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Chapter 8: Moonblood
The Sigil of Balance pulsed gently in Ji's hand as they descended the cliffs. It warmed his skin like morning light, but beneath that peace, he felt something stirring—an ancient memory not his own.
"What does it mean?" Ji asked.
Duri scratched his horn. "The Sigil of Balance hasn't appeared in over two hundred years. It's tied to the Moonblood — a rare lineage of Guardians with both moonlight and shadow in their veins."
"You mean like Baek Rin?"
"No," Duri said quickly. "He was consumed by shadow. But Moonbloods… they're born to walk the line. You're the first one in generations."
Yeonhwa looked at Ji with new concern. "That's why the Masked One is after you. If he turns you… the balance is lost forever."
Suddenly, the wind shifted. A young woman stood in the path ahead.
She wore a dark cloak, the edges embroidered with crescent moons. Her eyes were deep violet, her hair long and tied in a silver braid. At her hip hung a curved blade etched with lunar runes.
"I've been looking for you," she said.
Ji tensed. "Who are you?"
"Seora," she replied. "Daughter of the last Moonblood. And if you want to survive, you need me."
Duri blinked. "You're still alive?"
Seora smirked. "Barely. I've been hiding from Baek Rin for years. But the balance is shifting. I felt your light awaken, Ji Sok Han. That's why I came."
She stepped closer, her voice low. "The Masked One has found the Gate of Shadows. If he opens it, the moon's power will be corrupted beyond saving."
Yeonhwa's hand gripped her sword. "Then we stop him."
Ji looked at Seora. "Can I trust you?"
Her expression softened. "You'll have to. We're the last of the Moonbloods."
And far away, in a chamber lit only by violet flames, Baek Rin traced his fingers over a broken stone gate.
"Soon," he whispered. "Soon, the moonlight will belong to me."
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To Be Continued in Chapter 9: The Silver Braid