Mariane felt a cold wave run down her spine. The air had changed. It was no longer the soft touch of the night breeze, but something heavy, thick with tension she could not yet fully comprehend. The sound of the moon's music still echoed in her mind, but now it felt distorted, as though something was interfering with it. The soft glow of the moon grew more intense, casting long, twisted shadows around her.
The Princess, with her calm presence, didn't seem surprised. Her eyes were fixed on some distant point, as if she were seeing something Mariane could not yet understand. Lúcio, standing beside her, was tense. His eyes narrowed, his gentle smile disappearing as he stared ahead, where the trees began to move—not with the wind, but as if they were reacting to something far greater.
"What's happening?" Mariane asked, her voice trembling but with a strength she didn't know she had.
The Princess didn't answer immediately. Her expression grew serious, more solemn than Mariane had ever seen it before. Finally, the Princess spoke, her voice now carrying a tone that seemed more like a warning.
"Mariane, you were chosen, but not for a single fate. The moon, with its enchanting glow, can reveal many paths, but it also hides many traps. What you saw was not just the truth of what's to come. It was a vision of power—a power that others seek."
Mariane swallowed hard, her heart racing. The sensation of being watched grew more intense, as if invisible eyes were following her every movement. What the Princess said made sense, but the fear still gripped her like a thick fog.
Lúcio took a step forward, placing a protective hand on Mariane's shoulder. His eyes were serious, and he glanced at the Princess, as if confirming a decision, before returning his gaze to her.
"You need to understand that the moon did not only choose you, Mariane," Lúcio said with an intensity Mariane had never seen in him before. "It has awakened something… or someone."
Suddenly, the breeze that had been gentle turned violent. The trees around them began to stir, their leaves hissing as if they were screaming in silence. The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly, and Mariane felt a growing pressure in her chest. The moonlight flickered, and everything became strange and distorted.
The shadows around the clearing started to move. But they weren't natural shadows—they were shapes stretching and distorting as if something invisible was materializing. Mariane took a step back, her fear now consuming her. What was happening? What was coming?
"Don't look directly at them," the Princess said urgently, her voice lower. "They are shadows from the other side… manifestations of a force that even the moon cannot control."
Lúcio stepped in front of Mariane, his eyes fixed on the shadows that were now approaching. He didn't seem afraid, but a visible tension gripped his shoulders. He placed his hand on the sword at his side, as though preparing for something inevitable.
"These creatures," Lúcio explained, "are called *The Specters*. They exist between worlds, crossing the boundaries between reality and the unknown. They're sent by those who wish to disrupt the balance of the moon… and yours."
The air grew heavier, and the sound of the moon's music faded away. The silence was absolute, a silence that cut through, threatening. Mariane felt as though the shadows were closing in on them, the pressure mounting. There was something in the eyes of these beings, something not human, something cold and hollow, as if they were watching every movement she made.
"We are being watched," Mariane whispered, her voice barely audible, fear consuming her. "By who? What do they want?"
The Princess looked at her with a grave expression, as though the weight of centuries of wisdom and knowledge had prepared her for this moment, but even then, she looked troubled.
"The Specters are not mere creatures," she replied quietly, her gaze focused on the horizon. "They are the manifestation of an ancient power that seeks to claim what the moon guards. They are sent by a being who once walked among the realms, an entity who was banished, but now seeks to return. And you, Mariane, are at the heart of it all."
Mariane took a step back, panic rising in her chest. The Princess was saying she was part of something far bigger—and far more dangerous—than she could have ever imagined.
"The shadows are drawing closer," Lúcio said, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "We need to leave here, now!"
But before they could move, one of the shadows materialized before them, its ethereal form hovering just above the ground, a faceless being with glowing red eyes where a face should have been. The sound of a silent scream cut through the air, as if the very essence of the being was trying to communicate with them. Mariane couldn't move. Fear paralyzed her, and she felt as though the very air was being squeezed out of her lungs.
Lúcio stepped forward, his sword fully drawn. The Princess was ready too, her eyes glowing with ancient energy, but still, her face carried a look of concern.
"Mariane," the Princess said, her voice firm, "you need to connect with the moon. Only it can protect us now. The answer lies within you, but you must be strong. Look beyond what your eyes see."
But Mariane didn't know how. The terror almost stopped her from reacting. She felt a pressure in her chest, as if she were being pulled into the unknown, as if she were about to be dragged into the darkness surrounding them.
The shadow before them moved, its presence growing like a wave of cold.
"Mariane," Lúcio shouted, trying to snap her out of her daze. "Now!"
With a monumental effort, Mariane lifted her eyes to the moon. The silver light shone brighter, but now it was more intense, as though responding to her need. She felt a surge of warmth travel through her body, a sudden and deep connection with the moon. The fear was still there, but something inside her began to ignite. She closed her eyes, feeling the power of the moon converge in her soul—a power ancient and profound.
The air around them began to vibrate. The shadows paused for a moment. The Princess looked at Mariane with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Lúcio tightened his grip on his sword, ready for anything. And then, a voice echoed, soft yet filled with an irresistible force:
*"The moon has chosen, and fate will unfold..."*
Whatever it was, the path to the future lay before Mariane, and the danger was only beginning.
The tension was at its peak, but the true battle had yet to come.