Chapter Five – Under the Blood Moon
The night sky bled red.
The moon, once silver and serene, now hung like an open wound above the world, its glow staining the forest in shades of crimson. The villagers whispered in terror, barricading their homes, for they knew what the Blood Moon heralded: omens, awakenings… and the return of old curses.
Kael stood on a ridge, his companions gathered behind him, as he stared at the moon with clenched fists. The whispers in his head had grown louder since his awakening, but tonight they became deafening—thousands of voices speaking in unison, calling his name.
Kael… Kael… Kael the Infinite…
He pressed a hand to his temple, his knees threatening to buckle under the weight. For every time he drew upon his infinite powers, a piece of him slipped further away. He could feel it—memories fading, emotions dulling, the echo of someone else trying to take root inside him.
Aria stepped forward, her staff glowing softly. "Kael, you're shaking again. Tell me what you see."
He swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the red moon. "A prophecy. Or maybe a curse. It's hard to tell. The voices… they're saying I'm not meant to destroy the Order—I'm meant to complete it."
His words chilled the air.
Serin's hand went to his blade. "That's impossible. You're their greatest threat. Why would they want you?"
Lyra's voice was sharp, her tone edged with unease. "Because power like his was never meant to exist alone. The Order must need him as a key. The Blood Moon isn't a sign of his strength—it's a summons."
The ground beneath them quaked. The crimson light of the moon intensified, pooling like liquid around Kael's feet. Runes carved themselves into the soil, spiraling outward in a vast circle. The forest groaned as the earth split open.
Aria gasped. "It's a rift—he's opening it without even trying!"
Kael staggered back, but the pull was relentless. The circle yawned wider, tearing reality apart at the seams. Through the breach came whispers older than time, and then—figures.
The first was cloaked in darkness, its form shifting like smoke, eyes burning with endless hunger. A Herald of the Order, drawn by the scent of Kael's soul.
But another figure stepped through, halting the Herald's advance.
A woman, clad in silver armor etched with constellations, her hair flowing like strands of starlight. Her eyes locked onto Kael, not with malice, but with recognition.
"Finally," she whispered, her voice both distant and near. "The Infinite awakens under the Blood Moon."
The Herald hissed, lunging forward. Kael's instincts screamed, and for a heartbeat, the temptation surged: erase the creature, unmake it entirely with a thought. But Aria's voice cut through the storm in his mind.
"Kael! Don't give in—don't lose yourself!"
He hesitated, forcing the urge down, and instead channeled his will into the earth. Spears of stone erupted, holding the Herald at bay. But even that act stole something from him—his vision blurred, his heartbeat slowed unnaturally, and he felt a hollow space growing deeper inside.
The armored woman raised her blade, striking the Herald with light so pure it scattered the shadow into nothingness. Then she turned to the group.
"My name is Selene," she said, her eyes lingering on Kael. "And if the prophecy is true, then your friend will either save this world… or end it."
The rift behind her roared, spilling winds of another realm. Kael's knees buckled, his hands trembling as the whispers surged once more.
Kael… Kael… you are the key. The Order waits…
Aria caught him before he collapsed, her voice fierce in his ear. "Stay with us. You are not their weapon—you are ours. You're mine."
Kael's breathing steadied, though the storm inside him only grew. He looked up at Selene, his voice low and unsteady.
"Then tell me everything about this prophecy… before it's too late."
The Blood Moon burned brighter, as if listening. And somewhere in the unseen depths of the Order's sanctums, a chorus of voices laughter.