Destined by the moon

The sanctuary seemed to pulse with energy as Kael led Elara deeper into its hidden chambers. The stone walls were covered with intricate carvings—images of moons, stars, and unfamiliar symbols that seemed to shift when she looked at them too long. The air was heavy, charged with a power that made her skin tingle.

"This place was built by the Moonborn," Kael explained as they walked. "It's one of the last remaining sanctuaries where their power still lingers. It's a safe haven—and a proving ground."

Elara frowned, clutching the crescent moon pendant around her neck. "Proving ground for what?"

"For the Luminara," Kael said, glancing back at her. "For you. This is where you'll begin to unlock your abilities."

"Abilities?" she echoed, her voice rising slightly. "What abilities? You're making it sound like I'm supposed to have magic or something."

Kael stopped in front of a large stone door, the carvings on its surface glowing faintly. He turned to face her, his golden eyes serious. "You do. The power of the Moonborn flows in your blood, Elara. You're not just human. You're something far more."

She opened her mouth to protest, but the words died in her throat. A part of her wanted to deny everything he was saying, to cling to the normalcy of her life. But after the Shadows, after the visions, after seeing Kael transform into a wolf before her eyes—normal felt like a distant dream.

"What kind of abilities?" she asked cautiously.

Kael placed a hand on the stone door, his fingers tracing the glowing symbols. "The Luminara are light-bearers. Your power comes from the moon itself, and it manifests in different ways—healing, protection, even combat. But first, you need to awaken it."

The door rumbled, the carvings shifting and twisting as it began to open. A gust of cool air swept over them, carrying the faint scent of earth and flowers.

"Awaken it how?" Elara asked, her voice unsteady.

Kael stepped aside, motioning for her to enter. "By facing what lies within."

Her stomach twisted as she peered into the chamber beyond. It was vast and circular, the walls lined with more glowing carvings. At the center stood a pedestal, and floating above it was a sphere of silver light, pulsing like a heartbeat.

"What is that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"The Moon's Fragment," Kael said. "It's a piece of pure lunar energy. To unlock your power, you need to connect with it."

She took a hesitant step forward, her palms slick with sweat. "And how exactly do I do that?"

Kael's expression was unreadable. "You'll have to face the truths buried within you. The Fragment will draw out your deepest fears, your doubts, and the pieces of your past that you've been too afraid to remember."

Elara froze, her heart hammering. "That sounds… terrifying."

"It is," Kael admitted. "But you're stronger than you think, Elara. I'll be here, watching. You're not alone."

His words steadied her, if only slightly. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the chamber. The moment she crossed the threshold, a wave of energy washed over her, and the door closed behind her with a resounding thud.

The air inside the chamber was thick, almost alive. The silver sphere pulsed brighter as she approached, its light illuminating the carvings on the walls. They seemed to move, forming images—scenes of battles, of figures cloaked in light, of shadows consuming everything in their path.

Elara stopped a few feet from the pedestal, her legs trembling. The Fragment's glow intensified, and suddenly, the chamber seemed to dissolve around her.

She was no longer in the sanctuary.

She stood in a familiar place—the yard outside her house. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the grass. She could hear Liam's laughter, see her parents sitting on the porch. It was a scene she'd lived countless times, but something was wrong.

The shadows were moving.

They crept closer to her family, twisting and writhing like living things. She tried to call out, but no sound came from her throat. She tried to move, but her feet felt rooted to the ground.

Then the Shadows struck.

They engulfed her family in an instant, their glowing red eyes gleaming with malice. Liam screamed, his voice piercing the air, and her parents' faces twisted in terror as they disappeared into the darkness.

"No!" Elara cried, finding her voice at last. She lunged forward, but the scene dissolved before she could reach them.

The world shifted again, and she found herself in a different memory. She was a child, no older than five, standing in a moonlit field. The silver-haired woman from her visions knelt before her, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"Elara," the woman said, her voice trembling. "You must be brave. You must be strong. The darkness will come for you, but you are the light. You are the key."

Tears streamed down the woman's face as she pressed the crescent moon pendant into Elara's hands. "I love you," she whispered. "Never forget that."

Before Elara could respond, the memory shattered, and she was back in the chamber. The Fragment hovered before her, its light now blinding.

Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The memories, the fear, the grief—it was too much.

But then she felt it—a warmth in her chest, growing stronger with each beat of her heart. She looked down to see the pendant glowing faintly, its light resonating with the Fragment.

"Elara," a voice echoed in her mind—Kael's voice. "You're stronger than this. You are the light."

She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand. The pendant's glow spread, enveloping her in a soft, silver light. The Fragment pulsed in response, its energy reaching out to her like an outstretched hand.

She stepped forward, her fear fading as the light grew brighter. She reached out, her fingers brushing the Fragment's surface.

The moment she touched it, the world exploded into light.