The Red Moon, a celestial phenomenon, graces the skies once every five years. On such nights, extraordinary children are born, destined for greatness or tragedy.
During one such occurrence, Aeran Darnyx Delyric was born to the prestigious Darnyx Delyric family, one of the Ten Great Families. He carried the blessing of two gifts. To balance this, another child, Dren Dyears, was born to the modest Dyears family without a blessing. The fates of these two children remained veiled in uncertainty.
Fifteen years later, the Red Moon returned, marking the birth of two more children: Asvlumina Dhearts of the noble Dhearts family, blessed with two gifts, and Malar
Darnyx Delyric. of the humble Darnyx Delyric family, blessed with none. Fate's cruel hand played its game once more.
---
Present Time: Malar
I lay on the ground, blood pooling beneath me, my body wracked with unbearable pain. My vision blurred as laughter echoed in the distance. Through the haze, I saw a lone figure standing above me, his cold smile cutting through my misery. It was marlic.
"Figures," I thought, scowling inwardly. "Always the same—too predictable."
Tears welled up in my eyes, but they weren't from weakness; they were from annoyance, from the frustration of being stuck in this endless cycle. My brothers mocking me, belittling me for my powerlessness, always underestimating me.
Out loud, I whispered, "Asvlumina... I'm sorry. I won't be able to save you... at least we'll leave this world together..."
Marlic snapped his fingers, and a powerful shockwave tore through the city.
"Shut up, you insignificant fool!" he roared, his voice filled with disdain. "How dare you utter her name? I pitied you once, powerless as you are. And this is how you repay me? You betrayed me and dared to take the one thing I wanted most. How dare you!"
Another snap. The earth shook violently as another shockwave ripped through the air, reducing what remained of the city to rubble.
"Asvlum..." I tried to speak, my voice cracking. Memories of Asvlumina flashed in my mind—her laughter, her gentle touch, her light. We were watching the sunset together, a moment of peace amidst chaos.
Tears streamed down my face as I whispered one last time, "I'm sorry, Asvlumina." The cold embrace of death wrapped around me as the darkness claimed me.
Arelic's pov
I stood frozen, staring at the massive crater left behind. Blood stained the ground, and the once-beautiful town of Forevermore lay in ruins. The echoes of Marlic's laughter still rang in my ears, chilling me to the core.
"Why...?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
Marlic turned his back to me, his expression smug as he stepped away from the destruction. His voice carried over the desolation. "That's where fools like him belong—beneath me." His laughter was cold and hollow, reverberating like a bell of doom.
Layon and Leyon trailed behind him, their faces lit with awe as they eagerly followed their older brother.
"That was amazing, Marlic!" Layon exclaimed, his voice full of admiration. "You're so powerful."
"Yeah," Leyon chimed in, grinning as he added, "No one can stand up to you, Marlic. You're unstoppable."
Marlic smirked at their praise, glancing over his shoulder. "Of course. Power is everything, and weaklings like Malar deserve to be crushed. Let this be a lesson to all who think they can cross me."
I clenched my fists, my heart heavy with guilt and fear. I wanted to say something—to question Marlic, to protest this senseless destruction. But my voice caught in my throat.
"Broth—" I began, but the word died on my lips. I hesitated, the memory of Malar's broken body flashing in my mind. The thought of facing Marlic's wrath made my stomach churn.
Marlic didn't wait for me to finish. "Arelic," he barked, his tone sharp and commanding. "Keep up. Or do you want to end up like him?" He tilted his head toward the crater, his smile wicked.
"N-no, Marlic," I stammered, swallowing hard. "I'm coming."
I hurried after them, my footsteps heavy with dread. As I caught up, I couldn't help but glance back at the crater, where Malar's lifeless body lay.
---
In the Ruins of Forevermore
The destruction stretched as far as the eye could see—homes reduced to rubble, streets cracked and broken, and the air thick with dust and smoke. The blood of innocents stained the ground, and the cries of survivors echoed faintly in the distance.
Layon and Leyon seemed oblivious to the devastation, their attention focused solely on Marlic.
"Marlic, you're the strongest in the family," Layon said, his tone almost worshipful.
Leyon nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! No one can match you. You've proven that again and again."
Marlic stopped suddenly, turning to face us. His expression was cold, devoid of any trace of remorse. "Power isn't just strength. It's control. Fear. Obedience. That's what separates us from weaklings like Malar."
I flinched at his words, a pang of guilt twisting in my chest. Malar wasn't weak—he was brave. Braver than I could ever be.
"Arelic," Marlic said sharply, his gaze piercing. "Why are you just standing there? Do you have something to say?"
I shook my head quickly, lowering my eyes. "N-no, Marlic. I don't."
"Good," he replied, his tone dismissive. "Then keep moving. We've wasted enough time here."
As we walked away from the ruins, I couldn't shake the weight of my conscience. Malar didn't deserve this. None of this was right. But what could I do? I was too afraid to stand up to Marlic.
"Someday," I thought to myself, "this has to end. Someone has to stop him."
But deep down, I knew I wasn't that someone—not yet.
---
Meanwhile, in the Streets of Forevermore
Verena's pov
I wandered through the streets of Forevermore, searching frantically for Keiran.
"Ding... Ding... Ding..."
The sound of a bell echoed ominously through the air, sharp and unrelenting. Each chime sent a sharp pain stabbing through my skull.
"Where is this sound coming from?" I muttered, clutching my head as the noise grew louder and more unbearable.
I stumbled forward and saw him—a man holding a bell. My heart sank as I recognized him.
"Roegadyn..." I whispered, my voice trembling.
I ran toward him, but the sound of the bell grew deafening. My vision blurred, and I collapsed to the ground as the world faded away.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a stark white room.
"Not again," I murmured, dread creeping into my voice.
From the center of the room, a figure emerged, holding a bell.
"Welcome back, my sister," Morana said, her tone icy and unwavering.
---
Elsewhere: Lumina's pov
I sat on the cold wooden floor of the small red-painted house, my hands gripping the edge of my knees. The air was thick with tension, but it wasn't from the room or from Aeran. It was the vision.
For two years, I had escaped the torment of these cursed images, their heavy toll, and the fear they brought. Two years of silence, and now they had returned.
"Why now?" I whispered to myself, my voice shaking under the weight of what I'd seen.
The vision had been vivid—unlike anything I'd experienced before. Forevermore, the town I thought was safe, lay in ruins. Buildings collapsed under the weight of power too great to comprehend, while flames consumed everything in their path. Screams filled the air, muted but distinct, etched into my mind.
I pressed my hands to my temples, trying to force the images out. But no matter how hard I tried, they stayed, playing on an endless loop.
Aeran's voice cut through the haze. He was standing across the room, his face etched with concern. "Lumina? What's wrong?"
I couldn't respond. I couldn't find the words to explain the chaos in my head. How could I explain something so inevitable, something so cruel?
The vision had shown power—power too immense, too destructive. It wasn't random. It was calculated.
"Why is this happening now?" I muttered again, my voice trembling. The question wasn't for Aeran, nor for myself. It was for whatever cruel fate had cursed me with these visions.
I closed my eyes, leaning my head back against the wall as I tried to breathe through the storm. I wanted to tell Aeran, but the words caught in my throat. For now, I could only hope that the images weren't a glimpse of a fixed future, but a warning I could somehow prevent.