oft, golden light-and for a moment, Elira wondered if she were seeing a dream. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly, her heart racing. The man smiled, though his e

u-they'll have the means to wage war across all the kingdoms." Elira felt a sudden coldness, like a shadow had crept into her chest. "So what am I supposed to do?" she asked, her voice a mixture of fear and disbelief. "What choice do I have?" Kael stepped closer, his form shifting fully to that of a man now, tall and imposing. His eyes softened. "You have a choice, Elira. You don't have to fight this alone. But you have to learn to wield your power. You have to train." --- For the next few weeks, Kael, Serah, and Dren began Elira's training in earnest. The lessons were grueling-each day, she felt like she was learning to control a fire that threatened to consume her. Kael taught her how to feel the power inside her-how to call upon the magic when the moon was high, how to focus it through her hands. The first time she succeeded, the wind had howled and the earth beneath her feet trembled. It was terrifying. But it was also exhilarating. Elira's connection to the moon became clearer with every lesson. She could feel it calling to her, the silver light pulling at her very soul. But there was still so much she didn't understand. Why was she the last of the Moonborn? Why had her parents hidden their heritage from her? One evening, after a particularly exhausting lesson, Elira collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath. Kael sat beside her, his golden eyes watching her with a patient intensity. "Kael," she asked, her voice hoarse. "Why did my parents hide the truth from me? Why didn't they tell me what I was?" Kael's gaze turned distant, as though he was remembering something painful. "Your parents were among the last to live in peace, Elira. The Moonborn were once a powerful ruling class, but after the great war, they were hunted to near extinction. Your parents knew that you'd be a target. They kept the truth from you to protect you. They raised you as a commoner so the Court wouldn't come looking