<You have achieved something extraordinary: You entered a new dimension.>95Please respect copyright.PENANAVKR7wx3qOB
95Please respect copyright.PENANA8BsqjhMi9c
<You have received the trait "Eternal Witness".>95Please respect copyright.PENANALwgLixRwLt
95Please respect copyright.PENANAlURXrwmE3L
‘What?’95Please respect copyright.PENANAnBJuXYtGxW
95Please respect copyright.PENANAZktG9Cypbc
Not the Hollow Realms. Not his world.95Please respect copyright.PENANAEIiP2mYbaU
95Please respect copyright.PENANApSd0MrN3DS
Something else entirely.95Please respect copyright.PENANAVzl1MbTXDr
95Please respect copyright.PENANAlJ2o5m9uib
His gaze swept across the floating island - perhaps two hundred paces across, irregular in shape. The ground beneath his feet was solid stone, dark and pitted as if carved from a single massive slab.95Please respect copyright.PENANAoQ080XYqkx
95Please respect copyright.PENANA520T6ghxT3
The manor rose at the island's center - three stories of dark stone and timber, windows glowing with warm light that seemed wrong against the crackling void beyond. 95Please respect copyright.PENANAHHjk8Ax5Ve
95Please respect copyright.PENANAqu7yKZNRpk
Behind him, the rift sealed with a sound like tearing silk played backward.95Please respect copyright.PENANAgg4b46GtBT
95Please respect copyright.PENANAVZeNnixdY3
Violet light collapsed inward, edges crackling as they consumed themselves. Within seconds, nothing remained but the void.95Please respect copyright.PENANAgzuQ5iNT2w
95Please respect copyright.PENANAlbE4eaZNzw
No way back.95Please respect copyright.PENANARotTwtOTXE
95Please respect copyright.PENANAaqcxPs1mwG
The realization settled in his chest like ice.95Please respect copyright.PENANAmolOUiElJt
95Please respect copyright.PENANAOFyvDIL3YB
Esrin's boots clicked against stone as she moved toward the manor without a word. Not checking if he followed. Simply expecting it.95Please respect copyright.PENANAPN8HD8bMFO
95Please respect copyright.PENANAvsmeg6UDmN
Cel's legs obeyed before his mind caught up, carrying him after her.95Please respect copyright.PENANAT49ozsLGcA
95Please respect copyright.PENANAvsmy3HFYBN
Esrin's hand met the manor's door and pushed it open in one smooth motion.95Please respect copyright.PENANA1RUAqClpEZ
95Please respect copyright.PENANAlJpYPBIcfD
Warmth spilled out - actual warmth, impossible in this place. Light painted the threshold in gold.95Please respect copyright.PENANASpCKgjqVyC
95Please respect copyright.PENANArrLbMpLgvY
Esrin stepped through.95Please respect copyright.PENANA20NUVFPIZq
95Please respect copyright.PENANA25NVWTB7np
Cel hesitated at the entrance, his pulse quickening.95Please respect copyright.PENANAp6IUFYlhU5
95Please respect copyright.PENANABNOFLsbUHQ
Then he crossed into light and the sight of nine figures arranged throughout what appeared to be a common room.95Please respect copyright.PENANAOH20YAtcmF
95Please respect copyright.PENANAGfmPIwQoW5
His breath caught.95Please respect copyright.PENANAGzG8vW5BiF
95Please respect copyright.PENANALZqsPFLKpd
Ashen-blue hair gleamed near a window, catching firelight. The man stood with casual arrogance, light yellow eyes tracking the room with predatory amusement.95Please respect copyright.PENANAzHVB2UR9Wv
95Please respect copyright.PENANAzEH8KOSL2N
'Draven Goldwind.'95Please respect copyright.PENANAaAnhoHH9n9
95Please respect copyright.PENANAMFRtHwzTNJ
The Mercenary King. Leader of the only organization that rivaled the Great Clans in power and influence.95Please respect copyright.PENANA0IFywMFO2H
95Please respect copyright.PENANAKoWd3a1i5m
Cel's gaze snapped to the figure seated in a chair near the fireplace. Ashen brown hair, dark green eyes that carried exhaustion like a physical weight.95Please respect copyright.PENANA9guIx1MQ1h
