Chapter 124: The Test Behind the Test
Elara’s hand froze on the doorknob. That voice. Luna’s voice. But soft now. Almost... broken?
"Don’t open it," Darian warned, moving protectively toward the kids.
"What if it’s a trick?" Ronan added, his muscles tense for a fight. But Kael was studying the door with a frown.
"Something’s different. I can’t feel any danger." The knock came again, softer this time. "Please," the voice said.
"I know you have every reason not to trust me. But I need to explain." Elara looked down at baby Kira.
The silver stars in her daughter’s eyes were glowing softly, but not with fear. With something that looked almost like... recognition?
"She knows something we don’t," Elara whispered. Against every instinct shouting at her to run, she opened the door.
The woman standing there looked like Luna, but everything about her was different. Her dark hair hung loose instead of perfectly styled.
Her clothes were simple human clothing instead of magical armor. Most shocking of all, her eyes were red from crying.
"Hello," she said quietly. "My name is actually Lydia. Luna was... what I became when I lost myself."
"Lost yourself how?" Kael ordered, not moving away from his defensive position.