Whispers Of The Blue Moon

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BlueMoon Palace – Royal Garden

The moonlight shimmered gently over the royal gardens of the BlueMoon Palace, casting a silvery glow on the blooming nightlotus and shimmering dew-kissed petals. A soft breeze danced through the leaves as Xizi knelt beneath a blossom-laden tree, gently plucking a delicate, glowing flower. Her eyes, though serene, carried the weight of a century-old sorrow.

As she stood and turned, she saw Irin walking along the cobbled path, lost in thought. Irin's steps paused when she spotted the girl.

"Xizi?" Irin called out curiously, approaching her. "I didn't expect to see you here in the garden."

Xizi gave a soft smile, tucking the glowing flower into her long braid. "I come here often… it's quiet here."

Irin nodded, her tone growing more inquisitive. "I've always wondered… You're a fairy, aren't you? How did you end up living here… in the demon palace?"

Xizi's smile faded slightly. She looked around, her expression suddenly alert. "Lower your voice," she whispered sharply. "And don't speak so impolitely about our king. I don't like that."

"Our king?" Irin frowned. "You mean demons?"

"You don't know anything about our king," Xizi said with a calm but firm voice. "You speak like the others who've never seen the truth."

Irin folded her arms. "What truth? What if I call him what the world calls him? A demon. Isn't that what he is? The world knows Dylan as an aggressive tyrant—"

"No," Xizi cut her off. "That's a lie."

Irin blinked in surprise. "A lie?"

"You remember I once told you," Xizi continued, her voice trembling slightly, "that my past is a big story?"

"Yes," Irin said slowly, watching her. "Are you going to tell me now?"

Xizi nodded, her eyes growing misty. "He's not a bad person, Irin. He's gentle… humble… but only to those who are good to him. Not to everyone, not to the Heaven Realm."

Irin raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? The Heaven Realm—"

"I don't know the ones in power now," Xizi interrupted. "But I know what they did to us."

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as if pulling her memories from a locked chest.

"I lived in a beautiful fairy village here in the BlueMoon Kingdom. I had parents, aunts, cousins... we were happy," she began. "But that peace didn't last. There was a war a hundred years ago between Heaven and the Demon Realm. That wasn't the only one…"

Irin's heart skipped. "Are you talking about the Great War?"

"No," Xizi shook her head. "Not that one. I mean the battle that happened six years after that. A new war… A personal war."

She looked up at Irin. "It was between Dylan and Ren."

Irin's eyes widened. "Ren? And Dylan?"

"Yes," Xizi whispered. "Ren sealed Dylan's elder brother, Xander, into the Great Lava Underworld."

"I've heard of that," Irin murmured. "Our ancestors told us stories… but they never explained the full truth."

Xizi nodded. "After that… Ren changed. Consumed by anger over losing his brother, he took revenge—not on Dylan directly—but on us… the people."

Irin's expression turned somber.

"One night," Xizi whispered, her hands trembling, "he sent an arrow from the sky—an archery spell imbued with destruction. Everyone in my village was asleep. The arrow didn't just destroy my village… it consumed the neighboring ones too."

Tears rolled silently down her cheeks. "I wasn't there… I still don't know why… Why I didn't go with my parents that night. I was late… I... I lived. But I lost everyone."

"I'm so sorry, Xizi…" Irin said softly, reaching forward to gently hug her.

Xizi's voice cracked. "No one came for me… no one… except our King Dylan. He took in this orphaned fairy… raised me… protected me."

Irin held her tighter. Her mind reeled. Ren… did all that?

She thought about the man she admired. But something didn't sit right anymore.

"If Ren had a grudge against Dylan… he should've fought him—not destroyed innocent lives," Irin whispered. "That's… wrong."

The wind grew colder, the night falling deeper in thought.

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Heaven Realm – Ancestors' Chamber

Inside the high celestial tower, the chamber of the Three Ancients lay shrouded in starlight. The sacred chair of the king stood empty—ornate, tall, and draped in light blue silk. The Ancestors sat in silence, their long white robes fluttering as if stirred by invisible energy.

"It has been too long," one Ancestor finally spoke, his voice echoing in the chamber. "We need a king."

"But this is Xander's seat," the second one replied, looking at the empty throne. "He is our rightful ruler."

The third Ancestor exhaled heavily. "He was… but he is not now. No one returns from the Great Lava Underworld. We must crown Ren during the next full moon."

"But if Xander returns…" the second said slowly, "His wrath will burn the skies. You know what his anger is like."

The third elder looked at them both. "Still, a realm without a ruler is a realm in ruin. Ren must rise."

A heavy silence followed.

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Three Hours Later

Ren stepped into the sacred chamber, bowing before the Three Ancestors. "You summoned me?"

They looked at him solemnly.

"We have decided," said the eldest, "you will be crowned the new King of Heaven at the next full moon."

Ren's eyes widened. "No… I… I can't."

"You must," said the second Ancestor firmly. "The realm needs you."

Reluctantly, Ren bowed again. "…If that is your will, I will accept."

"But you have a task," the third Ancestor said.

Ren looked up.

"You must find the Goddess born twenty-five years ago."

"The one of prophecy," added the second. "She alone can bring balance… but only if she stands with us."

"Do not let her be influenced by the Demon side," warned the third Ancestor. "And don't let Dylan find her before we do."

Ren's heart pounded. A goddess born twenty-five years ago? Could she really end this war?

"Where is she?" he asked.

The Ancestors looked at one another.

"…That is what you must discover before the moon turns red."

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Back in BlueMoon Garden

Irin stood under the moonlight, watching Xizi walk away toward the palace. Her heart throbbed with conflict.

Everything I believed about Ren… and Dylan…

A soft breeze brushed her cheek, carrying a distant echo.

What if the truth isn't what it seems?

The flower Xizi had given her still glowed in her hand.

And above, unseen by them all, a silver star fell from the sky.

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