The following morning, an unusual silence hung over the Royal Capital.
It wasn't the silence of fear.
Nor the silence of peace.
It was anticipation.
The Lunar Trials were now less than three weeks away.
Every warrior in the kingdom could feel it.
The Moon seemed brighter each passing night.
Even the elders whispered that the Moon Goddess was watching.
Within the Royal Palace, Queen Nyxara convened another meeting, though this one was far smaller than the grand council.
Present were Lord Eryx Nocturne, Lord Vadok Velmora, Lady Seraphine Duskryn, Garrick Umbraxis, Riven, Nyss, and Zoldick.
A large map of the Four Orders covered the center table.
At its very heart was a single location marked with a silver crescent.
"The Lunar Sanctuary," Nyxara began.
"The oldest place in werewolf history."
"The sanctuary predates every Order."
She looked around the room.
"Even before the First Order was founded..."
"Our ancestors gathered there beneath the Moon."
Vadok nodded.
"Our oldest records claim the sanctuary was built shortly after the First Cataclysm."
"No Order owns it."
"No Alpha rules it."
"It belongs only to the Moon Goddess."
Seraphine unrolled another ancient scroll.
"There is something else."
She pointed toward faded writing.
"During the Lunar Trials..."
"Every participant enters without their family's authority."
"No noble titles."
"No royal privileges."
"No military rank."
She looked toward Riven.
"Inside those ruins..."
"Everyone is equal."
Riven smiled.
"I like that."
Zoldick smirked.
"So if I beat you there..."
"I can brag forever."
Riven laughed.
"You'd have to beat me first."
"I already survived one draw."
Nyxara shook her head with a smile before becoming serious once more.
"The sanctuary itself is divided into multiple ancient trials."
She raised four fingers.
"The Trial of Strength."
"The Trial of Wisdom."
"The Trial of Resolve."
"And..."
She paused.
"The Trial of the Moon."
Nobody spoke.
Even Eryx's expression became thoughtful.
"The first three can be overcome through effort," Nyxara continued.
"But the last..."
"No records clearly describe it."
"The survivors simply wrote..."
"'The Moon chooses whom She wills.'"
Nyss quietly lowered her eyes.
For reasons she couldn't explain...
Those words stirred something deep inside her.
A warmth spread through her chest before disappearing as quickly as it came.
She instinctively placed a hand over her heart.
Riven noticed.
"You okay?"
She smiled gently.
"...I think so."
Though inwardly...
She wasn't certain.
...
Later that afternoon...
The capital welcomed unexpected visitors.
Silver banners bearing the crest of the Fourth Order fluttered through the streets.
Citizens stopped whatever they were doing.
"The Fourth?"
"What are they doing here?"
"Has something happened?"
The palace gates opened.
Three elegant carriages entered.
Escorted by warriors clad in white armor.
Leading them was a woman wearing silver robes embroidered with moonlight.
Her long white hair flowed behind her.
Every guard immediately bowed.
"Welcome to the Third Order."
The woman returned the greeting gracefully.
"I bring greetings from Her Majesty..."
"...Queen Selene Astrae."
Inside the palace...
Nyxara personally welcomed the delegation.
The woman introduced herself.
"I am High Priestess Kyra."
"I have come to prepare this kingdom's representatives for the Lunar Trials."
Nyxara nodded.
"You honor us."
Kyra smiled before looking around the room.
Then...
Her eyes landed on Nyss.
Everything stopped.
For the first time since entering the palace...
The priestess completely lost her composure.
"...Princess..."
Nyss blinked.
"It's been a long time."
The elderly woman slowly approached.
Her eyes shimmered with emotion.
"When you were little..."
"...I carried you through the Sacred Temple."
Nyss smiled softly.
"I remember."
Riven quietly watched the exchange.
It was strange.
Whenever someone from the Fourth met Nyss...
There was always an unusual respect in their eyes.
Not merely for royalty.
Something deeper.
Something almost...
Sacred.
The thought disappeared as quickly as it came.
Kyra soon regained her composure.
"I've brought gifts from Queen Selene."
Several attendants stepped forward carrying beautifully crafted wooden chests.
The first contained silver training garments woven from Moon Silk.
The second held medicinal herbs found only within the Fourth.
The third...
Contained four crystal pendants.
Each glowed faintly beneath the sunlight.
Kyra carefully lifted one.
"Moon Crystals."
"They resonate with lunar energy."
"They do not increase strength."
"They help warriors remain calm when exposed to overwhelming Moon Aura."
She handed one each to Riven, Nyss, Zoldick and Eryx.
Riven examined the crystal curiously.
"It feels..."
"Warm."
Kyra smiled.
"It recognizes life."
Before anyone could ask another question
BOOM!
A powerful pulse echoed throughout the palace.
Every crystal suddenly glowed brightly.
The room fell silent.
One by one...
The lights faded.
All except one.
Nyss's crystal continued shining.
Brighter.
Brighter.
Until the entire room was illuminated by gentle silver light.
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
Kyra slowly stepped backward.
Her breathing became uneven.
"No..."
"It can't be..."
The crystal finally dimmed.
Silence remained.
Nyxara looked toward the priestess.
"What happened?"
Kyra hesitated.
Then slowly shook her head.
"...Forgive me."
"I must have imagined it."
But she knew she hadn't.
She had spent nearly three centuries serving within the Sacred Temple.
Only one type of aura had ever caused a Moon Crystal to react that way.
The aura spoken of only within the oldest scriptures.
The aura...
Of the Moon's chosen.
That night...
Long after everyone had gone to sleep...
Kyra stood alone on the palace balcony beneath the full moon.
She removed an ancient silver pendant from around her neck.
It began glowing.
A communication relic.
Soft light gathered before forming the image of Queen Selene.
"My Queen."
Selene smiled gently.
"Have you arrived safely?"
"Yes."
Kyra answered.
There was a long pause.
Then she spoke again.
"...I believe..."
"...the prophecy has begun."
Selene's expression changed.
"What did you see?"
Kyra slowly looked toward the moon above.
"The Moon recognized someone."
For several seconds...
Selene remained completely silent.
Then...
A faint smile touched her lips.
"So..."
"It has finally begun."
Far beneath the Lunar Sanctuary...
Another ancient door slowly opened.
A deep voice echoed through the endless darkness.
"The heirs gather..."
"The final age approaches."
The voice faded.
Leaving only silence...
And the steady glow of ancient runes awakening one after another.