The silence in the throne hall felt heavy, like fog pressing down on one's chest.
Aurelia still stood in the middle of the room, while the three Shadow Kings watched her from atop the black stone platform.
Blue flames on the walls flickered gently, as if sharing in the tension that filled the space.
Kael leaned casually in his chair.
Yet his dark red eyes remained fixed on Aurelia without blinking.
Orion sat upright like a war statue.
His gaze was sharp and calculating.
Meanwhile, Ragnar stood at the edge of the platform, his arms crossed over a broad chest like a stone wall.
Aurelia broke the silence.
"You offered an alliance."
Her voice was calm.
"But you haven't explained why I should trust you."
Kael smiled slightly.
"Straight to the point."
He rose from his chair and walked down from the platform.
His steps were light, almost inaudible on the stone floor.
"Very well."
He stopped a few paces away from Aurelia.
"I'll be honest."
Orion glanced at him briefly but did not interrupt.
Kael continued.
"The pack world is changing."
He pointed at Aurelia.
"You are at the center of that change."
He slowly circled Aurelia, like a predator assessing its prey.
"When the old Council fell… the world's balance crumbled with it."
Aurelia did not move.
Her gaze remained steady.
Kael stopped in front of her again.
"Now all sides are making their moves."
Ragnar grunted softly.
"Some want to seize power."
Orion added in a flat voice,
"Some want to destroy everything."
Aurelia crossed her arms.
"And you three?"
Kael smiled.
"We want to ensure the world does not fall into the wrong hands."
Aurelia stared at him without expression.
"That sounds like something anyone who wants power would say."
A brief silence fell.
Ragnar laughed loudly.
"She's sharp."
He clapped his hands once.
"I like her."
Orion looked at Aurelia more seriously now.
"Your wariness is understandable."
He rose from his chair.
"That is why we are not asking for an answer right now."
He descended the platform with steady steps.
Now all three Shadow Kings stood before Aurelia.
Kael spoke softly,
"We only ask for one thing."
Aurelia waited.
Ragnar pointed at the stone floor in the center of the hall.
"A trial."
Aurelia raised an eyebrow.
"Another trial?"
Kael shrugged casually.
"We do not offer alliances to anyone without first making sure they are worthy."
Aurelia smiled slightly.
"And if I refuse?"
Ragnar grinned.
"Then you may leave the Shadowlands."
He paused for a moment.
"If you can get out."
A faint threatening aura hung in the air.
Yet Aurelia did not seem affected.
She glanced toward the large stone circle on the hall floor.
"What kind of trial?"
Orion replied.
"It is not a battle."
Kael added,
"At least… not entirely."
He raised his hand.
At once, ancient symbols on the stone floor began to glow faintly.
Lines of blue light appeared, forming a large circle.
Ancient energy began to pulse through the room.
Aurelia narrowed her eyes.
"A ritual circle."
Orion nodded.
"A judging circle."
Ragnar spoke in a deep voice,
"Here… there are no lies."
The energy from the symbols grew stronger.
The air felt heavier.
Kael continued.
"This circle was created hundreds of years ago."
He looked at Aurelia.
"To judge a true leader."
Aurelia stepped a little closer.
The energy from the circle felt very old.
As if it held memories from a distant time.
"What will happen?"
Orion answered calmly.
"This circle will test three things."
He raised one finger.
"Strength."
A second finger.
"Control."
A third finger.
"And intent."
Ragnar added,
"If you fail…"
He shrugged.
"The circle will reject you."
Kael smiled slightly.
"And believe me… this circle has never been wrong."
Aurelia looked at the three of them.
"And if I succeed?"
Orion replied.
"Then the Shadowlands will recognize you."
Ragnar grinned.
"As an ally."
Kael added softly,
"And perhaps more than that."
Silence fell.
Blue flames flickered along the hall walls.
Aurelia looked at the stone circle once more.
Then, without hesitation,
she stepped inside it.
The moment her foot touched the center of the circle.
BOOM.
Blue energy exploded upward from the symbols on the floor.
A strong wind swirled through the hall.
Aurelia's hair billowed around her.
Her eyes began to glow bright gold.
Kael smiled faintly.
"Interesting."
Orion watched intently.
Ragnar crossed his arms over his chest.
"Let's see… how strong this new Luna really is."
The energy in the circle began to shift.
Blue light formed shadows in the air.
The shadows slowly took shape.
A large figure appeared before Aurelia.
A wolf.
But not an ordinary wolf.
Its body was made of dark energy.
Its eyes burned red.
Ragnar grinned.
"The first trial."
Orion spoke softly,
"Strength."
The shadow wolf growled deeply.
Its rumbling roar shook the entire hall.
Then.
it leaped toward Aurelia with incredible speed.
Aurelia did not retreat.
Lunar energy exploded from her body.
Golden light collided with the dark shadow.
BOOM.
A wave of energy slammed into the stone pillars.
The shadow wolf attacked again.
Its dark claws slashed through the air.
But Aurelia moved faster.
She dodged with light, graceful movements.
Her hand struck the creature's head with Lunar energy.
CRACK.
The shadow's body cracked like glass.
Ragnar laughed approvingly.
"Good!"
But the trial was not over.
The cracks sealed themselves back up.
The shadow wolf growled more fiercely now.
Orion spoke softly,
"The circle does not test strength just once."
He looked at Aurelia.
"It tests its limits."
Kael smiled.
"And this is only the beginning."
The shadow wolf attacked again.
Faster.
More ferocious.
But this time.
Aurelia did not wait.
The golden energy in her body blazed brighter.
Lunar aura filled the entire circle.
She stepped forward.
Her eyes shone like the sun at midnight.
"If this is a test of strength…"
Her voice was calm yet powerful.
"…then you should give me something stronger."
Then, in one motion,
Aurelia unleashed a far greater wave of Lunar energy.
BOOOOM.
The explosion of golden light destroyed the shadow wolf completely.
The energy body shattered into shards of light that vanished into the air.
Silence fell over the hall.
Kael laughed softly.
"Very well."
Orion narrowed his eyes.
"The first trial is complete."
Ragnar grinned widely.
"Now… the more interesting part."
The symbols on the floor began to glow brighter.
The energy inside the circle shifted again.
Orion spoke softly,
"The second trial."
He looked deep into Aurelia's eyes.
"Control."
And this time,
the energy emerging from the circle was not a creature.
It was a shadow from the past.
A figure very familiar to Aurelia.
A figure who was supposed to be dead.
Aurelia froze for a moment.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Before her—
stood the man who had once destroyed her life.
His voice rang out again.
Cold.
Cruel.
"Aurelia."
Kael watched her reaction with a slight smile.
"The circle does not only test strength."
Orion spoke softly,
"It also opens wounds that have not yet healed."
Ragnar crossed his arms.
"Let's see…"
His eyes were fixed on Aurelia.
"…if this new Luna can control herself."