<You have achieved something extraordinary: You entered a new dimension.>44Please respect copyright.PENANAC1lhKzL39F
44Please respect copyright.PENANAfslCuv758Q
<You have received the trait "Eternal Witness".>44Please respect copyright.PENANApuCLmIWxkU
44Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4sGCsVeYs
‘What?’44Please respect copyright.PENANAQzxHcrQGSw
44Please respect copyright.PENANAtWmv87DqSJ
Not the Hollow Realms. Not his world.44Please respect copyright.PENANAah550e9nFz
44Please respect copyright.PENANAhivIiIh8Zt
Something else entirely.44Please respect copyright.PENANAQXCgsqXGhz
44Please respect copyright.PENANAGxQvYwQFMc
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.44Please respect copyright.PENANAY0NghEtdAm
44Please respect copyright.PENANASfHrrYV7oA
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. 44Please respect copyright.PENANAEsciABU5mY
44Please respect copyright.PENANAupGEY9Su4L
Behind him, the rift sealed with a sound like tearing silk played backward.44Please respect copyright.PENANAJHHhlquWD4
44Please respect copyright.PENANA33YHQAk48r
Violet light collapsed inward, edges crackling as they consumed themselves. Within seconds, nothing remained but the void.44Please respect copyright.PENANAk4WdHPaPB4
44Please respect copyright.PENANASYlfm4B3xT
No way back.44Please respect copyright.PENANAvX0WOfR4CB
44Please respect copyright.PENANAlX0TiVSEXD
The realization settled in his chest like ice.44Please respect copyright.PENANAMNM8GiOnZE
44Please respect copyright.PENANAGUr7m6VIMI
Esrin's boots clicked against stone as she moved toward the manor without a word. Not checking if he followed. Simply expecting it.44Please respect copyright.PENANAHXWKUdo9vz
44Please respect copyright.PENANAqNZ6E5x8A1
Cel's legs obeyed before his mind caught up, carrying him after her.44Please respect copyright.PENANAlwo3BPLjj5
44Please respect copyright.PENANA9L3Qr2062W
Esrin's hand met the manor's door and pushed it open in one smooth motion.44Please respect copyright.PENANAXNCwqJMVEa
44Please respect copyright.PENANATYDbmPtPD6
Warmth spilled out - actual warmth, impossible in this place. Light painted the threshold in gold.44Please respect copyright.PENANASNkg6dOCgQ
44Please respect copyright.PENANARejzEekzU3
Esrin stepped through.44Please respect copyright.PENANAeg6bz4EtCZ
44Please respect copyright.PENANATW5jcPHRwW
Cel hesitated at the entrance, his pulse quickening.44Please respect copyright.PENANAaJTcnnZx7D
44Please respect copyright.PENANAvBC9hfuXz4
Then he crossed into light and the sight of nine figures arranged throughout what appeared to be a common room.44Please respect copyright.PENANAHGXlV3fh8H
44Please respect copyright.PENANA4gZHtFOejH
His breath caught.44Please respect copyright.PENANASoMf5aQvUA
44Please respect copyright.PENANAC2ZtgU5HHm
Ashen-blue hair gleamed near a window, catching firelight. The man stood with casual arrogance, light yellow eyes tracking the room with predatory amusement.44Please respect copyright.PENANANL9MO9wgtP
44Please respect copyright.PENANARwLwQIQJoA
'Draven Goldwind.'44Please respect copyright.PENANA6nChMcrCif
44Please respect copyright.PENANAs81jdFKTKg
The Mercenary King. Leader of the only organization that rivaled the Great Clans in power and influence.44Please respect copyright.PENANANThNL0tp6P
44Please respect copyright.PENANAhpmd3pm59W
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.44Please respect copyright.PENANAxo6yWB9LXx
44Please respect copyright.PENANAymiBXxKMAZ
'Lucien Stellarion.'44Please respect copyright.PENANACrgCZgk7lI
44Please respect copyright.PENANAWUpqqso01H
