Whispers Of The Blue Moon

In the silent heart of the BlueMoon Palace, behind carved obsidian doors layered in protection spells, an old demon sat cross-legged in his ancient chamber. Scrolls, aged parchments, and mysterious relics surrounded him. His long white beard brushed against the floor as he leaned forward, opening a heavy, rune-engraved wardrobe.

From within its dark belly, he drew out a golden orb that shimmered like a captured sun. Carefully, he placed it inside a beautiful stone box, its exterior carved with runes that pulsed with dim blue light. The orb gleamed—so radiant and ethereal, it looked as though it held a living star within.

But just as he closed the lid, the air shifted.

A cold wind brushed against his spine, and shadows slithered across the walls like serpents. He stiffened.

Something was behind him.

A sharp presence. Unholy. Thick with dark aura and malice.

Before he could turn—

A hand with long black nails pierced through a swirling purple vapor behind him and gripped his throat tightly. He gasped, choking as his aged body struggled for air.

"You lied to me..." a sinister female voice hissed.

His eyes widened as the vapor thickened, and from it stepped a beautiful yet terrifying woman. Her long black hair flowed like ink, and around her neck was a glowing spider tattoo, pulsing with violet magic.

He wheezed, "Liora…"

She released her grip. He collapsed onto the floor, coughing violently.

"Why did you lie?" she demanded, her voice calm but laced with venom.

Still catching his breath, the old demon looked up. "I knew…you would come…when our soldiers reported sightings of Purple Spider Demons in BlueMoon Forest. I guessed it was you."

Liora's lips curled into a twisted smirk. "You always had a sharp mind."

Without warning, she drew a curved black knife, its edge glowing with cursed runes. She raised it toward his stomach.

"I should kill you for misleading me."

Before she could strike, he rasped, "Wait... I told you…everything I knew."

"You lied," Liora seethed. "When I touched that girl's throat…Fiona… I felt nothing. No divine energy. No goddess essence."

The old demon let out a low, amused chuckle. "Did… her tattoo glow… when you touched her?"

Liora paused. Her gaze darkened. "Yes… it did."

"Then she is the one."

"No," Liora snapped. "You're protecting someone. You always were good at hiding secrets, Master Zareth." Her tone was sharp with accusation. "But mark my words. If it's not Fiona, I will find the real goddess myself."

Zareth narrowed his eyes. "Why are you so obsessed with her?"

Liora's smile turned cold and nostalgic. "Some old betrayal… and revenge yet unfinished," she whispered with a trace of wicked laughter before vanishing back into the purple vapor, leaving only a faint hiss in the air.

A moment later, a soft knock echoed, followed by the door creaking open.

Zareth turned sharply.

Standing in the doorway was Irin.

She hesitated, her Blue eyes full of curiosity and worry. "Forgive me for intruding… but I heard a strange woman's laughter. It sounded eerie… so I came to check."

Zareth exhaled slowly and smiled, brushing off his robe. "Haha, little one… there's no one here except an old man talking to himself."

She didn't believe him entirely but stepped closer. "Are you… the Great Demon Master of the BlueMoon clan from a hundred years ago?"

Zareth scratched his white beard nervously. "Ah… you've heard of that title, I see. Yes, that was me… once. But not now. I'm just a retired old fool."

Irin remained cautious but curious. "I didn't expect to meet someone like you here…"

"Tell me," he said, peering at her kindly, "are you the girl Dylan brought back from the Heaven Realm?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes…"

His eyes flickered with strange light. "I see…"

Without another word, he turned to the stone box once more, opened it, and gently lifted the golden orb into his hands. It glowed warmly, pulsing in rhythm with the air.

He turned to Irin.

"Have you ever seen something like this before?"

Her eyes widened, enchanted. "No… but it's… so beautiful. It's like it's alive."

He handed it to her.

Her fingers brushed the orb, and a subtle heat rushed through her. She gasped—it was warm, soothing… familiar.

"Is it magic?" she asked.

Zareth smiled softly. "More than that… it's a relic beyond mortal magic. A divine artifact. This orb can bring someone back from the brink of death… once."

Irin's heart skipped.

A silence settled in the room as the weight of his words filled the space between them.

And yet, deep in her chest, the orb felt… right.

Almost as if it was calling her.

But what fate would it tie her to?

And who would it save—herself… or someone else?

To be continued…