The night stretched endlessly, a vast, unbroken canvas of deep indigo, where the full moon hung low and luminous, its magical silver glow casting soft shadows over the nd. The sky seemed to hum with quiet magic, the stars twinkling like whispers of something ancient, something waiting.

  Below, the terrain shifted from vibrant grass to uneven rock, the earth growing firmer as it sloped toward a stream that wound through the nd like a living thread. The water shimmered beneath the moon’s light, each ripple catching the glow and scattering it in delicate waves. Smooth river stones y beneath its surface, visible through the crystal-clear current that flowed in an unbroken rhythm, the sound a gentle trickle, a soothing melody that merged with the breath of the calm wind.

  Not far from the stream, the grassy pins stretched in all directions, a sea of soft green swaying with the night breeze. Moonflies drifted through the air, their delicate wings carrying them in a slow, dreamlike dance. Their faint bioluminescent glow pulsed gently, casting small halos of silver light as they weaved between the bdes of grass, moving in harmony with the wind.

  And the earth… it stirred.

  A shimmer, almost imperceptible, rippled through the grass, a breath of stardust sighing to life. Each bde of grass pulsed, responding to something unseen, something deeper than mere wind. The nd itself seemed aware, its presence humming with an unspoken reverence, as if welcoming someone.... someone it held in high regard.

  At the heart of this quiet, sacred pce, a figure sat before a fire.

  A young girl, bathed in the moon’s embrace, her very presence merging with the light that surrounded her. Her skin had a soft, ethereal glow, like the surface of still water kissed by starlight. Her hair, white as untouched snow, flowed past her shoulders in silken waves, catching the faint glow of the fire as it swayed gently with the night breeze. But it was her eyes that truly held the weight of the moment.

  Glowing.

  A brilliant, endless white, deep and vast like the moon hanging above.

  She wore a simple white gown, its fabric impossibly pure, reaching just past her knees. It shifted and billowed faintly, as though woven from something lighter than silk, something not entirely of this world. The night wind pyed with its edges, but it never clung, never truly touched her.

  She sat close to the fire... a fire unlike any ordinary fme. It blended with the moonlight around it, flickering in a silver glow, almost weightless. Above the fire, floating just beyond the reach of its heat, was a fish. A strange, otherworldly fish, its body suspended in the air as it slowly roasted. Its skin shimmered, shifting between translucent and solid, the aroma that drifted from it unlike anything natural. It carried a freshness, crisp yet rich, spreading through the clearing, curling into the wind.

  Beside her, lying still against the grass, was another figure.

  A girl, unconscious, her silver-white hair spilling over the ground like fallen moonlight. Her chest rose and fell steadily, her breath quiet, undisturbed. She was dressed simply, a dark ash skirt that flowed down to her knees, paired with a dark blue and light blue shirt with sleeves ending at her elbows. Practical, yet fitting. The fabric clung slightly to her form, moving subtly with the gentle rise and fall of her breathing.

  The wind curled around them both, carrying the scent of night and distant rain. The moon hung above, watchful. The fire flickered, steady, unmoving. And the nd, still pulsing with that strange reverence, held them in its quiet, eternal embrace.

  And then, slowly... a sound.

  A faint groan escaped Emma’s lips.

  Her body shifted slightly against the cool grass, silver-white strands of her hair spilling across the ground as her fingers curled instinctively. Slowly, her eyelids fluttered, the weight of unconsciousness peeling away as she stirred. The warmth of the fire reached her first, a gentle heat that met her skin, not harsh, not overwhelming, but present, grounding her.

  Her breath steadied.

  With a slow, measured motion, Emma sat up.

  Her hands pressed lightly into the earth for support, the bdes of grass beneath her palms cool with lingering night dew. She didn’t speak. Her eyes, tired yet stared at the fire, locking onto it as if it held some unspoken answer. But there was no spark of recognition, no flicker of relief in her expression... just silence. A silence that stretched, heavy, distant.

  She was here. But her mind was elsewhere.

  Luna watched quietly, her glowing gaze steady, unreadable yet gentle. The fmes danced between them, casting soft shadows across her pale features, the soft luminescence of her skin making it difficult to tell where the moonlight ended and where she began.

  “You’re awake.”

  Her voice was calm, as light as the night breeze. A statement, not a question.

  Emma barely reacted. She blinked once, slowly, then gave a small nod.. an acknowledgment, nothing more. But her gaze did not waver from the fire, as though looking away would force her to return to something she was not yet ready to face.

  Another silence.

  Then, after a pause, Luna spoke again.

  “You must be hungry.”

  Her voice carried neither insistence nor pity, only a quiet certainty, as she reached out toward the fire. The magical fish, still suspended midair, turned ever so slightly, its shimmering surface reflecting the silver glow of both the moon and the fire. The aroma curled through the air, light, crisp, carrying a richness that didn’t belong to any ordinary meal.

  “So I roasted this for you.”

  She extended it toward Emma, her movements slow, calm, offering.. not demanding.

  Emma didn’t even gnce at it.

  A small shake of her head. Subtle, almost hesitant, but firm. A rejection.

  Luna paused, her hand lingering midair before she withdrew it, though not immediately. Her fingers curled slightly as she lowered her hand back to her p, the magical fish drifting slightly higher to remain out of the fire’s reach.

  A faint sadness crossed Luna’s features, not of disappointment, but of understanding.

  Still, she didn’t know what to do.

  Didn’t know how to reach Emma.

  The silence stretched again, thin yet unbroken for a moment long.

  Until...

  “I’ll only have the appetite to eat…”

  Emma’s voice came, quiet, steady, but carrying weight.

  “…if you answer my questions.”

  Luna’s fingers stilled for a moment. Then, slowly, the corner of her lips tugged into the smallest, knowing smile.

  “Alright.”

  She tilted her head slightly, the glow in her eyes flickering like distant starlight.

  “What are your questions?”