The wind that rolled down from the hills carried a different scent now — damp moss, cold stone, and something faintly metallic, like the edge of a blade.
The townspeople said it came from the Moonforest.And no one went there after dark.
By day, Lunehaven was a place of laughter and gulls and shouting fishermen. But when night fell, silence came quickly — too quickly. Lanterns were dimmed, doors were locked, and people whispered prayers to keep the forest's eyes away.
Lian had heard the stories often enough.
Ghosts that danced in the fog.Blue fire drifting between the trees.A woman's voice singing in a language no one remembered.
He told himself he didn't believe in them. Yet every night, when the tide receded and the forest shimmered faintly under the moon, he felt the pull again — like a string fastened deep inside his ribs, tugging toward the trees.
He could ignore hunger. He could ignore pain.But he couldn't ignore that.
It began subtly.
A hum beneath the town's quiet.The faint glow beyond the cliffs growing stronger each night.And once, as he carried supplies home, he thought he saw a figure at the forest's edge — pale as moonlight, watching him.
When he blinked, she was gone.
One evening, Mara found him staring out the window again, his cleaning rag forgotten in hand.
"You've been looking that way every night," she said. "The forest won't answer you back."
He smiled faintly. "You believe in the stories, then?"
"I believe enough to stay away."
"What do they say, really?" he asked.
Mara hesitated, lowering her voice. "That once, a gate opened in the Moonforest — between this world and another. The veil burned, and things came through. Not demons, not spirits, just… things that didn't belong anywhere. Since then, people disappear there. The forest takes what it wants."
She met his eyes. "Don't go looking for it, Lian. You might not come back."
He nodded, but the promise never took root. The pull was growing stronger each night, threading through his dreams.
And in those dreams, he heard her again — the woman with silver hair.
"Lian Ardent… come home."
That night, the moon rose swollen and bright, the air heavy with the scent of rain.
Lian stood at the cliffs, wind whipping his hair. Below him, the forest spread like a sea of shadows, each tree glowing faintly from within — not with light, but with something deeper, older.
He took a step forward.Then another.
His boots met the soft earth of the forest edge.
At once, the sound changed. The waves, the wind, even his own heartbeat — all dulled. The world held its breath.
Mist coiled around the trunks. The trees seemed to lean toward him, as if curious. Their bark shimmered faintly, veins of silver pulsing beneath.
He whispered to himself, "So this is the Moonforest."
Something stirred deeper within.
A faint melody drifted through the fog — not quite human, not quite wind. It wasn't words, but it carried intent, and that intent was calling his name.
He followed the sound through a narrow path lit by pale fungi. Every step seemed to echo longer than it should. His senses sharpened unnaturally — he could hear the heartbeat of insects beneath the soil, the slow growth of vines twisting overhead.
The further he went, the stronger the pull became. His veins pulsed in rhythm with the melody, golden light flashing faintly under his skin.
He stopped, clutching his arm. "Not again…"
But the light wouldn't fade.
And then the forest spoke.
"Welcome back, Heir of the Forbidden Vein."
The voice came from everywhere — the wind, the trees, the very ground. Lian stumbled back, heart hammering.
"I don't know what that means!" he shouted. "Who are you?"
"The one who remembers."
The ground shuddered. A rush of wind blew through the clearing, carrying a flurry of silver leaves. For a heartbeat, he saw her — the same woman from his dreams, her form woven from moonlight.
But before he could reach her, the light shattered. The forest went black.
Then came the growl.
Low. Wet. Animal.
From the shadows, pairs of red eyes blinked open — one, then three, then a dozen. The scent of blood tainted the air.
Lian backed away slowly, hands trembling. "What are you…"
The first creature stepped into the faint glow of the fungi. Its body was wolf-like but wrong — too tall, too thin, its fur shifting like smoke. Black ichor dripped from its teeth.
The others followed, circling him.
Lian's instincts screamed run. But his body didn't move — not in fear, but in recognition. His pulse thundered, and golden veins ignited beneath his skin.
The creatures hesitated, snarling uncertainly.
Lian lifted a trembling hand, staring at the light spilling from it. "No… no, not now."
The nearest beast lunged.
Reflex took over. Lian swung his arm — and the world flashed gold.
A wave of energy burst from his palm, silent and blinding. The creature was thrown back, disintegrating into ash before it hit the ground. The rest recoiled, howling.
When the light faded, Lian stood gasping, staring at his own hand.
The veins still glowed. His blood shimmered through the cracks of his skin like liquid starlight.
"What am I?" he whispered.
The forest answered with silence.
He stumbled deeper through the trees, the beasts still howling in the distance. The light of his veins dimmed, leaving him exhausted. His vision swam.
Just as he was about to collapse, a flicker of white appeared through the fog — torchlight. Voices followed, urgent and melodic.
"Over there!"
Three figures emerged from the mist — all young, cloaked in pale garments that glowed faintly with spiritual energy. Their presence felt… otherworldly.
The one in front raised her hand, and the remaining shadow beasts burst into flame. The fire was silent, silver-white.
When it cleared, she turned to him. Her eyes were a deep, feral amber.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "This forest isn't for mortals."
Lian tried to speak, but his voice came out weak. "I… don't know."
Behind her stood two others — twin girls with identical faces but different auras. One radiated calm warmth; the other, sharp cold. Their eyes glowed faintly blue, like wolves in moonlight.
The first girl stepped closer, studying him. Her silver hair caught the moonlight, shimmering like frost. "You used star energy," she said softly. "But you're human… aren't you?"
He opened his mouth to answer, but darkness rushed up to claim him.
The last thing he saw was the good twin kneeling beside him, her hand brushing his chest, golden light reflecting in her eyes.
"His blood," she whispered. "It's… alive."
The forest faded.The world tilted.And Lian Ardent fell into unconsciousness — not knowing that his forgotten past had just collided with his destined future.
Cliffhanger: Lian meets the three spirit girls — the twin Wolf Princesses and their mischievous companion — moments before collapsing.