The laughter of Moonshine's people echoed across the shimmering streets, weaving through the towers that reached high into the night sky. Lanterns floated above the city, each one a symbol of the hope they had fought so hard to reclaim. Tara, Jasmine, and Neha stood at the edge of the Skycore's platform, looking down at the glowing city below, feeling the heartbeat of a world reborn.
But amidst the light, Tara felt something—a ripple, faint but sharp, brushing against her senses like a cold breeze through a warm room.
She frowned, glancing sideways at Jasmine and Neha. Jasmine's face was still lit with a soft smile, but Neha's eyes were narrowing, as if she too had caught a whiff of something wrong.
"Did you feel that?" Tara whispered.
Neha nodded slowly. "Like... like the air just shivered."
Before either could say more, a figure rushed toward them—Captain Rael, one of the Queen's trusted guards. His armor gleamed under the Skycore's light, but his face was tight with worry.
"My Lady Tara," he panted, bowing slightly. "You must come to the palace. At once."
Tara's heart clenched. She exchanged a quick glance with Jasmine and Neha before stepping forward.
"What's happened?" she asked, her voice steady despite the tension rising inside her.
Rael hesitated, his gaze flickering toward the crowds celebrating below.
"Not here," he said urgently. "It's better you hear it within the walls."
Without another word, the three girls followed him, weaving quickly through the alleys and winding stairways that led up to the highest spires of Moonshine—the heart of the palace.
The halls inside were quieter, the celebrations sounding distant and muffled. They passed through towering doors of silver and blue glass, their footsteps echoing. Finally, Rael led them into a chamber Tara had only seen once before—a vault carved from blackstone, hidden deep inside the palace.
There, standing before a shattered pedestal, was Queen Selene herself. Her silver hair, usually flowing and graceful, was pulled back tightly. Her eyes, ancient and wise, were filled with something Tara had never seen in her before—fear.
"The Crimson Core," Selene said, her voice low and cold. "It's gone."
Tara felt the words hit her like a stone.
The Crimson Core—an ancient red crystal, pulsing with raw, untamed energy. It had been sealed away centuries ago, its powers too dangerous to wield openly.
It wasn't just a symbol. It was a weapon. A key. A curse.
"How?" Jasmine asked, stepping forward, her voice sharper than Tara had ever heard it.
Selene shook her head, her fists clenched. "We don't know. The seals were untouched. The guards outside saw nothing. There was no sign of forced entry."
Tara's mind raced. It made no sense. Not after everything they had just survived. Not after all the darkness they had defeated.
"Who even knew it was here?" Neha asked.
Selene's lips pressed into a thin line. "Very few. You three. Myself. The High Council. And..." She paused. "The Keepers before you."
A shiver ran down Tara's spine.
Someone with deep knowledge.
Someone with a purpose.
Jasmine stepped closer to Tara, lowering her voice. "If whoever took it can control the Crimson Core... it could be worse than the Mirrorborn."Tara nodded grimly. She knew it too.
The Mirrorborn had wanted to destroy.
But someone stealing the Crimson Core—they had plans. And plans were often far more dangerous than raw hatred.
"We need to find it," Tara said. Her voice was calm, but inside, a storm was rising. "Quietly. Before the city learns the truth. Before fear undoes everything we fought for."
Selene met her gaze and nodded.
"I trust you, Tara," she said. "Find it. And find out who has betrayed us."
Tara bowed slightly, the weight of a new mission settling over her shoulders.
As they left the vault, Jasmine touched her arm lightly.
"Ready for another adventure?" she asked, a small, wry smile on her lips.
Tara smiled back, but there was no humor in it.
This wasn't an adventure.
This was a hunt.
And somewhere in the shining streets of Moonshine, under the laughter and lights, a thief with a crimson heart was waiting for them.