The Luna's Second Chance

Chapter 33: The Trials of the Past

**Isla's POV **

The mist curled around Isla's feet as she stood frozen, staring at the figure before her. Her breath hitched as the woman's features came into focus-soft, familiar, and yet distant, like a memory long forgotten.

Her mother.

The woman who had given her life to protect Isla, the one whose bloodline had passed on these strange, dangerous powers. Isla's chest tightened as she took in her mother's expression, a mixture of sadness and resolve.

"Isla," her mother said softly, her voice like a whisper carried on the wind. "You've come far, but this is just the beginning."

Isla swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She had imagined this moment so many times, the moment when she would confront the woman who had sealed her powers, who had died protecting her. And now, here she was, in this strange, ethereal space, facing her mother in a battle for her future.

"Why?" Isla asked, her voice trembling. "Why did you leave me? Why did you seal my powers?"

Her mother's eyes softened with sorrow. "I didn't leave you by choice, Isla. I did what I had to do to protect you. Your power, the power that runs in our bloodline, is a gift but also a curse. You weren't ready to wield it. Not then."

Isla's fists clenched at her sides. "And now? Am I supposed to just unlock this power and suddenly know how to stop all of this?"

Her mother stepped closer, her form shimmering slightly in the mist. "You've grown, Isla. You're stronger than you know. But the path ahead of you is dangerous, and you must be prepared."

"What do I have to do?" Isla asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her mother gestured toward the mist, and as it parted, Isla saw four glowing seals floating in the distance, each one pulsing with energy. They were faint at first, but as she focused on them, they became clearer-each one representing a trial she had to face.

"You must break the four seals," her mother explained. "Each seal is a part of you-a part of your past, your power, and your future. To break them, you must face the memories you've buried, the fears you've hidden, and the power you've yet to accept."

Isla's heart pounded in her chest as she took a step forward, her gaze locked on the glowing seals in the distance. She could feel the weight of the trials ahead of her, the enormity of what was being asked of her. But she had no choice. If she wanted to find her aunt, to stop Malachi and Kian, she had to succeed.

"Are you ready?" her mother asked, her voice gentle but firm.

Isla nodded, though her hands trembled at her sides. "I'm ready."

Her mother stepped back, and the world around Isla shifted once more. The mist parted completely, revealing a path that led to the first seal-a glowing symbol suspended in the air, pulsing with an ominous light.

---

**The First Seal: Fear **

The air grew colder as Isla approached the first seal. It hung in the air like a living thing, its energy crackling with tension. As she stepped closer, a wave of fear washed over her, so strong that she almost stumbled.

Her heart raced, and her breath came in shallow gasps. Memories she had tried to forget rushed back to her-memories of being alone, of losing her parents, of being abandoned. The fear she had always buried deep within her began to surface, threatening to consume her.

"You have to face it," her mother's voice echoed in her mind. "You have to face the fear."

Isla's hands clenched into fists as she forced herself to take another step forward. The fear gnawed at her, but she couldn't stop now. She had to move forward, no matter how terrifying it felt.