Dawn had just broken, painting the sky with streaks of red like open wounds. The steady pounding of war drums thundered from the direction of the valley, echoing among the silent, towering pine trees.
I stood atop the western rampart, cold wind slapping my face. Below, the Hollowtooth army began to reveal itself — a long line of soldiers in gleaming black armor, the fanged wolf sigil painted upon their banners.
They moved like a dark tide, slow yet relentless, swallowing the ground before them without hesitation.
Lucan stood at my side, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
"They're coming," he murmured.
I nodded, steadying the tremor in my chest.
"Yes. We're ready."
He turned to look me in the eyes.
"If things get out of control, fall back to the inner hall."
I met his gaze, refusing.
"I told you, I will not run."
Lucan let out a quiet huff, as if resigning to my stubbornness.
"Then stay close to me."
A war horn blared, piercing through the morning mist. The Lycanthra soldiers raised their shields, archers nocked arrows, their tips glinting beneath the first rays of the sun.
My breath caught in my throat.
Mother, give me strength.
The clashing of blades, the pounding of boots, and the howling of wolves began to rise all around. The Hollowtooth halted their advance, and then one rider on a black horse stepped forward.
He lifted his visor — a cruel-looking man with a long scar carved down his cheek.
"Princess Luna!" he shouted, his voice booming against the castle walls. "Surrender yourself, and we will spare your people!"
Every muscle in my body tensed.
Lucan whispered, "Don't answer him."
But I stepped forward, squaring my shoulders.
"I will not surrender this land!" I shouted back, my voice trembling but clear. "If you wish to take our lives, then come — we will not bow!"
A roar of approval surged from the Lycanthra soldiers. In their eyes, I saw the same spirit I had lit the night before, now burning bright.
The Hollowtooth commander's expression hardened. He turned back and gave a signal. Their soldiers began to advance, slowly beating their shields in a menacing rhythm.
I tightened my grip around my sword hilt.
Lucan signaled the archers.
"Wait for my command," he said in a low voice.
Tension stabbed through to the bone.
The wind itself seemed to hold its breath.
And then—
"Loose!" Lucan called.
A rain of arrows shot forth from the ramparts, slicing through the morning fog, falling upon the ranks of Hollowtooth soldiers who screamed in pain.
They retaliated, hurling long spears toward the rampart. The sound of iron striking stone made me flinch, but I stood my ground.
The battle erupted.
The Hollowtooth soldiers charged the gate with massive war hammers, trying to smash it down. Our defenders on the ramparts hurled stones, loosed more arrows, and screamed in rage.
I raced down the tower stairs, joining the soldiers waiting behind the gate. My heart pounded wildly, but I knew I had to be here.
One soldier handed me a spare shield.
"Your Highness, if they break through—"
I took the shield, steadying my resolve.
"We will not retreat."
The groaning of splintering wood made me turn. The gate began to crack under the blows of Hollowtooth's steel hammers.
Lucan came to stand at my side.
"Hold!" he roared, his voice filling the entire hall.
The wood split further. Sunlight pierced through the gap, and I could see the red eyes of the Hollowtooth wolves outside, wild and hungry.
I swallowed hard, gripping my sword tightly.
If this is my end, I will not go down without a fight.
One last crashing blow shattered the gate's locking bar, the heavy doors collapsing with a deafening crack.
The Hollowtooth army surged through, roaring like beasts.
I swung my sword, blocking the first blow that came at me. My body shook from the impact, but I held my ground.
Lucan beside me transformed — his eyes burning gold, his human form merging with the shadow of a wolf, an aura of sheer power radiating from him.
"Don't let them advance!" he shouted.
I echoed him,
"Protect the children and the women!"
The Lycanthra soldiers fought with everything they had. The clash of metal rang out, blood spattering across the stone floor.
I cut down a Hollowtooth soldier who was about to strike a small child cowering in the corner of the hall. My breath came ragged, my thoughts blurred between terror and adrenaline.
"Don't be afraid!" I yelled at the child. "Run to the inner hall!"
The child nodded, sobbing, and ran.
I blocked another attack, my sword trembling in my grip, my arm aching, but I would not give in.
In my mind, everything blurred — save for one voice echoing within me:
I am Luna.
I will stand.
In the chaos, Lucan turned toward me, his eyes sharp yet filled with pride.
"You stand with them!" he shouted.
I nodded, standing at his side, even as fear threatened to choke the breath from my lungs.
There was no turning back.
And in the middle of that chaos, I found a strange calm —
because for the first time, I truly knew who I was.
The cracks in the gate widened, shrieking like breaking bones, while the Lycanthra soldiers bit their lips, trying to hold back their fear. I stood among them, my breath quick, blood pounding in my ears.
I searched their faces — young ones who had never seen real war — and they looked at me with hope. I had to become someone they could believe in, even though my soul felt ready to shatter under the weight of fear.
