Mag-log inThe Name That Shouldn’t Exist The banners stood still. They lingered. That was what made Aria feel the most uneasy. Across the distant ridges of the Ashen Vale, symbols danced in the heavy wind—some displaying the crescent of lunar loyalty, while others bore unfamiliar sigils, sharp and intentionally strange. None crossed the boundary stones. None made a move to attack. They were observing. Evaluating. Deciding when to strike. “They’re testing our resolve,” Selene murmured beside her. “Not our strength.” Rowan’s jaw was tight, his eyes scanning every shadow. “Or they’re just waiting for us to tear ourselves apart.” “True enough,” Selene conceded. Below them, the Vale was alive with tension. Messengers were being sent out. Defensive circles were being reinforced. Arguments flared up only to be quickly hushed. No one wanted to be the first to openly challenge Aria—but no one was ready to follow blindly either. Aria felt the weight of it with every breath.
When Silence Turns Hostile Silence didn’t equate to peace. Aria figured that out in no time. The Ashen Vale hung in an eerie quiet after the Prophet disappeared, but it wasn’t the calm that comes from understanding—it was the stillness of people rethinking their loyalties. It was the sound of beliefs cracking but not quite breaking. It was fear morphing into something sharper. She felt it like a tightening thread across her chest. Rowan moved closer, his presence a steady anchor. “They’re not finished,” he murmured. “No,” Aria replied softly. “They’re making their choices.” Around the obsidian circle, the delegations shifted uneasily. Some whispered urgently to one another, while others avoided eye contact altogether, as if acknowledging her would force them to take a stand. Selene let out a slow breath. “The Prophet didn’t leave because he was defeated,” she said. “He left because he sowed doubt.” Aria’s fingers curled slightly. “He planted that doubt before
Where Truth Has No Shelter The Ashen Vale truly lived up to its name. It sprawled out like a vast, scorched basin, a deep gash in the earth that looked like an ancient wound—stone bleached white from old fires, soil cracked and fragile after centuries of forgotten magic. No trees dared to grow here. No birds flew across its skies. Even the wind seemed to hold back, opting for a whisper instead of a howl. This was a place where battles had once brought civilizations to their knees. And today, it lay in wait once more. Aria sensed it the moment she crossed the threshold. The air shifted. Magic felt thin—flattened—stripped of its usual flair. Here, power didn’t roar or shimmer; it stood bare, unprotected, unable to hide behind symbols or beliefs. “Be careful,” Selene whispered beside her. “The Vale reveals intention before strength.” Aria nodded, already feeling the weight of it. Behind her, banners fluttered as delegations arrived from all corners—packs, covens,
The Invitation Written in Blood The invitation showed up at dawn. It didn’t arrive by messenger, raven, or some magical seal. Instead, it was nailed right to the gates. An iron spike had pierced through the parchment and oak, splitting the ancient wood like it was bone. Blood—still fresh—streaked the paper in thin lines that dripped onto the stone below. Nyx was the first to spot it. She froze in place. Then she cursed under her breath. By the time Rowan made it to the gate, the courtyard had gone eerily quiet. Warriors stood stiffly, hands on their weapons, eyes locked on the single sheet fluttering weakly in the morning breeze. Rowan yanked it free. Blood smeared across his fingers. Aria joined him moments later, barefoot, her hair tousled from sleep, Moonlight still faintly glowing beneath her skin. One glance at Rowan’s face told her everything she needed to know. “He’s done hiding,” she said. Rowan handed her the parchment. The handwriting was elega
The Trial That Sees Everything The Moon Pool had never felt so eerily still. Not calm—just still. As if the entire world had hit pause to witness what was about to unfold. Aria stood barefoot at the edge of the shimmering water, the cold stone biting into her skin. The Moon loomed directly above, unnaturally large, its reflection perfectly mirrored in the pool below. There was no breeze. No insects chirped. Even the forest beyond the clearing seemed to hold its breath. Rowan stood a few steps behind her, arms crossed tightly over his chest, every muscle in his body coiled like a drawn bow. “You don’t have to do this tonight,” he said softly. Aria didn’t turn around. Her gaze remained locked on the water. “Yes,” she replied. “I do.” Selene’s words echoed in her mind. If you wish to lead without breaking, you must face what would break you. The Mirror Trial wasn’t meant for warriors. It wasn’t about brute strength. It was about truth. Nyx shifted uneasily
Whispers That Wear a Crown The dreams began that very night. Aria didn’t so much fall asleep as she slipped into it—like sinking beneath water that seemed calm on the surface. The Moon hung full outside her window, casting a silver light that pooled across the stone floor, too bright to ignore. It was too quiet. She found herself in a place she recognized instantly. The old training grounds. But something was off. The trees loomed taller, their branches twisting unnaturally inward. The sky above wasn’t black—it was a swirling gray, like a storm caught in a standstill. “Rowan?” she called out. Her voice echoed, thin and far away. No response. She turned—and froze. Her mother stood just a few steps away. Alive. Whole. Unharmed. Exactly as Aria remembered her from childhood memories that were never meant to exist. “Aria,” her mother said softly, smiling. “You look tired.” Aria’s heart pounded violently against her ribs. “This isn’t real.” Her mot







