Lienna.
The moon goddess smile was as radiant as ever and it felt almost illegal to stare at her in the face. “It’s lovely meeting you again, dear moon goddess.” I said, hastily bowing my head, hiding the blush that had begun to grow on my face.
“Likewise, lienna. Please, come closer, join me in the lake.” She called out and I raised my head up, staring at her for a moment before going to join her near the lake. Tentatively dipping my legs into the water, I let out a shuddering breath as I thought of how to begin.
“There must be a reason why you called on this meeting, isn’t there?” Her voice broke the silence and I looked up at her to find her staring back at me, her gaze filled with question.
“Yes… I need your help.” I said, unable to keep the tremor from my voice. “A lot is happens in the realm and I need to be able to make use of the power that you have bestowed onto me before disaster strikes.” I said, watching as her expression grew somber.
“Things must be going bad indeed.” She muttered thoughtfully, turning her head forever, her gaze unseeing. I took in a deep breath and added.
“Selene informed me that I needed your permission to use your powers. I’m currently struggling so much with it.” I confessed, feeling despondent.
She glanced at me, a soft smile appearing on her face, and for the first time since I arrived, I felt a spark of hope ignite within me.
“I can definitely help with that,” she said, her voice gentle and reassuring, “but first, I would like to know what your relationship is with the shifter kings.” Her question caught me off guard, and I widened my eyes in surprise.
Stuttering slightly, I tried to articulate my thoughts. “It’s… fine at the moment, I guess.” I wrung my hands together, feeling a mix of emotions swirl inside me. .
“You do realize you need their help if you’re to master using my powers, right?” she asked, her tone thoughtful. I nodded, remembering Selene’s words of warning. “Yes, they mentioned it.”
The moon goddess nodded, her gaze drifting away, her eyes turning inward as if reflecting on past memories. “I made a mistake and brought darkness into this world,” she said, her voice laced with regret. “And I have to take it out for the second time before it becomes a problem.” She said, her words hanging in the air.
She turned to look at me, her eyes shining with a quiet determination. “I trust that you’ll be able to help me this time around.
“I will do my best,” I whispered, hoping my voice conveyed the conviction growing within me. The moon goddess nodded, a small smile on her lips.
Her gaze dropped to my hands, and she reached out, her fingers brushing against my wrists. With a delicate touch, she drew a crescent moon shape on each of them. The markings shimmered with a soft, ethereal light.
“Here, that should make it easier for you to access my power this time around,” she said, her voice filled with a gentle warmth. I stared at the markings in awe, reaching out to touch them. They felt alive, pulsing with a subtle energy.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathed, mesmerized.
The moon goddess’s smile grew wider. “But you have to remember to be careful. You’re not equipped to handle the full extent of my power, and you’ll need time to master it. If it helps, only call upon it at specific times, when you need it most.” Her words of caution were tempered with encouragement.
I nodded, feeling excitement bubble within me. “Thank you,” I said, my voice filled with gratitude. “I won’t let you down.” I said, balling my hands into fists. She smiled at me, turning her gaze forward as she began humming a tune.
“You should go back now,” the moon goddess said, her voice echoing through the fading landscape. “It’s time for you to return to the mortal realm.” She added, but her words sounded distant, as if carried on the wind.
I scrunched my brows, trying to grasp what she was saying, when I realized I was fading away. My body slowly became translucent, the lake and surrounding flowers blurring into a hazy backdrop.
“Till we meet again, Lienna,” the moon goddess muttered, her voice growing fainter. “I pray you are successful in this arduous journey of yours.” Her words were the last thing I heard before everything dissolved into pitch black darkness.
I wandered, disoriented, my heart pounding in my chest. The darkness seemed endless, a void without shape or form. But then, a faint tune drifted through the void, a melody that sparked hope within me. A light appeared in the distance, growing brighter with each step.
Partly elated, I began to rush towards the light, its intensity increasing until I had to squint to avoid the harshness. The tune grew louder, more vibrant, and I felt myself being pulled towards it.
When I finally blinked my eyes open, I found myself back in the bedroom. Selene sat beside me on the bed, holding an incense and murmuring a soft chant. The fragrance of sandalwood and vanilla filled the air, a comforting scent.
I stared at Selene blankly for a while, my mind still reeling from the encounter with the moon goddess. Slowly, I turned my gaze upwards, and was startled to see that it was already a new day. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow through the window.
Though it seemed like I had only spent minutes with the moon goddess, a great deal of time had passed in the mortal realm. I began to sit up, and that’s what startled Selene awake. She blinked rapidly, her eyes focusing on me.
Realization dawned on her face, followed by relief. “Lienna! You’re back!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with emotion.
“How did it go?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Did you meet the moon goddess?” Selene’s face leaned in, eager to hear every detail.
I took a deep breath, trying to process the events that had transpired. The memory of the moon goddess’s words, her power coursing through me, and the weight of responsibility settling upon my shoulders.
“It went well,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “I met her.” I raised my hands to stare at my wrists, and the markings on them seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. Seeing them helped validate that I had indeed met the moon goddess, and it wasn’t just a dream conjured by my subconscious.
Selene’s eyes followed mine to the markings, and a huge smile spread across her face. “Wow… This is amazing. You really did meet her. This means you’ll be able to use her powers more easily now.” Her enthusiasm was contagious.
I grinned, feeling my cheeks heat up. “I know, I’m quite excited about it too,” I said, my voice tinged with happiness. Selene’s warm gaze made me feel more at ease.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a knock at the door interrupted us. Without waiting for a response, a soldier burst into the room, his presence filling the space with tension. We turned our attention to him, our expressions mirroring each other’s surprise.
“Is the ritual done already?” the soldier asked gruffly, his gaze locking onto me. I felt a shiver run down my spine at the intensity of his stare.
“Yes, is anything the problem?” Selene asked, her voice turning serious, a hint of protectiveness creeping in.
The soldier’s expression remained stern. “I have no idea, but Lienna has been summoned by the shifter kings. Do not keep them waiting.” His words dropped like a bombshell.
My heart did a summersault. So quickly? What happened? I thought I had more time to process everything. The moon goddess’s words still echoed in my mind, and now the shifter kings wanted to see me? Fear and uncertainty crept in.
Selene’s eyes narrowed, her expression thoughtful. “That’s sudden. Did they give a reason for the summons?” she asked, her tone measured.
The soldier shook his head. “No, but the message was clear: Lienna’s presence is required immediately.” His gaze lingered on me before he turned to leave. “I’ll escort her to the throne room.” He added before walking out the room.
I exchanged a worried glance with Selene. What did the shifter kings want from me now?