Prologue
The young man lies on the cold ground, barely conscious. His body is battered and bloodied, his blond hair matted. Each breath is shallow. The world fades around him as the moon casts its quiet, silver glow.
His lips part as he exhales weakly.
“The moon… it shines.”
His vision blurs, darkness closing in. Pain grips him, deep and unrelenting. The cold sinks into his bones. He knows—this is the end.
Then, a shadow moves across the moonlight.
For a moment, the glow disappears. And in its place, she stands.
His blurry eyes lock onto her—dark purple hair flowing like it’s alive, violet robes shimmering under the stars. She is silent, yet her presence is undeniable.
His breath catches. The pain dulls, his senses sharpening just enough to take her in.
“She shines…” he whispers.
She kneels beside him, her eyes watchful. Without a word, she touches his skin—warm, gentle, easing his deep ache.
His heartbeat stumbles when her fingers trace his cheek, his lips. Then, slowly, she leans in.
Her lips meet his.
A warmth sparks within him, spreading fast, melting the pain. Wounds close, bones mend, strength returns. The cold fades.
She is not human. He can feel it in her touch, in the power that hums in the air around her.
Before he can react, she pulls away, her warmth fading like a dream. She rises, robes billowing as she turns.
For a moment, she stands there, bathed in moonlight once more. Then, she walks away, disappearing into the night.
He is left lying there—alive, unbroken, but forever changed.
The moon shines again above him, but now, it is not its light he remembers.
It is hers...
