The Council Chamber remained silent.
No one spoke.
Lady Seraphine's final words continued to echo through the minds of every noble present.
"The Moon shall seek an heir..."
Queen Nyxara slowly descended from the royal dais.
Her silver eyes swept across the faces of the nine noble heads gathered before her.
Lord Eryx Nocturne.
Lord Vadok Velmora.
Lady Seraphine Duskryn.
Lord Garrick Umbraxis.
Lord Magnus Valen.
Lord Darius Ashgrave.
Lady Freya Frostbane.
Lord Cedric Thorncrest.
And finally...
Riven Thorn, standing quietly beside Eryx.
Nyxara broke the silence.
"For over a thousand years..."
"The Lunar Trials have been celebrated as a coming-of-age ceremony."
She paused.
"It appears..."
"...we were mistaken."
No one argued.
If the ancient records were true...
The Lunar Trials were far older than anyone had imagined.
They were not created for celebration.
They were created for preparation.
Vadok folded his hands.
"My Queen..."
"If the Moon truly chooses an heir..."
"Then every Order will answer the summons."
Nyxara nodded.
"They must."
She looked toward Seraphine.
"When do the Trials begin?"
"The next full moon."
"A little over one month from today."
A murmur spread through the chamber.
Only one month.
Preparations had to begin immediately.
Nyxara turned toward the nobles.
"Hear my decree."
"From this day onward..."
"The Third Order shall begin preparations for the Lunar Trials."
"The strongest eligible young wolves from every noble house shall be selected."
"They will not merely compete..."
"They will represent our kingdom."
Every noble placed a fist over their chest.
"As you command."
Nyxara's gaze shifted toward Riven.
"Riven."
He stepped forward.
"My Queen."
"You, Nyss, Soren, Marlis, Lyra, Roran and every other eligible young warrior will begin intensive preparation immediately."
"This Trial will test far more than strength."
"It will test your hearts."
Riven nodded.
"I understand."
Deep inside...
His excitement grew.
Ever since his duel with Zoldick...
He had discovered something.
He enjoyed fighting.
Not for survival.
Not for revenge.
But for the joy of challenging worthy opponents.
The Lunar Trials promised exactly that.
Hours later...
Royal messengers departed from the capital.
Dozens of Moon Hawks took flight.
Each carried a silver scroll bearing the royal seal.
Their destinations...
The First Order.
The Fourth Order.
The neutral Lunar Sanctuary.
Every kingdom would soon receive the same message.
By decree of the Moon Sanctuary...
The Lunar Trials shall commence beneath the next full moon.
All Orders are summoned.
Far to the north...
Within the First Order.
A messenger knelt before a throne carved from the bones of enemies.
The throne room was utterly silent.
At its center sat the King of Monsters.
Aurelion Kharos.
The messenger lowered his head.
"My Lord..."
"The Lunar Sanctuary has issued its summons."
Aurelion slowly opened his eyes.
Golden irises met the messenger.
"The Trials..."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"It has been a long time."
Around him...
Even the First Order Elders seemed surprised.
One finally asked,
"My Lord..."
"Will we participate?"
Aurelion rested one elbow upon his throne.
"Of course."
"The Moon has called."
"It would be rude to ignore her."
The Elders exchanged uneasy glances.
Whenever Aurelion smiled...
Someone usually suffered.
Within the Fourth Order...
Queen Selene Astrae stood upon the highest balcony of her palace.
A silver-feathered hawk landed gracefully upon the railing.
She removed the scroll.
As she finished reading...
Her expression froze.
"The Lunar Trials..."
She whispered.
"So..."
"The time has finally come."
For reasons known only to her...
Her eyes drifted toward the moonlit horizon.
Toward somewhere far beyond the Fourth.
Toward a girl she had not seen in months.
"...Nyss."
A mother's voice escaped before a queen's.
"I wonder..."
"...how much you've grown."
Behind her...
Lord Caelum quietly approached.
"What troubles you?"
Selene folded the scroll.
"The Moon has begun moving once again."
Caelum frowned.
"You believe..."
"She has chosen?"
Selene answered softly.
"I don't know."
"But I fear..."
"...she is about to."
Deep within the Sacred Lunar Sanctuary...
An elderly priest slowly lit hundreds of silver candles.
He stood before a massive circular stone door covered in ancient lunar runes.
The door had remained sealed for centuries.
Today...
One rune shimmered.
The old priest smiled.
"The children are coming."
He placed both hands upon the ancient stone.
"May the Moon..."
"...judge them fairly."
The great stone door trembled.
Not opening.
Simply...
Awakening.
Beyond it lay the forgotten ruins created by the first werewolves after the First Cataclysm.
The true home...
Of the Lunar Trials.
And somewhere within those ancient ruins...
Destiny patiently waited.