95Please respect copyright.PENANAJEhrWNFm2O
'Lucien Stellarion.'95Please respect copyright.PENANA3xWpevvlaw
95Please respect copyright.PENANANWWj29zVU2
The second prince of the Stellarion Empire. The one nobles spoke of in tones mixing disappointment and reluctant longing.95Please respect copyright.PENANAJrPZOU7xDV
95Please respect copyright.PENANABgK4YDWwx3
Here.95Please respect copyright.PENANAaFmVbf40ge
95Please respect copyright.PENANAQYI5sYUOHy
With Draven Goldwind.95Please respect copyright.PENANAafbWiaaWO9
95Please respect copyright.PENANAJXpEKW9QC8
The contradiction made his thoughts fracture. The Royal House and the Mercenary Guild maintained cordial relations at best - careful neutrality that could shatter into conflict with one wrong move. Seeing representatives of both powers in the same room was unusual.95Please respect copyright.PENANAOnEeirvJno
95Please respect copyright.PENANA2K6YjgxDy6
His gaze swept across the others.95Please respect copyright.PENANAnctwvhxkUo
95Please respect copyright.PENANAeaOM3YHGcE
A small girl sat in an oversized chair, feet dangling above the floor. She straightened as their eyes met, chin lifting with unexpected dignity despite her childlike stature.95Please respect copyright.PENANAE9s851mwXX
95Please respect copyright.PENANAJjh5uEGp0F
Near the far wall, a red-haired woman stood rigid, arms crossed. Blue eyes locked onto him with naked contempt, her entire posture screaming barely restrained contempt.95Please respect copyright.PENANAMb5Nncb7XX
95Please respect copyright.PENANANKmACpYhfP
Beside her, an older man leaned against the stone. Weathered face, scars visible even in the firelight. He watched Cel the way someone watches a potential threat - calm, assessing, ready.95Please respect copyright.PENANAYG4kSO2VBG
95Please respect copyright.PENANAC2JUhZgzZL
A young man, perhaps Raven's age, lounged near the fire with blue hair that caught hints of purple in the light. Green eyes studied Cel with open curiosity, head tilted slightly as if examining something interesting.95Please respect copyright.PENANABAEyH5fDW4
95Please respect copyright.PENANAmufgCGFu1f
A woman with blond hair held herself with perfect stillness near the opposite wall, her expression carefully neutral.95Please respect copyright.PENANAP45c81P2AD
95Please respect copyright.PENANAeCFQvaFlkM
And at the center—95Please respect copyright.PENANAd9dtVGXS5W
95Please respect copyright.PENANArQtSp3kMGi
A hooded figure. Dark fabric concealed most of his face, but reddish-brown eyes gleamed from within the shadow. Authority radiated from him despite the concealment.95Please respect copyright.PENANAc1UsDoC6e9
95Please respect copyright.PENANAk7B7cbdUBF
All of them turned as Esrin entered.95Please respect copyright.PENANAFbYRhIhSgi
95Please respect copyright.PENANA7XOwtUoGw4
"Well, well." Draven's voice carried across the room, amused. "Back already? Don't tell me the Prince of Death gave you—"95Please respect copyright.PENANAiMP7FfmvKO
95Please respect copyright.PENANA7ICghyarOY
His gaze found Cel.95Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZBcNyRtML
95Please respect copyright.PENANAD4cHUE7Aox
Silence crashed down.95Please respect copyright.PENANAjwdEEHeiZn
95Please respect copyright.PENANAV954vjOqTP
Nine pairs of eyes fixed on him with varying degrees of surprise, confusion, and - in some cases - hostility.95Please respect copyright.PENANAFTcsHPND1g
95Please respect copyright.PENANAeGRbHRYSDd
The small girl's feet stopped swinging.95Please respect copyright.PENANAD9srgLyDhe
95Please respect copyright.PENANAsZu8SAU5Ha
The young man by the fire straightened slightly.95Please respect copyright.PENANAgiDeyibcKz
