Night at the Moon Terrace

Night at the Moon Terrace
\- Lyra's POV - 
Damn, I couldn't sleep. I had been lying in bed for hours, staring at the ceiling, waiting for sleep to come, but it never did. My thoughts wouldn't stop running. It was almost midnight, yet my mind refused to rest.
I turned on my side and groaned softly. "Ugh, this is useless."
I sat up, rubbing my tired eyes. My chest felt heavy again, like something was pressing on it. Prince Maximus will be marrying a noble lady. They fit together, I knew that. He was powerful, handsome, respected, and... Lady Veyra, even though I haven't met her yet, I knew she was everything a royal woman should be.
So why did my heart ache every time I thought about it?
I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to stop the strange pain. "This is crazy," I whispered to myself. "I shouldn't feel like this."
I let out a long sigh and stood up. Maybe thinking too much was making me insane. I needed to gather my thoughts and focus.
I went to the small table in the corner of my room where the candle still flickered weakly. The book about the Moon Goddess lay there, closed but heavy with meaning. I touched it lightly, remembering everything I had read.
If my mother was truly the Moon Goddess, then what did that make me? I wanted to believe it, but at the same time, I couldn't. It sounded too impossible. But if I didn't believe something or anything, then who was I?
Nothing made sense.
I took a deep breath. "But one thing is certain," I said softly, "she keeps talking to me... through dreams."
I sat down again, folding my hands together.
The first time she spoke to me, I was in the dungeon. She showed me something that looked like the end of the world. Fire, blood, and shadows covering everything. And then, I heard her voice saying words I could never forget.
"The world will change. The shadows will come for everything. For everyone."
Even now, repeating those words made my skin crawl.
"Shadows will come..." I whispered. "Was that the reason for the destruction she showed me?"
Then another memory hit me like a wave. Her voice again, calm but filled with pain.
"Lyra, the prophecy... save them before ruins."
I shook my head in disbelief. "Save them? Me? I can't even save myself."
I stood up and started pacing across the small room. "I'm not strong. I don't even know if I'm truly fourteen. How could I save the world?"
My chest started to tighten again. My heart raced as I remembered one last thing she said.
"Little child, little curse. They will come for you."
Those words made my stomach turn. "Am I... cursed?"
I looked down at my hands, half-expecting to see something strange glowing again, but they were just my hands. Still, my heart pounded in fear.
Was this the reason I was brought here? Why I had no memories? Why I was separated from my mother?
I sat back down, trying to piece everything together. Every dream. Every word. Every feeling. But the more I thought, the less sense it made.
"They will come to hunt me," I whispered. "But who are they?"
Silence filled the room again, and I found myself trembling slightly.
Then I remembered her last words.
"Stay with him."
I frowned. "Him... who?"
Who was she talking about? The words sounded as if that person was already close to me. But why would she want me to stay with him? Did he hold the answers to my past? Could he help me remember who I am?
"Ugh! I'm losing my mind," I groaned. I grabbed my shawl and threw it over my shoulders. Maybe I just needed fresh air before I completely went insane.
When I stepped outside, the hallway was quiet and cold. My bare feet made soft sounds against the stone floor. The candles along the walls flickered weakly, making long shadows dance around me.
I walked slowly, trying to calm down, but every step made me feel even more awake. A sudden chill ran down my arms and I rubbed them to keep warm. For a moment, I thought about going back to my room, but when I turned around, I realized I had already gone far.
"Too late now," I muttered under my breath. "I might as well find a peaceful spot."
Then I remembered something... the Moon Terrace. It was a place at the top of the castle, open to the night sky. I had seen it once while cleaning during the day. The Edna said both servants and royals sometimes went there when they needed to think. It was quiet and beautiful, especially at night.
Without thinking further, I headed there.
The climb up the stairs was long, but when I reached the top and pushed open the heavy door, a rush of cool air greeted me. The scent of rain and lily filled the air. Why... does it smell familiar?
The terrace stretched wide, surrounded by stone railings carved with symbols of wolves and moons. The view was breathtaking... the moon hung large and silver above the forest, painting everything in soft light.
I walked closer to the edge, hugging my shawl tightly. "This is perfect," I whispered.
I took a deep breath as my eyes roamed over the wide view of the castle and the forest beyond the night sky that seemed endless, yet heavy.
I heaved a deep sigh, my thoughts returned again... always the same ones that wouldn't leave me alone.
Prince Maximus... But, why did I feel so connected to him? The strange pull inside my chest when he was near... it was confusing.
I whispered softly to myself, “A thread binding us… why was I bound to him?”
My chest tightened as I looked up at the glowing moon above. “He’s a very respected man. Why would fate tie someone like him to someone like me?”
“It is not wise to speak of threads you do not understand.”
The sudden cold voice behind me froze my blood. My heart leaped in shock, pounding so hard I could almost hear it echo in my ears.
Who… who was that!?
My breath caught as I slowly turned with fear crawling up my spine.