The evening air gently descended over the castle, bringing with it the scent of wet grass and closed flowers. The sky was clear, dotted with stars, and the full moon rose above the Itezista forest, shining like a mirror of the light in Sofia's soul.
The girl walked barefoot through the courtyard, holding the crystal that still pulsed weakly in her palm. Every time she looked at it, she felt a warmth in her chest, as if the heart of the forest were beating in rhythm with hers.
— "I wonder if he feels this too…" she murmured.
— "I do," a voice came from behind her.
Sofia started slightly. Dragoş approached slowly, carrying a small flashlight and a warm smile. The moonlight touched his face, making him seem more mature, more self-confident.
— "I can't sleep," he said. "Every time I close my eyes, I hear the call of the forest. It seems to remind me of something."
Sofia smiled and stood up.
— "Maybe it reminds you of the promise you made."
Dragoş looked at her in surprise, then, with a playful air, raised his hand.
The ring shone faintly, silver.
— "I haven't forgotten. I promised you that, as long as your light burns, I will feel the call. And I still do."
The girl looked down, moved.
— "And if my light goes out?"
Dragoş took a step closer.
— "Then I will relight it," he said softly. "Even if I have to walk all the way to the shadow of the forest for it."
The silence that followed was sweet, filled with a tension that neither of them knew how to call. Only the wind, the moon, and the rustling of leaves kept them company.
Sofia sat down again, and Dragoş came to her side. They looked at the moon—he with dreamy eyes, she with a heart full of questions.
— "You know…" Sofia said, "my mother told me that I was born under the sign of the Sun. That I have the light in me. But you… you have something of the Moon. Maybe that's why we get along like this."
Dragoş laughed softly.
— "The Sun and the Moon never meet, do they?"
— "Yes," Sofia answered. "At the eclipse. When the world is ready to change."
For a moment, their eyes met. The crystal in Sofia's hand and the ring on Dragoş's finger began to glow at the same time, merging into a gentle, bluish glow. The air vibrated slightly, as if the forest itself had smiled.
Sofia felt her heart beat faster.
— "Did you see that?" she whispered.
— "Yes. Maybe it's a sign that our promise is real."
She laughed softly, and he looked at her for a long time.
Then, without saying anything, Dragoș took off his cloak and placed it over Sofia's shoulders.
— "It's cold. My sun must not tremble."
Sofia looked at him in surprise, but said nothing. She just closed her eyes for a moment and let the silence take over her. It was a silence that said it all — that she was no longer alone, that his promise was true.
After a while, she said quietly:
— "Dragoș… do you think Miral knows everything we do?"
— "Probably. The forest listens to him. And I think that, in a way, we are part of it now."
— "He's my uncle, you know?" Sofia said, smiling. "Mom told me today. That's why I feel his voice so close to me. That when I close my eyes, I hear him like someone from my family."
Dragoș blinked in amazement.
— "Your uncle? That explains a lot… maybe why you have the power to talk to Lumina. It's been in you since birth."
— "Mom said that Miral was the one who chose to go to the forest, to protect her. That he gave up the world for balance. Sometimes I wonder if I'll have to choose the same…"
— "You won't be alone, Sofia," Dragoș said. "If that day comes, we'll choose it together. Light and shadow go together—just like the Sun and the Moon."
She stared at him for a long time.
— "Then let's promise this, okay? That no matter what happens, we won't forget who we are."
He smiled and placed his palm over hers.
— "I promise. And if you ever forget, I will remind you."
The wind brought a sweet scent of lime trees. The moon was rising higher and higher, and the Itezista forest murmured like an ancient voice.
When Sofia returned to the castle, her mother was waiting for her at the window.
— "Were you in the garden again?" the woman asked gently.
— "Yes, mother… but not alone. Dragoș was there."
The woman smiled silently.
— "Then the forest protected you well."
Sofia came closer and hugged her.
— "You know, mother… Miral told me that Light and Shadow are not enemies. Now I think I understand why. Because if it weren't for night, we wouldn't know how beautiful the sunrise is."
Her mother stroked her hair and whispered:
— "That's what my brother used to say when he was your age."
Sofia was amazed.
— "Then he really is my uncle…"
The woman nodded, her eyes shining with tears.
— "Yes. And I am proud that you see his light."
The girl curled up in her mother's arms. Outside, the wind brought the rustling of the forest, and somewhere far away, two lights — one blue and one silver — rose into the sky, reminding her of the promise made under the Moon.