Tides of the Moon

Chapter 26: Whispers of the Tide

Divine and Caelan moved quickly through the dense forest, the air thick with unspoken tension. Every step felt heavier, as if the forest itself resisted their passage. The trees seemed alive, their branches twisting to block the moonlight, casting long, eerie shadows.

"You're quiet," Caelan remarked, his voice low but steady.

Divine glanced at him, her thoughts still tangled in the encounter at the Lunar Nexus. "There's so much I don't understand yet," she admitted. "But one thing is clear—I'm not just some ordinary girl. And the world is depending on me in ways I can't fully grasp."

Caelan's jaw tightened. "You don't have to bear this alone. Whatever this is, I'm with you."

She managed a faint smile. "I know. And I'm grateful."

As they approached the edge of the forest, a faint melody drifted through the air, haunting and otherworldly. Divine stopped in her tracks, her heart racing.

"Do you hear that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Caelan nodded, his hand instinctively reaching for his blade. "It's coming from the cliffs."

They followed the sound, the melody growing louder and more mournful with each step. When they reached the cliffs, they found a young woman standing at the edge, her long silver hair billowing in the wind.

"Who are you?" Divine called out, her voice steady despite the unease gnawing at her.

The woman turned, her eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. "I've been waiting for you, Moonlight," she said, her voice melodic and tinged with sadness.

"Why does everyone keep calling me that?" Divine demanded, frustration creeping into her tone.

The woman stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "Because that is who you are. You may not remember, but the tides and the moon have always been yours to command. You are their goddess, their keeper. And the balance you once maintained is now at risk."

Divine swallowed hard. "What do you mean?"

"The storm you unleashed long ago—it fractured the harmony of this world," the woman explained. "And now, forces that thrive on chaos are rising, drawn to the cracks you left behind."

Caelan stepped forward, his protective instincts flaring. "What do you want from her?"

The woman's gaze softened as she looked at Divine. "I want to help you. But the path ahead will be treacherous. You must reclaim your powers fully, and to do that, you'll need to face the darkness within yourself."

Divine's chest tightened. "I don't even know where to start."

"You'll find the answers in the Moonlit Archives," the woman said. "But be warned—others seek the same knowledge, and they won't hesitate to destroy you to get it first."