CHAPTER 11: THE SANCTUARY OF SELENE

The silence in the forest thickened as Ronan and I moved deeper. We slowed down as we arrived at a clearing amid tall trees and ivy veils. There is a stone structure that looked very ancient and untouched by time. Moss and glowing, delicate carvings covered the walls. I could perceive that this wasn't just an ordinary ruin; it was Selene's abode. The elder who was rumored to be rich in wisdom about the Moonbound.

Ronan tightened his grip around my arm as we arrived at the entrance, "be cautious", he whispered gently as he scanned the environment for any likely threats. I nodded in agreement, even though I didn't feel insecure in the slightest way.

We stepped inside the sanctuary as we pushed aside thick drapes of ivy, the interior was dimly lit only by soft streams of light through its cracks in the roof. the smell of damp stone and incense hung in the air, as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I noticed a chamber of shelves filled with old scrolls and ancient pottery. Selene sat at the center of the room and beckoned us to sit down.

"You are welcome". She said in a gentle tone. "My name is Selene".

"I have a lot of questions and I am here to seek answers about what is happening to me".

She nodded and beckoned us to come closer. Ronan immediately stood up and stepped forward like he was in a hurry, "She displays an uncontrollable surge of power, we need to understand and control it, we were told you are enlightened about the Moonbound and can help her". He said with an obvious note of concern and urgency in his tone.

"The power you carry Lena, is a gift from the ancient gods; the blood of the Moonbound, only a few have been gifted and even fewer have learnt to harness and control it". She paused for a moment. "Come now, let us begin".

As I sat still, my heart throbbed in my chest with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. Ronan stood still, watching every move I made. Selene brought out a small staff with a silver tip, and tapping it against her palm, the room was filled with a soft light. "It is the light of Selene; it unveils hidden truths buried in those who possess the spirit of the Moonbound".

The light shook across my arm and I closely watched as the symbol on my forearm glowed and enlarged. The glow reflected in Selene's eyes as she carefully watched the mark. "This symbol is not ordinary, Lena, it is a map, one that unveils your past and shows you what the future holds. It links you to the past Moonbound lineage, the ones chosen who lived amongst us before the war began".

This made me feel like I was existing in two realities; the present and the past. "This is why I always felt different". I whispered to myself.

This made Selene smile broadly. "You have always been a special child, Lena. The blood of the first Moonbound is in your veins. But along the line, you will be able to understand and use this power for salvation rather than destruction".

Ronan's eyes were fixed on me, they radiated concern. "How is it possible to teach her? How possible is it for her to have control over something so unpredictable?".

"Control is more about understanding than control. You must learn to adhere to your inner voice. The one that links you to the moon Goddess. This journey requires trust and willingness to face your deepest fears".

Her words were followed with a thick silence. "I want to be more, do more. I am willing to learn". I spoke.

Selene nodded in agreement. "Close your eyes then. We will start a lesson that will transport you to the past, where the memories of the ancients Moonbounds still live".

I closed my eyes. I felt like the room and everything in it was dissolving around me. The images were replaced by a revelation of battles underneath a moon as red as blood. I saw figures in a fierce battle and then there was the powerful goddess with eyes shining like stars. As I witnessed these visions, I was filled with different emotions I couldn't comprehend. I felt pride, sorrow and determination. There were tears in my eyes when I opened them. I was trying to understand these visions.

"You have seen what you are meant for, my child. You are destined to bridge the ancient and the new, to bring balance back to this world divided by hate and conflict". Selene's voice was warm and reassuring.

I glanced up at Ronan, his eyes were clouded with both relief and worry. "What happens if I cannot control this power?". I asked Selene.

She gently placed her hands on mine. "The darkness will overwhelm you, but I have faith in you to thread the right path. I see potential in you that even you do not see. Learn to accept both your dark and light sides, and you will find strength in the balance".

"I trust you too, Lena" Ronan added. "You are stronger than your worries". he placed his hands gently on my shoulders, bringing me a comforting warmth.

I sat there for a long time trying to take in the visions, the words of Selene and Ronan. I wasn't just different, I was an icon of hope, I wasn't a victim, I was a manifestation of an old prophecy.

"You have more to learn, there are rituals to activate your powers, meditations to ease the chaos within you, and you must learn the old language of the Moonbound that will enable you to consult the goddess when the need arises". Selene said and her eyes were heavy with hope. I can teach you, but you should know that your journey ahead is dangerous, you will meet enemies that want to use your powers and gifts for their gain, and enemies that want to destroy you.

I nodded my head in agreement as determination and fear surged from within me. "I am ready for anything".

Ronan, being my protector, held my hand tightly and said "we will go through this together".

"This lesson is your first, Lena. Trusting those by your side. Your burden is not yours alone to bear. It is a fabric woven to bind us together." Selene said as she looked from Ronan to me with a smile.

Selene led me through several exercises that were believed to concentrate on my internal energy. I learnt to synchronize my breathing with the woods, pay attention to the wind, and feel the thrumming of earth under my feet. I felt inner peace within me with the completion of each exercise. We spent hours in that sacred place, and when the sun came up, I was beginning to feel different. I was more aligned with my powers that once scared me. Selene's teaching reached deep into me. And I was sure my proper transformation was only beginning. And as the lesson drew to a close, Selene reminded me that the Moonbound path is dangerous with many challenges, and that I am not going to be alone in the fight. She told me to accept my destiny so that the Moon light will show me the way.

I felt our bond tighten as I looked at Ronan, "I am grateful". I said to Selene.

She nodded, "Go, my child, the answers that you are looking for are not found only in the past, but it is also in the choices you choose to make".

Ronan and came out of Selene's sanctuary as we gave a nod of goodbye and gratitude to our wise mentor. The woods seemed to accept us with a new sense of hope. The trees carried ancient scents in the wind. I stuck to the lessons Selene had taught me, for I knew they would be my guide in my troubled days to come. As we went further, the path ahead was a mystery. Filled with prophecies and echoes of the forgotten history, but I felt ready now, ready to connect and use my powers, to challenge the darkness that wants to consume me and to accept my destiny that was unfolding gradually under the watchful moon.