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Chapter 16: Starlit Refuge
The light of the realm dimmed, and Ji felt the weight of everything pressing down—Baek Rin's fall, No-eul's rise, and the prophecy that had begun to unfold.
They descended from the Gate into the mortal world, the air sharp with cold and uncertainty. The crescent pendant around Ji's neck pulsed faintly, reminding him with every beat: the final chapter of his journey had begun.
Seora led the group into the highlands of Mount Saryun, where legend said an ancient Guardian once hid a refuge beneath the stars. After days of travel, they found it—a sanctuary carved into a cliffside, its entrance cloaked by lunar vines that only responded to moonlight.
Inside, it was warm, glowing faintly with soft blue light. Shelves of scrolls, relics, and glowing orbs floated above smooth stone. At the center sat a pool of starlight.
"This is where the first Guardians came to listen," Duri said in awe. "The Sanctuary of Sori."
Ji stood by the pool and gazed into it.
Visions danced across the surface—flashes of No-eul's past, her bond with the moon, her betrayal by the other Guardians who feared her power. They had sealed her within the veil, not out of justice, but fear.
"She's not just a villain," Ji whispered. "She was like me... once."
Seora nodded. "But pain twisted her. If we don't stop her... she'll do the same to the moon itself."
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the back of the sanctuary.
An old man—cloaked in deep blue, eyes glowing faintly like the stars.
"You seek answers, Guardian," he said. "But the truth demands sacrifice."
He raised his hand, revealing a scroll wrapped in silver thread.
"The Prophecy of Two Moons."
The scroll trembled. Ji reached out—and the sanctuary filled with the sound of bells.
Words etched themselves in glowing silver:
> One born under full moon's grace.
One fallen from its light.
Only when their hearts align, can the veil be undone... or all light consumed.
Ji staggered back. "It's about No-eul and me."
Seora's voice trembled. "Or someone else... someone yet to fall."
Duri floated silently, eyes narrowed.
The room grew still.
Outside, a second moon appeared faintly in the sky—red and cracked.
The old man bowed. "Prepare, Moonlight Guardian. The prophecy has begun."
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To Be Continued in Chapter 17: The Prophecy of Two Moons