11

Lunara's mind raced as memories flooded back, intertwining with her current rage. Her mother, a Handmaid of the Azure Tide Clan and the hidden concubine of the deceased Clan Head, had always been her guiding light. She remembered the pride in her mother's eyes when she spoke of her son's potential, the glimmer of hope that shone when they discussed the day he could officially join the clan.

For years, Lunara had been kept hidden, her existence a closely guarded secret until she turned fifteen. Only then did her mother relent, allowing her to step into the world of the clan, a world that was both a dream come true and a source of heartache. The longing to meet her father, even from a distance, had been a driving force in her life, but nothing compared to the joy of seeing her mother every day, sharing in her triumphs and struggles.

It was this deep-seated desire for family, for connection, that had spurred Lunara on through the relentless training and the trials she faced. She worked tirelessly to prove herself, to honor her mother's sacrifices and to earn her place among the clan. But now, as she faced the very person who had betrayed her, she understood that the stakes were higher than she could have ever imagined.

The man before her, her supposed benefactor, had manipulated her trust, using her ambition for his own gain. He had not only threatened her life but had also tarnished the memory of her mother—the woman who had fought so hard for her son's recognition and acceptance within the clan. The thought of her mother's sacrifice stirred something fierce within Lunara.

As she lunged forward, every blow she aimed at him was infused with the weight of her mother's legacy, the dreams they had shared, and the love that had been taken from her. In this moment of clarity amid her rage, she vowed to honor that legacy, to reclaim her rightful place, and to ensure that her mother's memory would not be tarnished by betrayal. Lunara would fight not only for herself but for the honor of her family, and she would stop at nothing to exact her revenge.