rest. The trees here were different-taller, older, their trunks twisted like they had witnessed too many se

. She said nothing, but her senses had sharpened. Every rustle of a leaf, every snap of a twig underfoot e

ting," Luca

ked, though sh

Cou

faintly in the moonlight. Seven cloaked figures stood in a crescent around a circular pit of embers. The

t her le

ck their hood. A woman-tall, silver-haired, he

d. Her voice was neither warm nor col

tightened. "

ime. His hood remained drawn. "Guardians of the Old Ways.

de her. "She's only just

ired woman. She stepped closer, eyes fixed

N

of two worlds-human and wild. You are th

girl. I don't know anything about

oesn't ask.

dian. She dipped her finger into the ember pit and let a single drop of glowing ash fall i

ed. "What

st be sealed

I don't

rite of recognition. You can refuse. But if you do... they'll send yo

il was silent, waiting. The f

pens if I

id. "You join the Pact. And we teach

blade, then at he

she stepp

th the blade-just a scratch-and let the blood drip in

the runes on the bowl

il began

rembled bene

r shoulder sea

mething deep and ancie

in. No

we

-

ght. The silver-haired woman-Eira, she said her name was

"Scattered. Hidden. Some awakened. Som

, "Why now

wild is stirring. And the enemy sti

ne

nt our kind. Those who would tear t

he body in the woods. The way it had bee

hem? The on

ded. "A

ak tighter. The nig

longer just

s Moon

r had alre

ma Mmesoma Perpetual