THE FALLEN PRINCESS

Chapter 15

The Fallen Princess

The camp remained silent long after the crystal shattered.

No one spoke.

The Blood King's final words echoed in every mind.

"Prepare my daughter."

Lyra stared at the empty patch of ground where the Crystal Beast had fallen.

"My sister..."

The words still felt unreal.

Kael stepped beside her.

"Don't let the Blood King get inside your head."

"What if he's telling the truth?" Lyra asked quietly. "What if I really have a sister?"

Elder Mira closed the ancient journal.

"There were whispers long ago."

"Your mother gave birth twice."

The group turned toward her.

"But every record of the first child disappeared after the fall of the royal palace."

Kael frowned.

"I searched the palace after the attack."

"There was never any sign of another princess."

"Which means someone erased her from history," Rowan said grimly.

---

The journey continued at first light.

The Silverwood slowly gave way to steep cliffs and ancient stone paths carved into the mountainside.

By midday, they reached a massive archway covered in glowing runes.

At its center was the symbol of the crescent moon wrapped around a crown.

"The Temple of the First Moon lies beyond this pass," Elder Mira whispered.

"But only the true Queen can open its gates."

Lyra stepped forward.

The Queen's Mark on her shoulder began to glow.

She placed her hand against the stone.

For several tense seconds...

Nothing happened.

Then the entire mountain rumbled.

Silver light spread through the ancient carvings.

With a thunderous groan, the archway slowly opened.

A narrow valley stretched beyond it, untouched by time.

Crystal streams flowed between white stone ruins.

Ancient wolf statues lined the path, each bowing toward the distant temple.

"It remembers you," Kael said softly.

---

As they entered the valley, a strange feeling settled over Lyra.

It was as though invisible eyes watched every step she took.

She glanced toward one of the statues.

For a brief moment...

She could have sworn it moved.

That night, they camped within the valley.

No one noticed the shadow slipping silently across the rooftops of the ruined temple.

---

Just before dawn, Lyra awoke to the sound of singing.

A woman's voice.

Soft.

Beautiful.

Haunting.

She followed the melody through the mist until she reached an ancient courtyard.

Moonlight bathed the broken stones.

Standing in the center was a woman wearing silver armor beneath a dark cloak.

A cracked crown rested upon her head.

Long black hair flowed down her back.

She looked almost identical to Lyra.

Only her eyes were different.

They glowed crimson.

"So..."

The woman smiled sadly.

"You've grown."

Lyra's breath caught.

"You..."

The woman slowly removed her hood.

"My name is Astra."

"I am your sister."

Before Lyra could answer, Kael burst into the courtyard with his sword drawn.

"Get away from her!"

Astra's smile faded.

"You still hate me."

"I watched you murder the Queen," Kael said coldly.

Lyra froze.

"What?"

Astra's expression filled with pain.

"That's the lie you've believed for twenty-two years."

"I didn't kill our mother."

Kael pointed his blade toward her.

"You stood beside the Blood King while the palace burned."

"I stood beside him because he already had Father."

Astra's voice cracked for the first time.

"He forced me to choose."

"Our father's life..."

"Or the kingdom."

Silence settled over the courtyard.

Lyra looked from Astra to Kael, unable to know whom to believe.

"I tried to save Mother," Astra whispered.

"But I was too late."

Tears shimmered in her crimson eyes.

"I've spent twenty-two years pretending to be his daughter."

"So one day..."

"I could save you."

Kael didn't lower his sword.

"Convenient story."

Astra ignored him.

Instead, she looked only at Lyra.

"The Blood King isn't your father."

"He murdered our real parents."

Lyra's world tilted.

"What...?"

Before Astra could explain further, a deafening horn echoed through the valley.

She turned sharply toward the mountains.

"No..."

"They found me."

Hundreds of black-armored soldiers poured over the cliffs, surrounding the ancient valley.

At their head rode Ronan, his black crystal sword resting across his shoulder.

He smiled when he saw Astra.

"You've disappointed Father."

Then his gaze shifted to Lyra.

"And now..."

"I'll bring both princesses home."

Kael stepped forward, silver energy crackling around him.

"No one touches them."

Ronan laughed.

"I wasn't asking."

The earth shook.

The temple doors slowly opened behind Lyra, releasing a brilliant column of silver light into the sky.

Every warrior—friend and foe alike—stared in shock.

Elder Mira fell to her knees.

"The Temple has accepted the Queen."

A deep, ancient voice echoed from within the glowing sanctuary.

"Only one daughter of the Moon may claim the Moonblade."

Astra and Lyra looked at each other.

Both sisters bore the blood of the royal line.

But only one could enter.

And outside the temple, an army waited to kill them both.