The second prince of the Stellarion Empire. The one nobles spoke of in tones mixing disappointment and reluctant longing.44Please respect copyright.PENANAygG9HtqNDn
44Please respect copyright.PENANA8LIxGFnNIa
Here.44Please respect copyright.PENANA16urr6Hl2Z
44Please respect copyright.PENANAFUaiy2JXfr
With Draven Goldwind.44Please respect copyright.PENANAngnn6OWum1
44Please respect copyright.PENANAqdemOR6iwD
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.44Please respect copyright.PENANAathPsVr5xY
44Please respect copyright.PENANA2XlpksQ0ez
His gaze swept across the others.44Please respect copyright.PENANApaTBMtvPmD
44Please respect copyright.PENANAHd6kDDudcp
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.44Please respect copyright.PENANA9RH16jEI5Q
44Please respect copyright.PENANAOCj027Rit2
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.44Please respect copyright.PENANAKnUXX8av8c
44Please respect copyright.PENANAvT8LQeRN6t
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.44Please respect copyright.PENANA4R4mpua1bW
44Please respect copyright.PENANAl0o8DCd0kl
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.44Please respect copyright.PENANAZzAjpxMh3j
44Please respect copyright.PENANAWhAEcbYDe2
A woman with blond hair held herself with perfect stillness near the opposite wall, her expression carefully neutral.44Please respect copyright.PENANAvPCmZcJIwG
44Please respect copyright.PENANAcTwKYYJSYS
And at the center—44Please respect copyright.PENANAmsJ6UZCLEA
44Please respect copyright.PENANALvDI9ocIxM
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.44Please respect copyright.PENANAzsQM2eIJmp
44Please respect copyright.PENANA5zuAhbXMg7
All of them turned as Esrin entered.44Please respect copyright.PENANAItUcG7hHv8
44Please respect copyright.PENANAn2m3qhtalr
"Well, well." Draven's voice carried across the room, amused. "Back already? Don't tell me the Prince of Death gave you—"44Please respect copyright.PENANAIqu7N1WZcf
44Please respect copyright.PENANARoDD5PydMV
His gaze found Cel.44Please respect copyright.PENANAOLElzeV58n
44Please respect copyright.PENANABLmv4OF4Ir
Silence crashed down.44Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7ylDeVJAk
44Please respect copyright.PENANA8J7yyVWXk5
Nine pairs of eyes fixed on him with varying degrees of surprise, confusion, and - in some cases - hostility.44Please respect copyright.PENANAZLEA02Tz90
44Please respect copyright.PENANAMyBsa23CIi
The small girl's feet stopped swinging.44Please respect copyright.PENANA0LxZ6hLtS4
44Please respect copyright.PENANAALJwOdxMm2
The young man by the fire straightened slightly.44Please respect copyright.PENANASfkxJdHGoP
44Please respect copyright.PENANArOz66c4cPb
Even the still woman shifted her attention.44Please respect copyright.PENANApC5wzyNPOO
44Please respect copyright.PENANAeqWAzuTcpS
"Esrin." The red-haired woman spoke, blue eyes narrowing. "Who is this?"44Please respect copyright.PENANANIgLSCTKst
44Please respect copyright.PENANAjyZBaYbZTH
Draven's laugh cut through the quiet - sharp and mocking. "Oh, this is rich. The great Esrin brings home a stray."44Please respect copyright.PENANAit1tsgN91C
44Please respect copyright.PENANAMKArdemBdH
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."44Please respect copyright.PENANAxJnlc51R2l
44Please respect copyright.PENANAj4ki4ZM6ZY
The information hung in the air.44Please respect copyright.PENANAWYP6m2CXHh
44Please respect copyright.PENANA3S0dW7W2fP
"A Chosen?" The older man's voice was rough, skeptical. "Moon Chosen are weak. How did he survive?"44Please respect copyright.PENANAJHGvuirVPR