95Please respect copyright.PENANA8XAvyvLOP6
Even the still woman shifted her attention.95Please respect copyright.PENANApuIjIeQYxh
95Please respect copyright.PENANAnByIwhkhay
"Esrin." The red-haired woman spoke, blue eyes narrowing. "Who is this?"95Please respect copyright.PENANAXVaV0A5Nwu
95Please respect copyright.PENANArJaVEns4Wt
Draven's laugh cut through the quiet - sharp and mocking. "Oh, this is rich. The great Esrin brings home a stray."95Please respect copyright.PENANAPVDDarBqq3
95Please respect copyright.PENANAEaZlWEsPxV
Esrin ignored him. "This is Celvian. A Chosen of the Moon Goddess whom the Children of the Voidmother threw into the Hollow Realms to seal a rift."95Please respect copyright.PENANAow6Q65WSgU
95Please respect copyright.PENANACfHIICYE5h
The information hung in the air.95Please respect copyright.PENANAep3Yb40A1P
95Please respect copyright.PENANA2aAcMSFboy
"A Chosen?" The older man's voice was rough, skeptical. "Moon Chosen are weak. How did he survive?"95Please respect copyright.PENANA39gqevUxSE
95Please respect copyright.PENANAHWnvgN2fKd
"That's irrelevant." Draven stepped forward. "He's seen our faces. That makes him a risk." His hand drifted to summon his weapon. "He dies. Simple as that."95Please respect copyright.PENANAVdUkFDz43x
95Please respect copyright.PENANAZwZlZYLb2R
Cel's body went rigid, hand moving toward where Silent Moon could manifest—95Please respect copyright.PENANAFaZ2QRj7b9
95Please respect copyright.PENANAzpnANBJdZB
"I want him to join the Reckoning." Esrin's statement cut through the rising tension.95Please respect copyright.PENANARPhmRP2jIX
95Please respect copyright.PENANAPTMKGDRcI7
Draven barked a laugh. "Join? You can't be serious."95Please respect copyright.PENANAlGlC7bVqok
95Please respect copyright.PENANAgQDUGEt1of
"He's a Chosen One," Esrin continued. "He was thrown into the Hollow Realms and survived. That demonstrates capability."95Please respect copyright.PENANAzixZkOcbkt
95Please respect copyright.PENANAp3Ik7BzWUX
"Does it?" Draven gestured at Cel with casual dismissal. "Everyone here can sense that this boy has no divine energy. Not even a whisper." His grin widened. "So either he's the weakest Chosen to ever exist, or he's not Chosen at all."95Please respect copyright.PENANARq8ySbcFNe
95Please respect copyright.PENANAHIwz61V4Jf
The words landed with sickening weight.95Please respect copyright.PENANAfQ6sjO4f4e
95Please respect copyright.PENANAuVa1cdyuQx
Cel had known he couldn't sense his own divine energy. Had struggled with that limitation since receiving his blessing.95Please respect copyright.PENANAiozEuWq8il
95Please respect copyright.PENANAaYRk5Tk0CA
But to not even possess it?95Please respect copyright.PENANAdmtAElmUAb
95Please respect copyright.PENANAuiUTsB13nb
His mind raced. That made no sense. He could use Frostmark. Could manifest Silent Moon and Cinderward. If he had no divine energy at all, how—95Please respect copyright.PENANAiGnJrTf8ng
95Please respect copyright.PENANAUOnbwPViGh
"Haha, yeah!" The small girl's voice dripped with exaggerated enthusiasm. "We can all sense it so clearly. It's super obvious to everyone here!"95Please respect copyright.PENANAx1GmdFp4Av
95Please respect copyright.PENANAs2KMlIkC5I
Draven's attention snapped to her, his grin sharpening. "Sorry, I meant nearly all." The correction was pointed. Cruel. "Those of us who actually have divine favor, at least."95Please respect copyright.PENANAZKByAfR5rF
95Please respect copyright.PENANAFo7jhNifmR
The girl's expression darkened, but she said nothing.95Please respect copyright.PENANAbEkJrId1Bh
95Please respect copyright.PENANAK05Um6aVBt
