Chapter 125 Secrets of the Goddess

Chapter 125 Secrets of the Goddess
POV: Luna

I fell asleep almost instantly, too exhausted to even change out of my clothes.
The otherworld materialized around me slowly, different than before.
This wasn't the familiar clearing where I usually met Miguel. This was somewhere else entirely.
A temple made of moonlight and silver, stretching endlessly in all directions. The floor beneath my feet rippled like water but held my weight.
"Luna Eclipse."
The voice came from everywhere and nowhere at once.
I turned and saw her.
The goddess.
She was beautiful in a way that hurt to look at directly. Silver hair that moved like it was underwater, eyes that shifted between blue and gold, skin that seemed to glow from within.
"You're real," I breathed.
"As real as anything in this realm." She moved closer, her presence overwhelming. "We need to talk, child."
"About what?"
"About the role you were born to play. About the bonds you've formed. About the threat you now face."
She gestured and suddenly we were sitting. The temple shifted around us, creating chairs and a table that hadn't been there before.
"I don't understand," I said. "You've been silent for so long. Why appear now?"
"Because the balance is shifting faster than anticipated. Malachar's escape from your banishment will happen within days, not weeks. And when he returns, he'll be stronger."
My stomach dropped. "Days?"
"He's been preparing for centuries, Luna. A temporary setback won't stop him."
"Then why not help me? Why make me figure everything out on my own?"
The goddess smiled sadly. "Because I cannot interfere directly. The rules that govern this realm forbid it. I can guide. I can warn. But I cannot act."
"That's convenient."
"It's frustrating. For both of us." She leaned forward. "But I can tell you what you need to know. Starting with your purpose."
"I'm supposed to guard the seal. Keep it closed."
"That's part of it. But not all." The goddess waved her hand and an image appeared above the table. The sealed door from my earlier visit. "Eclipse wolves were created to maintain balance between the living world and the magical realm. The seal isn't just a door. It's a pressure valve."
"I don't understand."
"Magic builds up on the other side. Ancient, powerful, chaotic magic. If it's never released, it becomes unstable. Eventually, it would explode through the seal regardless of how strong the lock."
"So the seal needs to open sometimes?"
"Controlled releases. Small amounts of power, carefully channeled. That's what your ancestors did. They would open the seal just enough to let pressure escape, then close it again."
"But if Malachar opens it fully—"
"All that built-up magic releases at once. Uncontrolled. Devastating." The goddess's expression was grave. "Your world would be consumed by magical chaos. Reality itself would become unstable."
I felt sick. "So how do I stop him?"
"You need to understand your mark's true purpose." She reached out and touched my wrist. Her fingers were warm, electric.
My mark blazed with light.
"Your mark doesn't just anchor Miguel's essence. It's designed to anchor multiple connections. Allies. Friends. Pack members."
"The bonds I formed," I realized.
"Yes. But you did it instinctively, without proper training. The bonds are unstable."
"Are my friends in danger?"
"Not immediately. But when you use significant power, the bonds will strain. You could hurt them accidentally."
"Then how do I stabilize them?"
"Training. Practice. Learning to control the flow of energy between you." The goddess released my wrist. "But more importantly, you need to understand that these bonds are your greatest strength. Malachar seeks to sever them. Isolate you. Make you weak."
"Why?"
"Because a lone Eclipse wolf can be manipulated. Tempted. Broken. But one with strong bonds to the living world? One who fights for others rather than herself? That wolf is nearly unbreakable."
I thought about my friends. About Cole. About everyone at Silverwood who depended on me.
"So the bonds aren't just about power," I said slowly. "They're about having something worth fighting for."
"Exactly." The goddess smiled. "You understand faster than your ancestors did."
"What happened to them? The other Eclipse wolves?"
"They were isolated. Hunted. Killed one by one." Her expression darkened. "Malachar and others like him made sure Eclipse wolves couldn't form lasting bonds. Couldn't build support networks. It made them easier to eliminate."
"But I'm different."
"You're the first in generations to attend a school like Silverwood. To make real friends. To fall in love." She gestured to my mark. "Miguel's sacrifice created a template. Showed you that anchoring essence could work. And you expanded on it brilliantly with your pack bonds."
"Miguel knew this would happen?"
"Perhaps not consciously. But souls often understand truths that minds don't."
I felt tears building. "Is he really gone? Or is there a way—"
"There's always a way, child. But the cost would be too high." The goddess's voice was gentle but firm. "Miguel's essence is woven into your power now. Bringing him back fully would require unraveling that connection. And doing so would destroy the stability you've built."
"So I just accept that he's gone forever?"
"He's not gone. He's transformed. Part of something greater." She touched my mark again. "Every time you use your power, he's there. Supporting you. Loving you. That's not nothing."
"It's not the same as having him here."
"No. But it's what you have. And it's enough."
I wanted to argue. Wanted to find a loophole.
But deep down, I knew she was right.
"What about Cole?" I asked. "And the others? Are those bonds permanent?"
"They can be. If you nurture them. Or you can let them fade over time if that's what everyone wants."
"I don't want them to fade."
"Good. Because you'll need them for what's coming."
The temple around us started to flicker.
"Wait," I said. "You said Malachar will escape in days. What's his plan? How do I stop him?"
"He'll attack Silverwood directly. Try to breach the wards and capture you physically." The goddess was already fading. "When he does, you must not let him separate you from your anchored pack. Together, you're strong enough to resist him. Alone, you'll fail."