44Please respect copyright.PENANADrYFjwiwHv
"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."44Please respect copyright.PENANANzhGhl8DQv
44Please respect copyright.PENANAAtJeLX4LGl
Cel's body went rigid, hand moving toward where Silent Moon could manifest—44Please respect copyright.PENANAdzodVmYd7M
44Please respect copyright.PENANAPJaqtANtgI
"I want him to join the Reckoning." Esrin's statement cut through the rising tension.44Please respect copyright.PENANAoNbqfFK7DN
44Please respect copyright.PENANA2ucyjv3KnC
Draven barked a laugh. "Join? You can't be serious."44Please respect copyright.PENANAORoV3nCpBH
44Please respect copyright.PENANAOdhqybGXnH
"He's a Chosen One," Esrin continued. "He was thrown into the Hollow Realms and survived. That demonstrates capability."44Please respect copyright.PENANAYWAaDhZaxr
44Please respect copyright.PENANA0tZXejHgps
"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."44Please respect copyright.PENANAZrWllbvHTZ
44Please respect copyright.PENANAiEb9tJ31AX
The words landed with sickening weight.44Please respect copyright.PENANAOZG1f655zy
44Please respect copyright.PENANA5lxkIxvaYt
Cel had known he couldn't sense his own divine energy. Had struggled with that limitation since receiving his blessing.44Please respect copyright.PENANAlFpobxaOJB
44Please respect copyright.PENANA7wmFZoMJLm
But to not even possess it?44Please respect copyright.PENANAT7EDYsDEqM
44Please respect copyright.PENANAOQHl3s3KnR
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—44Please respect copyright.PENANA2B4SVwoCPC
44Please respect copyright.PENANAWxOWnW9HT5
"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!"44Please respect copyright.PENANAsyXvrVKk6x
44Please respect copyright.PENANAtGTHiiMM8g
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."44Please respect copyright.PENANAqeorLc7S8Z
44Please respect copyright.PENANAufrhXUHTY1
The girl's expression darkened, but she said nothing.44Please respect copyright.PENANA22oIbDyaH8
44Please respect copyright.PENANAT1W5wgRuLi
"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."44Please respect copyright.PENANAPiVNuRqz5x
44Please respect copyright.PENANAEXp4yrqgWK
"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."44Please respect copyright.PENANAsOw5yy5dcM
44Please respect copyright.PENANA2qm6wCrbSe
"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?"44Please respect copyright.PENANAEX4XSqvPwl
44Please respect copyright.PENANAIAMfNjzL8q
"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."44Please respect copyright.PENANAh4LiqE8ZVR
44Please respect copyright.PENANABkHlkMdutc
"Strategic sense?" Draven's laugh was harsh. "What's strategic about adding dead weight to—"44Please respect copyright.PENANAtgZzz2UyIv
44Please respect copyright.PENANAaKeKFBzoLi
"Vote." Lucien's voice came quietly from his chair, almost resigned. "That's how this works."44Please respect copyright.PENANATvyTkWOXgb
44Please respect copyright.PENANAGo2bGDLNwp
Silence fell as attention turned inward.44Please respect copyright.PENANAdliU06ZSyC
44Please respect copyright.PENANApP82QtuYF1
The older man spoke first. "Kill him. We don't need complications."44Please respect copyright.PENANAgNvRdWfLsu
44Please respect copyright.PENANA7EjyUgfzBF
The red-haired woman's voice came sharp and immediate. "Agreed."44Please respect copyright.PENANAtMyFYSydeb
44Please respect copyright.PENANA49ulRV6CTD
Draven's grin widened. "Obviously kill him."44Please respect copyright.PENANAilmGrz0qHh
44Please respect copyright.PENANA2kZgHgXqVh
The still woman with blond hair simply nodded once.44Please respect copyright.PENANAkO1VuN0jgV
