The first night on the Pilgrim's Road was unlike anything most of the young competitors had ever experienced.
The camp stretched across the valley like a small city.
Hundreds of tents stood beneath the silver glow of the Moon.
Dozens of campfires illuminated the darkness.
The sounds of laughter, conversations and clashing practice weapons echoed through the peaceful night.
For tonight...
There were no enemies.
Only fellow travelers walking the same ancient road.
...
Riven sat quietly beside one of the campfires, sharpening the edge of a wooden practice sword.
Across from him sat Nyss, reading an old book she had borrowed from one of the Fourth Order priests.
Beside them, Lyra roasted pieces of meat over the fire while Zoldick impatiently waited.
"Is it done yet?"
"No."
"Now?"
"No."
"...Now?"
Lyra sighed.
"If you ask one more time..."
"I'm eating yours too."
The surrounding competitors burst into laughter.
Even Marlis, sitting nearby with his arms folded, chuckled quietly.
"You deserve that."
Zoldick groaned dramatically.
"You people are cruel."
...
A few fires away...
Several young warriors from the First Order were sparring with competitors from the Third.
Wooden swords collided.
Feet shifted.
Cheers erupted after every successful strike.
No one fought with hatred.
Instead...
Each duel ended with respectful bows.
One by one...
The barriers between Orders slowly disappeared.
...
Near another campfire...
A broad-shouldered youth from House Ashgrave approached a group from House Silverfang.
"I've never seen anyone fight with twin blades before."
The Silverfang girl smiled.
"And I've never seen someone use a war hammer that big."
The Ashgrave youth grinned.
"Want to trade techniques tomorrow?"
"It's a deal."
Nearby...
Older escorts quietly observed.
Many smiled.
This...
Was exactly why the Lunar Trials existed.
Not merely to find the strongest.
But to unite future generations before politics could divide them.
...
Later that evening...
Large cooking pots were placed over the biggest campfires.
The aroma of roasted meat and fresh stew drifted throughout the valley.
Soon...
Every competitor gathered together.
Not separated by Order.
Not separated by noble houses.
Simply wherever there was space.
Riven found himself sitting between Kieran Drakhar from the First Order and a cheerful common-born hunter from the Fourth named Elian.
Kieran took a bite of his meal.
"...This is surprisingly good."
Elian laughed.
"You've clearly never tasted food cooked by travelling hunters."
"I admit defeat."
"I'll remember that."
Riven smiled quietly.
It felt...
Normal.
Peaceful.
...
After dinner...
An elderly storyteller from the Fourth Order slowly stood.
His long white beard nearly reached his waist.
Many of the younger competitors immediately gathered around.
"I heard you're the one who tells the old Moon stories."
Someone called out.
The old man smiled warmly.
"I've forgotten more stories than most people will ever hear."
That immediately earned everyone's attention.
Even Riven and Nyss joined the growing circle.
The old storyteller looked up at the full Moon.
"When I was younger..."
"My teacher once told me something."
He pointed toward the glowing Moon.
"'Every generation believes it walks beneath the same Moon.'"
He smiled.
"But they're wrong."
Several competitors blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"The Moon changes."
"So do we."
"The Moon watching your grandparents..."
"...is not the same Moon watching you."
Silence fell.
"The Moon remembers every generation."
"It remembers every dream."
"Every promise."
"Every sacrifice."
He chuckled softly.
"That's why the Lunar Trials are sacred."
"They remind us..."
"...that we are merely one chapter in a story much older than ourselves."
No one interrupted.
The old man's words settled deep within everyone's hearts.
...
Not far away...
Queen Nyxara, Selene, Caelum, Eryx, Vadok and the other leaders quietly watched from a nearby hill overlooking the camp.
Selene smiled softly.
"They're already forgetting which Order everyone belongs to."
Nyxara folded her arms.
"Perhaps that's how it should be."
Eryx nodded.
"They'll compete."
"They'll clash."
"But when they return home..."
"They'll remember the friends they made."
Vadok smiled.
"And maybe..."
"The next generation won't repeat our mistakes."
No one disagreed.
...
Meanwhile...
Near the edge of the camp...
Riven quietly wandered away from the noise.
Not because he disliked the company.
Simply because he wanted a moment of silence.
The Moon reflected beautifully across a nearby lake.
He sat on a smooth rock overlooking the water.
"You always disappear."
Riven turned.
Nyss approached with a gentle smile.
"I figured you'd find me."
"I usually do."
She sat beside him.
For several minutes...
Neither spoke.
They simply watched the Moon's reflection dance across the lake.
Eventually...
Nyss broke the silence.
"Do you ever wonder..."
"...what your father wanted you to find?"
Riven's expression became thoughtful.
"Alexandria?"
She nodded.
He looked toward the stars.
"Every day."
"I still don't understand why he mentioned it."
"Or why he sounded..."
"So desperate."
Nyss remained quiet.
After a while she spoke softly.
"Then one day..."
"We'll find the answer."
Riven smiled.
"You'll come too?"
She looked at him as though the answer were obvious.
"Of course."
"You'll probably get lost without me."
Riven laughed.
"I would not."
"You absolutely would."
"I have an excellent sense of direction."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You once got lost walking through House Nocturne."
"...That was one time."
"It was yesterday."
They both laughed.
The sound echoed gently across the lake.
...
High above them...
The Moon shone brighter for a brief moment.
Neither of them noticed.
...
Across the lake...
Hidden behind several trees...
The Elder of the Lunar Sanctuary stood silently.
No escort had seen him arrive.
No guard sensed his presence.
He observed the two young werewolves from afar.
His ancient eyes lingered first on Nyss.
Then slowly shifted toward Riven.
"...Interesting..."
He whispered.
"The child blessed by Lythara..."
"...and the one carrying the echo of the Ancient King."
He closed his eyes briefly.
"The Moon truly has gathered remarkable children this generation."
Without another word...
His figure seemed to fade into the night itself.
When Riven glanced toward the trees moments later...
No one was there.
"...Strange."
"What is it?"
Nyss asked.
Riven looked around once more.
"...Nothing."
"I thought someone was watching us."
Nyss smiled reassuringly.
"Probably just one of the escorts."
"...Yeah."
Maybe.
...
The camp slowly grew quieter as the night deepened.
One by one...
Campfires burned lower.
Conversations faded.
Young competitors returned to their tents.
Tomorrow...
The journey would continue.
Each step bringing them closer to the Lunar Sanctuary.
Closer to the Trials.
Closer to destinies that none of them could yet imagine.
Above them all...
Lythara's silver Moon watched in silence.