Kathy D의 작품

EPILOGUEBeneath the Eternal MoonSix months had passed since the day the kingdom was saved.The scars left behind by the great battle had gradually faded with time, leaving behind a land that seemed more peaceful than it had ever been. The broken walls surrounding the villages had been rebuilt stronger than before. The fields had turned green once again beneath the blessing of the Moon Goddess. And the laughter of children echoed through every corner of the kingdom as though sorrow had never dared to exist there.The Royal Pack had changed.Not because their palace had become grander or their warriors had grown stronger, but because the hearts of its people had finally learned what true worth looked like. No one looked upon dark skin with fear anymore. Instead, every child born beneath the blessing of the moon was welcomed with celebration, regardless of appearance. Mothers whispered prayers that their children would grow with the same courage and kindness their Luna had shown the en

A month had passed since the darkness that threatened the kingdom was finally sealed away, and little by little, life had begun to bloom again as though the land itself had been waiting for peace to return before daring to breathe once more. The scars left behind by the battle had not vanished overnight, but hope had settled over the pack like the gentle warmth of the morning sun, softening old wounds and giving everyone a reason to smile again.The palace, once filled with whispers of fear and suspicion, had become a place of laughter and celebration. Every corridor echoed with cheerful voices, every garden burst into colorful blossoms, and every member of the pack carried themselves with a lighter heart because they knew the nightmare that had haunted them for generations had finally come to an end.No one looked at Selene the way they once had.The same people who had called her cursed now lowered their heads with genuine respect whenever she passed by. Some would even place a hand

The moment Selene stepped into the heart of the ritual, the world around her disappeared.The temple… The priestesses… Kai… Everything dissolved into endless darkness. She stood alone beneath a sky without stars. The silence was so complete it pressed against her ears, until a faint, broken sob reached her.Following the sound, she found a young woman curled into herself inside what looked like a cage woven from living shadows. Elara.Her once-beautiful appearance had become pale and exhausted. Heavy chains of pure darkness wrapped tightly around her wrists and ankles, biting into her skin. She slowly lifted her head. The instant she saw Selene, tears overflowed and spilled down her hollow cheeks.“I didn’t want this.”Her broken voice echoed through the empty darkness.“I could see everything… I could hear everything… but I couldn’t stop myself.”She covered her face as painful sobs shook her entire body.“I watched myself destroy innocent lives. I watched people suffer bec

The silence inside the temple stretched so heavily that even the sound of the flickering candles seemed unnaturally loud. Every priestess stared at the fractured circle beneath their feet, their faces drained of hope as another glowing line faded into darkness, leaving behind nothing but cold stone where sacred power had flowed only moments before.Selene lowered her head, her fingers tightening instinctively over the gentle curve of her stomach while disappointment settled painfully inside her chest."So this is how it ends," she whispered, her voice trembling despite her efforts to remain calm.Lyra did not answer immediately.Instead, warmth spread gently through Selene's body, beginning beneath her hands before flowing upward like moonlight through her veins.She frowned."...Lyra?""Listen."Selene held her breath.At first she heard nothing except the hurried breathing of the priestesses surrounding her, but then another sound reached her.It was soft.Almost impossible to notic

Kai's breathing had become uneven long before he reached the final stretch of the temple steps, yet he refused to slow down, no matter how fiercely the pain spreading through his body begged him to stop. Blood had soaked through the front of his clothes, every breath sent another sharp ache through his ribs, and his vision blurred more than once, but none of it mattered as long as the temple still stood before him.Zack remained beside him without saying another word. Whenever Kai stumbled, Zack was there to steady him, and whenever the older warrior tried to shake off his support, Zack simply tightened his grip as though he had already decided that neither of them would face the coming darkness alone.After several moments of climbing in silence, Kai let out a weary laugh that sounded completely out of place beneath the weight of the moment."I never imagined we'd be climbing these stairs together."Zack glanced sideways before allowing a faint smile to appear across his face."Neith

The sacred temple trembled beneath the force of the battle raging outside. Every distant explosion sent fine dust drifting from the ancient ceiling, while the hundreds of candles surrounding the altar flickered violently, as though even their tiny flames could sense the darkness drawing closer. The carved symbols covering the marble floor pulsed with a brilliant silver glow, weaving together like rivers of moonlight until the entire chamber was bathed in a soft radiance that pushed against the shadows gathering beyond its walls.The Head Priestess stood at the center of the sacred circle with both hands lifted toward the heavens, her voice rising and falling in a language that had long disappeared from the world of men. Every word echoed through the temple with ancient authority, awakening powers that had slept beneath the mountain for thousands of years.Around her, the other priestesses knelt in perfect formation, their palms pressed against the glowing floor as they repeated each