The Lost Kingdom

The sanctuary remained silent after the stranger disappeared.

Aurora stood beneath the glowing symbols carved into the floor, unable to take her eyes away from the blood-red crown.

The lost Moon Kingdom.

The words continued to echo in her mind.

She turned slowly toward Lucien.

“You knew.”

Lucien didn’t answer.

Aurora’s voice trembled.

“You knew there was a kingdom connected to me.”

“I knew there were legends.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Lucien looked at her.

“I didn’t know you were its heir.”

Kael stepped closer.

“Neither did I.”

Aurora looked between them.

“Then why does everyone seem to know more about me than I do?”

No one answered.

Her frustration boiled over.

“I’ve spent my entire life believing I was human. Now I’m being told I’m a Moon Champion, I have three bonds, I died six hundred years ago, and apparently I’m the heir to a kingdom that doesn’t even exist anymore!”

Her voice echoed through the sanctuary.

Then the floor began to glow.

A projection appeared above the ancient symbols.

A vast kingdom materialized in silver light.

Magnificent towers.

Crystal bridges.

A palace surrounded by enormous silver trees.

And above the palace floated a crescent-shaped moon.

Aurora stared.

“That’s the Moon Kingdom?”

Elyra nodded slowly.

“It was once the most powerful kingdom in the supernatural world.”

“What happened to it?”

Elyra’s expression darkened.

“Betrayal.”

Aurora’s stomach tightened.

“Seraphine.”

Elyra nodded.

“Queen Seraphine was once your guardian.”

Aurora looked confused.

“My guardian?”

“She swore to protect the Moon Kingdom and its heir.”

“Me.”

“Yes.”

Aurora stared at the projection.

“Then why did she betray me?”

Elyra hesitated.

“Because she wanted the throne.”

Suddenly, the projection changed.

Aurora saw herself standing before the Moon Kingdom’s throne.

A young Seraphine stood behind her.

Lucien and Kael were there too.

Then the scene changed.

Fire.

Screaming.

Soldiers storming the palace.

Seraphine holding a blood-covered crown.

Aurora falling to the ground.

Kael screaming her name.

Lucien trying to reach her.

Aurora gasped.

The vision disappeared.

She stumbled backward.

Kael caught her.

“You don’t have to watch.”

Aurora looked up at him.

“Yes.”

Her voice was quiet.

“I do.”

She turned toward Lucien.

“Tell me everything.”

Lucien’s eyes darkened.

“The night you died, Seraphine betrayed the kingdom. She opened the palace gates to the Shadow Army.”

“And you?”

“I tried to save you.”

Aurora looked at Kael.

“And him?”

Kael swallowed.

“I failed.”

Aurora’s heart broke at the pain in his voice.

“You both were there.”

“Yes.”

“Then why did I die?”

Lucien looked away.

“Because someone betrayed us from inside.”

Aurora froze.

“Who?”

Before Lucien could answer, a deep rumble shook the sanctuary.

The silver projection vanished.

The Moonstone cracked again.

Elyra’s face turned pale.

“They’ve found us.”

Kael’s eyes flashed gold.

“Who?”

Elyra looked toward the entrance.

“The Shadow Army.”

Aurora slowly reached for the Blade of Selene.

The sword appeared in her hand.

Silver flames danced along its edge.

She looked at Lucien.

Then Kael.

“Then let’s finish what we started six hundred years ago.”

Outside, thousands of creatures began to howl.

And far away, in the ruins of the lost Moon Kingdom…

Queen Seraphine smiled.

“She remembers.”

A servant bowed before her.

“What shall we do?”

Seraphine stood from her throne.

“Bring her home.”

Her eyes glowed silver.

“Whether she comes willingly or in chains.”