Chapter 18: Shadows of the Past 1
The battlefield was eerily silent after the clash of celestial energy. Smoke curled around the ruins, the ground scorched where Adrian had fallen. Seraphina stood amidst the destruction, her body trembling from the power surge that still coursed through her veins. The Eclipse Curse had not vanished—it had become a part of her.
Kane approached cautiously, his golden eyes scanning her warily. "Seraphina… are you alright?"
She took a deep breath, the silver and shadow flames around her fingertips slowly dissipating. "I don't know," she admitted. "Something's changed. I can feel it."
Before Kane could respond, Rafael let out a sharp whistle. "We've got company."
From the darkness beyond the ruins, figures emerged. Cloaked in obsidian armor, their eyes glowed a familiar crimson hue—servants of the Eclipse Order. At their center stood a woman with raven-black hair, her presence suffocating.
Selene's expression remained unreadable. "Ah, so the Order finally sends its emissary."
The woman smirked, stepping forward. "You should have expected us, Moon Priestess."
Seraphina's breath caught in her throat. That voice—hauntingly familiar. Memories she had buried deep clawed their way to the surface. The woman was no stranger.
"Mother?" Seraphina's voice cracked.
A cruel smile tugged at the woman's lips. "How long has it been, my dear daughter? Did you truly believe you could escape your fate?"
Kane and Rafael stiffened, their hands instinctively gripping their weapons. Adrian, who had barely regained consciousness, let out a dry chuckle. "Well, this just got interesting."
Seraphina's mind reeled. Her mother had died—hadn't she? She had spent her entire life believing she was an orphan. That belief had shaped her, defined her struggles. And yet, here she was, standing before her, very much alive.
"Why?" Seraphina whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Why didn't you come for me? Why serve them?"
Her mother's gaze softened, but only for a moment. "Because I was never lost, Seraphina. You were."
A chill ran through her spine. The shadows around her mother flickered, revealing a power more sinister than even Adrian's. The Eclipse Order had claimed her, corrupted her.
Selene took a step forward, her presence anchoring the chaos. "She is not the child you abandoned. She has surpassed you."
A flicker of irritation crossed the woman's face before she smirked. "Then let's see if she is strong enough to prove it."
Without warning, the night erupted into chaos. The Order attacked.
Seraphina barely had time to react as her mother lunged at her, darkness radiating from her outstretched hands. Kane intercepted a blow meant for Rafael, while Selene remained still, watching, waiting.
The battle had only just begun.
Chapter 19: Shadows of the Past 2
The echoes of battle still lingered in the cold night air, the scent of burnt magic hanging thick as Seraphina tried to steady her breath. The Eclipse Curse had not released its hold on her completely, but she had taken control—if only for now.
Rafael approached cautiously, his amber eyes scanning her face for any sign of collapse. "That was reckless," he murmured, though his voice held no anger, only concern.
Seraphina managed a weak smile. "And yet, I'm still standing."
Kane let out a rough chuckle, sheathing his sword. "Barely."
Lucian, ever the observer, stood at the edge of the ruins, gazing toward the distant horizon. "This battle was only a prelude. Adrian will return, and next time, he won't come alone."
Selene remained silent, her expression unreadable as she watched Seraphina. Then, as if making a decision, she finally spoke. "It is time you understood the truth of your bloodline. The war we fight is not just against Adrian—it is against the past itself."
A cold shiver ran down Seraphina's spine. "What do you mean?"
Selene motioned for them to follow as she walked toward the ruins, her silver cloak billowing in the wind. They descended into the heart of the fallen temple, where the walls were etched with glowing lunar sigils—words written in a language older than time itself.
"This," Selene said, her voice barely above a whisper, "is the truth the world has tried to bury. The Moonbound bloodline was never meant to wield power alone. It was meant to be balanced—light and shadow, creation and destruction. But centuries ago, a betrayal shattered that balance, and the curse was born."
Seraphina traced her fingers over the ancient symbols, feeling a pulse of energy beneath her touch. "And Adrian?"
Selene's silver eyes darkened. "He is the product of that betrayal. The bloodline was divided, twisted by greed and fear. Adrian believes he is restoring what was lost, but in truth, he is only ensuring its destruction."
Rafael exhaled sharply. "So how do we stop him?"
Selene turned to Seraphina, her gaze unwavering. "You must reclaim what was stolen."
A deep, resonating hum filled the chamber as the symbols glowed brighter. A doorway of pure lunar energy appeared before them, pulsing with an invitation—and a warning.
Seraphina swallowed hard. Every instinct in her screamed that this path would change everything. But she had already come too far to turn back now.
With a steady breath, she stepped forward.
The shadows of the past awaited.
Chapter 20: The Lunar Gate
Seraphina felt a pulse of energy rush through her as she stepped into the glowing doorway. The air crackled with ancient power, and for a moment, everything around her dissolved into an endless expanse of silver light. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as the energy pulled her forward, dragging her into the unknown.
When she finally emerged, she found herself standing in a vast chamber illuminated by the pale glow of the twin moons above. The walls were lined with towering monoliths covered in shifting lunar sigils, whispering forgotten secrets to those who dared listen.
Selene stepped beside her, her silver eyes gleaming. "This is the Lunar Gate," she said. "The heart of our bloodline's legacy. If you wish to reclaim what was stolen, this is where your journey truly begins."
Seraphina clenched her fists, feeling the weight of responsibility settle over her. "What must I do?"
Selene raised a hand, and the sigils on the nearest monolith flared to life, revealing a shimmering figure—a ghostly apparition of a woman with features strikingly similar to Seraphina's.
"You must face her," Selene said softly. "The first bearer of our lineage's power. She holds the truth that was buried long ago. But be warned—she will not yield it easily."
The apparition's eyes snapped open, glowing like molten silver. The temperature in the chamber plummeted as an unseen force surged forward, pressing against Seraphina like a tidal wave. Shadows coiled at the edges of her vision, whispering doubts, feeding on her fears.
"You are not worthy," the spirit's voice echoed through the chamber, cold and distant. "You will fail, just as the others before you."
Seraphina took a step forward, her breath steady. "Then I will fail fighting."
A flash of silver light exploded between them as the spirit lunged. The battle for the truth had begun.