44Please respect copyright.PENANAV42S2gB5yg
Four votes to kill.44Please respect copyright.PENANAcg2MYYCqjp
44Please respect copyright.PENANAn7WTTfiuBW
"He should join." Esrin's statement was flat. Final.44Please respect copyright.PENANAtZZ3RH8B0T
44Please respect copyright.PENANAqBkS0c4YjP
"Agreed," Lucien said quietly, dark green eyes tracking between Cel and the others.44Please respect copyright.PENANAyETga706Ti
44Please respect copyright.PENANAkMcmYrRqMP
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."44Please respect copyright.PENANAQGoW3i4mtv
44Please respect copyright.PENANATj8XnpTs17
The small girl's feet swung once. "I think he should join! Anyone who makes Draven this annoyed can't be all bad!"44Please respect copyright.PENANAv9nhOLh2oL
44Please respect copyright.PENANAc2iS0lpZZ6
Four votes each way.44Please respect copyright.PENANAFiGanUg5sk
44Please respect copyright.PENANAkcKp1NMVFc
The central figure remained silent, his gaze tracking between Cel and the others with careful assessment.44Please respect copyright.PENANA7iN2bTUYpc
44Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7BZmWLiUf
The silence stretched.44Please respect copyright.PENANAzGrbHJCmIR
44Please respect copyright.PENANA9fH7jVKGuq
"Four to four," Draven said quietly. "Which means Veyron decides. And we all know he's practical."44Please respect copyright.PENANAAMnydRsNh6
44Please respect copyright.PENANADVunbA6uR4
He moved.44Please respect copyright.PENANAXQ5o8YYf2r
44Please respect copyright.PENANAxpGaeSurTD
"So why don't we skip the formality and I'll just kill the boy now?"44Please respect copyright.PENANAMBjT55taQa
44Please respect copyright.PENANAma6X7HqVd5
Esrin blocked his path.44Please respect copyright.PENANAaLkoNZbe3M
44Please respect copyright.PENANAXK0hulEoI6
"Touch him, and you'll lose your hand."44Please respect copyright.PENANAwfzmwN6OoY
44Please respect copyright.PENANAMjLAl0TdeW
Draven laughed, genuinely delighted. "Should I test that?"44Please respect copyright.PENANAYCAFJn89Gy
44Please respect copyright.PENANAd3hDmdMR53
The temperature dropped.44Please respect copyright.PENANAIRak53pII2
44Please respect copyright.PENANAnagpbgeMJS
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.44Please respect copyright.PENANA3yn4F433AY
44Please respect copyright.PENANA6oZMNRTrXw
"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."44Please respect copyright.PENANAyoW5Bru1mx
44Please respect copyright.PENANArHs9HdyCNR
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."44Please respect copyright.PENANA1TVmUoD9AL
44Please respect copyright.PENANADAIZqxbu11
The manor groaned.44Please respect copyright.PENANAm7JlbG0SzS
44Please respect copyright.PENANAzYt4IwDEJx
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.44Please respect copyright.PENANAnPLgI3OSnq
44Please respect copyright.PENANAOryOZ8fEwP
"Enough."44Please respect copyright.PENANApDbyFTuRtX
44Please respect copyright.PENANAPbrM69gmqc
The older man's voice cut through the pressure - rough, worn, but carrying the weight of someone who'd survived worse than this.44Please respect copyright.PENANAlgXT59NJxf
44Please respect copyright.PENANANAPn13Fvqi
He hadn't moved from his position against the wall, but his weathered face held no fear. Just tired disgust.44Please respect copyright.PENANARiQdtaa3Z3
44Please respect copyright.PENANADoHLbmNQiA
"This is why we vote," he said flatly. "To avoid this." His gaze tracked between them. "So let Veyron decide."44Please respect copyright.PENANANFrddn18zT
44Please respect copyright.PENANACWPmQ98Eus
