đ Whispers of the Moon
By Rapwizzy Debaron
Episode 46: Heir of Moonfire
Silence wrapped the field of dying roses as the Queen's words echoed in the air like a curse.
"Be my heir⊠or be my end."
Juvia's breath caught in her throat. The sigils on her body pulsed violently, reacting to the Queen's nearnessâburning, resisting, trembling.
"I didn't ask for this," she whispered, her voice barely steady.
"No one asks the moon to rise," the Queen replied, circling her slowly. "It rises all the same."
The mirrors around them flickeredâJuvia saw glimpses of herself leading armies, drowning in darkness, cradling a baby made of light, covered in blood. Too many fates. Too many selves.
"You split your soul to survive," the Queen said. "Now, you must reclaim the pieces⊠or perish broken."
A tear traced down Juvia's cheek. "What if I don't want to be either? Not your heir. Not your end. Just me."
The Queen froze. Her faceâeternally cold and regalâtwitched, just once.
Then she smiled, a slow, dangerous smile.
"Then prove yourself."
The ground cracked. Shadows rose.
Ten Moonbound Wraiths appeared, armored in voidsteel, with crescent-shaped blades in their hands. They surrounded Juvia like a living eclipse.
"You face them alone," the Queen said. "If you survive, you earn your freedom."
Juvia stood straight, her heart pounding. "And if I don't?"
"Then your soul rejoins the broken moons that came before."
The wraiths charged.
Juvia screamedânot in fear, but defiance.
The sigils on her body flared. Flame and starlight erupted from her hands. She spun, weaving light into blades, fire into shields. Her feet barely touched the ground as she danced between shadows, cutting through darkness with radiant power.
The wraiths moved like ghosts, fast and mercilessâbut she was faster.
Each strike tore through their cloaks, each scream shook the Queen's domain.
But the last one⊠paused. It didn't attack.
Instead, it lowered its bladeâand removed its helmet.
Juvia's heart stopped.
It was Ha-jun.
Or⊠a mirror of him. Older. Colder. His eyes were endless galaxies.
"I am the version of him that served her," he said. "The one you might have loved⊠if you'd turned dark."
Tears filled her eyes. "You're not him."
"No," he said. "But I know what he doesn't yetâthat your heart holds more than light. And that's why she fears you."
He raised his swordânot to fight, but to offer.
"You don't need to destroy us. Just choose."
Juvia stepped forward, touched the bladeâand all ten wraiths turned to ash.
The Queen's throne cracked behind her. Light burst from the sigils on Juvia's chest, forming a blazing crescent moon above her.
"You've chosen," the Queen whispered, her voice trembling for the first time.
"Yes," Juvia said, eyes glowing. "I choose me."
The sky split. Wind howled. Stars screamed.
The Queen vanished into the stormâleaving Juvia alone, standing at the center of a ruined realm she never asked for⊠but now controlled.
The medallion glowed again.
And in a flashâshe returned to the mortal world, collapsing into Ha-jun's arms.
He caught her, eyes wide. "You⊠you're different."
"I saw what I could become," she murmured.
"And?" he asked.
She smiled faintly. "I didn't run."
â
Far away, in the Shadow Citadel, a servant of the Queen knelt before a dark figure.
"She rejected the throne, my lady."
The shadow growled. "Then she's more dangerous than we thought."
---
To be continuedâŠ
đ Juvia faced her darkest trial yetâwhat do you think of her choice?
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đŹ Comment your thoughts: Is the Queen truly gone? Who was that version of Ha-jun?
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