A full moon shone in the night sky, its silver light struggling to pierce through the thick black clouds. Below, the world was swallowed in darkness, with only the wind whispering through the silence.
Deep within an uncharted land, six towering mountains stood in a perfect circle. At their heart lay a small island, and at its center, a statue of a kneeling woman, her stone hands pressed together as if guarding an ancient secret.
At the edge of one mountain, a lone figure stood, shrouded in shadows. His face remained hidden, but his presence exuded power. With deliberate slowness, he lifted his right hand toward the moon.
A small golden light flickered in his palm, then surged into the sky, forming a towering pillar of yellow radiance.
Suddenly, five more golden pillars erupted from the remaining mountains, casting an eerie glow over the land.
The island responded.
The statue began to glow, cracks forming along its surface. The golden pillars shifted, their light transforming into a deep, celestial blue. The once-hidden moon now bathed the scene in an ethereal sapphire glow, revealing something concealed within the statue's arms.
A newborn.
Wrapped in delicate cloth, the infant's tiny fists were curled tightly. Upon his small hand, a mark shimmered—a crescent moon, pulsating with the same blue light as the pillars.
The man moved.
In an instant, he vanished from the mountain's edge and reappeared before the statue. With careful hands, he lifted the child from the stone embrace, cradling him under the moon's watchful gaze.
His voice, rich with emotion, broke the silence.
"You have finally returned."
16 Years Later – 2025
A teenage boy sprinted through the crowded streets, his school bag bouncing against his back.
"Damn it! Why didn't my alarm ring? I'm gonna be late again!" he groaned, pushing his legs harder.
As he neared the school gates, his worst nightmare unfolded—the security guard was just about to shut them.
"Wait! Wait! I'm almost there!" he yelled, waving frantically.
The guard smirked, unimpressed. "Not happening, kid. Rules are rules."
Grinding his teeth, the boy made a split-second decision. With a burst of energy, he leaped. His body soared over the gate, landing smoothly on the other side.
"In your dreams, old man!" he called back, dashing toward the school building.
The guard shook his head, sighing. "Damn kids these days…"
Racing through the empty halls, breathless, he finally reached his classroom. Peeking inside, he saw the teacher standing at the front, arms crossed.
Plan B.
Moving with exaggerated care, he cracked the door open just enough to slip through. Keeping low, he crawled toward his seat—the last one by the window. Almost there…
WHAP!
A piece of chalk struck his forehead with precision.
"Nice try," the teacher said dryly. "Take your seat."
Groaning, he rubbed his forehead and stood up as the class erupted into laughter. Face burning, he trudged to his chair, burying himself in his books.
As the lesson dragged on, his mind wandered. His gaze drifted to the window, locking onto the distant mountains on the horizon. Something about them felt… familiar, though he couldn't place why.
His eyelids grew heavy. The teacher's voice became a dull hum. Sleep pulled him under.
In the silence of his dreams, a voice echoed.
"Keld…"
His brow furrowed. The voice was soft yet commanding, calling his name.
"Keld… wake up, idiot."
He mumbled, shifting slightly.
"Hey, loser! Wake up already!"
A sharp jab to his shoulder startled him awake.
Blinking, he turned and groaned. "Oh… it's you two. Elowen and Cassian."
Elowen crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Do you always take naps in class, or is today special?"
Cassian chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "One of these days, you're gonna get caught drooling, and I'll be the first to take a picture."
Keld stretched and yawned. "Not my fault the class is so boring."
Elowen smirked. "Right, because paying attention is such a crime."
Cassian laughed. "More like a death sentence for his brain."
Elowen rolled her eyes. "Anyway, how were you late again? Let me guess—another 'broken alarm clock'?"
Keld groaned. "It didn't ring! I swear!"
Cassian smirked. "Maybe because you forgot to set it?"
Keld hesitated before muttering, "…Possibly."
Elowen shook her head. "You're hopeless."
The school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Students eagerly packed their bags, ready to leave.
Cassian stretched. "Finally! I thought that last period would never end."
Elowen grabbed her bag. "Let's go grab something to eat. I'm starving."
Cassian grinned. "Best idea I've heard all day."
Keld slung his bag over his shoulder. "Yeah, before Elowen starts chewing on her textbooks."
Elowen smirked. "Keep talking, and you're buying my food."
After eating, Elowen and Cassian walked off together, leaving Keld alone. As he walked home, he noticed something strange—the streets were empty, an eerie silence filling the air.
His steps slowed. Why is no one around?
Suddenly, a cat appeared. Its fur was pure white, and its eyes gleamed a deep purple. A crescent moon symbol adorned its forehead.
Keld frowned. "What a weird cat…"
The cat stared at him, then turned and started walking, occasionally glancing back as if urging him to follow.
He hesitated, then, driven by curiosity, followed.
Ten minutes passed. The silence deepened, the absence of people unsettling.
Where is this cat taking me? And why is no one here?
The cat suddenly stopped.
Keld looked up—and found himself in front of an old bookstore. A worn-out sign above the entrance read:
Celestia's Vault.
The cat slipped inside. Keld swallowed hard, an unexplainable dread creeping into his chest.
A whisper curled through the air, barely audible.
"Welcome back, Moon Child."
Keld's breath caught. His heart pounded as the door creaked open on its own.
He stepped inside.