Chapter 38. Lunaria's Sanctum Sanctorum.
The light vanished and Gavin's breath caught in his throat. The sudden shift in location was disorientating to say the least. His stomach heaved, queasy and uneasy.
"Don't you dare throw up." Astrid's stern voice called from behind.
Gavin swallowed his nausea down as Erza placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. They looked around and Erza let out a soft gasp.
There was no sky.
No ground.
Only living light.
A vast silver meadow stretched in every direction; the blades of grass were translucent. They shimmered softly with moonlit veins that pulsed beneath their surface.
They didn't glow.
They just breathed.
The entire world exhaled in slow, silent rhythm. The air itself seemed woven from drifting particles of light and bioluminescent pollen; warm, gentle, yet ancient enough to make Gavin's instincts scream.
This was not a place where mortals were meant to stand.
His wolf stirred inside his chest, ears flat, hackles raised — not in fear. In recognition.
This realm was alive.
And it was watching them.
His instincts screamed at him, demanded to shift, to grab the women and demand to be returned. The human side of him knew they had no chance of forcing the immovable mountain that was Drake to do anything. He clenched his fist by his side in frustration.
There was no wind. Yet the silver grasses shifted ever so slightly toward them, bending like an unseen tide.
Not welcoming.
Assessing.
The realm itself was judging silently if their existence was worthy of being here.
Gavin swallowed, every sense prickling like his skin was being read molecule by molecule.
He didn't dare speak. He couldn't. What could he say in the presence of this divine realm.
Only then, only after the Sanctum had taken in the intruders — did Drake finally step forward.
His voice broke the sacred stillness like it belonged here.
"Stay close. And do not wander." The realm itself moved and flowed as he spoke. The silver grass swayed and glowed with bioluminescent light.
"This is the realm of Lady Lunaria. High Mother. Lady of life, creation and light. As such, the realm is the embodiment of life itself." Drake's rumbling voice felt at home as he spoke, part of the realm itself.
Tessa whimpered in fright as she reached out a trembling hand to grab onto someone, anyone for stability. She held onto someone closely for support as she tried to process everything all at once. She didn't even know who she grabbed, She needed to be grounded.
I… what… where… They weren't kidding. The gods really do exist. This place, there is no where on Elyndra like this. Tessa's thoughts spun around as she stepped closer to the person she grabbed.
Erza looked over as she felt someone grab onto her arm with a trembling hand. She paused, surprised to see it was Tessa, her face scrunched up, brows wrinkled, eyes wide. Erza's expression softened slightly as she placed her hand over the other woman's. "It's going to be alright." She offered Tessa a gentle smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Tessa startled at Erza's words, not realizing it was Erza she clung to. She looked at Erza's hand over hers and didn't let go but instead stepped closer to her.
With every step, the silver meadow pulsed in rhythm. The bioluminescent light flickered in and out as they walked. Drake led them a short way through the tall silver grass along the path highlighted by the realm itself.
After what felt like an eternity they approached a large archway made of floating orbs of light with rainbow colors that danced inside them. Every breath showed a different color as they approached.
Gavin could see a vibrant rainbow-colored forest on the other side of the archway. Trees with trunks wider than anything he had seen before that pulsed and glowed in the same way the tall grass in the meadow did.
Gavin's instincts on edge as he swept his gaze around their surroundings. He still didn't trust Drake or the Valkyrie sisters, but the presence he felt beyond that archway made his blood boil.
"We are almost there. Do not speak until spoken too. Mind your manners. Remember who you are talking to. She is the one above all others in life and creation. Do these things and you will be returned the mortal plane alive." Drake's rumbling voice rang in Gavin's ears as he turned his head to watch the giant of a man.
With that warning spoken, Drake led the party through the archway. The orbs of light pulsed and glowed as each member of the group walked through, with Astrid and Kara bringing up the rear.
Aria gasped as she saw the forest of rainbow trees ahead of them. The path continued through the forest, and the trees moved aside. They cleared a path and granted them access to a beautiful pool of water that glowed with golden light.
On the far side of the pool was a single woman. Voluptuous. Radiant. Perfection. None of these words could do her justice. She wore a flowing gown that reflected the light from the trees and space itself. It shimmered as she moved and hugged every inch of her devastating curves.
Her hair fell in golden waves with ribbons tied in. They glimmered like starlight as she turned to greet the newcomers. Her eyes were vibrant silver that shimmered as she walked, and Gavin noticed there was a faint white glow around her body. Not bright, more like a faint outline on a drawing.
Her smile was radiant and somehow calmed his nerves. "Welcome. So you are the chosen one for Koray?" Her voice was like honey, smooth, sweet, kind. Like the warmth in a hearth at a festival.
Drake cleared his throat as he bowed low, reverently. "My lady, I have brought the wolf that you requested." His rumble shook the air around them as he kept his gaze lowered from Lunaria.
"Any trouble?" Her eyes lingered on the Valkyrie sisters that stayed at the back of the group.
"Nothing that presented any difficulties My Lady." Drake's response was quick, respectful. As if breaking up a fight and saving Gavin's life was a walk in the park.
Gavin's eyes glowed red as he stood behind Drake. Erza grabbed his arm and pulled him back before he did anything out of anger. "Not now!" Her hissed words filled his ear.
I agree with Erza master Gavin. I do not recommend any hostile or aggressive actions while here. Lady Lunaria is someone that you do not want to anger. Veronica agreed fully with Erza's warning as she also sensed and predicted the stupid action that Gavin was about to do.
You act like I'm an impulsive angry beast. Gavin's reply held no venom as backed down. It's terrifying when you both agree.
Veronica replied with a satisfied huff in his mind as she withdrew her presence.