The pressure didn't dissipate immediately.44Please respect copyright.PENANA2jVSP9S2et
44Please respect copyright.PENANAQbZhJkX39e
Esrin and Draven remained locked in their standoff, lightning and gold still blazing around them.44Please respect copyright.PENANA1P0MV8ndmh
44Please respect copyright.PENANA1VKHjPl3WP
Then Esrin's energy pulled back. Not slowly - just gone, as if someone had closed a door.44Please respect copyright.PENANAv8fuXOhUyo
44Please respect copyright.PENANAEGmxsWYt2j
Draven held his power for a heartbeat longer, eyes studying her. Then the golden glow faded, leaving only the man beneath.44Please respect copyright.PENANATgOfJPKC55
44Please respect copyright.PENANAVxXuOeH7EE
His grin returned, casual and mocking. "How disappointing."44Please respect copyright.PENANAE1WbsqBPbn
44Please respect copyright.PENANADKJEXu8EyP
He turned away without another word, moving back to his position near the window.44Please respect copyright.PENANAXktO142hoS
44Please respect copyright.PENANAOpIxlX0gMb
The cracks in the floor remained. Evidence of how close they'd come.44Please respect copyright.PENANAGJy51t81M7
44Please respect copyright.PENANAfgFGkyFIgr
Cel's pulse hammered in his throat. His hand trembled slightly as it dropped from tension.44Please respect copyright.PENANAD1aZgkB6W9
44Please respect copyright.PENANAXFMCwTgEJw
The central figure - Veyron - had watched the entire exchange without moving. Now his gaze settled on Cel with renewed assessment.44Please respect copyright.PENANA9RjsWhfmoT
44Please respect copyright.PENANA81mFlwXasi
Cel's throat worked. Words formed before conscious thought caught up.44Please respect copyright.PENANA8cNWJ5a28L
44Please respect copyright.PENANAa5VOPvOXLw
"My priestess is a Divine Oracle."44Please respect copyright.PENANA6PxWE4T5hc
44Please respect copyright.PENANAmzm7HMdXzL
The statement landed like a stone into still water.44Please respect copyright.PENANA7dPiZOXNiU
44Please respect copyright.PENANAGYlNHH2KlO
Draven's laugh came immediately. "Of course she is. And I'm secretly the Mountain God in disguise."44Please respect copyright.PENANAotNdorFFtV
44Please respect copyright.PENANAUhs9a33gEc
But Veyron had gone still.44Please respect copyright.PENANA98EP3jsakI
44Please respect copyright.PENANAT6qlEFCnFd
Not frozen. Just... perfectly motionless. His attention fixed on Cel with sudden, sharp intensity.44Please respect copyright.PENANAjGIJnMKZQc
44Please respect copyright.PENANAB5eTdyb1Yh
"Describe her." The command came quiet but absolute.44Please respect copyright.PENANAdKbyNs2Yoq
44Please respect copyright.PENANARQTlgE2pXF
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."44Please respect copyright.PENANAlXruRloTXG
44Please respect copyright.PENANAqbXod9b4WD
Silence answered him.44Please respect copyright.PENANAcRZ6wytSnM
44Please respect copyright.PENANAr7mR8iBPQe
Veyron studied him for what felt like eternity.44Please respect copyright.PENANAWcHN7MWwBu
44Please respect copyright.PENANAGTYhkWbR5g
Then his lips curved - not quite a smile, but close. 44Please respect copyright.PENANAXpXOzBgmQT
44Please respect copyright.PENANATzhaYxm3zG
"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
-
Sponsor
-
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 40
BOOKMARKS 0
campaign
Request update 0
Sponsor
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: Mar 21, 2026
Total word count: 97,419
Total reading time: 451 Minutes
Writer:
fantasy
horror
dark
mystery
tragedy
demons
darkfantasy
betrayal
psychological
revenge
monsters
gods
fantasyrealm
survival
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.

