The first day of the Red Moon did not bring light. It brought a heavy, copper-scented fog that rolled off the Southern mountains and settled into the valleys like a thick, suffocating shroud.Elara stood on the training grounds, her starlight-white hair tied back with a simple leather cord. In front of her, Astraeus—now five years old—sat cross-legged on the grass. Between his small palms, a sphere of violet fire and black smoke spun in a perfect, stable orbit. He was the first of his kind, a dual-blooded prince of the Void and the Sun, and every day his power grew more difficult to hide."Concentrate, Astraeus," Elara said, her voice steady but her eyes scanning the red-tinged sky. "Balance isn't about holding the energy. It’s about letting the energy hold you.""Mama, the sky is loud today," the boy whispered, the sphere in his hands flickering. He looked up, his amethyst eyes searching the crimson clouds. "There are people behind the red. They’re calling my name."Elara felt a chil
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