Elara’s laughter echoed through her hidden lair, a place veiled from mortal eyes and shielded by magic older than time itself. Her lair shimmered with an ethereal glow as crystal orbs floated around, each holding the image of a different world, a different realm. She had spent centuries in this sanctum, observing, waiting, and preparing for this moment. Her fingertips brushed against a polished mirror, a mirror that revealed more than any human eye could perceive. Through it, she could witness every plot, every betrayal—and she was now watching Morgana and Lady Celeste.
The faint, shimmering images of Morgana and Celeste appeared within the mirror. Their plans to destroy Aria and claim the Winter Moon Pack echoed through the space as if the very air itself rebelled against such dark intentions. Elara’s lips curved into a sly smile as she heard Lady Celeste sneer, *"Even the Moon Goddess cannot save her."*
Elara whispered to herself, her tone laced with amusement, “Oh, foolish creatures. The Moon Goddess has her ways.”
But she knew that in this battle, the laws of nature themselves would have to be bent. Morgana and Lady Celeste were relentless, and Aria needed protection and strength far beyond her current state to face them. Aria’s powers were vast, but until now, they had remained dormant, shackled by spells designed to protect her until she was ready.
With a flick of her wrist, Elara summoned an ancient book of spells. The book hovered before her, its pages turning in a rush of magic, and finally stopped on a page written in a language lost to time. This was a spell forbidden even among the ancients—a spell capable of awakening a power that could tip the balance.
Elara lifted her gaze to the evening sky, her eyes turning a shade darker as she chanted an incantation. “By the forces that bind light and shadow, I call upon the night to fall. Let the stars hide their gaze and let the moon descend into darkness.”
With her words, the sky outside began to darken, casting an early nightfall over the world. The day had been abruptly ended, a clear violation of nature’s course. Elara smiled, watching as the stars faded from view, blanketing the world in an unnatural darkness. She would give Aria what she needed, and nothing would stand in her way.
I had just finished my shower, the warm water a welcome relief after the intensity of the day. I wrapped myself in my pajamas and spoke softly to Ory, feeling a sense of calm settle over me.