Chapter 12: The Path Of Moonlight
1011 Words
The portal shimmered before them.
Silver light swirled endlessly within its center, illuminating the room with an ethereal glow.
Neither Aria nor Lucas spoke.
The voice of the Moon Queen still echoed faintly in the air.
"The path to the Heart of Luna has opened."
Aria stared at the doorway.
Her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it.
The Heart of Luna.
Another mystery.
Another piece of a puzzle she barely understood.
Lucas stepped closer to the portal.
His instincts immediately warned him that whatever lay beyond was ancient.
Powerful.
Unknown.
He didn't like unknowns.
Not when they involved the safety of his kingdom.
Especially not when they involved Aria.
Ethan burst into the room at that moment.
A sword already in his hand.
"I heard an explosion of magic and assumed something terrible happened."
His eyes landed on the glowing portal.
He blinked.
Twice.
"Well."
The Beta lowered his sword.
"Something terrible probably happened."
Aria almost laughed.
Almost.
Lucas ignored him.
"What do you know about the Heart of Luna?"
Magnus, who had arrived moments behind Ethan, looked troubled.
"Very little."
Everyone turned toward him.
The elder sighed.
"The Heart of Luna is mentioned only in the oldest records."
"And?" Ethan asked.
Magnus looked toward the portal.
"It is said to contain the blessing of the Moon Goddess herself."
Silence followed.
Ethan scratched his head.
"That sounds important."
"It is."
The elder's expression darkened.
"Some legends claim it can restore ancient seals."
Aria immediately thought of the Shadow Seal.
The prison containing the Shadow King.
Lucas clearly reached the same conclusion.
"The Heart can repair the seal?"
Magnus nodded slowly.
"If the legends are true."
The room fell silent again.
At last, a possible solution existed.
A dangerous solution.
But a solution nonetheless.
Lucas made his decision immediately.
"We're going."
Magnus looked horrified.
"We?"
Lucas's silver eyes hardened.
"The portal opened for a reason."
Aria swallowed.
Part of her wanted answers.
Part of her wanted to run.
Unfortunately, answers usually required courage.
Or recklessness.
Sometimes both.
---
Less than an hour later, preparations were complete.
Lucas stood fully armed.
A sword rested at his side.
A dark cloak hung from his shoulders.
Ethan stood nearby with the expression of a man questioning every life decision that had led him here.
"This is how people die."
"No," Lucas replied.
"This is how adventures begin."
Ethan stared.
"Did you really just say that?"
A faint smile appeared on Aria's face.
The Alpha looked mildly annoyed.
"Forget I said anything."
"Never."
Clara approached Aria.
The healer's expression was worried.
"Be careful."
Aria nodded.
"I will."
Clara hugged her tightly.
For a brief moment, emotion caught Aria by surprise.
The healer had known her for only a short time.
Yet she already felt like family.
When they separated, Clara wiped away a tear.
"You'll come back."
The words sounded more hopeful than certain.
Aria hoped they were true.
---
The portal pulsed softly.
Ancient symbols rotated around its edges.
Lucas stepped forward first.
Naturally.
He was the type of man who walked toward danger.
Not away from it.
Aria followed.
Then Ethan.
The moment they crossed the threshold—
The world vanished.
Light consumed everything.
Aria closed her eyes.
The sensation felt strange.
As though she were falling and flying at the same time.
Wind roared around her.
Silver light surrounded her.
Then suddenly—
Solid ground appeared beneath her feet.
Aria stumbled forward.
Lucas caught her arm before she fell.
"Careful."
She steadied herself.
Then looked around.
And froze.
The landscape was breathtaking.
Silver trees stretched toward the sky.
Crystal-clear rivers flowed between glowing flowers.
Moonlight illuminated everything despite the absence of a visible moon.
The entire world shimmered with magic.
It was beautiful.
Beautiful beyond words.
Ethan stared.
"Okay."
His voice was unusually quiet.
"That's impressive."
Even Lucas looked surprised.
The place felt alive.
Ancient.
Sacred.
Aria's chest tightened.
For some reason, this place felt familiar.
Like a forgotten memory.
A forgotten home.
The Crescent of Luna began glowing against her chest.
A narrow trail of silver light appeared on the ground before them.
Lucas studied it.
"I'm guessing that's our path."
Ethan sighed.
"Of course it's a magical glowing path."
"What were you expecting?"
"I don't know."
The Beta shrugged.
"Something less mysterious."
The silver trail wound through the forest.
Disappearing deeper among the glowing trees.
Aria took a deep breath.
Then stepped forward.
The others followed.
---
Hours seemed to pass.
Or perhaps only minutes.
Time felt different in this strange realm.
The deeper they traveled, the more unusual things became.
Animals made entirely of light watched them from the trees.
Silver butterflies drifted through the air.
Ancient ruins occasionally appeared among the forest.
Each older than the last.
Aria found herself drawn toward them.
Every stone.
Every symbol.
Every carving.
All felt strangely familiar.
As though she had once known their meaning.
Suddenly, the forest grew quiet.
Too quiet.
Lucas immediately noticed.
His hand moved toward his sword.
Ethan did the same.
Aria felt unease settle over her.
"What is it?"
Lucas scanned the trees.
"Something's watching us."
The words barely left his mouth before a growl echoed through the forest.
Low.
Dangerous.
Predatory.
Another answered.
Then another.
The silver trees trembled.
Glowing eyes appeared among the shadows.
Dozens of them.
Aria's breath caught.
Massive wolves stepped from the darkness.
Not ordinary wolves.
These creatures were enormous.
Their fur shimmered like moonlight.
Their eyes glowed silver.
Ancient power radiated from them.
Ethan slowly drew his sword.
"I really hope they're friendly."
The largest wolf stepped forward.
Its size rivaled a horse.
The creature's gaze settled directly on Aria.
For a long moment, nobody moved.
Then, to everyone's surprise, the wolf lowered its head.
A sign of respect.
The other wolves immediately did the same.
Aria blinked.
"What just happened?"
The largest wolf's eyes never left her.
Then a voice echoed inside her mind.
Not threatening.
Not hostile.
Respectful.
Welcome home, Moon Heir.
The forest fell silent.
And Aria realized their journey had only just begun.
To be continued.......
- Writer
