Chapter 227 The Moon Conduit

Chapter 227 The Moon Conduit
Chapter 227

RAVENNA

I thought about the second kidnapping as I walked to training that morning.

Another student gone. Another family destroyed.

And everyone was blaming me.

Torren was waiting for me at the training grounds, sitting with his legs crossed in a circle.

"Join me," he said, gesturing to the spot across from him.

I dropped my bag and sat down, crossing my legs to mirror his position.

"How are you feeling?" Torren asked.

I sighed heavily. "Not fine. I just heard another student was kidnapped from the academy."

Torren was silent for a long moment, his expression thoughtful.

"Take your mind off things like that," he finally said. "It's not your problem."

I wanted to argue, but I kept my mouth shut.

"Today we'll be practicing a very dangerous aspect of your training," Torren continued. "But before we get to that, I need to tell you about large volume healing."

I frowned. "What does that mean?"

"You don't know?" Torren asked.

"Of course I don't know," I replied. "That's why I'm asking."

Torren laughed. "Large volume healing is the healing of very dangerous illnesses or wounds that require all of a MoonWolf carrier's powers to be depleted in healing the person."

He paused. "The purpose is to train the carrier to be strong and able to withstand all kinds of healing situations."

"That's weird," I said.

"Keep quiet and listen," Torren said firmly.

I closed my mouth.

"During this type of healing," Torren continued, "the carrier is expected to draw powers from the moon to aid her in properly healing the wound."

I thought about that for a moment. "Which means for this to happen, the moon has to be in sight."

Torren smiled. "Yes."

I frowned, seeing the obvious problem. "If there was an incident like this dangerous one which needed immediate help, and it happened during the daytime, how would the carrier aid the healing?"

I sighed. "The person would just die. And worse if the person was important."

Torren smiled wider. "You're right. But there's a solution to every problem, and there's one to this."

My eyes perked up. "Really?"

"Yes," Torren said. "Check my bag. There's something inside for you."

I reached for his bag and dipped my hand inside.

My fingers closed around something smooth and cool.

I pulled out a large glass container that seemed to shimmer with its own light.

"What is this?" I asked, staring at it in awe.

"This is a moon conduit glass," Torren explained. "It took your father a lot of effort to get this from the Council."

He paused. "The last carrier used it badly, and it was seized by the Council. Your father had to convince them to release it for your training."

"Wow," I breathed, turning the glass in my hands.

"If moon power is transported into it and sealed," Torren said, "it can be used as a channel to draw moon power anytime the moon is not in sight. It works for cases like the dangerous healing we discussed."

"That's incredible," I eyed the glass in my hand and the power it carried.

Torren chuckled. "Your assignment is to draw enough power from the moon into the conduit, seal it, and hide it away for future use."

"How do I draw it?" I asked.

"Just like you draw from the moon to heal," Torren replied. "Channel the power, but direct it into the glass instead of into a wound."

I nodded and kept the conduit at my side. "Thank you."

"Thank your father for the stress he went through getting it," Torren said. "And I hope you use it in a good way and don't disappoint him."

"I won't," I promised.

Torren's expression grew serious. "Now for the dangerous lesson. You're going to heal me before I die."

I stared at him. "What do you mean?"

"Don't worry," Torren smiled slowly. "You're going to figure it out."

He pulled out a knife I hadn't noticed before. "The moon is still out, so its power is still there."

Then, before I could react, he slit his own throat.

Blood sprayed everywhere, splashing across my face and clothes.

"What the fuck!" I yelled, jumping to my feet.

I started to run for help, but Torren grabbed my ankle.

He was choking, blood pouring from the wound, his eyes already starting to glaze.

He was losing his life right in front of me.

"Fuck you, Torren!" I screamed, dropping to my knees beside him.

I pressed my left hand against the wound, trying to apply pressure to stop the bleeding.

"Calm down," I told myself, my hands shaking violently. "This is the lesson he gave you. You can't fail or he's going to die."

I closed my eyes and felt for Moonlight.

She moved around inside me, agitated by the panic.

I reached beyond her, searching for the moon's power.

"Stupid man, testing the Moon Goddess like this," She hissed out in annoyance.

I felt the gate opening—that connection to the moon that was always there, always waiting.

My hands shook as I directed the light to Torren's neck slowly, carefully.

The wound began healing, the torn flesh knitting back together.

But then I looked up and saw the moon sinking below the horizon.

Panic shot through me. "Hurry up! Come on!"

I pushed harder, drawing more power, my entire body trembling with the effort.

"I'm going to kill Torren if he survives this," I muttered.

As the last sliver of the moon disappeared, the wound finally healed completely.

Torren coughed violently, blood sputtering from his lips.

I kicked him hard in the side. "What was the meaning of that? You could have died!"

Torren smiled up at me, still coughing. "But I didn't die, did I?"

"You're a stupid fool!" I yelled. "Don't ever try that again! I panicked!"

Torren sat up slowly, wiping blood from his mouth. "I knew you were going to do it. And you needed to be trained on this anyway, so I used myself as the test subject."

I looked at him, anger and relief warring inside me.

Then I hugged him tightly.

He sighed and patted my back. "You did well, Ravenna."

I nodded against his shoulder, my hands still shaking.

After a moment, I pulled back, grabbed the moon conduit, and left without another word.



Three days passed since the second kidnapping and my training.

Another package had been received—this time containing the child's severed hands.

I didn't know who was doing this, but it was ruining everything.

I was beginning to hear whispers that the MoonWolf in the supernatural world was bringing bad omens.

With the way things were going, if this kept happening, I was at risk of being openly criticized by the entire community.

My father sat with me in his office, his expression grave.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," he said quietly.

But we both knew it was only a matter of time.

Darius came into my room later that evening, slinging his arm around my waist from behind.

He kissed my neck softly.

I arched into him, some of the tension leaving my body.

He kissed my neck again. "Are you busy?"

"I'm not doing anything," I replied.

"Good," Darius said. "Pack some blankets, a duvet, thick clothes, stockings, and warm shoes. We're going on a short holiday."

I turned in his arms to look at him. "Where are we going?"

"Just do it and stop questioning me," Darius said, smiling.

I smiled back. "I like surprises anyway."

When I came out with my packed bag, Darius was already waiting outside in a coach.

My father was there too, speaking quietly with Darius.

"Protect her," my father said firmly.

"Alw 33ays," Darius promised.

My father turned to me. "Be careful. Both of you."

I nodded and climbed into the coach.

The coachman began driving away, and I settled beside Darius, wondering where he was taking me.