Moon Arrow Chapter

The cold air of the northern range still lingered, clinging to the skin like the breath of a ghost. Mist swirled softly along the forest floor as Nyx Azura stepped out of the tent, steam rising faintly from her long midnight-blue braid. Water droplets clung to the tips, glittering like fragments of frozen stars. She stood barefoot for a moment, grounding herself to the quiet energy of the earth, the soft crunch of snow beneath her toes barely making a sound.

She turned, her eyes falling upon the campfire tent where Ren lay asleep. His breathing was steady, but even in slumber, he trembled slightly in the chill. Nyx crossed the distance silently, her dark cloak fluttering around her ankles like wings. Without a word, she knelt beside him, slowly unfastened the clasp at her throat, and laid her thick, fur-lined cloak gently over his resting form. A soft sigh escaped her lips, her violet eyes lingering on him for a moment longer. "Stay warm, idiot," she whispered.

Behind her, the tent flap rustled.

Lira stepped into the pale morning light, her silvery hair braided down her back. As she adjusted her leather belt, her eyes scanned the clearing — and then widened.

A hand gripped hers and yanked her sharply to the side. Kade's strong fingers pulled her toward the side of the tent, pushing her gently against the outer wall. "You're beautiful," he murmured, his voice low and rough with sleep, but filled with a quiet awe.

Lira blinked, startled, but didn't resist. Her lips parted to say something, but Kade's hand brushed a strand of hair from her face, and before she could speak, his mouth found hers. It was not rushed or aggressive — it was hesitant, testing, like a secret they'd both carried too long.

And then, everything broke.

Nyx stiffened. The earth shifted under her fingers. Her magic — always dormant, always quiet — suddenly screamed through her blood. She spun to her feet, scanning the horizon. A thick, dark fog began to creep through the trees like a living thing. Her breath caught. This wasn't natural.

"Ren," she hissed, shaking his shoulder. "Wake up."

He stirred, groaning. "Nyx...? What are you—"

"Danger," she snapped. "We're under attack."

Kade and Lira stumbled into view, both now wide-eyed, as the fog surged forward, splitting apart to reveal something monstrous.

A shadow formed — limbs too long, mouth filled with jagged teeth, and eyes burning like dying stars. The curse had found them.

"Give us the Moon Arrow," it hissed, its voice a hundred whispers at once. "It does not belong to you, girl."

Lira stepped forward, the artifact in question glowing faintly on her back. The weapon shimmered — a longbow forged of silver wood, its string pulsing with lunar energy. It was her burden and her blessing. The very reason the group was being hunted.

"You're not getting it," Lira said firmly, drawing the arrow of light.

The creature screeched, and the trees bent as if in agony.

"Ren, protect Lira," Nyx barked, stepping between the beast and the others.

"But you—"

"I said protect her!"

Power swirled around Nyx. It wasn't trained magic — not something she'd mastered or studied. It was wild, dangerous, and raw, pulled straight from the old spellbook she'd found in a forgotten bookstore during their passage through Ice Land.

The symbols she had once struggled to pronounce now rose to her lips with ease.

"Luxus Thavareh… ignitas!"

A surge of white-blue energy erupted from her palms. The curse screamed as the wave hit, staggering backward.

Kade leapt in, blades flashing. Lira loosed an arrow that cracked with silver fire, embedding itself in the creature's chest. Ren followed with a short sword strike to its limbs, forcing it to stumble.

But it wasn't enough.

The curse reared back, then launched forward, tentacles of darkness aiming for Lira.

"No!" Nyx screamed, rushing in. The symbols glowed from her skin now, old markings reacting to her awakening power.

The curse howled, shuddering under the pressure of their combined force. And still, it cried out:

"Give us the Moon Arrow!"

Lira's hands tightened around the weapon. With a roar, she raised the bow high, channelling the full power of her title — Moon Arrow. A spectral light poured down from the sky, enveloping her, and her arrow grew twice as bright.

"End it," Nyx said.

She fired.

The arrow struck the beast's core. The curse convulsed, letting out one final screech before it began to collapse inward, sealed into the very weapon it sought to possess.

There was silence.

Steam hissed from the ground. The fog receded.

They stood breathing heavily, eyes wide, clothes torn. But alive.

Nyx wiped blood from her mouth. "We need to move. Now."

Ren nodded. "Where?"

"Iveryn Empire," she said. "To Lady Ivera."

As they travelled through the Evermoor Woods, a presence appeared. A small, fluffy creature — part deer, part bird — emerged from the brush. Its eyes sparkled like amethysts, and on its neck was a tiny scroll.

The creature approached Nyx, bowed its head, and unfurled the parchment.

"Lady Ivera requests your presence. The time has come. Follow me."

With a soft chirp, it tapped the air once. A swirling portal of blue and silver opened.

Kade raised an eyebrow. "Convenient."

"Too convenient," Ren muttered.

Nyx placed her hand on the hilt of her blade. "We're out of time. Let's go."

One by one, they stepped through.

Far away, in a hidden chamber beneath the Blackthorn Mountains, the four enemy lords gathered — Dravaryn, Solanar, Elaris, and Mirevian.

They stood around a glowing map of the continent. Upon it, Nyx's group was marked — glowing red.

"They are heading to Iveryn," the Dravaryn Lord spat.

"The girl with the Moon Arrow is growing too strong," said the Solanar Lord. "And Azura's child... she has awakened the bloodline magic."

"Lady Ivera will protect them," said the Mirevian Lord darkly. "We need to act before she grants them sanctuary."

A pause. Then Elaris Lord smiled coldly.

"Then we prepare for war."

Iveryn Empire rose like a dream.

Floating islands held aloft by magic, dragons soaring overhead, rivers of light flowing through the sky. The capital gleamed with enchanted spires and crystal bridges. No hunting, no war beasts — only harmony between magic, nature, and spirit.

Lady Ivera stood at the balcony of her ivory palace, her long robes catching the wind. Her silver crown shimmered like the moon, and her gaze was distant, thoughtful.

As Nyx and her group appeared before her, she turned with a warm smile.

"You've arrived. Just as the stars foretold."

She stepped forward, gently touching Lira's shoulder.

"You have carried the Moon Arrow with grace, my child. Now, let me give you something more."

From her hands formed a sheath of lunar silk, enchanted to empower and protect the bow.

Then she turned to Nyx.

"You, Nyx Azura, bearer of the forbidden flame, heir to the lost bloodline... the empires fear you because they do not understand you. But I do."

Nyx's lips parted slightly, her breath caught.

"Will you fight for peace, even if it means standing against those who fear you?"

Nyx nodded. "I will."

Lady Ivera smiled. "Then let the world watch as stars fall and magic rises. You are no longer prey. You are legend in the making."

[TO BE CONTINUED]