Serenya: The Crimson Moon

Beyond the mortal world lies Caelestia, the celestial realm of the gods. Among the many Moon Goddesses who reside there, only one bears the divine power of the Crimson Moon—Serenya. She is not merely its guardian; she is the reason the Crimson Moon exists. Its crimson light is an extension of her divine essence, carrying her blessing across the world.

The Crimson Moon is believed to grant vitality, strength, prosperity, and fortune to those beneath its light. Mortals, Draconians, creatures, and even beings from beyond the mortal realm have sought its blessing throughout the ages. However, Serenya's sacred duty was never to answer every prayer. Her divine responsibility was specifically to grant strength and vitality to the Draconians, whose traditions and way of life were deeply connected to the Crimson Moon.

The Almighty One was extremely strict about this duty. Serenya was constantly reminded that her power had been entrusted to her for a purpose. If her blessing were guaranteed to beings outside her duty, it could disturb the balance of the world. One individual could gain power beyond their natural limits, kingdoms could rise above others, races could become unbalanced, and conflicts could erupt. The Crimson Moon's blessing was simply too powerful to be given freely.

Her fellow Moon Goddesses understood this and often warned Serenya about her growing fascination with humanity. Humans and Draconians were enemies, yet Serenya found herself constantly watching the human world from Caelestia. She was fascinated by their short lives, their relationships, their creativity, and the way they continued to laugh and love despite knowing that everything they cherished could eventually disappear. Her fellow goddesses repeatedly told her to stop becoming fascinated with humans. Serenya always listened, but she could never quite look away.

Then came Brannan, a human who possessed something almost impossible to obtain—a shard of Lunacryst, a sacred crystal said to be formed from condensed moonlight during the rarest Crimson Moons. Those fortunate enough to possess one could offer it beneath the Crimson Moon and make a wish. Most wished for riches, power, prosperity, or fortune.

Brannan wanted none of those things. His son was dying. The child had grown terribly ill, and despite everything Brannan had tried, his condition continued to worsen. No healer could explain what was happening, and Brannan could do nothing but watch his son slowly fade away.

Desperate, Brannan brought his Lunacryst beneath the Crimson Moon. He placed a single drop of his own blood upon the crystal and prayed. "Goddess of the Crimson Moon... I know I have no right to ask this of you. Please... save my son. Give him the strength to live. Guide him when I cannot."

Serenya heard his prayer and was amazed. In all her ages of witnessing wishes made beneath the Crimson Moon, she had rarely seen someone use something as precious as Lunacryst for another person. Brannan wasn't asking for wealth, power, or status. He wanted nothing for himself. He simply wanted his child to live.

Serenya did not know what was truly wrong with the boy. She only knew that he was dying and that his father was desperate to save him. She knew the laws. She knew the Almighty One's warnings. She knew that her blessing was absolute and that granting it outside her divine responsibility could bring chaos to the world.

But as Serenya watched Brannan kneel beneath her crimson light, she saw no greed or ambition. She saw only a father terrified of losing his child. For the first time, Serenya chose compassion over divine law.

She accepted Brannan's offering.

And she granted his son the blessing of the Crimson Moon.

The child's fading life began to burn with new vitality. The blessing worked. Serenya had saved him.

But the moment she granted that blessing, she crossed a line that could never be undone.

The Almighty One knew.

Serenya was summoned before the celestial authorities and confronted for using her divine power on a human. It did not matter that her intentions were compassionate. Her duty was to the Draconians, and the Crimson Moon's blessing was never meant to be freely granted outside that purpose.

As punishment, Serenya's divine power was taken from her. Her Crimson Goddess essence—the very power responsible for the existence of the Crimson Moon—was sealed inside a mysterious celestial box, separating her from the source of her divinity. The goddess who had once created the Crimson Moon could no longer command it.

But her punishment did not end there.

Serenya was condemned to rebirth as a mortal, her memories and divine identity sealed away. Yet she would not return immediately. Hundreds of years would pass before she would once again walk the mortal world.

During those centuries, kingdoms rose and fell, wars were fought, civilizations changed, and generations came and disappeared. The world Serenya once watched from Caelestia slowly became something entirely different.

Eventually, Serenya was reborn into the mortal world. She was born into a royal bloodline with one blue eye and one golden eye, the latter known as the Draconian Tamer's Eye.

Ironically, her royal ancestors had sworn themselves to be enemies of the Draconians. Yet Serenya herself was born carrying a trait connected to the very beings her bloodline despised.

The Almighty One placed one final condition upon her curse: Only the strongest Draconian can break it.

Among the Draconians, the strongest is known only by a legendary title:

The Silver Monarch.

Serenya does not know who they are. She does not know their name, their face, or where they are. She only knows that somewhere in the world exists the one being capable of breaking the curse placed upon her.

Meanwhile, Serenya lives her new mortal life without remembering the truth. She has forgotten Caelestia, the other Moon Goddesses, her divine identity, and the Crimson Moon. Most importantly, she has forgotten Brannan's prayer.

She does not remember the dying child she once saved. She does not remember the Lunacryst. She does not remember the blessing she gave.

But the Crimson Moon remembers.

The blessing remembers.

And somewhere in the world, hundreds of years after that fateful prayer, the consequences of Serenya's choice continue to unfold.

A goddess who once created the Crimson Moon has lost her divinity. A mortal reborn hundreds of years later carries a forgotten curse. And a blessing given long ago continues to shape a destiny Serenya can no longer remember.

The Crimson Moon is waiting.

And somewhere beneath its crimson light...

the Silver Monarch awaits.