Chapter 37

The night's challenges continued, with more fighters stepping into the arena ring to prove their worth.

Steffan watched with a sense of fulfilment and pride, knowing that he had taken another step on his journey. The crowd's energy and keenness remained undiminished, a testament to the enduring traditions of Moonshadow.

As the night withered and the moon reached its zenith, the arena's festivities continued.

However, the shadowy figure who had staged the earlier disturbance remained concealed, their motives and intentions were a source of intrigue.

Brown, the tech guy, also proved him worthy. He won against his opponent with his high skills in technology.

* * *

The revelation of Diana's unique abilities had left both her and Luka with a high burning curiosity.

They couldn't ignore the truth any longer, Diana was not an ordinary human. It was time to embark on a quest to uncover the secrets of her past, starting with the identity of her parents.

Luka had just woken up again, feeling a lot better than he was before. Diana and Logan had just returned and he left his quarters to meet them.

Thereafter, Luka and Diana sat in a dimly lit room. Inside another building that was built on its own, but still in the same compound, poring over old records and documents, they laid their hands on.

Luka had gathered everything he could find about Diana's background, and together, they bore the fragmented puzzle of her life.

Diana traced her fingers over the faded photograph of a couple holding a baby and three other people. It was the same picture brought from the packing.

"This is all I have of them, a photo. I don't even know their names except my parents." Diana said, handing over the photograph to Luka.

"We shall start with this photo. It might lead us to something. We could start by knowing these other people, probably they are still alive." Luka nodded, his expression serious.

"Why are you just knowing about this photo?" Luka asked, his expression curious. "I can't remember but I think I have seen it before while I was young before my parents died."

Diana continued, "After I returned to that house, I have always had the opportunity to use only my room. I don't have the keys to the other rooms, and it was best for me because I do not want to keep remembering my parents if I start digging."

"And here you are digging." Luka chuckled.

"That's because you guys believe I possess some powerful abilities." Diana shrugged.

With a loud smile, Luka said. "Are you for real? Let's just return to our rooms then, and forget you have any power."

Luka made his move to leave when Diana held his hand and pulled him back into his seat.

"Where do you think you are going?" still holding him.

"To get a nice sleep of course. We are done for the day." Luka said, trying to act serious and determined.

"Again? You think I don't know you went back to bed by the time we left this morning." Diana's eyes locked on him.

"Is that how you are going to plead for me to stay?" He tried to stand and leave but Diana wouldn't release her grip.

"You know I could just command you with my powers, don't try me." She warned jokingly.

With pleading eyes, "Please I would like to see that happen. A girl commanding an alpha." he said, and laughed.

"Am I the girl you are referring to?" Diana fumed and took a glass of wine. Making it seem she wanted to call her nerves.

"Of course, you are the one." Luka nodded and folded his arms.

"Oh watch what a girl can do with or without her powers." She raised her hands and flung them in a manner that commands movements.

Luka playfully responded to it, he stood up and started turning at the spot adding some funny attitude that made it look real.

"I…. I….. Please, powerful girl." Luka begged, still in his act.

"Say it louder and clearer. Do you wish for your Lady?" Diana asked him.

He nodded in agreement. "Oh! Yes, my lady. I am sorry." he still smiled.

Diana stopped and Luka did the same, she couldn't stop laughing at the scene they just created. "Better, he apologised."

"You are funny, Dee. Thank you for making me laugh, it's been a while since I had a moment like this." Luka faced her and said.

Both of them were back in their seats. Diana replied to him, "Then, you should pay me to have more." she raised her brow waiting for his reply.

"I would rather force you to if I have the chance," Luka said and reached for the photo again.

"Well, it occurs that you do not have the chance." Diana continued, her voice sounding serious and curious. "I was meaning to ask you, why did you leave during dinner the previous night?"

Luka hesitated, trying to find the best way to explain to her. "Oh that, I was just feeling a bit nauseous and tired yesterday. It must be the stress from our mission."

Luka continued, "I thought it was best I leave to rest very well before I bore you to death with my mood."

Diana who had been listening keenly, her back resting on the chair. "You could have just explained to me. How do you feel now, better I guess?"

Luka nodded, "I feel much better, thanks Diana. I can't tell you because I don't want to appear weak before you." he added.

"Look at you, you don't seem weak to me." Diana said, a hint of truth in her voice.

Luka gazed at her and beamed. "Ok, let's focus on what we have now."

Luka took the photo and continued to inspect the old photograph, he couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to it.

So, he had turned it over once again and found out something that had previously dodged their notice.

At the back of the photo, there was writing and an arrow drawn with precision. The words simply read, "this way."

Instantly, he became curious and he turned to Diana, inquiring about the discovery.

Diana was quick to respond, "Logan found it while I was in my own room packing my stuff. According to him, it was hidden in plain sight."

"Ok, You," he pointed to a guard. "Get me Logan now." he commanded and the guard hurriedly left.

Determined to uncover the meaning behind the cryptic message, Logan arrived and the three of them decided to return to the house where the photograph had been taken.

They followed Logan's lead as he directed them to the specific location where the picture had been captured.

The old room they entered was a shadowy one filled with remnants of a bygone era.

Dust-covered furniture and faded-away tapestries decorated the room, casting an air of recollections over the space.

Also, it had an antique, almost haunting quality to it, as if the past loitered in every corner.

Luka turned to Logan and instructed, "Position everything exactly the way you saw it when you took the photograph."

Logan nodded and began to rearrange the items in the room, carefully matching the placement as closely as possible to the original scene.

Once he had completed the task, they turned their attention to the mysterious arrow, which pointed to a section of the room.

Their eyes followed the direction of the arrow, which led them to an ordinary wall.

At first glance, nothing appeared out of the ordinary, but Luka couldn't ignore the feeling that they were on the verge of discovering something significant.

With their heads inclined to the side, they examined the wall, scrutinizing it for any hidden clues.

It was Diana who noticed something peculiar, a faint drawing in the shape of a circle. The importance of the circular drawing eluded them, and they exchanged perplexed glances.

Luka mulled over their findings, and then he instructed, "We need to search the entire room for anything circular or related to the circle. There must be a clue here somewhere."

Together they swam into action, they began to comb through the room, inspecting every item in search of something that might provide a solution to the unknown.

Minutes turned into hours as they meticulously examined each object, and their determination drove them forward.

As Diana moved a piece of furniture aside, she found a circular bag. The bag was a peculiar shade of moonlight silver, and its shape bore a striking resemblance to the circle in the drawing.

"Luka!" Diana called out. "I think I have found something."

Immediately, Luka moved closer. "What have you found?" he asked.

Diana showed Luka and he carefully picked up the bag, his fingers grazing its textile. He felt a subtle vibration coming from within as if there was something hidden inside. With a mixture of curiosity and caution, he unzipped the bag.

However, before he could reveal its contents, both Logan and Luka's watches began to beep simultaneously.

The synchronized sound captured their attention, and they exchanged disturbed glances. It was as if the watches were reacting to the bag and whatever lay within.

Diana inquired, "What do you think it means?"

Luka, still holding the bag, speculated, "I am not sure, but it might be a signal. Perhaps it is alerting us to something out there, and we need to find out."

With that, they rushed out of the house and locked the door.