"It's the armor," Esrin said, drawing attention back. "An artifact that suppresses his divine signature. I witnessed him using an authority - ice-based power. He is a Chosen."95Please respect copyright.PENANAIFmbD5Hsnw
95Please respect copyright.PENANAwlyBbloGv0
"An artifact that completely masks divine energy?" The young man by the fire leaned forward, interest sparking in his green eyes. "That's... actually impressive."95Please respect copyright.PENANAH1FAIiBRoh
95Please respect copyright.PENANAJoHHCkZfg3
"Or it's a lie." The red-haired woman spoke for the first time, her voice sharp as broken glass. "Why should we trust anything she says about him?"95Please respect copyright.PENANAR4Na96OwNI
95Please respect copyright.PENANA0EbgsSPkzN
"Because I have no reason to lie." Esrin's tone remained neutral. "Killing him serves no purpose. He's young, inexperienced, and was thrown into the Hollow Realms by a cult we all want destroyed. Making him an ally makes more strategic sense than making him a corpse."95Please respect copyright.PENANAeJm1KNcUfg
95Please respect copyright.PENANA0NEUuOyLkE
"Strategic sense?" Draven's laugh was harsh. "What's strategic about adding dead weight to—"95Please respect copyright.PENANAMSifpSy5EV
95Please respect copyright.PENANAHOKzxgHjch
"Vote." Lucien's voice came quietly from his chair, almost resigned. "That's how this works."95Please respect copyright.PENANAryEm51TN65
95Please respect copyright.PENANA3S3ckLf5sK
Silence fell as attention turned inward.95Please respect copyright.PENANAaOdwNe2YnQ
95Please respect copyright.PENANAAJKMbLRf2p
The older man spoke first. "Kill him. We don't need complications."95Please respect copyright.PENANAT5pPIgik1p
95Please respect copyright.PENANAVzAlA4U7N1
The red-haired woman's voice came sharp and immediate. "Agreed."95Please respect copyright.PENANAHWjv4pGRdJ
95Please respect copyright.PENANA1JGWFg058K
Draven's grin widened. "Obviously kill him."95Please respect copyright.PENANAMjAcjhHBrP
95Please respect copyright.PENANAKZ3jAoB1Bt
The still woman with blond hair simply nodded once.95Please respect copyright.PENANAo7aAxC8QiI
95Please respect copyright.PENANA0qy0WYgK6O
Four votes to kill.95Please respect copyright.PENANAaBxZSBlpja
95Please respect copyright.PENANAzmltUxZUCo
"He should join." Esrin's statement was flat. Final.95Please respect copyright.PENANAtVukA82va6
95Please respect copyright.PENANAeZmML2yKPx
"Agreed," Lucien said quietly, dark green eyes tracking between Cel and the others.95Please respect copyright.PENANAmooQfUykt4
95Please respect copyright.PENANAZfGv3CEAdK
The young man by the fire straightened, blue-purple hair shifting. "I vote for joining too. He survived the Hollow Realms at such a young age. That's worth something."95Please respect copyright.PENANAkBnjtnWiAU
95Please respect copyright.PENANAGTS2hJMC15
The small girl's feet swung once. "I think he should join! Anyone who makes Draven this annoyed can't be all bad!"95Please respect copyright.PENANAgMZ1NoqXp9
95Please respect copyright.PENANA9lNtkasCP7
Four votes each way.95Please respect copyright.PENANAP3rls417l3
95Please respect copyright.PENANAhO1wJz0F94
The central figure remained silent, his gaze tracking between Cel and the others with careful assessment.95Please respect copyright.PENANAqcsNQOG8dD
95Please respect copyright.PENANAuPErviMmWU
The silence stretched.95Please respect copyright.PENANA0o5XV2wUrk
95Please respect copyright.PENANAYRgcXNIcBj
"Four to four," Draven said quietly. "Which means Veyron decides. And we all know he's practical."95Please respect copyright.PENANAKTd23ocD4O
95Please respect copyright.PENANAJum5aU1TME
He moved.95Please respect copyright.PENANACb4tpdqzG1
95Please respect copyright.PENANAgiWu98WznC
"So why don't we skip the formality and I'll just kill the boy now?"95Please respect copyright.PENANANijF7TsI33
