Elsewhere – The Moon Temple
Aria knelt before the High Priestess, her palms glowing faintly.
The old woman whispered, “The power is choosing you—but that doesn’t mean you will survive it. The Blood Moon rises in two weeks. You must be ready.”
“Ready for what?” Aria asked.
The priestess’s voice turned grave. “The Awakening of the Luna Wolf. You must undergo the Rite of Ancestral Flame. And if your bloodline is true… the spirits will crown you. If not…”
“I die,” Aria said quietly.
“No,” the priestess corrected. “You’ll become something else.”
—
Training Grounds – Days Later
The sun had barely risen, but Aria was already drenched in sweat, her fingers bleeding from the edge of her silver daggers.
“Again,” growled Elder Kael, the blind warrior training her. “Strike from the heart, no
