Temple of Truth and the Silver-Eyed Stranger

The palace had never been this silent before.

No growling guards. No gossiping maids. No sarcastic Mira singing off-key in the hallway.

Just a silence that pressed against the walls like a storm waiting to explode.

Talia sat curled on her velvet bed, her fingers gently tracing the flame mark on her wrist. It pulsed faintly… less strong than before.

She looked at the second mark glowing on her other wrist.

Kael's mark.

Two bonds. One heart.

Her mind was spinning with questions.

Was she truly a moonbound child once? Did Lucien know? Why had no one ever told her?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of something crashing in the hallway.

> Crash! Bang!

"WHAT NOW?" she yelled, rushing out.

In the hallway stood Lucien—shirtless, fuming, and holding a poor innocent table that was now in pieces.

Mira stood beside him, arms crossed and eating from a bowl of popcorn. "That table didn't flirt with her, y'know."

Lucien growled. "He kissed her hand. In front of me."

"It's called fingers, Lucien. He didn't bite her neck."

"I wanted to bite his," Lucien muttered under his breath.

Talia blinked. "Wait… did you just destroy a table because of jealousy?"

Lucien looked away like a sulky wolf pup. "Maybe."

Mira leaned over and whispered to Talia, "We love a possessive man, but can someone buy this dude a punching bag?"

---

👪 Meanwhile… In the Mortal Realm

Talia's Mom, a no-nonsense Indian woman in her 50s, was sitting at the dining table scrolling through WhatsApp.

She frowned. "Where is my daughter? And why does her location say 'Shadow Realm'?"

Her husband peeked from the kitchen. "Maybe it's a fancy club?"

She stared at him. "It has demons, honey. Not cocktails."

She opened her daughter's journal and found a torn page:

> "The Flame chooses. The Moon returns. And the bond will break—or burn."

Her hands shook.

"I need to find her before… before the flame consumes her."

She picked up her phone.

> "Hello, Beta Anaya? Pack your bags. We're going to get your sister back from the underworld."

---

😈 Inside the Shadow Realm

Lucien took Talia to a secret chamber beneath the palace.

The torches lit themselves as they walked in.

Talia gasped.

A mural on the wall showed a girl with her exact eyes—locked in a ritual with a moon-cloaked boy.

"She was real," Talia whispered. "We were really bound before."

Lucien nodded.

> "I knew about Kael."

Talia froze. "What?"

"I knew… the bond existed before me. But when I saw you on Earth, I couldn't stop myself. I did the flame ritual without telling you the truth."

"Why?" she whispered.

Lucien turned away. His voice broke.

> "Because I knew if you remembered him… you might not choose me."

Talia stepped closer. Her voice was trembling.

"You lied to me. You took my choice."

Lucien didn't defend himself. He stood there… silent, broken.

Talia turned and walked out of the chamber, tears burning her eyes.

Mira stood outside with a sword strapped to her back and a dramatic cape she probably borrowed from someone's closet.

"Wanna do something crazy?" she said, grinning.

"What?"

"Break into the Moon Temple and find the truth yourself."

Talia sniffed, then nodded.

> "Let's go."

---

🌕 Meanwhile... Kael

Kael stood beneath a silver tree in the Moon Forest, watching the stars.

His knight knelt beside him. "What if she never comes back?"

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"Then I'll burn down the Flame Castle and bring her out myself."

The Moon Temple — Entrance to Secrets

Talia adjusted the hood over her head as she and Mira stood before the giant stone doors of the Moon Temple, hidden deep within the Forest of Whispers. Ancient vines curled over the walls, and a faint glow shimmered across the runes.

Mira squinted at them.

"Did I mention I'm allergic to haunted places with ancient curses?"

Talia smirked. "You didn't. But I kind of assumed."

As she placed her hand on the rune, it lit up with a soft silver glow, and the doors creaked open.

Inside, the temple was breathtaking.

Moonlight fell through cracks in the ceiling, dancing over murals and carvings. A soft melody filled the air—like whispers from another lifetime.

---

🔮 The Visions Begin

As they stepped deeper inside, the floor beneath Talia shimmered.

Suddenly, everything around her vanished.

She was no longer in the temple—but standing in the middle of a ritual circle, surrounded by robed figures. A silver-haired girl stood in the center, glowing, her body trembling.

And next to her—

> Kael.

His hand was joined with the girl's.

High Priest: "Moonbound souls must be separated to prevent the eclipse."

Another voice shouted: "No! They're in love!"

But a sharp blade struck the air—

The vision shattered.

---

Talia fell to her knees.

Mira rushed to her. "Hey! You okay? You looked like you were seeing a K-drama breakup live!"

Talia whispered, "I was her. I was the Moon girl… and Kael—he loved me."

---

😈 Meanwhile… Back at the Flame Castle

Lucien paced the hallway, his eyes glowing brighter with every step.

General Varic: "Your bride has vanished with your assassin best friend. Do you want us to bring them back?"

Lucien stopped, clenched his jaw.

> "No. If I force her, I'll lose her forever. Let her find the truth. I'll wait."

He turned to the fire altar.

But the flame mark on his chest began flickering.

The bond was weakening.

---

💫 Inside the Temple's Heart

Talia and Mira entered the innermost chamber. A large moonstone mirror floated in the air.

Talia touched it—

And the mirror turned black.

> Voice: "Daughter of light and flame, your soul is fractured. You cannot belong to both."

Another image flashed—her parents, standing before a council, arguing.

Talia's mother: "Seal her memories. Let her live a normal life."

Kael's voice echoed: "You lied to me. You took her from me!"

---

Talia gasped. "My parents were part of this? They sealed my powers? My memories?"

Suddenly, a silver gust of wind blew through the chamber, and a man stepped out from the shadows.

Tall. Mysterious. Eyes like cold stars.

He bowed. "You should not be here, Talia."

She took a step back. "Who are you?"

He smiled faintly. "I am Orien, guardian of the Moonblood line. And you… are the last of it."

Orien showed her a silver book.

It opened to a glowing page with a single line:

> "The one who holds both flame and moonlight can destroy the realms… or unite them."

Talia's eyes widened.

> "Wait—me?! I can destroy the world?!"

Mira muttered, "You know, I always suspected you were the dramatic type."

But Orien wasn't smiling.

> "And Kael knows. He's coming for you… to finish the bond."

Talia's parents packed their bags. Her mom looked determined.

"I'm not letting them take her again. This time, I'll fight."

Her father frowned. "But we promised never to interfere."

She looked at him coldly. "That was before demons and moon princes started circling my daughter like lovesick puppies."

---

🔥 At the Castle…

Lucien stood at the highest tower, watching the Moon rise.

Behind him, a servant gasped.

"The Moon Army… they've crossed into the Shadow Border."

Lucien turned, eyes glowing red.

> "So be it. If he wants war… he'll get one."

Coming in Episode 13:

Kael arrives at the temple—but what does he really want?

A dramatic confrontation between Lucien and Kael,

Talia uncovers the Moonblood Prophecy,

Mira's surprising past is revealed,

And someone very close to Talia… betrays her.