"Is there anything else? Any other weakness I can exploit?"
"His obsession is his weakness. He's so focused on the seal, on immortality, that he's blind to alternatives. Use that."
"How?"
But she was gone.
The temple dissolved.
I woke up gasping, sitting straight up in bed.
Nova was instantly awake. "Luna? What's wrong?"
"The goddess. She appeared in my dream. Told me about the bonds, about Malachar's plan."
"What did she say?"
I told her everything. The purpose of Eclipse wolves, the pressure valve concept, Malachar's incoming attack.
Nova's expression grew more worried with each word.
"Days," she said when I finished. "We have days to prepare?"
"At most."
"Then we need to tell the others. And the Headmaster."
She was right.
We got dressed quickly and headed out. It was still early, the sun barely rising, but this couldn't wait.
Cole was already awake, waiting outside my door. The bond must have alerted him that I was distressed.
"What happened?" he asked immediately.
"Goddess visit. We need to gather everyone."
Within an hour, my entire anchored pack was assembled in a study room, along with the Headmaster, Professor Cael, and Professor Thorne.
I explained everything the goddess had told me.
When I finished, the Headmaster looked grim. "An attack within days. We need to fortify the wards immediately."
"The wards won't hold him," I said. "Not for long. He's been planning this for too long."
"Then what do you suggest?" Professor Thorne asked.
"We prepare to fight. Train specifically for defending against his magic."
"And how do we do that when we don't know exactly what he's capable of?" Aria asked.
"We know he uses dark magic. Shadow manipulation. Binding spells." I looked at Sienna. "Can you research counter-spells? Things that might disrupt his magic?"
"I can try. But it'll take time."
"We don't have time," Cole said. "We have days at most."
"Then we use what we know," I said. "Light magic disrupts his shadows. Eclipse power can banish him. And pack bonds make me stronger."
"So we fight together," Nova said. "As a pack."
"Exactly."
The Headmaster nodded slowly. "Very well. I'll put the Academy on high alert. All students will be trained in basic defensive magic. Faculty will prepare emergency evacuation protocols."
"And us?" Lyric asked.
"You train. Hard. Every waking moment." Professor Cael's expression was serious. "Luna, we need to stabilize those pack bonds. Make them strong enough to withstand Malachar's attacks."
"How?"
"Combat training. Together. The bonds strengthen through shared experiences. Especially high-stress situations."
"So we beat each other up until our magic connection is stronger?" Aria asked.
"Essentially. Yes."
Great. More pain.
We spent the rest of the day training.
Professor Cael led us through exercises designed to test the pack bonds. We'd split up, each fighting multiple opponents, while trying to maintain our connection to each other through the chaos.
It was exhausting.
Every time I drew on someone's energy, I felt their emotions, their pain, their determination. It was overwhelming and incredible at the same time.
Cole was a steady presence, always there when I needed support.
Nova was fierce, her wolf energy wild and protective.
Aria was strategic, her thoughts sharp and focused.
Sienna was calm, her magic a soothing counterpoint to the combat.
Lyric was quick, her wit keeping everyone's spirits up even when we were exhausted.
By evening, we were all covered in bruises but the bonds felt stronger. More stable.
"Good work," Professor Cael said. "The connections are solidifying. Keep practicing and they'll hold even under extreme stress."
We collapsed in the common room after dinner.
"I can't feel my legs," Lyric groaned.
"I can't feel anything," Nova added.
Cole sat beside me, close enough that our shoulders touched. "How are you holding up?"
"Scared," I admitted. "The goddess made it sound like everything depends on these bonds holding. What if they don't? What if I mess up and get everyone hurt?"
"You won't."
"You don't know that."
"Yes, I do." He took my hand. "Because you've never given up on anything. Not when Miguel died. Not when Morgana tried to steal your power. Not when Malachar tried to manipulate you."
"Those were different."
"How?"
"I was only risking myself. Now I'm risking all of you."
"We chose this, Luna." Nova sat up. "We all felt you reach out during the dining hall attack. We could have refused the bond. But we didn't."
"Because you didn't have time to think about it."
"Because we trust you," Aria corrected. "We've been fighting beside you all year. We know what you're capable of. And we know you'd never intentionally hurt us."
"But what if I accidentally—"
"Then we deal with it," Sienna interrupted. "Together. That's what packs do."
I felt tears building. "I don't deserve you guys."
"Shut up," Lyric said. "You absolutely do. Now stop being mushy and help me figure out how to hack Malachar's magic."
"You can't hack magic."
"Watch me."
Despite everything, I laughed.
We spent the next hour planning. Strategizing. Preparing for the attack we knew was coming.
When we finally headed to bed, I felt more ready than I had in days.
Not confident. But ready.
Cole walked me to my door.
"Try to sleep," he said. "We'll need our strength."
"I'll try."
He kissed me gently. "I'll be right here if you need me. The bond will tell me if you're in trouble."
"That's still weird."
"Yeah. But also kind of great."
I went inside and found Nova already in bed.
"You and Cole are disgustingly cute," she said.
"Shut up."
"Never."
I changed and climbed into bed.
Sleep came slowly this time, my mind racing with everything that could go wrong.
But eventually, exhaustion won.
I was just drifting off when my mark flared with sudden, sharp pain.
I gasped and sat up, clutching my wrist.
Nova was beside me instantly. "What is it?"
The pack bonds were screaming warnings. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
"The wards," I said. "Someone's breaching the wards."
Then alarms started blaring across campus.
We were out of time.
Malachar was here.