Into the Abyss

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Luna stood on the outskirts of her growing kingdom, watching as her people trained, built, and strengthened their bonds. They were thriving, but she knew it wasn't enough.

The world was vast and cruel, and strength alone would not keep them safe. She had to become something untouchable—something no one could challenge.

And for that, she had to leave.

Ahava stood beside her, his arms crossed. "I don't like this."

"You don't have to." Luna's voice was calm but firm.

His jaw tensed. "You could take at least one person with you."

"No." She shook her head. "This is something I need to do alone."

Ahava exhaled sharply, his eyes dark with worry. "Then at least tell me where you're going."

Luna turned to him, giving a small, knowing smile. "To the place where even the gods dare not step."

Luna gave him a final nod before turning away, her steps purposeful as she headed toward the place she had been avoiding for years

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The Priestess's Gift

The temple smelled of incense and old parchment, its air thick with the weight of unspoken truths.

The Priestess stood at the center, her silver eyes unreadable as she studied Luna.

"You seek the truth."

Luna met her gaze without flinching. "I seek power."

A ghost of a smile played on the Priestess's lips. "Power and truth are often the same."

She turned, retrieving a small, black ring from an ancient chest "If you seek strength, you must sever the ties that weaken you."The moment she held it out, Luna felt a strange pull toward it—like it was meant for her.

"This ring will sever your celestial bond—for now," the Priestess said. "The Sun Prince will no longer feel you, nor you him. If you wish to walk the path of true strength, you must be free of distractions."

Luna took the ring, sliding it onto her finger. A wave of stillness washed over her.

The connection was gone.

For the first time in months, she could breathe without the ghost of the Sun Prince lingering in the back of her mind.

The Priestess watched her closely. "Go to the Abyssal Forest. There, you will find what you seek."

Luna nodded, determination lighting her eyes.

She would not return until she was unstoppable.

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Chapter Sixteen: Trial by Blood

The Abyssal Forest was a nightmare made real.

The air was thick with mist, and the trees stretched impossibly high, their branches tangled in endless darkness. Creatures lurked in the shadows—things no human had ever lived to describe.

Luna moved carefully, her instincts sharper than ever.

The first few days were brutal.

She faced beasts with teeth longer than daggers, their howls echoing through the night. She fought them, her blade becoming an extension of herself. She bled, she stumbled, but she survived.

She found ancient ruins hidden within the forest, filled with forgotten knowledge. She meditated beneath waterfalls, pushing her body past its limits.

And then, she nearly died.

It had happened too fast. One moment, she was standing on solid ground. The next, she was plunging into an underground cavern, crashing into freezing water below.

Her vision blurred. Her limbs felt heavy.

For the first time in a long time, she thought—this is it.

But something inside her refused to surrender.

With the last of her strength, she forced herself upward, gasping for air as she broke through the surface.

The cavern was silent.

And then she saw it.

An altar, ancient and glowing with celestial energy.

She staggered toward it, her fingers brushing the carvings on the stone. Symbols of the Eclipse Goddess covered its surface.

And in the center, embedded in the altar, was a blade unlike anything she had ever seen—black as the void, pulsing with power.

Luna wrapped her fingers around the hilt.

The moment she did, pain exploded through her body, visions flashing before her eyes—memories not her own.

The Eclipse Goddess. The war. The sacrifice.

And then—herself.

She gasped, collapsing to the ground as the power settled within her.

She was changing.

And she was not afraid.

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The Ageless Child

Days turned to weeks. Weeks turned to months.

Luna grew stronger, her power more refined. She had become a master of her abilities, her body and mind honed to perfection.

But fate had more in store for her.

She found the girl in the middle of a battlefield.

Bodies littered the ground—an entire village slaughtered. And in the center of it all stood a child, untouched by the chaos around her.

Her hair was white as the moon. Her eyes held the weight of centuries.

Luna stepped forward. "Are you hurt?"

The girl blinked up at her. "No."

Luna studied her, sensing something ancient in her presence. "What's your name?"

The girl hesitated. "…I don't have one."

Luna crouched before her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Where are your parents?"

The girl's expression darkened. "I don't have those either."

Luna frowned. "What happened here?"

The girl shifted, her small fingers curling into fists. "They chased me out."

Luna's brows furrowed. "Why?"

The girl's voice was quiet, almost too soft to hear.

"They said I was cursed."

Luna felt a pang in her chest. "Cursed?"

The girl nodded. "Because I don't age."

Luna inhaled sharply. An ageless child.

She had read about beings like this in old, forgotten texts—souls untouched by time, feared by those who did not understand them.

Luna's expression softened. "They were wrong."

The girl looked up at her, hesitant. "You don't think I'm cursed?"

Luna smiled. "No. I think you're a miracle."

The girl's eyes widened, and for the first time, she looked… hopeful.

Luna held out a hand. "Come with me."

The girl hesitated before slowly placing her small hand in Luna's.

"From now on," Luna said gently, "your name is Ren."

Ren's fingers tightened around hers, silent acceptance in her eyes.

Luna rose to her feet, determination settling in her chest.

She would not only give Ren a home—she would change the way the world saw her.

And when they returned, the very people who had cast her out would beg to follow her.

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Return of the Eclipse Queen

Two years later, Luna stepped through the gates of her kingdom.

She was not the same woman who had left.

Her presence alone commanded silence. Her beauty was beyond mortal comprehension—otherworldly, ethereal.

And her power?

Unmatched.

Ahava was the first to greet her, his expression stunned. "Luna…"

She smiled. "Miss me?"

Her people had grown, her kingdom had expanded. But as they looked upon her now, they knew—

Luna Nyx Astraeus had returned.

And she was more powerful than ever.

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