The days passed, and the castle seemed to hum with a renewed energy, as though something deep and untold was waiting to be unveiled. Mariane could sense it—the words in her journal, once simple musings, were beginning to form something much larger, something she could not yet fully grasp. Each page she wrote connected to another discovery, like pieces of a puzzle gradually falling into place. But despite the magic surrounding her, a feeling stirred deep inside her heart, urging her to go beyond what she knew, to venture into the unknown.
One night, as the wind whispered through the window, Mariane found herself wide awake, sitting at her desk where she had been writing. The candle before her flickered in the dark, casting elongated shadows on the walls. A strange unease tugged at her, a sense of being called by something she could not see. Then, from somewhere far off in the night, a melody began to rise—a soft, almost imperceptible hum that seemed to echo through the very stones of the castle. It was gentle, yet haunting, like the distant song of the stars.
Unable to resist the pull, Mariane stood, wrapped her cloak around her shoulders, and stepped into the hallway. As she opened the door, the chill of the night air greeted her, but it was not just the cold that beckoned her outside. There was a magnetic force drawing her forward, an invisible thread connecting her to something just beyond her reach. She followed the melody through the darkened corridors, her steps sure and steady, until she reached the courtyard where tall trees loomed against the velvet sky. The moon hung high, full and radiant, but there was something strange about it. It was not merely a celestial body suspended in the heavens; it moved—slightly, almost imperceptibly, as if it had a will of its own.
The melody became clearer as Mariane approached the garden's edge, where the ancient oak tree, the one the Princess had shown her, stood watchful and grand. But it was not the tree that stopped her—it was the glow emanating from a hidden clearing she had never noticed before. A silvery light, soft yet potent, bathed the space around the tree, and a figure stood beneath its vast branches.
It was the Princess.
Mariane moved closer, sensing that the air around her had thickened with a different kind of energy, one far more profound than anything she had felt before. The Princess stood with her eyes closed, her face bathed in the moonlight, and was humming a song, as though she were conversing with the very stars themselves.
"Princess?" Mariane's voice was tentative, breaking the stillness of the night.
The Princess opened her eyes slowly, a serene smile playing on her lips. "Mariane, I knew you would come."
"I… I heard a song," Mariane said, unsure of how to put her feelings into words. "And I followed it here."
"It is the Song of the Hidden Moon," the Princess replied, her gaze still fixed on the sky. "An ancient melody that resonates with those whose hearts are attuned to the magic of the world. It is the voice of the stars, the mountains, and the rivers—everything that is eternal and unseen. Few can hear it, for it is a sound that only reveals itself to those ready to listen."
Mariane felt a rush of wonder. "You… you sing to the moon?"
"I sing with it," the Princess answered softly. "For centuries, the guardians of this castle have shared a unique bond with the moon. It is not just a celestial body—it is a living, breathing entity, full of wisdom and secrets. Sometimes, it speaks to us in ways we cannot immediately understand, but the music… that song… it connects us to something far deeper than we can comprehend."
Mariane gazed up at the moon, now shining with a brilliance that seemed to touch everything around them. The melody, once faint, now filled the air, as though the very garden was vibrating in tune with it. Whether it was the magic of the moment or something stirring deep within her, she could not tell, but she felt an undeniable connection with the moon. It was as though they were in perfect harmony—two beings drawn together by a force far greater than themselves.
The Princess continued, her voice soft but carrying the weight of ages. "The Hidden Moon has the power to reveal hidden truths, to guide those lost in shadow. But it also demands something from us. To truly understand its power, a sacrifice must be made. Something must be left behind."
A chill ran through Mariane's body at the Princess's words. "Sacrifice? What do you mean?"
The Princess turned her gaze to her, eyes shining with a gentle knowing. "It is a choice you must make, Mariane. A moment when your heart will be tested. All those who are bound to the magic of the moon must face this choice, for it is only then that they can truly understand their role in the great balance of the world."
Mariane fell silent, the weight of the Princess's words settling over her like a thick fog. Something stirred within her, as though an unseen door was opening in the distance, but she could not yet see what lay behind it. The moon was calling her, but what would the sacrifice be? And why did the Princess seem so calm, almost as though she had known this moment would come?
The Princess extended her hand, her eyes warm, her smile faintly mysterious. "Come closer. Place your hand on the tree and look up at the moon. See if you can hear the truth it has to reveal."
With a mix of curiosity and apprehension, Mariane stepped forward. She placed her hand against the rough bark of the ancient oak and lifted her eyes to the full moon. The moment her fingers brushed the tree, a surge of energy passed through her, like a wave of light that washed over her. In that instant, images flooded her mind—fragmented, yet vivid. The castle. The gardens. The Oak of Whispers. But also something more. A vast, mist-covered field, golden and ethereal, and a figure cloaked in shadows, moving quietly through the mist. Mariane felt a jolt of recognition. The figure seemed strangely familiar, as though it was linked to her own fate.
"You have seen what you needed to see," the Princess said softly, her voice carrying an ancient wisdom. "Now, it is time for you to decide."
Mariane pulled her hand away from the tree, her heart pounding, still reeling from the vision the moon had shown her. She knew something profound was changing, but what? What was the sacrifice the moon spoke of? And how would she choose?
The Princess looked at her, understanding written across her face. "The path of truth is never easy, Mariane. But you have the strength within you to face whatever comes."
As they stood beneath the glowing moon, Mariane felt the weight of the Princess's words settle deep within her. The moon had shown her something—a glimpse of what lay ahead, but also of what might be lost. And with that knowledge came the awareness that her journey was far from over. The moon was calling her still, and she had no choice but to answer.