Episode 1

The sun shone brightly across the glorious kingdom of Lunaria, casting golden rays over ivory towers and glorious streets. Despite its name derived from the moon, a symbol of darkness and mystery Lunaria was a kingdom of contrast. It stood for both light and darkness, hope and cruelty, good and evil,a realm where the divine glow of the sun did not mask the shadows beneath.

In a quiet corner of the lower district, far from the castle’s grand halls and noble estates, a small, weathered house stood still under the morning light. Inside, a girl lay on her modest bed, eyes wide open, staring at the cracked ceiling of her little home.

Her name was Sophie, a sixteen-year-old human girl in a kingdom that barely saw her kind as people.

"Not everyone is born equal in Lunaria," she thought bitterly. "Not in this world."

Her home was small, but it was warm at least, emotionally. The furniture was old, the roof leaked during storms, and the stone walls were thin enough to hear the neighbors argue. But it was hers. The stillness of the morning was one of her only quiet, a fleeting moment before the world reminded her of who she was a weak insignificant human, the lowest of ranks on Lunaria’s societal ladder,A human in high ranks isn't impossible but rare.

"Hi… I’m Sophie. I turned sixteen yesterday," she mused silently, her lips parting slightly as if to say it out loud, but no sound came. "And I’m human... in a world where that means nothing but pain, yes am human but not weak."

The sound of her older sister’s voice broke her from her thoughts.

“Sophie! Breakfast!”

Sophie blinked, then smiled faintly and leapt from bed. Her bare feet met the cold floor, and she raced toward the smell of warm food.

In the small kitchen, her father sat hunched over a worn-out newspaper, his expression tired, eyes heavy with silent worries. Across from him, Sam,her older sister, was gently helping their mother to her seat. Their mother’s illness had been growing worse, and though she smiled at them, the lines on her face and the bottles of medication nearby betrayed the weight she carried.

Medicine was expensive in Lunaria—especially for humans. And so, every member of the family worked hard just to afford her treatment but the rent and feeding.

They ate in silence for a moment jam and warm bread. It wasn’t much, but it was warm, and it filled their bellies. Sophie cherished these moments more than anything.

Breaking the silence, she spoke with a soft smile, “I have to work today… So I might be back late.”

Her father's eyes didn’t lift from the paper, but Sophie knew he was listening. Sam glanced at her with concern as she has been working all week without rest, the weakness was clearly seen in her face. Sophie noticed their worries and quickly added with false cheer, “But maybe I’ll hear back from Solnaria Institute today.”

The air grew heavy again but with a slight cheer.

Solnaria—Lunaria’s most prestigious university for many fields of study and especially magic for those who have powers,it was a dream few humans dared to chase. It was hard enough to get in especially for humans, it was nearly impossible... unless you had powerful connections, which Sophie did not have but she had dreams.

“I know it’s a long shot,” she added, laughing nervously. “I just hope—”

“You’ll make it,” Sam said, interrupting her. “You always try the hardest.”

Sophie smiled at her sister, the ache in her chest softening slightly.

“And guess what?” Sam continued. “I’m getting my first salary today—from the dress shop.”

The tension in the room eased a little, even their father smiled. Their mother’s soft cough reminded them all why every coin mattered.

Soon, Sophie packed up and left for work, slipping her simple shoes on and pulling her hoodie over her head. She kept her head down as she walked the streets.

Her first stop was Solnaria’s magic board a large, glowing crystal screen in the public square, where new admission results were posted. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stepped forward, but her name was not there. Again as it informed her that it was the last day and if she eventually got the admission a letter would be mailed to her making her sigh a little in worry.

A group of werewolves nearby burst into laughter, one of them pointing at her. “Hey, look! Another human dreaming too big.”

Sophie clenched her fists but said nothing. As they turned to walk away, she discreetly flicked her hand, and a nearby pipe burst open, splashing them with cold water.

“Hey!” one of them barked, spinning around.

But Sophie was already gone, running down the alley, a mischievous grin on her face.

They never saw it, but Sophie was gifted—one of the rare humans born with elemental powers. Her control over water and ice came naturally, but she hid it from the world. She couldn’t afford proper training, and if anyone discovered her powers, especially without proper documentation, she could be arrested or worse killed.

To keep her powers in check, she wore a plain silver ring enchanted with a weak suppression charm. It buzzed faintly against her finger now, as if annoyed at the pipe stunt.

She shrugged it off and headed to her first job at a small restaurant.

The day passed slowly but her day was just like the other days. Customers insults, supervisors overworked her once again, and no one cared about her tired legs or the ache in her back. But Sophie never once stopped smiling—because surviving meant not showing weakness.

As she was leaving her last job, worn out and ready to collapse, she heard someone call her name.

“Sophie!”

She turned just in time to see Erica, a lively teenage werewolf from a noble family, running toward her with wild excitement on her face. Erica was one of the rare few supernatural beings who treated humans as equals. They’d been best friends since they were little.

Erica threw her arms around her. “I got in! Solnaria accepted me!”

Sophie’s face froze. The words hit her like a punch to the chest. She smiled though with excitement happy for her friend.

