Semua Bab Luna's Calling: Marked Through Trials: Bab 71 - Bab 80

ErsaThat night, the dreams came again, a welcome and total distraction. They were arriving more frequently now, and though I didn't know why, I was slowly growing accustomed to their presence.This time, the dream was dominated by grass and a forest, yet unlike the oppressive darkness of the Underworld’s woods, these had vibrant color. The scent—clean, earthy, and sunlit—was so refreshing I could practically taste it. I knew instinctively that this was the Human World.Then appeared the same man and woman from my earlier dreams. I recognized them immediately as my family, or perhaps my distant ancestors. Why else would they inhabit my subconscious?Yet, that night, the focus wasn't on them, but on the environment: their soft laughter echoing through the trees, the brilliant nature, and a single, stern voice that whispered, “Focus on the Trials.”I woke up feeling surprisingly peaceful.“Good morning, Miss.” One of the maids greeted me, holding a simple, beautiful cream-colored long g

ErsaShame washed across Orpheus's face at the Alpha’s reprimand, but he swiftly plastered on a forced smile. “But of course, Alpha. I shall prepare and procure the formal proposal right away.”Alpha Sano offered no verbal response. Instead, he fixed his gaze on us. “You ladies should retire and rest. The maids will summon you for the next special test when the Prefect is ready.”We simply offered a unified nod of acknowledgment as the two men turned and walked toward the Alpha’s study.“Eve, can we speak?” I called out before she could completely escape, but she only threw a hostile glare my way before disappearing down the hallway toward her room.“Perhaps we can speak instead?” Lyanna’s voice was quiet, making me turn in surprise.“Of course.”She led me away from the mansion's immediate grounds, guiding me toward the farthest edge of the main garden. We stopped where a dense screen of tall, overgrown bushes provided effective cover from the windows.“What is this about, Lyanna?” I

Ersa“What is the meaning of this?” I questioned softly, my heart beating fast.I stepped cautiously through the opened door, finding myself in the large chamber Orpheus had described—the central meeting room. Three other heavy doors dominated the walls: two had to be the exits for Lyanna and Eve, while the final, imposing door was the communal exit we were required to open together.Was this Orpheus's way of forcing me into the lead? If so, this felt like blatant cheating, nothing more than a rigged advantage.While waiting, I began to pace the perimeter. The room was oddly barren; aside from the doors, there was nothing... until I ran my hand along the stone wall and realized the entire surface was made up of subtly concealed buttons.I impulsively pressed one. Instantly, the door to my room slammed shut and locked. A loud, harsh sound echoed through the chamber, and a light flashed above, etching a single, straight black line into the ceiling.I tried pressing the same button, but

ErsaUnfortunately, the inevitable fight that broke out during the test was reported to the Alpha. Now, the three of us stood before him, looking like we had committed an unforgivable crime.“Now, will anyone care to tell me precisely what occurred?” he demanded, looking first at Eve for an answer, but she refused to speak.He sighed, pressing his fingers to his temples. “Ms. Lyanna?”“My deepest apologies for causing you any concern, Alpha,” she simply replied with a respectful bow, making the Alpha’s frustration visibly worsen. Then he looked at me for an explanation.I glanced briefly at Eve and Lyanna, who were still facing forward with perfectly blank expressions, then met the Alpha’s eyes. “There’s truly nothing to worry about.”He chuckled, a deep, dark sound. “You are not children, and yet you act like toddlers. Based on your current defense, I deduce that Eve initiated the confrontation, fighting Lyanna, and Ersa, you foolishly stepped in the middle.”“D-did the Prefect tell

Lyanna“Mother?” I whispered, seeing her quiet tears stream down her face once again. I was only seven, far too young to comprehend the deep, terrible burdens that plagued the adults around me.That same night, I experienced it for the first time—the terrifying onset of The Fading.Slowly, mercilessly, it consumed my consciousness, forcing me into a violent, feral state where I lashed out at anyone nearby. When I finally awoke the next morning, the loyal servant who had cared for me since birth was gone, vanished without a trace.No one ever spoke the truth to me; I only pieced it together years later, when my parents, broken by the weight of their secret, confessed their monumental mistake and the curse that they could never retract.This became the reason for my desperate, single-minded focus on finding my mate. I hoped that the Goddess, knowing this was not my fault, had prepared someone for me—someone who could offer salvation from the fading. Yet, reality, like a cruel hand, alwa