An illusionary sky spread wide above Aurelia's head.
Flames blazed across every corner of the battlefield created by the Circle of Judgment. The smell of blood, dust, and iron felt so real, as if it were not merely a vision.
Before her, two futures stood side by side.
On the left
A cold version of herself.
An absolute ruler.
Standing atop a pile of corpses.
Her eyes glowed gold, yet without warmth.
Without hesitation.
Without mercy.
On the right.
Another version of herself.
Still strong.
Still radiant.
Yet standing among the other wolves.
Not above them.
But with them.
Leading, not ruling.
In the real hall, Kael crossed his arms.
His smile was faint.
"Two paths."
Ragnar laughed softly.
"One is quick… the other is hard."
Orion stared at Aurelia without blinking.
"And both have consequences."
Inside the circle.
Aurelia stepped forward slowly.
Her eyes shifted between the two versions.
She could feel the power from each choice.
The first.
Absolute power.
No one could oppose.
No one dared to fight back.
All bowed down.
All obeyed.
Yet.
She also felt the silence.
The emptiness.
No trust.
No bonds.
Only fear.
She turned to the other side.
The second path.
Power that remained great.
Yet not standing alone.
There was trust.
There was loyalty.
There were bonds.
Yet.
That path was more dangerous.
Because trust could be betrayed.
Loyalty could waver.
And bonds could break.
Ragnar grinned.
"Come, Luna…"
He murmured softly.
"Choose your path."
Kael added in a casual tone,
"The circle will not wait forever."
Orion remained silent.
Yet his eyes were sharp, watching every small change in Aurelia's expression.
Inside the circle.
Aurelia closed her eyes.
Voices from the past began to surface.
Shouts.
Insults.
Mocking laughter.
The day she was rejected.
The day she was betrayed.
The day she stood alone.
All of it came back.
But this time—
She did not falter.
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
The golden light in her irises glowed softer.
More steady.
"I have seen that path."
She spoke softly.
Her gaze turned to the version of herself standing atop the corpses.
"I know what it feels like to be alone."
She took a slow breath.
"And I will not go back there."
The cold version smiled faintly.
As if challenging her.
But Aurelia was not affected.
She stepped toward the other side.
Toward the version of herself standing with the wolves.
But before she could truly reach that side.
The circle reacted.
Energy suddenly shook violently.
BOOM.
The illusionary ground cracked.
The flames around them blazed higher.
A rumbling sound echoed from the sky.
Orion narrowed his eyes slightly.
"The circle is pressing down."
Kael smiled.
"Of course."
Ragnar let out a small laugh.
"The hard path is never free."
Inside the circle—
Aurelia paused for a moment.
A great pressure suddenly bore down on her body.
As if something was trying to force her to turn back.
To choose the easier path.
The cold version raised her hand.
Dark energy spread from her body.
"Why do you choose the hard path?"
Her voice was cold.
"With your power, you could have everything."
She stepped closer.
"No one would betray you."
"No one would hurt you again."
Aurelia stared at her.
Calmly.
"And no one would truly be by my side."
She replied softly.
That version narrowed her eyes.
"Loyalty is an illusion."
Aurelia shook her head.
"No."
She spoke softly.
"Loyalty is a choice."
The pressure from the circle grew stronger.
But Aurelia's steps did not stop.
She moved forward again.
One step.
Two steps.
Golden energy in her body began to push back against the pressure.
Lunar light spread wider.
Kael tilted his head.
"She rejects the path of domination."
Ragnar grinned.
"And chooses the more painful one."
Orion spoke softly,
"The path of a true leader."
Inside the circle—
The cold version tried to block her again.
But this time—
Aurelia did not stop.
She stepped through the shadow.
CRACK.
The cold version's body cracked.
And in one moment.
Shattered into shards of light.
The illusionary sky trembled.
The flames began to die down.
The battlefield slowly faded away.
Aurelia finally stood on the side of the second choice.
Among the wolves.
Not above them.
Light from the circle burst bright.
BOOOOM.
Ancient energy filled the entire hall.
The symbol on the floor glowed brighter than ever before.
Then—
Slowly dimmed.
Silence fell.
The circle grew calm again.
The trial was over.
Aurelia stood in the center of the circle.
Her breathing was steady.
Her eyes still glowed gold.
But this time.
Something was different.
The power felt more whole.
More harmonious.
More… mature.
Kael clapped slowly.
"Impressive."
Ragnar laughed loudly.
"HA! I like it!"
Orion walked closer.
His gaze was different now.
Deeper.
More respectful.
"The circle has given its verdict."
He spoke softly.
"And we accept it."
Aurelia looked at them.
"So?"
Kael smiled.
"Congratulations, Luna."
He crossed his arms.
"You passed."
Ragnar added in a heavy voice,
"And that's not all."
He stared at Aurelia with a wide grin.
"You proved yourself."
Orion spoke softly,
"As a worthy leader."
A brief silence followed.
Then Kael stepped closer.
"Now…"
His eyes narrowed.
"We can speak as allies."
Aurelia stared at them without flinching.
"An alliance is not just about words."
She said calmly.
"It's about trust."
Ragnar nodded.
"True."
Kael smiled faintly.
"And trust… is built over time."
Orion added,
"But tonight is the beginning."
Aurelia took a slow breath.
She could feel something had changed.
Not only within herself.
But also in the relationship between her and Shadowlands.
But before the conversation could continue.
Suddenly.
A powerful tremor shook the entire hall.
BOOOOM.
Stone pillars trembled.
Blue flames flickered wildly.
Kael immediately turned toward the great hall doors.
His smile vanished.
"So… they've finally come."
Ragnar grinned widely.
"I've been waiting for this."
Orion stared sharply toward the outside.
"The outer gate has been breached."
Aurelia narrowed her eyes.
"Who?"
A moment of silence.
Then Kael replied in a cold voice.
"Old enemies who should have stayed buried."
And outside the palace.
The sky of Shadowlands split with flashes of dark energy.
Silhouettes of strange creatures began to emerge from behind the mist.
The war that had until now been no more than a shadow.
Had truly arrived.