CHAPTER EIGHT
The Forgotten Oath
"The greatest betrayal is not the lie you are told... but the truth you were forced to forget."
No one spoke as dawn broke over the mountains.
The crimson shadow still lingered across the moon.
The Eclipse had begun.
Its red glow refused to disappear.
Even the birds had stopped singing.
Inside the sanctuary...
Queen Seraphine unrolled an ancient map across a stone table.
Silver symbols slowly illuminated its surface.
"The Moon Path has opened."
Her finger traced a glowing line leading north.
"It leads to the Temple of Echoes."
Lyra frowned.
"What's there?"
The ancient silver dragon answered.
"The last untouched memories of Queen Selene."
Orion's expression darkened.
"We don't have much time."
Kael crossed his arms.
"Then we leave immediately."
The dragon shook its head.
"You won't reach the temple before nightfall."
"Something is waiting."
"What?"
The dragon closed its eyes.
"The Shadow Forest."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Even Orion looked uneasy.
Lyra noticed.
"You've been there before."
Orion didn't answer.
She stepped closer.
"What happened?"
His silver eyes met hers.
"I lost someone."
For a brief moment...
Pain crossed his face.
Real pain.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Regret.
Before Lyra could ask another question...
The sanctuary doors opened.
A young dragon scout landed in panic.
"My King!"
Orion immediately turned.
"What happened?"
"The western sky..."
"It's burning."
Everyone rushed outside.
Far across the horizon...
Entire forests were engulfed in crimson fire.
Yet there was no smoke.
No heat.
Only strange red flames.
Queen Seraphine whispered,
"Dragonfire..."
The ancient dragon growled.
"He is marking the land."
Lyra looked confused.
"Marking it for what?"
The dragon answered softly.
"Hunting."
A chill ran down everyone's spine.
Without wasting another second...
The group began their journey toward the Shadow Forest.
By sunset...
The forest appeared before them.
Nothing looked natural.
The trees were silver instead of green.
Their leaves shimmered like tiny mirrors.
No animals.
No insects.
No sound.
Kael instinctively stepped closer to Lyra.
"Stay near me."
She nodded.
As they entered...
The forest changed.
The path behind them disappeared.
The air became colder.
Then—
Someone laughed.
A familiar laugh.
Lyra spun around.
"Mama?"
Standing between the trees...
Was her mother.
Smiling exactly as she remembered.
Lyra's eyes filled with tears.
"No..."
She took one step forward.
Then another.
Kael grabbed her wrist.
"Lyra!"
"Let me go!"
"She's alive!"
Orion shouted,
"That's not your mother!"
The woman smiled wider.
"My little moon..."
"Come home."
Lyra froze.
Her mother had never called her that.
The illusion's face cracked.
Its skin split apart like broken glass.
Dark shadows poured from inside.
A monstrous scream echoed through the forest.
Kael swung his sword.
The illusion exploded into silver dust.
Silence returned.
The dragon spoke quietly.
"The forest feeds on memories."
"It creates the people you miss the most."
Lyra wiped away silent tears.
"It felt real."
Orion looked away.
"It always does."
Hours later...
They reached a forgotten stone bridge.
Half destroyed.
Ancient dragon statues lined both sides.
Suddenly—
The Moon Pendant around Lyra's neck began glowing violently.
Another memory.
She saw herself.
But not as Lyra.
As Queen Selene.
Standing on this very bridge.
Facing Orion.
They were arguing.
"No!" Selene shouted.
"There has to be another way!"
Orion's younger face was desperate.
"If we don't seal the Eclipse..."
"He'll destroy everything!"
Selene stepped toward him.
"I trust you."
She gently placed something into Orion's hands.
Half of the Moon Pendant.
"I know you'll come back."
Orion closed his eyes.
"I swear it."
Then—
The vision shattered.
Lyra stumbled backward.
She looked at Orion.
"You promised her."
He remained silent.
"You promised you'd come back."
His voice barely rose above a whisper.
"I tried."
Kael watched the exchange carefully.
For the first time...
He realized something.
Orion hadn't failed because he abandoned Selene.
He had failed...
Because he never reached her.
The guilt he'd carried for a thousand years suddenly made sense.
Before anyone could speak—
The bridge began shaking.
Ancient runes lit up beneath their feet.
A deep voice echoed from the darkness.
"Only those who kept their oath... may cross."
Massive stone dragons slowly awakened.
Their glowing blue eyes opened together.
One by one...
They blocked the bridge.
The largest statue spoke.
"Prove your hearts..."
"Or remain here forever."
Kael tightened his grip on his sword.
Lyra instinctively reached for the Moon Sword.
Orion quietly drew his ancient dragon blade.
Three warriors.
One bridge.
One impossible trial.
Behind the clouds...
The crimson moon burned brighter than ever.