Morning sunlight poured gently across the Nocturne Estate.
The celebrations had finally fully ended.
The music that had echoed through the halls the previous nights had faded into silence, leaving only the sounds of servants clearing tables and sweeping away confetti from the birth celebration of Fenrick Eryxson Nocturne.
For the first time in months...
The estate felt peaceful.
Inside one of the guest chambers, Riven slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment...
He simply stared at the ceiling.
Then...
A smile crept across his face.
His mind replayed the previous evening.
The ancient moon tree.
The stars.
Nyss.
...Their kiss.
He sighed before rubbing the back of his neck.
"I still can't believe that actually happened..."
A loud knock interrupted his thoughts.
Before he could answer
BANG!
The door flew open.
Soren walked in carrying two plates stacked with breakfast.
"There he is!"
Riven looked up.
"...You know knocking usually means waiting."
"I did wait."
"You waited half a second."
"Exactly."
Soren placed the food on the table before narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"You've got that look."
"What look?"
"The 'I kissed the prettiest girl in the estate' look."
Riven nearly choked on his drink.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh really?"
Before Soren could continue...
Another knock sounded.
This one was much gentler.
The door opened slowly.
Nyss stepped inside.
The moment their eyes met...
Both immediately looked away.
Both smiled without realizing it.
Soren slowly looked from Riven...
To Nyss...
Then back again.
A grin spread across his face.
"Oh..."
"Oh this is amazing."
Nyss blinked.
"What?"
"You two actually did it."
"W-What?"
"You kissed!"
Nyss's entire face became bright red.
"Soren!"
Riven grabbed the nearest pillow.
"Get out."
The pillow struck Soren squarely in the chest.
He laughed so hard he could barely breathe.
Another pillow flew.
Soren escaped into the hallway laughing.
"You two enjoy breakfast!"
The door slammed shut.
Silence returned.
Riven rubbed his forehead.
"...He's impossible."
Nyss giggled.
"...He really is."
For a while...
They simply ate together.
No awkwardness.
No forced conversation.
Only quiet smiles.
The comfortable silence between them somehow said more than words ever could.
...
A deep bell echoed throughout the estate.
Dong...
Dong...
Dong...
Every noble immediately recognized it.
"The Royal Council."
Within minutes...
Representatives of the Five Great Noble Houses gathered inside the Grand Council Chamber.
The room itself reflected the power of the Third Order.
Five towering banners stood proudly behind the circular council table.
House Veilbourne.
The Crown.
House Nocturne.
The Sword.
House Velmora.
The Mind.
House Duskryn.
The Eyes.
House Umbraxis.
The Shield.
At the head of the chamber stood Queen Nyxara Veilbourne.
Beside her stood Lord Eryx Nocturne.
Lord Vadok Velmora.
Lady Seraphine Duskryn.
Lord Garrick Umbraxis.
Behind them stood the younger generation.
The chamber slowly fell silent as Nyxara rose from her throne.
"The war has ended."
"Our borders have expanded."
"The Second Order has fallen."
"Our people rebuild."
She looked around the chamber.
"But rebuilding walls is easier than rebuilding a kingdom."
Nobody interrupted.
Nyxara continued.
"Today..."
"I have two matters to announce."
She raised one finger.
"The first concerns the future of every young warrior within the Four Orders."
Curiosity spread throughout the chamber.
Nyxara smiled faintly.
"The Lunar Trials shall return."
Silence.
Then...
The room erupted.
"The Lunar Trials?"
"They're being restored?"
"I thought they had become nothing more than legend!"
Even Riven frowned.
He quietly leaned forward toward Eryx sitting in front.
"...What's the Lunar Trial?"
Eryx folded his arms.
"It is older than the Orders themselves."
"It was created shortly after the First Cataclysm."
He continued.
"The first werewolves believed strength alone could never protect the world."
"So they built sacred ruins across the continent."
"Inside those ruins they created trials."
"Not tournaments."
"Trials."
He looked around the chamber.
"They test everything."
"Strength."
"Technique."
"Leadership."
"Instinct."
"Intelligence."
"Resolve."
"Mercy."
"And above all..."
"The bond between a warrior and the Moon."
Riven listened carefully.
"So everyone fights?"
Eryx shook his head.
"Sometimes."
"Sometimes you're forced to cooperate."
"Sometimes you're hunted."
"Sometimes the trial demands sacrifice."
"Sometimes victory means refusing to fight."
"The Moon chooses the challenges."
"The worthy pass."
"The unworthy fail."
Nyss spoke softly.
"So... every Order participates?"
Nyxara nodded.
"During the Lunar Trials..."
"The First."
"The Second's successor territories."
"The Third."
"And the Fourth."
"All lay down their banners."
"They enter not as enemies..."
"But as children of the Moon."
Even the elders seemed nostalgic.
Many had once participated themselves.
Nyxara continued.
"The exact date will be announced after preparations are complete."
Excitement spread across the chamber.
Before anyone could celebrate further...
The great doors suddenly burst open.
A warrior wearing the black cloak of House Duskryn hurried inside.
He immediately dropped to one knee.
"My Queen."
Nyxara's expression sharpened.
"Report."
The scout lowered his head.
"We have trouble in Ironfall."
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Ironfall.
One of the largest cities absorbed from the former Second Order.
"The reconstruction has stalled."
"Former Second citizens refuse to work beside Third citizens."
"Several fights have broken out."
"Merchants refuse to trade."
"Workers have abandoned construction."
"They still call themselves the Second."
An elder sighed.
"I expected this."
"They were conquered."
"They'll never truly accept us."
Before anyone else could speak
Nyxara's silver eyes narrowed.
"No."
Her voice silenced the chamber.
"They are no longer citizens of the Second."
"They are citizens..."
"...of the Third Order."
She looked toward Eryx.
"Prepare horses."
Then toward Riven.
"I want you to accompany us."
Riven blinked.
"Me?"
"You've lived as an outsider."
"You've been hated by werewolves."
"If anyone understands division..."
"...it's you."
Riven remained silent.
Then nodded.
"I'll come."
Eryx smiled faintly.
"I had a feeling you would."
Outside...
Three steeds were already being prepared.
As Riven mounted his horse beside Eryx and Queen Nyxara...
He looked toward the distant horizon.
Toward Ironfall.
Toward a city still haunted by yesterday's war.
He quietly whispered to himself,
"Winning a war..."
"...is only the beginning."
With that...
The three riders galloped toward the rising sun.
Unaware that the fate of an entire city now rested not in the strength of Riven's fists...
But in the strength of his heart.