"Hold formation!" I shouted, my voice shaking but loud enough to cut through the thunder of enemy hammers.
Lucan glanced at me, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and worry.
"Stay behind me," he said in a low voice, but I shook my head.
"I'm here with you," I replied quickly.
At that moment, the final hammer blow destroyed the wooden bar across the gate. Heavy planks crashed backward, crushing several soldiers who screamed in pain. I ran toward them, helping to lift a massive beam pinning down a boy clutching a spear.
"Can you stand?" I asked.
He looked up at me, tears shining in his eyes.
"I can, Luna…"
I helped steady him, patting his shoulder.
"You were brave."
The Hollowtooth soldiers stormed in like a black wave, tearing open the passage and cutting down anyone who dared to block their path. The sound of metal striking metal was deafening.
Lucan let out a roar so powerful the walls seemed to shake. His form grew larger, human features merging with those of the wolf, creating a terrifying silhouette with glowing golden eyes and sharpened claws.
I swung my sword again, cutting down an enemy who came too close. Blood sprayed across my cheek. My knees trembled, but I refused to fall.
"Come on!" I shouted, rallying a group of soldiers to close the breach at the gate.
We fought shoulder to shoulder, pressed so tight we could hardly move. Screams, roars, the clatter of steel — it all became a single symphony of hell.
In the chaos, I saw a tall Hollowtooth woman, wielding a black scythe, leap forward and cut down two Lycanthra soldiers in a single sweep. Her movements were sharp, deadly.
Our eyes met — and I knew instantly — she was the Hollowtooth commander.
She forced her way through the ranks, coming straight for me. I lifted my sword, though my hands were shaking.
"Human Luna," she sneered, a cruel smile twisting her lips. "You think you can stand here among the wolves?"
I did not answer.
She attacked faster than I could react, her scythe spinning through the air, slicing the cold wind with a scream. I barely managed to block, thrown back against a stone wall.
Pain thundered through my skull, my vision spinning.
"Stand, Elara!" I heard Lucan shout.
I tried to rise. The commander was already bringing her scythe down again. I raised my shield, catching a blow so powerful it nearly crushed my arm.
Gasping for breath, I fought to hold on. My chest burned, my eyes blurred with tears.
Don't die. Don't die here.
Then another voice echoed inside me — my mother's voice.
Rise, Elara. You are Luna.
My hand tightened around the sword hilt. The enemy's scythe came again, but somehow, I managed to deflect it. Steel clashed, sparks flying.
The woman looked surprised, then slowly grinned.
"So you have some courage after all."
I stared into her eyes.
"I will not let you touch my people."
We clashed again, blow after blow. My body felt impossibly heavy, each movement dragging a thousand wounds with it — but I stayed on my feet.
On the other side of the hall, Lucan was holding back more than ten enemy soldiers by himself. His claws slashed, blood splattered, but his gaze remained fixed on me, guarding my every move.
I tried to thrust at the female commander, but she was faster, kicking me hard enough to slam me down against the stone floor.
Pain exploded in my chest — I could barely breathe.
She let out a small laugh.
"Pathetic Luna."
But as she swung her scythe again to finish me, a sudden purple light flared from my palm. I had no idea how it came to be.
That light surged like lightning, striking the Hollowtooth commander and throwing her back several meters.
Everyone stared at me.
"What was that just now…?" murmured one of the Lycanthra soldiers.
I was still gasping, staring at my trembling hand, the purple glow slowly fading from my skin.
The Hollowtooth commander struggled to stand, her eyes now wary.
"You… you are not an ordinary human…"
I forced myself up again, spine straight.
"I am Luna," I said firmly, even though my voice trembled.
Another impact rocked the gate, sending chunks of stone crashing down from above. The Hollowtooth soldiers kept flooding in, though some of them hesitated after seeing the purple light in my hand.
Lucan dashed toward me, cutting down a few who tried to strike at me. He planted himself in front of me, shielding me.
"Elara, are you hurt?"
I shook my head, though my knees could barely hold me up.
"I'm all right…"
Lucan's eyes narrowed on my hand, which still faintly glowed.
"That… your blood is awakening."
I swallowed hard.
"I don't know how to control it."
Lucan gripped my shoulders tightly.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here."
We retreated slowly back inside the keep, reinforcing the broken gate with spare shields and barricades. The enemy continued to hammer against it, but their morale had dimmed, shaken by the power of the Luna standing beside Lucan.
I led a group of young soldiers to help the wounded, binding their injuries, comforting their sobs in the corners of the hall.
"Luna… thank you," whispered a little girl who was clutching her mother in tears.
I smiled, though tears slipped down my cheeks as well.
"You are safe here."
Outside, the footsteps of the Hollowtooth sounded more frenzied, a reminder that the battle was far from over.
But for the first time, I felt something blazing inside my heart.
Courage.
I was no longer just a girl thrown into a strange world.
I was Luna.
And I would defend this land — even if I had to stand on a field soaked with blood and tears.