Deep inside another part of Arkhan Forest, the peaceful sound of flowing water echoed gently beneath the morning sky.
Sunlight slowly filtered through the thick trees, casting golden reflections across the river as the cold morning breeze drifted through the forest. Birds chirped from distant branches while fallen leaves moved quietly along the ground.
Red and Uncle Star walked along the edge of the river while carrying several fishing baskets filled with fresh fish.
Uncle Star walked proudly ahead with a large smile on his face, occasionally humming an old song while balancing the basket over his shoulder.
"Hahaha! Looks like tonight's dinner will be amazing!" Uncle Star laughed loudly.
Red glanced at the basket before smiling helplessly.
"You only caught three fish, Uncle."
Uncle Star immediately turned toward him dramatically.
"Three fish is enough for a legendary meal!"
Red could not help but laugh softly.
Even after living together for years, he still could not understand how Uncle Star could become so excited over something so small.
The old man truly had a strange personality.
The two continued walking beside the river peacefully.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
No danger.
No mysterious figures.
No strange prophecies.
Only the calm atmosphere of Arkhan Forest.
Then suddenly
Red stopped walking.
"Hm...?"
Uncle Star turned around in confusion after noticing Red standing still.
"What's wrong, kid?"
Red slowly lifted his head.
His crimson eyes stared toward the deeper parts of the forest.
The cheerful expression on his face gradually disappeared.
"I feel something strange..."
The wind suddenly became colder.
The peaceful atmosphere from earlier vanished instantly.
Even the surface of the river trembled slightly as if reacting to an invisible presence nearby.
Uncle Star's expression slowly became serious.
"You feel it too...?" he asked quietly.
Red nodded slowly.
"It feels dark... and heavy."
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
The forest became unusually silent.
Even the birds stopped chirping.
Uncle Star quietly placed his fishing basket on the ground before stepping closer to Red.
His eyes carefully scanned the surrounding trees.
"Stay close to me," he said calmly.
Red nodded.
Although he did not fully understand what he was sensing, his instincts warned him that something dangerous was nearby.
Far away, hidden among the towering trees...
A mysterious figure silently watched them from the shadows.
Golden eyes glowed beneath a dark hood.
The man remained completely motionless while observing Red carefully.
An invisible pressure surrounded him like darkness itself.
"So this is the child born beneath the Red Moon..." the mysterious figure whispered softly.
The wind gently moved his cloak.
A faint smile slowly appeared across his face.
"Interesting."
His golden eyes narrowed slightly while continuing to observe Red.
There was nothing particularly special about the boy's appearance at first glance.
Simple clothes.
Messy crimson hair.
A calm expression.
And yet...
The spiritual energy surrounding Red felt abnormal.
Unstable.
Almost as if something inside him had not fully awakened yet.
The mysterious figure slowly raised one hand.
Dark spiritual energy quietly gathered around his fingers.
"So the prophecy truly exists..." he murmured.
For years, the Aurelius Circle had searched endlessly for the child of the Red Moon.
Countless people believed the prophecy was merely a legend.
But now
The boy stood right before him.
The mysterious figure's smile slowly deepened.
Meanwhile, near the river, Red continued staring toward the forest.
His chest felt strangely heavy.
Almost painful.
"Uncle..." Red spoke softly.
"What is this feeling?"
Uncle Star remained silent for several moments.
Then he sighed quietly.
"Some things in this world cannot be explained easily."
Red looked toward him.
"You know something, don't you?"
Uncle Star smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
Red frowned slightly.
Uncle Star always answered serious questions in strange ways.
Before Red could continue asking, the cold wind suddenly stopped.
The heavy pressure surrounding the forest slowly disappeared.
The river returned to normal.
The birds began chirping once again.
Red blinked slowly.
"It disappeared..."
Uncle Star quietly looked toward the distant trees.
His expression remained serious.
"No," he muttered softly.
"They simply left."
Far away among the shadows, the mysterious figure slowly turned around.
His cloak moved gently as he began walking deeper into the forest.
For now, observing Red was enough.
The Aurelius Circle still needed more information.
The figure disappeared into the darkness without making a sound.
Back near the river, Red still looked uneasy.
For some reason, his heart would not calm down.
It felt as though something had begun moving within the forest itself.
Something invisible.
Something dangerous.
Uncle Star slowly picked up the fishing basket again.
"Well then," he suddenly said cheerfully, forcing a smile onto his face. "No matter what happens, fish soup still comes first!"
Red stared at him blankly.
"Seriously...?"
"Hahaha! Of course!"
Red sighed helplessly before smiling slightly.
Even during strange situations, Uncle Star somehow always managed to act ridiculous.
The two eventually continued walking through the forest.
However, neither of them noticed the faint crimson glow that briefly appeared within Red's eyes.
Meanwhile...
Back at the twins' hidden residence deep inside Arkhan Forest, the old traveler continued speaking beside the dying campfire.
The atmosphere around the twins had become increasingly serious.
"The Aurelius Circle has searched for the child of the Red Moon for many years," the old traveler explained calmly.
Neya crossed her arms while leaning slightly forward.
"Why are they searching for him?"
The old man lowered his voice.
"Because the Red Moon child possesses the power to either save Arkhan... or destroy it completely."
Silence immediately filled the area.
Even the wind outside the tent felt colder after those words.
Keya slowly lowered her gaze.
A person capable of destroying Arkhan entirely...
What kind of power was that?
The old traveler continued.
"The child born beneath the Red Moon carries a dangerous destiny."
"His existence alone can change the balance of this world."
Neya frowned.
"That sounds ridiculous."
The old man smiled faintly.
"Most prophecies do."
Keya slowly clenched her fists.
"Then we need to find him before the Aurelius Circle does."
The old traveler nodded.
"Exactly."
Neya looked confused.
"But how are we supposed to find someone we've never even met?"
The old man remained silent briefly before answering.
"Destiny will guide you."
Neya immediately sighed dramatically.
"There you go again with the mysterious old man answers."
For the first time, the traveler laughed softly.
"You remind me of someone I once knew."
Neya tilted her head curiously.
"Who?"
But the old traveler simply smiled without answering.
Keya looked toward the forest thoughtfully.
Somewhere out there...
The child of the Red Moon existed.
And according to the prophecy, their destinies would eventually meet.
The thought alone made her uneasy.
At the same time, another question slowly formed inside her mind.
If Red truly possessed such dangerous power...
Would he become Arkhan's savior?
Or its destruction?
The old traveler slowly stood up while leaning against his wooden staff.
"The world is beginning to move once again," he said quietly.
"The moment the three destinies meet..."
His expression gradually became serious.
"The age of peace inside Arkhan will come to an end."
A cold breeze swept through the forest.
The flames of the campfire flickered violently for a brief moment.
Neya slowly looked toward the distant trees.
For some reason, her heart suddenly felt restless.
As though someone far away was unknowingly connected to her destiny.
Deep within another part of Arkhan Forest...
Red suddenly stopped walking once again.
His chest tightened painfully for a brief second.
"Hm...?"
He slowly looked toward the distant sky beyond the trees.
For reasons he could not understand...
He felt as though someone was thinking about him.
And high above the forest...
Hidden behind drifting clouds...
The faint shadow of a crimson moon slowly appeared.