“That’s… amazing,” she yelled.

But then Erica held up a second letter.

“And guess what? You did too! Late admission!” she squealed.

Sophie blinked. “W-What?”

She snatched the parchment and read it. It was real,her name was there, stamped with the Solnaria seal.

She gasped, then screamed with joy, and the two girls jumped up and down in the street, celebrating like children. A loud voice from behind them shattered the moment.

“Hey! You brats! Get off my street!” Sophie's boss yelled, shaking his broom.

Laughing, they ran away together, hearts light for the first time in weeks.

Meanwhile… Inside the Royal Palace

The mood was starkly different within the grand palace of Lunaria.

In the center of the chamber, nobles, dukes, duchesses and other officials sat frozen in fear. A crimson pool spread across the marble floor, the lifeless body of a high-ranking traitor lying still at its center.

At the head of the room stood Prince Jayson, the king’s eldest child 19 year old, holding a bloodied blade without a single drop of remorse in his glowing red eyes. His aura was heavy, dark, suffocating.

“Let this be a warning to all of you,” he said, voice cold as ice. “Any of you who even think about betrayal... will end up just like him.”

No one dared breathe.

Beside him stood Princess Kiara, his sixteen-year-old sister, her long blue hair cascading like a curtain. She let out a soft giggle, which quickly spiraled into maniacal laughter. Her eyes gleamed with wicked amusement, like a cat toying with prey.

At the far end of the hall, the King and Queen sat in silence,visibly frustrated. Their children, though powerful, were becoming more dangerous which might affect their reign and weaken the trust of the people more. After the disaster that happened in the meeting chamber everyone ran home.

Soon after Jayson and Kiara were summoned by their parents. The grand hall they entered was quieter than the throne room,yet the silence held a heavier tension. The walls, lined with portraits of past rulers, bore witness to what came next.

The King stood tall, his silver-stitched robes shimmering under the chandelier’s dim glow. But the fire in his eyes wasn’t regal but was paternal and furious.

“What were you thinking?” he bellowed, slamming his hand against the table. “What do you two gain from such reckless behavior? The people saw everything!. Jayson, why would you kill that human in front of everyone? At the very least, you could have waited for a trial!”.

Leaning against the wall, Jayson ran a hand through his silver-blue hair, his expression unreadable. His voice, when it came, was cold and sharp as frost.

“If I didn’t execute that fool of a minister, what would have stopped the others?” he said. “Why did we even make a human an officiant? His betrayal would have sparked something far worse. Many already hate us and want the throne so badly. That man’s actions would’ve inspired others to rebel as well.”

The King clenched his jaw, but the Queen raised a hand to calm him.

“Yes,” she said gently, “but even then... a trial is advised. She sighed and sat down,What happened to both of you when you were younger... we know left scars. The curse of being Crescent Vampires hasn’t made it easier as well”

“Whatever, All I know,” Kiara interrupted flatly, “is that he deserved it. And we don’t care about that damn curse.” Her crimson eyes flashed with conviction, and there was no remorse in her tone.

The Queen’s eyes softened, but worry crept into her voice. “You may not care, but the people do. Their trust in us is wavering. We must and to rebuild it , you two stunts you have been pulling for a while now has also giving them alot more reasons to rebel and betray us right now let's focus on growing these nation and building back their trust.”

Jayson sighed and stepped away from the wall, as he sat on a table. “ I’ve been studying the newly sent records and research about our kingdom,” he said. “Looking for what’s been going wrong in the nation these past few months. There are patterns and signs, especially lots of activities affecting everyone.”

The King nodded slightly, his fury dimming into thoughtfulness.

The Queen turned to Kiara. “What was it you wanted to tell us earlier?”

Kiara blinked, as if just remembering. “Oh, right.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m going to that kingdom called Asteria. I plan to spy on them for a while. They’ve requested a trade agreement with us, despite knowing our bloody history with them,especially our forefathers’. I don’t trust them. As a general of Lunaria I want to see what they’re really up to. It smells like a trap.”

The Queen frowned. “When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow,” Kiara replied simply.

Her parents exchanged a look.

“Please just pleaseeee,” the King said, his voice low but firm, “don’t kill anyone unless you must. We don’t want to be the ones who ignite another war.”

Kiara gave an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. I’m taking General Kael with me, anyway.”

The Queen placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Be careful.”

With that, the siblings took their leave. The heavy doors closed behind them, leaving the royal couple in the flickering candlelight of the room.

The Queen sat down, rubbing her temples. “I wonder when they’ll finally learn to control their thirst for blood,” she murmured.

The King’s gaze lingered on the door his children had just passed through. “And when their grandmother will return.”

“She’s been undercover in the city for six months now,” the Queen said as she hits her husband playful. “What's she even doing ?”

“How should I know?” the King said tiredly, "She left with no words,only that she had to watch the people of lunaria for the one. I just hope whatever she finds doesn’t tear this kingdom apart.”

"Knowing her it's definitely something important"

As she rested her head on her husband as the both watched the fire place together.

And in the silence that followed, the wind outside howled like a distant cry.

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