The Impossible Truth
950 Words
BOOOOOOOM!
Blinding silver light swallowed the Hall of Memories.
The force of the explosion threw Lyra backward.
She crashed onto the marble floor, gasping for breath.
Ancient pillars cracked around her.
Fragments of crystal rained from the ceiling.
The Hall itself was collapsing.
---
The black hand instantly released her.
The hooded figure remained beyond the shattered mirror.
His crimson eyes never left Lyra.
A faint smile lingered on his lips.
As though he had already accomplished exactly what he wanted.
---
"Father..."
Lyra whispered.
The single word echoed through the chamber.
"No."
She shook her head violently.
"No..."
"My father died."
"My mother told me..."
Her voice broke.
"She told me he sacrificed himself."
---
The hooded figure's expression softened.
"She wasn't lying."
"I did die."
Silence.
Lyra stared at him.
How could someone...
Die...
And still stand before her?
---
Queen Selene stepped between them.
Her silver image flickered violently.
"Don't believe him!"
She cried.
"He's manipulating you!"
---
The hooded man sighed.
"Even now..."
"You still carry the burden alone."
He looked at Selene with unmistakable sadness.
"I wish things had ended differently."
---
Suddenly—
CRAAASH!
The entrance to the Hall burst open.
Fenrir stormed inside.
His wings blazed with silver light.
Cassian followed close behind, the Sword of the First Alpha glowing in his hands.
---
"Step away from her!"
Fenrir roared.
The entire Hall trembled beneath his voice.
---
The hooded figure turned calmly.
"Fenrir."
"It's been a thousand years."
---
Fenrir froze.
For the first time...
The ancient Guardian looked genuinely shocked.
His silver eyes widened.
"It..."
"It can't be."
---
Cassian looked between them.
"You know him?"
---
Fenrir's voice trembled.
"No."
"I knew the man he used to be."
---
The hooded figure smiled sadly.
"And yet..."
"You still recognize me."
---
Cassian tightened his grip on his sword.
"Who is he?"
---
Fenrir slowly lowered his head.
His answer was barely above a whisper.
---
"He was..."
---
"...the First King."
---
The world seemed to stop.
Lyra felt the blood drain from her face.
The First King.
The legendary ruler who founded the Moon Kingdom.
The hero every child grew up hearing about.
The man history claimed had died a thousand years ago.
Was standing before her.
---
The First King looked back at Lyra.
"There are many lies buried within history."
"And yours..."
He smiled faintly.
"...is the greatest of them all."
The cracked mirror behind him began repairing itself with black light.
His time inside the Hall was ending.
Before disappearing...
He spoke one final sentence.
---
"When you're ready to know why your mother chose to hide you..."
"...come to me."
The mirror sealed shut.
The crimson eyes vanished.
The Hall fell silent once more.
Only Lyra's trembling heartbeat remained.
For the first time since discovering she was the Moon Queen...
She no longer knew who the true enemy was.
The Hall of Memories was silent.
Only the sound of falling stone echoed through the ancient chamber.
The mirror had become whole again.
As though nothing had happened.
Yet everyone knew...
Nothing would ever be the same.
---
Cassian was the first to speak.
"The First King..."
He looked toward Fenrir.
"I thought he died a thousand years ago."
---
Fenrir slowly closed his eyes.
"So did I."
---
His voice carried centuries of regret.
"I watched him march into the final battle."
"I watched the heavens split apart."
"I watched the kingdom burn."
---
"When the battle ended..."
"There was no body."
---
"We believed the First King had fallen with the old world."
---
Lyra looked at the restored mirror.
"But he called himself my father."
---
"No."
Fenrir answered immediately.
"He wanted you to question everything."
"That's how he wins."
---
"Then why..."
Lyra whispered.
"...did he know my mother?"
---
No one had an answer.
---
Queen Selene's image slowly began to fade.
The Hall of Memories could no longer sustain her.
"My little moon..."
She smiled sadly.
"You are standing where destiny divides."
---
"There are two roads before you."
---
"One leads toward vengeance."
---
"The other..."
---
"...toward truth."
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"You cannot walk both."
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Lyra felt tears gather in her eyes.
"I don't know which path is right."
---
Selene's smile became warmer.
"You don't have to know today."
---
"You only have to keep walking."
---
Her image dissolved into countless silver lights.
The chamber became quiet once more.
---
A deep rumble echoed beneath the temple.
The Hall of Memories had completed its purpose.
The ancient staircase began sealing itself.
---
Fenrir turned toward the exit.
"We must leave."
"The Hall won't open again until it chooses."
---
The group hurried back toward the surface.
As they emerged into the temple courtyard...
Every Guardian stood frozen.
Their eyes were fixed on the eastern sky.
---
Lyra followed their gaze.
The pillar of silver light surrounding the Moon Temple had disappeared.
In its place...
A second pillar had appeared.
This one burned with brilliant golden fire.
Far beyond the mountains.
---
Cassian's eyes widened.
"A Sacred Relic..."
---
Fenrir slowly nodded.
"The Second Guardian has awakened."
---
Before anyone could celebrate...
A silver hawk landed on Orion's shoulder.
A tiny scroll was tied to its leg.
He opened it.
His expression instantly darkened.
---
Cassian stepped closer.
"What happened?"
---
Orion handed the message to Lyra.
Only one sentence had been written.
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The Second Guardian is already under attack.
If you arrive late...
He will become the Shadow King's greatest weapon.
---
Fenrir immediately spread his wings.
"There is no more time."
He looked directly at Lyra.
"My Queen..."
---
"Your first journey..."
---
"...begins now."
- Writer
