Chapter 22: The Dark Awakening
The clearing where Luna and Alaric had clashed was left in an eerie silence. The soft breeze stirred the air, but it felt wrong—cold, heavy, almost as if the world was holding its breath. The aftermath of their battle still hung in the air, lingering like smoke. Alaric, once so confident and menacing, lay defeated in a heap, but his absence felt like the calm before a storm. The earth beneath Luna’s feet felt unstable, as though it was quivering in response to the dark forces that were stirring far below the surface.
Luna stood amidst the wreckage of the forest. Her body was battered, her clothes torn and stained with dirt and blood, but her spirit was more unyielding than ever. Despite her victory over Alaric, there was a gnawing sensation in her gut, an
