Chapter 6: The Blood Moon Prophecy
Chapter 6: The Blood Moon Prophecy
The crimson moon bathed the valley in an eerie glow.
Every wolf felt it.
Every heartbeat became heavier.
The Guardian looked toward the sky.
His weathered face lost its calm.
"It has begun."
No one understood his words.
But everyone felt the truth behind them.
A cold wind swept through the shattered courtyard.
The silver runes around the Vault pulsed faster.
Aria tightened her grip on the Moonblade.
Its light no longer felt gentle.
It felt alive.
"What is happening?" she asked.
The Guardian met her eyes.
"The Blood Moon appears only when the Heir awakens."
"And when the old promises are tested."
Kael stepped closer despite the pain in his ribs.
"What promises?"
The Guardian studied him for a long moment.
"You are the Alpha who rejected her."
Kael didn't deny it.
"I made my choice."
"You did."
The Guardian nodded.
"And now you must live with it."
The words struck harder than any weapon.
Lydia grabbed Kael's arm.
"We should leave."
"This isn't our fight anymore."
Kael slowly pulled away.
"It became my fight the moment innocent people were attacked."
Lydia stared at him in disbelief.
"You would risk everything... for her?"
"I would protect my pack."
His answer came too quickly.
Even he wasn't sure he believed it.
A thunderous growl echoed from the forest.
The Blood Wolf staggered back to its feet.
Its wounds were already healing.
The masked commander pointed toward the Vault.
"Take the relic."
"Forget the girl."
Half of his soldiers rushed toward the open doorway.
The Guardian sighed.
"They never learn."
He lifted his silver spear.
The ground beneath the soldiers suddenly shifted.
Ancient stone warriors rose from the floor.
Each statue stood nearly ten feet tall.
Each carried a massive shield engraved with the Vale crest.
Their crystal eyes ignited with blue light.
One by one...
They came to life.
The first statue swung its hammer.
Three invaders flew through the air.
Another blocked the entrance with a shield larger than a carriage.
The Crimson Eclipse soldiers quickly realized they were facing guardians that felt no fear.
Steel clashed against enchanted stone.
Sparks filled the night.
Aria watched in amazement.
"They've been protecting this place all along."
"For three hundred years," the Guardian replied.
"They were waiting for you."
Selene stepped beside her daughter.
"There isn't much time."
"You must know the truth."
Aria turned toward her.
"My father..."
Selene closed her eyes.
"Your father was not only the Guardian of House Vale."
"He was also the leader of the Moon Council."
Aria frowned.
"I've never heard of it."
"Almost no one has."
"The Council kept peace between every major pack."
"They prevented wars."
"They judged corrupt Alphas."
"They protected sacred relics."
Selene's voice trembled.
"When your father disappeared, the Council collapsed."
"The territories blamed each other."
"That was exactly what our enemies wanted."
Another explosion interrupted her.
One of the enchanted guardians crumbled into pieces.
The masked commander lowered a strange black spear.
Dark energy flowed around its blade.
The Guardian's expression changed instantly.
"The Shadow Spear."
"It should not exist."
The commander smiled beneath his mask.
"It exists."
"And tonight..."
"So does your end."
He drove the spear into the ground.
A wave of darkness spread across the battlefield.
The enchanted statues froze.
Their glowing eyes dimmed.
Cracks raced through their bodies.
One after another...
They collapsed.
The Guardian whispered a single word.
"Impossible."
The masked commander laughed.
"Your age is over."
"Our age begins."
Suddenly, Aria's pendant floated into the air.
The silver crest separated into two pieces.
Hidden inside was a tiny crystal.
It shone brighter than the moon itself.
The Guardian stared at it in disbelief.
"The Heartstone..."
"So she truly carries it."
Every warrior stopped fighting.
Even the masked commander looked stunned.
He slowly removed his silver mask.
A jagged scar crossed one side of his face.
His golden eyes burned with obsession.
"After twenty years..."
"I've finally found the key."
Aria instinctively stepped back.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled.
"My name is Lucien."
"I was once your father's closest friend."
He paused.
"Until I became the man who betrayed him."
The courtyard fell into stunned silence.
Aria felt her blood run cold.
The enemy standing before her wasn't just hunting her family.
May you like
He had helped destroy it.
And now, under the Blood Moon, he had come to finish what he started.
