The Queen's Choice
950 Words
Silence lingered long after the Shadow Army disappeared.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Every eye remained fixed on the path Malrik had taken.
It felt as though the mountain itself had forgotten how to breathe.
---
Lyra slowly lowered her hand from the pendant around her neck.
Her fingers trembled.
"He was lying..."
She whispered.
"He had to be."
---
Fenrir didn't answer immediately.
His silver eyes remained fixed on the distant horizon.
Finally, he spoke.
"I don't know."
---
Cassian looked at him in disbelief.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"You said Queen Selene died with the pendant."
---
"I did."
Fenrir answered quietly.
"I watched her fall."
"I watched the temple burn."
"I watched the Moon Kingdom disappear."
---
"Then how—"
Cassian stopped himself.
There was no answer.
Only another impossible mystery.
---
Lyra closed her eyes.
Everything she had learned over the past two days was beginning to blur together.
She had been rejected.
She had discovered she was the Moon Queen.
She had found a family she never knew existed.
Now...
She didn't even know whether the story of her mother's death was true.
---
"I need the truth."
She looked directly at Fenrir.
"No matter how painful it is."
---
Fenrir studied her for a long moment.
Then he slowly nodded.
"There is one place where the truth was never erased."
---
"The Hall of Memories."
---
Cassian's expression changed instantly.
"No."
"That place has been sealed for centuries."
---
"It was."
Fenrir replied.
"But the Queen has returned."
---
"The Hall will open for her."
---
A deep rumble echoed beneath the temple.
The marble floor began to vibrate.
Silver light flowed through the cracks like rivers beneath the stone.
One of the ancient statues slowly turned.
Then another.
Then another.
---
The twelve statues surrounding the courtyard all faced Lyra at once.
Their glowing eyes opened.
One by one.
---
Every warrior immediately knelt.
The air became heavy with ancient power.
---
A hidden staircase emerged beneath the temple.
Unlike the Sacred Path...
This staircase descended into darkness.
Cold air rose from below.
It carried the scent of ancient parchment...
And forgotten history.
---
Fenrir looked toward the entrance.
"The Hall remembers everything."
"It cannot be deceived."
"It cannot be altered."
"It will show you the truth..."
"...exactly as it happened."
---
Lyra swallowed.
"What if I'm not ready?"
---
Fenrir gave a rare smile.
"No one ever is."
---
Before she could take her first step...
A sharp cry echoed from above.
A silver hawk circled the temple before crashing into the courtyard.
It transformed into another messenger.
His armor was covered in blood.
He struggled to breathe.
---
"Guardian..."
he gasped.
---
"The western watchtower..."
---
"...has fallen."
---
Cassian's face hardened.
"How?"
---
The messenger looked directly at Fenrir.
His voice shook with terror.
---
"It wasn't the Shadow Army."
---
"It was..."
---
"...one man."
The entire courtyard fell silent.
Even Fenrir's expression changed.
There were only three people in the world capable of destroying an entire watchtower alone.
And none of them...
Were supposed to be alive.
The messenger collapsed.
Cassian caught him before he struck the ground.
"Easy."
"You're safe."
The young warrior shook his head desperately.
"No..."
"No one is safe."
---
Fenrir knelt beside him.
"Tell me exactly what happened."
The messenger struggled to breathe.
"We never saw him coming."
"He walked straight through the western gate."
"The guards ordered him to stop."
"He never drew a weapon."
---
Cassian frowned.
"Then how did he destroy the watchtower?"
The messenger's eyes widened with terror.
"He..."
"...punched it."
Silence fell.
---
"The entire tower..."
"...collapsed with one blow."
Several Guardians exchanged uneasy glances.
That kind of strength belonged only to legends.
---
"He spared everyone."
The messenger continued.
"He said..."
He swallowed hard.
"...he wasn't our enemy."
---
Lyra stepped forward.
"What else?"
The messenger looked directly at her.
"He left a message."
---
"For the Moon Queen."
---
Fenrir's expression darkened.
"What message?"
---
The messenger repeated the stranger's exact words.
---
"Tell her..."
"...the last Guardian has returned."
---
A violent shockwave burst from Fenrir.
The marble beneath his feet cracked.
His silver eyes widened.
"No..."
"That's impossible."
---
Cassian had never seen Fenrir lose his composure.
"Who is he?"
---
Fenrir slowly stood.
His voice had become almost a whisper.
"There were Twelve Guardians."
"I was the First."
---
"The last..."
"He was the strongest among us."
---
"He disappeared during the Night of Ash."
---
"We believed he died protecting the Queen."
---
Lyra's heart raced.
"If he's alive..."
"Shouldn't that be good news?"
---
Fenrir looked into her eyes.
"It depends."
---
"The last Guardian made one promise."
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"If the Moon Kingdom ever fell..."
---
"...he would never serve another Queen."
---
Before anyone could speak...
A calm voice echoed through the temple.
---
"I don't remember making that promise."
---
Every head turned.
Standing at the entrance...
A man leaned casually against one of the ancient pillars.
He looked no older than thirty.
His black coat fluttered gently in the wind.
A long sword rested across his shoulder.
His silver eyes shimmered beneath messy black hair.
Unlike everyone else...
He wasn't looking at Fenrir.
He wasn't looking at Cassian.
His eyes were fixed only on Lyra.
---
For a long moment...
Neither of them spoke.
Then the stranger smiled.
A tired...
Lonely...
Heartbreaking smile.
---
"So..."
"The little princess finally came home."
---
Lyra's breath caught.
She had never seen this man before.
Yet somehow...
Looking into his eyes felt strangely familiar.
As though a forgotten part of her soul...
Already knew his name.
- Writer
