Dawn arrived beneath a sky painted in silver and gold.
The first rays of sunlight spilled across the endless grasslands, causing every blade of silver grass to shimmer as though the earth itself had been dusted with moonlight.
Hundreds of competitors emerged from their tents.
Unlike the previous mornings...
The excitement in the camp had changed.
The Lunar Sanctuary was no longer a distant destination.
It was close.
Close enough that every heartbeat seemed just a little louder.
...
The camp was dismantled with practiced efficiency.
Soon...
The long procession continued once again.
The mountain range before them grew larger with every passing hour.
Towering peaks pierced the heavens.
Clouds wrapped around their summits like flowing white rivers.
Nestled between those mountains lay a narrow canyon.
An escort pointed toward it.
"The Valley of Echoes."
Many of the younger competitors instinctively straightened.
They had heard the name since childhood.
Every story about the Lunar Trials began there.
...
As they entered the valley...
The atmosphere changed immediately.
The lively conversations gradually faded.
Even the birds disappeared.
Only the sound of footsteps echoed between the towering stone walls.
Every word spoken returned several seconds later.
Soft.
Distorted.
Ancient.
Almost...
Alive.
A young competitor from the Fourth whispered,
"It's beautiful."
Several seconds later...
"...Beautiful..."
"...Beautiful..."
"...Beautiful..."
His own voice drifted back from somewhere deep within the valley.
Several younger competitors smiled nervously.
"It really echoes..."
Lyra quietly observed the cliffs.
"No."
She said softly.
"Normal echoes don't last that long."
Riven noticed the same thing.
Some echoes lingered far longer than they should have.
As though countless forgotten voices still remained trapped within the stone.
...
The Elder of the Sanctuary walked at the very front.
Without turning...
He spoke.
"Do not fear the echoes."
"They cannot harm you."
"They simply remember."
A curious silence followed.
Finally...
One girl from a common family raised her hand.
"...Remember what?"
The Elder smiled.
"Everyone."
No further explanation came.
Yet somehow...
That answer felt complete.
...
Hours passed peacefully.
The valley narrowed further.
Ancient carvings began appearing along the cliffs.
Gigantic wolves.
The Moon.
Warriors kneeling beneath silver light.
Children holding hands despite wearing different crests.
Riven slowed to examine one mural.
It depicted wolves from different tribes standing together beneath a full Moon.
No crowns.
No banners.
Only unity.
Nyss stepped beside him.
"It looks older than the Orders."
"It probably is."
The Elder, overhearing them, nodded.
"It is."
He gently rested a wrinkled hand upon the ancient carving.
"Long before there were First..."
"Second..."
"Third..."
"Or Fourth Orders..."
"There were simply the Children of Lythara."
Everyone nearby listened carefully.
"We hunted together."
"Celebrated together."
"Mourned together."
"The Moon did not divide us."
"We divided ourselves."
Silence followed.
Even Queen Selene lowered her eyes briefly.
Nyxara remained thoughtful.
No one could deny the truth.
...
Near midday...
The procession reached an enormous circular clearing.
At its center stood twelve stone pillars arranged in a perfect circle.
Each pillar towered nearly thirty meters high.
Silver runes covered every surface.
The Elder raised one hand.
"We rest here."
Immediately...
The competitors spread throughout the clearing.
Some ate.
Others stretched tired muscles.
Many simply admired the incredible monument.
...
Riven wandered toward one of the pillars.
As his fingers brushed the ancient stone...
A faint pulse travelled through it.
His eyes widened.
"...Did you feel that?"
Before anyone could answer...
Another voice spoke nearby.
"So..."
"Even you noticed."
Riven turned.
Standing beside another pillar was Kieran Drakhar.
He looked equally surprised.
"I thought it was my imagination."
Riven slowly shook his head.
"No..."
"I definitely felt something."
Nearby...
Nyss had unknowingly placed her palm against another pillar.
Soft silver light briefly flickered beneath her fingertips.
The glow vanished almost instantly.
No one seemed to notice.
Except...
The Elder.
His ancient eyes lingered upon her for only a moment before calmly looking away.
...
Elsewhere...
Zoldick had somehow convinced competitors from all four Orders to participate in an arm-wrestling contest.
Cheers erupted around a large flat stone.
"I challenge anyone!"
A massive youth from House Valen accepted immediately.
Their hands locked.
"Go!"
Within seconds...
The stone cracked beneath the force.
Five seconds later...
Zoldick's hand slammed onto the rock.
"I won!"
The crowd erupted into laughter.
The Valen youth laughed just as hard.
"Again!"
Soon...
Competitors from every Order joined.
Victories.
Defeats.
Cheers.
Friendly teasing.
The barriers between Orders continued disappearing.
Even Marlis eventually accepted a challenge.
He defeated three opponents without changing expression.
By the fourth victory...
Someone finally asked,
"...Do you ever get tired?"
"No."
"...Do you smile?"
"No."
"...Do you enjoy anything?"
"...Training."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Even Marlis looked mildly confused.
...
Watching from a distance...
Caelum quietly smiled.
"They're becoming friends faster than I expected."
Nyxara folded her arms.
"They're young."
"They haven't inherited our grudges."
Selene remained silent.
Her gaze drifted toward Riven.
The boy laughed freely with competitors from every Order.
He looked...
Ordinary.
For the briefest moment...
She wondered whether she had been too harsh.
The thought disappeared almost immediately.
Her expression hardened once more.
Extraordinary disasters often appeared ordinary at first.
She would not allow sentiment to cloud her judgment.
Nyxara noticed Selene's gaze.
Neither woman spoke.
Nothing needed saying.
The tension remained.
Hidden beneath perfect royal composure.
...
As evening approached...
The procession prepared to continue.
The Elder slowly stepped into the center of the stone circle.
His expression became unusually serious.
"Beyond this valley..."
"...the Sanctuary begins."
Every conversation stopped.
"The moment you pass its gates..."
"You are no longer travelers."
"You become challengers."
His voice echoed throughout the clearing.
"The Sanctuary does not care whether you are noble or common."
"It does not care which Order you represent."
"It sees only your heart."
He looked slowly across every young competitor.
"Leave behind your pride."
"Leave behind your hatred."
"Leave behind the weight others placed upon your shoulders."
"For what awaits..."
"...cannot be overcome by strength alone."
The competitors nodded solemnly.
Even the usually carefree Zoldick had become serious.
The Elder raised his staff.
"Come."
"The Moon has waited long enough."
The great procession began moving once more.
As they exited the Valley of Echoes...
A cold breeze swept across the mountains.
Then...
For the very first time...
They saw it.
Far beyond the final ridge.
Bathed entirely in silver moonlight despite the setting sun.
A colossal sanctuary stood atop the mountain.
Its walls gleamed like polished crystal.
Countless towers reached toward the heavens.
Ancient statues surrounded enormous gates that seemed large enough for giants.
Every competitor stopped walking.
No one spoke.
No story...
No legend...
No painting...
Had ever captured its true majesty.
The Lunar Sanctuary had finally revealed itself.
And somewhere deep within its ancient halls...
A single silver bell rang.
Once.
Its sound echoed across the mountains.
The Trials were ready to welcome a new generation.