Chapter 1: The Night the Moon Chose Her
The city of Eldoria slept peacefully under a silver moon, unaware that destiny was about to awaken.
Sixteen-year-old Aria Vale sat by her window, staring at the night sky. She had always felt different—as if something inside her was waiting to be called. While others slept, she listened to the wind, the silence, the distant hum of the city. Tonight, that silence felt… alive.
Suddenly, the moon shimmered.
Not gently—but intensely, as if it were burning.
Aria felt her chest tighten. Her heart began to race for no reason at all. A soft whisper brushed against her mind, clear and undeniable.
"Aria…"
She stood up, breath shaking.
"Who's there?" she whispered.
The whisper grew stronger.
"Come to me."
Without understanding why, Aria walked to the rooftop. The moment her feet touched the concrete, the world changed. The air glowed pale blue. The stars froze in place. Even the wind stopped moving.
Time had stopped.
The moonlight poured down like liquid silver, wrapping around her body. A sharp pain burned on her wrist. Aria cried out and fell to her knees, clutching her arm. When she looked down, a crescent-moon symbol shimmered on her skin, surrounded by ancient glowing runes.
Memories that were not hers flooded her mind—ancient battles, fallen kingdoms, mages standing against darkness.
Tears streamed down her face.
"I don't understand…" she whispered. "Make it stop…"
Then the sky split open.
A tall figure descended from the moonlight—graceful, powerful, unreal. She had long white hair that floated as if underwater, and wings made of pure light.
"I am Selune," the figure said, her voice calm yet powerful.
"Guardian of the Lunar Realm."
Aria looked up in fear and wonder.
"Why me?" she asked softly.
Selune's eyes softened.
"Because the balance of magic is breaking. The Shadow Court has risen again. And you, Aria… are the last Moonbound Mage."
Before Aria could respond, the moonlight darkened.
Cracks spread across the sky, spilling black mist. From it emerged twisted creatures—clawed shadows with glowing red eyes. Their screams shattered the silence.
Selune turned sharply.
"They've found you already."
The creatures lunged.
Fear froze Aria's body—but something deeper awakened inside her. The mark on her wrist burned with light. Power surged through her veins, warm and fierce.
"Raise your hand," Selune commanded.
Aria obeyed.
Moonlight exploded from her palm like a wave. The shadows screamed as they dissolved into silver dust, erased completely.
Silence returned.
Aria stared at her glowing hands, shaking.
"I did that…?"
Selune smiled.
"Yes. And you will do far more."
The light faded. Time resumed. The city breathed again.
Aria collapsed to the ground, exhausted—but changed forever.
As the moon returned to normal, Selune's voice echoed one last time:
"Prepare yourself, Moonbound. Your journey begins now."
Aria closed her eyes, knowing one truth:
Her normal life had ended.
And an epic anime-worthy destiny had begun.