CHAPTER THREE
The Moon's Secret
"The oldest lies are not written in books. They are carved into kingdoms."
The roar echoed across the valley long after the mountains had fallen silent.
Not a single bird remained in the trees.
The wind itself seemed afraid to move.
Lyra stood frozen in the moonlit meadow, her heartbeat racing against her ribs.
Kael's eyes remained fixed on the dark sky.
His calm expression had vanished.
For the first time...
He looked worried.
Truly worried.
"What... was that?"
Lyra's voice barely rose above a whisper.
Kael answered without looking at her.
"A dragon."
She laughed nervously.
"That's impossible."
"It was."
He finally turned toward her.
"Until tonight."
The smile disappeared from Lyra's face.
"You actually believe dragons exist?"
Kael studied her for several seconds.
"You've been told they were myths."
"Of course."
"And yet..."
His eyes dropped toward the glowing mark on her wrist.
"So was the Moon's Mark."
Lyra instinctively hid her wrist behind her back.
"You keep looking at this."
"What is it?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Instead...
He slowly walked closer.
Moonlight illuminated the silver crescent beneath the cloth wrapped around her wrist.
His expression hardened.
"I hoped I was wrong."
"You still haven't answered me."
Kael looked directly into her eyes.
"That isn't called the Moon's Mark."
Lyra frowned.
"Then what is it called?"
Kael spoke one word.
"The Crown."
Silence.
Even the wind seemed to disappear.
Lyra blinked.
"...What?"
Kael nodded toward her wrist.
"That symbol isn't decoration."
"It isn't magic."
"It isn't a blessing."
His voice became quieter.
"It's a key."
"A key to what?"
Kael looked toward the mountains.
"Something that should never be opened."
Suddenly—
Crunch.
A branch snapped inside the forest.
Kael instantly pulled Lyra behind him.
His hand moved to the sword hanging at his side.
Three arrows flew from the darkness.
Kael drew his blade in one fluid motion.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
All three arrows shattered before touching him.
Lyra stared in disbelief.
"You..."
Kael didn't move.
"Stay behind me."
Dark figures stepped out between the trees.
Black armor.
Silver masks.
Eight soldiers.
Their captain lowered his spear.
"Prince Kael."
"We have orders."
Kael's expression remained unreadable.
"I know."
"The council commands you to surrender the girl."
"No."
The captain sighed.
"I was hoping you wouldn't say that."
The soldiers raised their weapons.
Lyra whispered,
"Who are these people?"
Kael never looked away from them.
"My family."
The soldiers attacked.
The first charged straight toward Lyra.
Kael moved before anyone could blink.
His sword flashed beneath the moonlight.
The captain's spear split cleanly into two pieces.
Another soldier lunged.
Kael stepped aside effortlessly.
One precise strike—
The man's weapon flew twenty feet into the air.
Not a single soldier had been seriously injured.
Lyra noticed.
"You aren't trying to kill them."
Kael answered while blocking another attack.
"They're only following orders."
The captain growled.
"So are you."
"No."
Kael's eyes turned cold.
"I'm following something older."
One soldier slipped behind Lyra.
She turned—
Too late.
The blade rushed toward her—
A burst of silver light exploded from her wrist.
The entire forest flashed white.
The attacking soldier was thrown backward as if struck by lightning.
Every tree around them shook violently.
The masked warriors stumbled in terror.
One whispered,
"No..."
"It can't be..."
The captain slowly removed his helmet.
Fear filled his eyes.
"The Moon accepted her..."
Everyone stared at Lyra.
Including Kael.
She looked down at her hands.
Silver light flowed across her fingertips like liquid starlight.
"I..."
"I didn't do that."
Kael believed her.
"I know."
The earth trembled.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
A massive crack opened several meters away.
The ground split apart.
Ancient stone stairs slowly rose from beneath the earth.
Covered in glowing silver runes.
No one moved.
Lyra stared in disbelief.
"What is this?"
Kael whispered,
"It shouldn't exist anymore."
The stairs continued rising.
Until an enormous circular doorway emerged beneath the moonlight.
A symbol was carved across its surface.
Not a crown.
Not a sword.
A dragon.
Its wings wrapped around the moon itself.
The silver mark on Lyra's wrist suddenly burned.
The door responded.
Ancient runes awakened one by one.
The soldiers backed away.
The captain looked horrified.
"No one has opened the Sanctuary in..."
He couldn't finish.
Kael quietly did it for him.
"...one thousand years."
A deep voice echoed from inside the mountain.
Not loud.
Yet every person heard it clearly.
"Who bears... the First Crown?"
Lyra stepped backward.
"I don't understand..."
The voice spoke again.
"Come forward... Child of Moonlight."
Kael immediately grabbed her wrist.
"No."
The voice laughed.
Not cruelly.
Sadly.
"You cannot hide her forever... Shadow Prince."
Lyra looked at Kael.
"You know this place."
His silence answered her.
Slowly...
Kael drew a long breath.
"There are truths..."
He looked toward the ancient doorway.
"...I hoped you'd never have to learn."
Lyra met his eyes.
"What truths?"
Kael hesitated.
Then quietly confessed—
"The history your kingdom teaches..."
"...is a lie."
At that exact moment—
Inside the darkness beyond the ancient doorway...
Two enormous golden eyes slowly opened.
Not sleeping.
Waiting.
Watching.
A deep rumble echoed through the mountain.
Not from anger.
Recognition.
The unseen creature whispered a single name...
Not Lyra.
Not Kael.
But a name neither of them had ever heard.
"Selene..."
Lyra's heart skipped a beat.
For reasons she couldn't explain...
The name felt like home.