95Please respect copyright.PENANAdqawFLz7T9
Esrin blocked his path.95Please respect copyright.PENANASX0Lb6V3QU
95Please respect copyright.PENANAMhbrBpV9fd
"Touch him, and you'll lose your hand."95Please respect copyright.PENANAX6bSQUrKAa
95Please respect copyright.PENANA9KY2rtRkpl
Draven laughed, genuinely delighted. "Should I test that?"95Please respect copyright.PENANAaCz45kzcXg
95Please respect copyright.PENANA1PP3dlum9J
The temperature dropped.95Please respect copyright.PENANAYV5knJ1Vaw
95Please respect copyright.PENANAGZ1aIxmdTj
White lightning began to crackle across Esrin's shoulders, arcing down her arms. Her ruby eyes held nothing - no anger, no fury. Just cold, absolute promise.95Please respect copyright.PENANA322idQf0xH
95Please respect copyright.PENANALvQfrHdwYe
"He's a child," she continued. "A child thrown into the Hollow Realms by a cult. And you want to murder him because it's convenient."95Please respect copyright.PENANAapNohjAGL4
95Please respect copyright.PENANAMEy5VORNlG
Draven's grin widened, golden light erupting around him like a solar flare. "I want to kill him because he's a risk we don't need." He leaned forward slightly, matching her intensity. "But please, continue the moral lecture. It's adorable."95Please respect copyright.PENANAqLnZh34Qrs
95Please respect copyright.PENANA3gXlj9EJtR
The manor groaned.95Please respect copyright.PENANAMyJtehHSmP
95Please respect copyright.PENANAwdJyg1tuR4
Divine energy pressed against divine energy - white lightning meeting golden radiance. The floor beneath them cracked. Windows rattled. Books tumbled from shelves as the building itself protested the weight of their power.95Please respect copyright.PENANA35UrY5ctl7
95Please respect copyright.PENANAwm1ViHbTMT
"Enough."95Please respect copyright.PENANAv347DTdtgn
95Please respect copyright.PENANA7ikTBN3paP
The older man's voice cut through the pressure - rough, worn, but carrying the weight of someone who'd survived worse than this.95Please respect copyright.PENANAh3OJalpfOs
95Please respect copyright.PENANAJkTjYz0t52
He hadn't moved from his position against the wall, but his weathered face held no fear. Just tired disgust.95Please respect copyright.PENANAwgwTxricOt
95Please respect copyright.PENANAzrlp1bauB0
"This is why we vote," he said flatly. "To avoid this." His gaze tracked between them. "So let Veyron decide."95Please respect copyright.PENANAwfnCl3HLoZ
95Please respect copyright.PENANA7DEAcAulgD
The pressure didn't dissipate immediately.95Please respect copyright.PENANA745sVR0oJ0
95Please respect copyright.PENANAH62NbPJhmk
Esrin and Draven remained locked in their standoff, lightning and gold still blazing around them.95Please respect copyright.PENANAC7XgkV2OVh
95Please respect copyright.PENANAFcTJaUCEll
Then Esrin's energy pulled back. Not slowly - just gone, as if someone had closed a door.95Please respect copyright.PENANAMff1wYqsix
95Please respect copyright.PENANAiSQJeeqCH0
Draven held his power for a heartbeat longer, eyes studying her. Then the golden glow faded, leaving only the man beneath.95Please respect copyright.PENANAmQAlOs5hWn
95Please respect copyright.PENANA6Px7tqWUtC
His grin returned, casual and mocking. "How disappointing."95Please respect copyright.PENANAdliUyTe6yV
95Please respect copyright.PENANABLcSfai8Ab
He turned away without another word, moving back to his position near the window.95Please respect copyright.PENANAMc9YsDBT41
95Please respect copyright.PENANACwAftXTjU2
The cracks in the floor remained. Evidence of how close they'd come.95Please respect copyright.PENANAIYMsdCVnLS
95Please respect copyright.PENANAIl9pnz0VHZ
Cel's pulse hammered in his throat. His hand trembled slightly as it dropped from tension.95Please respect copyright.PENANAN8U4rEzuOH
