Chapter 6: Chapter 6: The Boy Who Shouldn’t Have Seen

The lake was quiet again.

No Queen.

No glow.

Just still water, pretending nothing happened.

But Luna knew better.

The mark on her chest still burned—not painful, just warm. Like a secret pressed into her skin.

She had made a contract.

With Keolora.

The Water Elemental Queen.

A myth. A story.

Except now it lived inside her.

Luna stood up slowly, legs shaky, breath thin. Her wet dress clung to her skin. She brushed hair from her face and looked up at the sky.

Still blue. Still real.

> Did that really just happen?

She didn’t wait to ask again.

She turned and started walking.

---

Her house sat near the edge of Velmora—far from the others, close to the woods. People avoided it. They always had.

They said she was strange. Cursed. Touched by the moon.

No one came near.

And that was fine.

Luna didn’t need them.

She just needed answers now.

What had Keolora meant?

What “light”?

What “blood”?

Why her?

Her bare feet squished in the wet earth as she moved between trees. Her pendant was still glowing faintly under her collar.

She pulled her cloak tighter and kept walking.

Until—

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Crack.

She froze.

A branch snapped behind her.

She turned.

Nothing.

Another step—

Snap.

She spun around. “Who’s there?!”

Silence.

Then—

A voice. “Wow, you walk really fast for someone who just exploded the lake.”

Luna’s heart dropped. “What?”

And then—

A boy stepped out from behind a tree.

Grinning. Wind-tossed hair. Mud on his boots.

Hands raised like he meant no harm.

“Hey,” he said. “I’m Zeph. And before you throw a tidal wave at me—just know, I’m completely unarmed and very impressed.”

“…Who are you?” Luna asked, backing up.

“Already said—Zeph.” He pointed to himself with both thumbs. “Traveler. Observer. Professional tree-faller.”

“You were spying on me?”

“I was… following the weird storm magic and moonlight flashes,” he said. “Which led me straight to a girl glowing like a forgotten prophecy. So yeah. I got curious.”

Luna’s stomach twisted.

He saw it.

He knows.

“You saw the Queen,” she whispered.

Zeph blinked. “Queen? Oh, no, I just saw you. You were standing in the water like some kind of ancient spirit got bored and decided to look fabulous.”

Luna’s eyes widened. “You can’t tell anyone.”

He raised both hands. “Relax, ocean princess. I’m not stupid.”

She didn’t laugh.

“I mean it,” she said, voice low. “This is dangerous.”

Zeph’s smile faded.

Then he stepped a little closer. “Wait… You’re serious.”

Luna hesitated.

Then slowly pulled the edge of her cloak down.

The mark was still glowing—silver-blue, like moonlight had burned it into her skin.

Zeph’s mouth fell open. “Oh, wow. That’s not a normal blessing.”

“It’s a contract,” Luna said quietly. “With Keolora. The Water Queen.”

Zeph stared.

Then laughed.

Then stopped laughing.

“You’re not joking.”

She shook her head.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay. Uh. Just gonna say what we’re both thinking—this is insane.”

“No one’s supposed to know,” Luna whispered. “I didn’t even think anyone could know.”

Zeph looked around, suddenly more serious.

“You can’t tell anyone, Luna.”

She blinked. “You know my name?”

He smirked. “I’ve got good ears.”

She folded her arms. “Stalker.”

“Technically, hero who saved you from walking home alone through a creepy forest.”

She rolled her eyes.

But then—

He stepped closer again, serious now.

“No one has ever made a real contract with an Elemental King—or Queen. That’s just legend. A bedtime story. People will not take it well.”

“I didn’t ask for it,” she whispered.

Zeph nodded. “Still got it. That makes you a threat. Or a miracle. Or both.”

The wind blew between them.

She looked down. “So what now?”

“You go home,” he said softly. “Act normal. Pretend nothing happened.”

Luna frowned. “And you?”

“I keep my mouth shut. Scout’s honor.”

“You don’t look like a scout.”

He winked. “That’s because I’m not. But I am good at surviving. And if you want to survive… you keep this between us.”

She stared at him.

Then slowly nodded.

“Deal.”

Zeph smiled, held out a hand.

Luna hesitated.

Then shook it.

His grip was warm. Not pushy. Not strange.

Just steady.

“I’ll be around,” he said. “Keeping an eye on you.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re interesting,” he said simply. “And I don’t think you should face what’s coming alone.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What is coming?”

He shrugged.

“Something big. I can feel it in the wind.”

---

To be continued…