Mariane felt a shiver run down her spine as her eyes remained fixed on the full moon. Its silver glow seemed to call her name, like a promise echoing through the vastness of the night. She knew there was no turning back now, that the moment of decision had come. With a deep breath, she felt an invisible force guiding her steps, as if the very air around her was urging her forward.
The Princess, still by her side, did not speak. Her calm expression indicated that Mariane already knew what to do, even though she couldn't fully understand what was about to happen. Lúcio, on the other hand, remained silent, but his eyes were filled with confidence and hope, as if he deeply believed the young woman would face whatever fate had in store for her.
Mariane glanced at them one last time before taking the first step toward the illuminated clearing. The soft sound of her feet brushing against the grass seemed to be absorbed by the magic surrounding her, and as she moved forward, a strange sensation of detachment overtook her. The world around her seemed to blur, as if reality itself was distorting. She could no longer distinguish where the castle ended and the forest began, where the trees melded with the sky. It was as if everything was joining in an ethereal dance, where time no longer had meaning.
Suddenly, the melody of the moon—the same one that had drawn her here—began to intensify. It was no longer just a gentle tune; now, it seemed to be part of her very soul. With every step, the sound became clearer, louder, resonating in the depths of her being. It was a song that spoke of ancient truths, things far beyond human comprehension.
Mariane stopped at the center of the clearing, where the moonlight seemed to be at its brightest, almost tangible. The ancient oak tree, with its twisted branches and imposing presence, stood before her. It seemed alive, as though it was waiting for her, ready to reveal something grand. The wind, though soft, carried with it a sense of urgency, and Mariane felt a wave of anxiety mixed with strange anticipation.
It was then that the Princess stepped forward, her voice soft breaking the deep silence.
"The moon has chosen you, Mariane. But now, it is time for you to look within yourself. What it holds for you is not something your eyes can see. You must feel it, hear it, understand it. The sacrifice that will be asked of you will not be an external one, but something that lies within you. Something you must offer for the path to be revealed."
Mariane closed her eyes, trying to listen more carefully to the music, trying to sense what the moon was asking. The sound of the melody grew stronger, but now there was a new dimension to it. It was as if the music itself were the voice of the moon, singing to her, a soft voice, yet filled with wisdom. The song was telling her something, but she could not fully understand yet. It was a vague sensation, like a forgotten memory beginning to emerge.
Suddenly, the earth beneath her feet vibrated slightly, as if the clearing itself was responding to her presence. Mariane felt a surge of energy course through her body, from her feet, up her legs. It was as if the very earth was aligning with her, preparing her for something much larger.
The branches of the oak tree began to move, and Mariane looked up in surprise. It was not the wind. It was as though the tree itself was bending toward her, as if inviting her into something hidden within its depths. The sound of the music grew louder still, now becoming a deep and ancient chant, and Mariane felt something awaken within her. It was a feeling of belonging, as if she were part of something infinitely greater.
The Princess watched her with a knowing gaze, and Lúcio, standing beside her, appeared to be waiting patiently, silent. Mariane knew that the choice was before her. The sacrifice the moon was asking for was not a physical one, not an object or a life. It was something deeper. Something involving her essence, her very nature.
"You must surrender to the music of the moon," the Princess said, her voice now almost a whisper. "What you seek is the truth about who you are. The moon wants you to know yourself, to understand your purpose, to see beyond what is visible."
Mariane felt her body tremble, and a wave of emotions flooded over her. Fear, doubt, but also a growing sense of clarity. The music surrounded her, and she felt with every note a bond being formed between herself and the moon, between herself and the cosmos. She knew that by accepting this call, her life would never be the same.
She closed her eyes again, and with a deep sigh, extended her hands toward the sky. A warm glow began to emanate from the center of her chest, as if her very heart was aligning with the pulse of the moon. The silver light wrapped around her, and she felt an energy she had never imagined experiencing. It was as though she were becoming an extension of the night itself, connected to all living things, to everything that existed, in the present and the past.
The music intensified, and Mariane felt her mind clear. She saw flashes of images—ancient glimpses of long-forgotten times, of lost civilizations, of people who had walked before her, all connected by the same mysterious force. The moon, that ethereal presence, seemed to be revealing to her the secret of her own destiny.
Then, the vision deepened. Mariane saw herself in a distant future, facing difficult choices, in a world on the brink of great change. She saw the kingdom, its people, and herself, playing a role she had never imagined. She saw the moon again, its gentle light, but now with a clear message: what was reserved for her was a destiny of leadership, of hard choices, of sacrifices that would shape her. But it would also be a path of wisdom, of deep understanding, and connection to the forces that govern the universe.
The vision faded, and Mariane felt the moon retreat, its light softening until it disappeared completely. The sound of the music ceased, and the clearing returned to silence. She was alone again, but no longer lost. The path had opened before her, and she knew without a doubt what she needed to do.
With her heart still racing, she looked at the Princess and the Prince. Both of them watched her with an expression of silent understanding. Mariane smiled, her determination renewed. She knew the sacrifice the moon had asked for was something profound, something she would have to understand and accept with every fiber of her being. And with this acceptance, she would walk her path, knowing she was no longer alone.
"Whatever comes, I will face it," she said, her voice firm, filled with newfound confidence. "I understand now. The moon has shown me my way."
The Princess smiled, her eyes glowing with pride. "Then you are ready to begin your journey, Mariane. Your destiny is grand."
And with those words, Mariane's destiny unfolded before her, like an open book, waiting for the next pages to be written.
But just as she stepped forward, ready to embrace what lay ahead, she felt something shift in the air—an unsettling chill. The moon's light flickered for an instant, as if something was not quite right.
The Princess's expression tightened, her gaze flicking to the horizon. And Lúcio's hand subtly moved closer to hers, as if bracing for something unseen.
A whisper of danger hovered in the air.
Something—*or someone*—was watching.
The journey had only just begun, but Mariane couldn't shake the feeling that what was waiting for her was far darker than she had been prepared for.