Gavin let out a deep sigh as he stepped forward. "That would be me." His words held no venom. No anger. No trace of his frustration over the events of the past hour.
Lunaria smiled warmly as she walked over. No, it wasn't walking. The goddess seemed to glide around the pool towards the group that stood there waiting. "Pleasure to meet you. My name is Lunaria." Her voice was honey and silk. Gavin felt his anger and frustration seep away as he listened to her.
"What do you want from me?" Gavin's words were blunt and laced with apprehension. He raised his head, refusing to bow. I'm getting really tired of the gods involving themselves in my life.
Drake's eye twitched but he made no comment as Lunaria glided closer. Her presence carried with it the weight of authority and the very cosmos. The air shimmered with every movement she made as she stopped in front of Gavin. He moved to place himself between the goddess and Erza protectively as he kept his gaze locked on the goddess.
"A terrible crime was committed by the humans centuries ago." Her words flowed over them as they listened in rapt interest.
"The strongest of your kind were hunted nearly to extinction and due to laws in place, neither myself nor any of the other gods were permitted to intervene and protect them." Her voice quieted and was laced with what Gavin could only guess as regret.
"If you don't mind my asking," Erza began as she swallowed. "Why would you care as a god? I mean isn't your life eternal?"
A bitter smile lifted the corner of her mouth as she looked at Erza. "I care child, because as the goddess of life, light and creation I value all aspects of life and detest senseless slaughter and death. That would be my husband, Thanarion that enjoys that." Her voice was quiet, as she replied.
"That still doesn't answer what you want from us." Gavin pressed as he reached for Erza's trembling hand.
"I know what Koray is trying to do, choosing you as his agent." She continued, her gaze lingered on Erza's hand in Gavin's. "But I fear you are anywhere close in your strength to what we need. I watched the way you fought in Koray's little training dungeon, and you were… interesting."
Gavin stood a bit straighter at the thought that a god watched him fight. "Is that a good thing?"
Lunaria's laughter was warm and infectious. "No. You were reckless, even foolish in the way you fought each new enemy. You had no battle plan and charged in head strong. You even ignored the advice of Veronica." Lunaria admonished the wolf.
Erza's grip tightened around Gavin's hand as he stiffened under Lunaria's words. "Hey, I won each fight didn't i? That's all that matters." He protested as he felt his temper rise.
"Spoken like a mortal with no life or battle experience. Let me ask you about this little wolf. How many times would you have lost if your partner didn't intervene at the last minute?" Her rebuke wasn't cruel, but it cut Gavin deeply.
Gavin bit back his snarky retort. Veronica had saved him, in every single near death fight he had. The realization that he wouldn't have beaten a single floor without her help and intervention humbled him. "I… Every single floor fight." Gavin choked on the submission; heat flooded his cheeks.
Lunaria nodded. There was approval in her gaze as her features softened. "You have gained great strength very quickly. This much is true wolf. But you must grow much more powerful if you are going to have any chance in protecting the surviving clans in hiding." She swept her hands indicating the group around them.
"I'm not sure how much you all know or don't know. So, I will explain it quickly. In the past, the ancient ancestors of the shifter race, the original predatory shifter clans, were growing too powerful. The world leaders at the time were afraid they would attempt to overthrow them and take control of the world. So, they did what humans always do in fear." She paused as her eyes shimmered with unspent tears.
Erza held her brief as she listened. Tessa held onto Gavin's shoulder as Aria and Lyla stepped forward to listen intently.
"The humans destroyed and killed. They rounded up every alpha predator clan they could and purged them from society and erased all mention of those families from the records." Tessa sobbed in horror as she heard Lunaria's words.
Erza's shoulders shook as tears few down her face. Lunaria softened her voice and continued. "Naturally they didn't get everyone. There are small remnants, clans that went hiding in the forests and mountains of the world. Through a combined mix of magic and human technology they have remained safe. Hidden."
Drake stepped forward then. "But they can not remain so forever. Sooner or later, they will be discovered, and the purge will happen again." His rumble shook Gavin to his core as his eyes flared red with power and rage.
A flash of memory that he didn't recognize. A beautiful brunette, a baby blue sling, campfire. Gavin shook his head to clear his mind.
"Is that… what happened to my parents and family?" Gavin's words were an angry whisper. His voice trembled as he locked his glowing red eyes with Lunaria's silver swirls.
She nodded, her face passive and emotions in check. "Yes. The enemies of the alpha clans found them and slaughtered them days after you were born."
Gavin snarled as a wave of anger, mana and power exploded beyond his restrained control. The wave expanded out from the group and around the clearing. Hair was ruffled, leaves fluttered, and trees swayed as his mana washed over them.
Drake lifted an eyebrow at the display as he saw the young man's shoulders shake with his fury. Erza placed her hand against his shoulder. Tessa took a step back in surprise. "Easy baby, control it. Don't let the anger rule you." Erza whispered in his ear as she watched him struggle to control his anger. No. It's not just his anger, but… his pain. Her heart fluttered as she saw his grief and rage mix together inside him.
"She is right. Don't let your emotions control you. You need to grab them and shove them inside that box and lock it down tight." Drake offered as he stood in front of Gavin.
"Easy for you to say." Gavin snarled his fury directed at Drake. He took one step forward, his body trembled, burned. It itched to slug the smug bastard in his perfect jaw.
"You are not strong enough to even entertain that suicidal thought in your mind wolf. But if you want a reminder of what true power is like, I can allow Kara a chance to fight you again." Drake leaned closer to whisper.
The memory of how easily she sent him flying flashed through his mind. She stepped forward, hesitant, reserved. "Now is not the time wolf. Not in front of Lady Lunaria."
The fact that even Kara, the embodiment of headstrong, careless, reckless, and carefree hesitated to jump into a fight made Gavin pause.