Chapter 5 Secret Beneath the Stars

One night, drawn by a voice in the wind, Elira followed the silver path beyond the Keep. It led her to a cave pulsing with ancient energy.

Inside, she discovered a mural-thousands of years old-showing the Moonfire Heir standing beside the Shade Queen.

But in the image, they weren't enemies.

They were sisters.

Elira stumbled back, heart racing. Was it true? Could the villain she'd been taught to fear be... family?

Before she could process it, Kael and Riven burst in. They'd followed her. When they saw the mural, both froze.

"You weren't told everything," Riven said, eyes darkening.

Kael's jaw tightened. "Because not everything should be told."

"What are you hiding from me?" Elira demanded.

But before they could answer, the ground split beneath them. A dark voice echoed through the cave.

"The Moonfire is mine."

Elira's mark blazed.

And the war for her soul had truly begun.

Elira awoke in a dark palace that seemed to breathe. The walls pulsed like veins, and moonlight filtered in unnaturally, casting silver shadows on the floor. She wasn't alone.

Across the room stood the Shade Queen, draped in obsidian robes, her eyes twin voids with stars inside.

"You are more than what they've told you," she said, voice both kind and terrible. "You are my blood."

Elira recoiled. "That can't be true."

"But it is," the Shade Queen said. "You carry the Moonfire because I gave it to your line. And they betrayed me-locked me in shadow. All I want now is peace. Join me, Elira. Together, we can end the war... and remake the world."

Confusion warred with fury in Elira's chest. Part of her wanted to believe the Queen. But something felt wrong-too smooth, too convenient.

"I need time," she whispered.

"You have three days," the Queen replied. "Then I come for the realm. With or without you."

The palace vanished, and Elira found herself in the Crescent Keep infirmary-Kael and Riven both at her side, arguing fiercely.

"She was taken by the Queen!" Kael snapped.

"She returned on her own," Riven said, more softly. "She chose to come back."

Elira sat up. "No. I came back to decide... what's true. And what I am."