Chapter 9: The Power Within
The training intensified.
For days, Aria pushed herself to the limit, her body aching, her mind exhausted. But she refused to stop. The more she trained, the more she felt the power within her awakening.
Lyra was relentless. She attacked without warning, forcing Aria to react, to move faster, to think ahead. Elder Miriam guided her with riddles and cryptic lessons, always urging her to feel rather than just fight.
Aria wasn't just learning how to fight—she was learning how to be Lunaris.
The Hidden Strength
One evening, as the moon rose high, Lyra crossed her arms. "You're holding back."
Aria wiped sweat from her brow. "I'm doing my best."
"No," Lyra said firmly. "Your power is trying to break free, but you're keeping it caged."
Aria frowned. "What do you mean?"
Miriam stepped forward. "You've felt it, haven't you? The energy that hums beneath your skin. It is not just speed or strength—it is something more. Something ancient."
Aria swallowed hard. She had felt it. Every time she fought, every time she moved, there was something deeper, something stirring inside her.
"How do I use it?" she asked.
Miriam smiled faintly. "That is what we will find out."
The Trial
They led her to a secluded part of the forest, where the air was thick with magic. A massive stone stood in the center, covered in old markings.
Miriam placed a hand on the stone. "This is an ancient relic, tied to the Lunaris Bloodline. Your ancestors used it to awaken their true potential."
Aria hesitated. "And I'm supposed to… what? Touch it?"
"Yes," Miriam said. "And let go of your fears."
Aria took a deep breath and stepped forward.
As soon as her fingers brushed the stone, a shockwave of energy surged through her.
Her vision blurred. A rush of images filled her mind—wolves of pure silver, eyes glowing like the stars, standing under the full moon. A voice whispered in her ear, unfamiliar yet comforting.
"Awaken, child of the moon."
Aria gasped as the power inside her snapped free.
The air around her crackled. The wind howled. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
And when she opened her eyes…
The markings on the stone were glowing.
Lyra and Miriam exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of shock and awe.
"You're more than we expected," Miriam murmured.
Aria's hands trembled as she looked down at herself, at the strange, pulsing energy now flowing through her veins.
She wasn't just strong.
She was something more.
And the world was about to find out.
End of Chapter 9