the upper half of his face.
His long black cloak flowed behind him despite the still air.
The atmosphere instantly became suffocating.
Even Kael's expression changed.
"So..."
"You finally came."
The stranger smiled.
"I've been waiting."
Aria felt an invisible pressure weighing down on her body.
His aura was unlike anything she had ever felt.
It was terrifying.
Darius lowered his voice.
"Your Majesty..."
"Be careful."
"That man is Raven."
"The First Commander of the Black Moon."
Raven's crimson eyes settled on Aria.
"So you're the Lost Queen."
"I expected someone... stronger."
Aria refused to look away.
"I'm stronger than you think."
Raven chuckled.
"Courage."
"Good."
"You'll need it."
Kael stepped forward, placing himself between Raven and Aria.
"You'll go no farther."
Raven tilted his head.
"You still think you can stop me?"
"I defeated an army before sunrise."
"I can defeat you before sunset."
Without warning...
Raven vanished.
His speed was unbelievable.
A loud clang echoed through the temple.
Kael barely blocked Raven's sword.
The impact shattered the stone floor beneath their feet.
Cedric rushed forward to help.
Raven kicked him aside effortlessly.
Darius attacked from behind.
Raven turned and blocked his strike with one hand.
The force threw Darius across the chamber.
Aria watched in disbelief.
One man...
Three of the kingdom's strongest warriors...
And none of them could overpower him.
Kael pushed Raven backward.
"Aria!"
"Run!"
She shook her head.
"No!"
"I'm not leaving you!"
Raven laughed.
"Excellent."
"I was hoping you'd stay."
He raised his hand.
Dark energy gathered above the temple.
Black chains burst from the ground and shot toward Aria.
Before they could reach her...
The crescent mark on her hand blazed with silver light.
The First Key floated into the air.
A brilliant beam of moonlight erupted from it.
The black chains shattered instantly.
The entire temple began to shake violently.
A deep feminine voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"The Queen has chosen to protect..."
"The First Blessing is complete."
Silver light surrounded Aria's body.
Her wounds disappeared.
Her strength returned.
Even Lunaris shone brighter than ever before.
Raven stepped back for the first time.
His smile slowly widened.
"So..."
"The Moon Goddess truly favors you."
He lowered his sword.
"This battle ends here."
Kael frowned.
"You're retreating?"
Raven nodded calmly.
"My mission wasn't to kill the Queen."
"It was to see whether she was worthy."
He looked directly into Aria's eyes.
"When the full moon rises again..."
"I won't be testing you."
"I'll be hunting you."
Black smoke surrounded his body.
Within seconds...
He disappeared.
Silence returned to the temple.
Cedric slowly stood, rubbing his shoulder.
"I never want to fight that monster again."
Darius stared at the place where Raven had vanished.
"He was holding back."
Kael's expression became grim.
"I know."
"If that was only a fraction of his strength..."
"...then the Shadow King must be even more powerful."
Aria closed her hand around the First Key.
For the first time since learning the truth about her past...
She understood the road ahead.
Becoming Queen wasn't simply about wearing a crown.
It meant standing against an enemy powerful enough to destroy kingdoms.
And this was only the beginning.
To Be Continued...
- Writer