95Please respect copyright.PENANAqUdIxkZSVW
The central figure - Veyron - had watched the entire exchange without moving. Now his gaze settled on Cel with renewed assessment.95Please respect copyright.PENANAsgG1s3sKM5
95Please respect copyright.PENANAic0dYZCIi6
Cel's throat worked. Words formed before conscious thought caught up.95Please respect copyright.PENANAICxi5AAG1Y
95Please respect copyright.PENANAB237BJu3qB
"My priestess is a Divine Oracle."95Please respect copyright.PENANAVWHfAoevEE
95Please respect copyright.PENANAAGGJwPoAAf
The statement landed like a stone into still water.95Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2ltFXbl7B
95Please respect copyright.PENANAwtmbI6YbfM
Draven's laugh came immediately. "Of course she is. And I'm secretly the Mountain God in disguise."95Please respect copyright.PENANA4tIRppR5QL
95Please respect copyright.PENANAYbhpAyrESe
But Veyron had gone still.95Please respect copyright.PENANAlMW7JN9Jw9
95Please respect copyright.PENANA2dUJMH0Xfx
Not frozen. Just... perfectly motionless. His attention fixed on Cel with sudden, sharp intensity.95Please respect copyright.PENANAqylU9xrhX2
95Please respect copyright.PENANAamg5YnVs1f
"Describe her." The command came quiet but absolute.95Please respect copyright.PENANAmVqnsgWXDg
95Please respect copyright.PENANAoZRUQEcz7j
Cel's pulse quickened. "White robes. Silver mask covering the upper half of her face. Long silver hair. She..." He hesitated, then pushed through. "She's the most beautiful person I've ever seen."95Please respect copyright.PENANAq73ZhJEAds
95Please respect copyright.PENANAUHhriZRt70
Silence answered him.95Please respect copyright.PENANA6CrNP7EZOa
95Please respect copyright.PENANA14I96yFkSg
Veyron studied him for what felt like eternity.95Please respect copyright.PENANApResudZZpR
95Please respect copyright.PENANA1r88GZ7sEV
Then his lips curved - not quite a smile, but close. 95Please respect copyright.PENANA2T8KGwgGfK
95Please respect copyright.PENANAGbCemn3JZ4
"Welcome to the Reckoning, Celvian."
arrow_back
Lunar Legacy
more_vert
-
info_outline Info
-
toc Table of Contents
-
share Share
-
format_color_text Display Settings
-
exposure_plus_1 Recommend
-
report_problem Report
-
account_circle Login
Search stories, writers or societies
Continue ReadingClear All
What Others Are ReadingRefresh
X
Never miss what's happening on Penana!
Lunar Legacy
Author:
Celastos
ISSUE #42
Chapter 41: The Reckoning
LIKES 0
READS 91
BOOKMARKS 1
Login with Facebook
or Sign up/Login to comment or bookmark! Click to load the next chapter
X
After each update request, the author will receive a notification!
smartphone100
→ Request update
X
Sponsor again
Click to login
Login first to show your name as a sponsor.
Thank you for supporting the story! :)
Please Login first.
×
Lunar Legacy
Fantasy
Action
Dark
Last updated: Jun 5, 2026
Total word count: 139,029
Total reading time: 644 Minutes
Writer:
fantasy
horror
dark
mystery
tragedy
darkfantasy
demons
betrayal
psychological
revenge
monsters
gods
survival
fantasyrealm
medieval
maleprotagonist
goddess
mysterious
fantasyworld
abilities
Report this story
×
Write down what you like about the story
×
Reading Theme:
Font Size:
Line Spacing:
Paragraph Spacing:
Load the next issue automatically
Reset to default
×
People Who Like This
x
Before You Publish
Please ensure your story does not contain illegal, hateful, inciting, or violence-promoting content, or any infringing, plagiarized, or spam material, and that it complies with Penana’s Terms of Use.
Penana reserves the right to remove any content that violates these rules or causes legal or community risk, and to suspend or terminate related accounts.
