Beneath the Crimson Moon's Kiss

Previously

…Finally, she met my eyes, and in their depths, I saw not just fear, but a flicker of something more. Understanding? Acceptance? Or perhaps, a dawning realization of the true nature of the man she had come to love. “I am alright, Valerius,” she said, her voice trembling, but steady. “The village… we are alright.” A fragile peace settled over me, a quiet relief that warred with the lingering dread. I had protected them. I had protected her. But the crimson moon still hung high in the sky, a constant reminder of the night, of the curse, and of the war that was far from over. The battle was won, but the true fight, the fight for our future, for our fragile peace, had only just begun.