The next morning, golden sunlight slowly pierced through the thick canopy of the Arkhan Forest.
Soft rays of light slipped between the towering trees, illuminating the drifting morning mist that covered the forest floor like a pale silver veil. The cold air of dawn still lingered among the woods, carrying the scent of damp soil, wild flowers, and ancient trees.
Birds chirped peacefully from the branches above, while the distant sound of flowing water echoed gently somewhere deeper within the forest.
Inside the tent, Neya was still asleep.
She lay curled beneath a thick blanket while hugging a small pillow tightly against her chest. Her silver hair was slightly messy, and her peaceful expression made her look far younger and more innocent than she usually appeared during her energetic adventures.
Meanwhile, outside the tent, Keya quietly prepared breakfast near the remains of last night's fire.
A small pot of soup boiled slowly above the flames while several mushrooms and herbs rested beside her on a wooden plate.
But despite the calm morning atmosphere, Keya's thoughts remained restless.
Her eyes stared silently into the fire as the words spoken by the mysterious figure continued echoing inside her mind.
"The child of the Red Moon..."
The memory of the cave abyss still haunted her.
The darkness.
The terrifying laughter.
And those glowing golden eyes.
Keya slowly tightened her grip around the wooden spoon in her hand.
"What does that even mean...?" she whispered softly to herself.
The wind blew gently across the trees.
For a moment, everything seemed peaceful again.
Then suddenly
Crunch...
The sound of footsteps echoed from the bushes nearby.
Keya's sharp senses activated instantly.
She immediately stood up and turned toward the sound with cautious eyes.
"Who's there?!" she shouted firmly.
The forest fell silent for several seconds.
Then, the bushes slowly moved apart.
A small figure gradually emerged from the shadows.
It was an old traveler wearing a worn gray cloak covered in dust from a long journey. His silver hair reached his shoulders, and a long wooden staff rested in his right hand.
Despite his old appearance, his eyes looked unusually calm.
The old man slowly raised both hands peacefully.
"Calm down, young lady," he said gently. "I mean no harm."
Keya did not lower her guard.
Several glowing flower petals quietly formed around her fingers.
"How did you find this place?" she asked coldly.
Their residence was hidden deep inside Arkhan Forest. Very few people could ever find it unless they deliberately searched for it.
The old traveler smiled faintly.
"The forest guided me here."
Keya frowned slightly.
That answer only made him sound even more suspicious.
Before she could question him further, the sound of movement came from inside the tent.
"Mmmh...?"
Neya slowly crawled out while rubbing her sleepy eyes.
Her expression still looked half asleep until she noticed the unfamiliar old man standing nearby.
Immediately, curiosity appeared across her face.
"Who is this old man?" she asked while tilting her head.
The traveler slowly turned his gaze toward the twins.
For several long seconds, he remained silent.
His calm expression gradually changed into something more serious.
Almost surprised.
"Interesting..." he murmured softly.
Keya narrowed her eyes.
"What?"
The old man carefully observed both sisters once more.
The spiritual energy surrounding them was unmistakable.
One possessed the power of flowers.
The other carried the flames of Aureus Ignis.
The old traveler slowly sighed.
"So the prophecy was true after all..."
Both twins exchanged confused looks.
"Prophecy...?" Neya repeated.
The old traveler walked closer toward the fire before carefully sitting down beside it.
The flames reflected softly within his tired old eyes.
For a moment, he simply stared into the fire in silence, as though remembering something from long ago.
Then he finally spoke.
"Long ago... during the era of the first Arkhan War..."
His voice became quieter.
"A prophecy was written about three children."
The atmosphere around the camp suddenly felt heavier.
Even the wind seemed to slow.
Neya quietly sat beside Keya while listening carefully.
The old man continued.
"The child of flowers."
His gaze slowly moved toward Keya.
"The child of flames."
Then toward Neya.
"And the child born beneath the Red Moon."
The forest suddenly felt colder.
Neya instinctively looked toward her sister.
