Morning arrived with a thin mist still draping the mountain peaks in the distance. The first rays of sunlight reflected golden hues over the old castle, creating a contrast against the cold shadows lingering in the stone corridors. Inside the castle, the atmosphere remained silent, as if time moved more slowly in this place.
Damon stood on the balcony, his long coat swaying gently in the morning breeze. His eyes gazed far, searching for something unseen by ordinary humans. In the distance, black birds flew in erratic patterns over the forest, a sign that something had shifted in the universe.
"Lunar…" he whispered, barely audible. A name that had now become a mantra for him. A mantra so powerful, yet intoxicating. Like a double-edged sword.
Footsteps approached from behind, and without turning, Damon already knew who had come. Caius stopped a few steps behind him, lowering his head in respect.
"Master, the preparations for your journey are complete. If you wish, we can depart at any time."
Damon did not immediately respond. He remained still, as if listening to voices only he could hear. The universe seemed to be trying to tell him something. Damon hoped the power of the universe would protect his beloved out there.
"We will not leave this morning, Caius," Damon finally said, his voice flat but firm. "I want to wait until nightfall. Lunar may have been reborn, but her presence is not yet strong enough. I want to feel that resonance more clearly."
Caius nodded in understanding. He knew how important this moment was to Damon. "As you wish, Master."
Damon turned, his ruby eyes meeting Caius's with deep meaning. "Send someone to monitor activity in the nearest town. I want reports on unusual births or children with strange marks. Lunar will not be born as an ordinary girl. There will be something that sets her apart."
"Home is the safest place to give birth. They must have expected us to track her down," Caius replied cautiously. "But I will ensure that every birth is examined. No detail will escape our observation."
Damon nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing as if piecing together every possibility in his mind. The cold morning wind whispered, carrying the scent of damp forest and earth touched by dew.
"Lunar may be hiding among them, but she will shine brighter than the rest. The darkness that once enveloped her will try to reclaim her," Damon whispered, almost to himself.
Caius stepped back, ready to carry out his orders. "I have dispatched Eris and our group, Master. As you know, he has sharp eyes and keen intuition. If something is amiss, he will know. He is the best for this job."
Damon gave a small nod as he turned his gaze back to the horizon. "Inform me the moment there is news."
Caius's footsteps faded down the corridor, leaving Damon standing alone. He felt a fleeting sense of calm, but deep in his heart, fear crept slowly. As silence embraced him once more, Damon listened again to the whispers of his heart. His instincts had never been wrong. And now, he would not let anyone—even Drac—interfere again.
From afar, the sound of crows echoed. Damon turned, his eyes following the crow as it perched atop the castle roof. The crow stared sharply, as if carrying an unspoken message. Damon squinted, sensing a foreign energy surrounding the creature.
"It seems you bring a message for me," he murmured softly, almost as if speaking to the crow.
The bird cawed once, then flew low across the balcony, leaving behind a single black feather that spiraled gently to Damon's feet. He bent down, picking up the feather, feeling a coldness seeping from his fingertips.
"The game has begun?" Damon whispered, clenching the feather. Perhaps this is just a game to you, Drac! But for me, it is far more than that. Perhaps for you, this is simply win or lose, but the decision lies with Lunar and fate.
The crow's shadow vanished behind the forest, but Damon knew—this was no ordinary warning. Drac had begun to move, which meant Lunar was closer than he had thought.
In the distance, Caius's footsteps echoed once more, signaling his return with news. Damon waited, the black feather in his hand turning to ash with the passing breeze.
~~~
Meanwhile, at Drac's residence, in his study room—
The room was illuminated only by the flickering candlelight, casting long shadows on the cold stone walls. The faint scent of sandalwood mingled with the near-suffocating silence. In the large chair at the corner of the room, Drac sat quietly, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. His gaze was sharp, piercing through the night beyond the window.
Viktor's footsteps approached, ending with a restrained bow.
"Your message has been received, Prince Drac," he said, his voice low but firm.
Drac did not respond immediately. The candle in the corner flickered, as if an invisible wind had passed by. His gaze remained fixed on the large window facing the dense forest. In the silence, a faint, unreadable smile curved his lips, sending a brief shiver through Viktor.
"That night, he knew it too. He placed his men throughout the town long before her birth. But we don't know exactly where. It seems he has misled us."
Viktor nodded, restraining himself from asking further. He knew Drac's instincts were sharp—almost like a beast, always one step ahead of its prey.
"Have you found her trail?" Drac asked, tilting his head slightly but keeping his eyes on the window.
"Not entirely, My Prince. But we have investigated several villages in the north. There is a report of an unusual birth—a child born under an eclipse." Viktor lowered his voice, as if his words carried weight.
Drac chuckled softly, bitterly. "An eclipse, huh? Fate truly enjoys playing games." His fingers ceased their tapping. For the first time since Viktor entered, Drac turned to face him. "Bring the child to me. If she is Lunar, I want to confirm it with my own eyes."
Viktor bowed deeply. "As you command."
As Viktor turned to leave, Drac added in a colder tone.
"And if he tries to find her… ensure he never reaches her."
Viktor smiled faintly beneath his mask. "With pleasure, My Prince."
~~~
Fog thicker than usual. Under the pale moonlight, Damon walked down the castle corridors. His steps echoed, each tap of his shoes on the stone floor sounding like a lonely song.
At the end of the hallway, a large oak door stood firm. Damon pushed it open slowly, and the room beyond greeted him with deep darkness. Only the faint glow of small candles lit the room, revealing a star map etched into the ceiling.
Caius was already waiting there, standing beside a round table cluttered with scrolls and thick books.
"Master, the report from the town has arrived."
Damon approached, taking one of the scrolls and unfolding it. His eyes narrowed as he read line by line.
"A baby girl was born on the outskirts of town. Her eyes are different colors—one silver and one gold."
"That's no coincidence," Damon muttered, his voice barely audible. "She is Lunar..."
Caius carefully watched his master. "What should we do now?"
Damon rolled the scroll back up, his eyes gleaming sharply. "We will find her. But we must be cautious. He must have sensed it too. We can't let him find her first!"
Caius nodded and stepped back, leaving Damon in silence once more. In his heart, Damon knew his journey had just begun. Lunar had returned, and the world was once again trembling with her presence.
~~~
Drac stood beside the baby's cradle, staring intently as if trying to peer into the infant's soul, analyzing every detail. The baby whimpered softly, but there was nothing extraordinary about her. Her face was pale, with empty eyes that revealed nothing but confusion. Drac touched her cheek with slender fingers, watching for any reaction, but something felt wrong.
"This child is not Lunar," Drac whispered, his voice deepening as if confirming the nagging feeling he had long harbored.
Viktor looked puzzled, his eyes silently questioning. "Are… you certain, My Prince?"
"The eclipse was mere coincidence," Drac replied coldly. "This is infuriating! Fate always manages to deceive us. Lunar is still out there, and we have yet to find her. She is just an ordinary child, born under the shadow of the eclipse. Lunar is far more than this baby. She is special!"
Carefully, Drac lifted the child, gazing into her eyes once more. There were no signs of anything unusual, but now he felt the trail slipping away.
"Don't let me be wrong," he whispered with hope. "Lunar… where are you, my dear?"
Drac drew a long breath, as if releasing an invisible weight, before stepping back to compose himself. There was something strange about this entire situation, and he couldn't ignore it. It was as if the universe was toying with them, blurring the signs that should have been clear.
"My dear Lunar..." he whispered in his heart, turning to Viktor. "Lunar... I will find her, no matter what."
***