The small fire crackled quietly in the corner of the abandoned house. Luna lay resting on the bed, her breathing shallow but steady.
Jake sat nearby, turning the mask over in his hands. The soft leather was worn from years of use, but it was finely crafted—unlike anything he'd ever seen. In the dim light, a faint symbol glimmered on its surface: a mark none of them recognized.
"I've never seen a mask like this before," Jake said, his voice low and thoughtful. "Even in the Weapons Haven, we've forged hundreds of battle masks—each one marked by the maker. But this symbol…" He traced it gently with his thumb. "It's completely unfamiliar."
Mia leaned closer, studying the mark. "You're right. And in the Clothes Haven, we design fabric patterns for armor and ceremonial wear—but I've never seen this design before. It doesn't belong to any Haven I know."
The two sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their discovery pressing down on them.
Jake looked over at Luna, sleeping peacefully, her face pale and tired. "She said it belonged to her mother," he murmured. "Who could her mother have been to own something like this?"
Before Mia could answer, the door creaked open and Alex stepped inside, carrying a wooden tub brimming with water. "This should last us a day or two," he said, setting it down carefully. "Found an old well near the village square."
He wiped his hands on his tunic and glanced at the mask Jake was still holding. "What's that?"
"It's Luna's," Jake explained. "We had to take it off to treat her wound. There's a strange symbol on it—one none of us have seen before."
Alex crouched down, examining it under the flickering light. "You're right… it's not from any Haven I know. Maybe it's from before the kingdom fell."
Mia frowned. "Before the fall? You mean… from the royal family's time?"
Jake met her eyes, the thought heavy in his mind. "Maybe."
The three exchanged uneasy looks. The mask suddenly seemed heavier, its meaning larger than they could grasp.
Outside, the mist pressed against the cracked windows, whispering in the wind.
Far away, in the darkened halls of the castle, the false king paced across the throne room floor. His fingers drummed against the arm of his stolen throne.
"Where is she?" he muttered. "Luna should have returned by now."
A cloaked servant stepped forward hesitantly. "My lord, there has been no word from her."
The king's eyes narrowed. "She knows her mission—to watch them, to report everything. If she has failed me…" His voice trailed off into a dangerous silence. "Find her. I want answers."
The servant bowed quickly and hurried from the room.
The king turned toward the open window, staring out at the mist-covered land.
"If those children discover the truth… all will be undone."
Back in the village, Jake placed the mask gently beside Luna's bed.
Whatever secret it held, it was tied to her—and to the fate of the kingdom itself.