The wind howled through the mountains, sharp and cold as the secrets it carried.
Somewhere deep within the Ashenwood Forest, a silver-haired prince knelt beside a moonlit stream. His reflection trembled in the rippling water, but it wasn't his face he feared— it was what waited beneath.
Prince Elion clenched his fists. "Not tonight… Not again."
The full moon crept into the sky like a silent judge. A surge of pain shot through his veins. His bones cracked, reshaping, twisting. His scream echoed across the forest—half human, half beast.
Just beyond the trees, a girl watched.
Liara had followed the dream again.
She had seen the burning eyes in her sleep, the voice calling her name from fire and shadow. And now, here she stood—her hands trembling, her breath frozen. The beast roared, but its eyes... its eyes were full of sorrow.
And she knew.
This was the beginning of everything the stars had whispered.