Meanwhile, Keya remained completely silent.
The old traveler's words sounded too specific to be coincidence.
The old man slowly lowered his gaze toward the fire again.
"For centuries, many believed the prophecy was merely a legend."
"But others feared it."
"Especially those who understood what the Red Moon truly meant."
Keya stepped forward slightly.
"What is the Red Moon?" she asked carefully.
The old traveler remained quiet for several moments before answering.
"A symbol of destruction... and rebirth."
His words immediately sent chills through the twins.
"The Red Moon only appears when the fate of Arkhan is about to change."
Neya frowned.
"That still doesn't explain why people are searching for us."
The old man nodded slowly.
"You are connected to the prophecy."
"The flower and the flame."
"Two souls destined to meet the third child."
Neya crossed her arms.
"And who exactly is this third child?"
The old traveler lifted his gaze toward the distant forest.
His expression became unusually serious.
"When those three destinies meet... Arkhan's future will change forever."
The atmosphere instantly fell silent.
Even the birds above stopped singing.
Only the sound of the fire crackling softly remained between them.
Keya could feel her heartbeat slowly becoming heavier.
The mysterious figure from the cave.
The warning about the Red Moon.
And now this prophecy.
Everything felt connected somehow.
But none of it made sense yet.
After several seconds of silence, Keya finally spoke again.
"Who is the child of the Red Moon?"
Her voice sounded calm.
But inside, she feared the answer.
The old traveler slowly stood up while leaning against his wooden staff.
The morning wind gently moved his gray cloak.
He looked toward the deeper parts of Arkhan Forest, as though searching for someone hidden beyond the endless trees.
Then he quietly spoke.
"His name..."
The old man paused briefly.
"Is Red."
The moment those words left his mouth, both sisters froze.
"Red...?" Neya repeated softly.
For some reason, the name itself felt strangely familiar.
The old traveler nodded slowly.
"The child born beneath the Red Moon eclipse."
"The one who will either save Arkhan..."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Or destroy it completely."
The fire crackled loudly between them.
Neya swallowed nervously.
"Wait... how can one person decide the fate of an entire world?"
The old traveler looked toward her calmly.
"Because destiny itself moves around him."
A cold breeze suddenly swept through the forest.
The trees rustled violently for a brief moment.
Keya quietly clenched her fists.
"So the Aurelius Circle is searching for this boy?"
The old traveler nodded once again.
"Yes."
"Because they fear what he may become."
Neya frowned.
"Or maybe they want to use him."
The old traveler did not answer.
But his silence alone was enough confirmation.
The twins exchanged worried looks.
If the Aurelius Circle was truly searching for this Red...
Then whoever he was, he was already in terrible danger.
The old traveler slowly turned away from the fire.
"I should leave now," he said quietly.
Keya immediately stepped forward.
"Wait."
The old man stopped.
"There are still too many things we don't understand," Keya said seriously.
The traveler smiled faintly.
"Some answers can only be found through destiny itself."
"That is something no prophecy can change."
Neya sighed dramatically.
"You old people really love speaking mysteriously."
For the first time that morning, the old man chuckled softly.
"Perhaps."
He slowly began walking away toward the forest.
But before disappearing among the trees, he stopped one final time.
Without turning around, he quietly spoke:
"The Red Moon has already begun to move."
"And soon..."
His voice grew softer beneath the wind.
"All of Arkhan will change forever."
The old traveler then disappeared into the morning mist.
Leaving only silence behind.
Keya and Neya remained standing near the fire, unable to speak for several moments.
The peaceful morning atmosphere from earlier had completely vanished.
Now, only uncertainty remained.
Neya slowly looked toward her sister.
"So... what do we do now?"
Keya stared toward the distant forest where the traveler had disappeared.
Her expression slowly hardened.
"We find Red before the Aurelius Circle does."
Far away, deep within another part of Arkhan Forest...
A young boy with crimson eyes suddenly stopped walking beside a river.
For some unknown reason...
His chest began to ache.