Beneath the watchful gaze of a full moon, nestled amidst the snow-capped peaks, the sacred shrine of Amatsuki stood veiled in serenity.
Within its hallowed halls resided Hikari, the Moon Priestess, chosen from birth to serve the celestial goddess, Tsukuyomi.
One fateful night, a lone samurai, Jin, guided by an otherworldly glow, stumbled upon the forbidden sanctuary.
Despite the vigilant monks guarding the temple gates, fate intervened, drawing him face-to-face with Hikari amidst her moonlit devotions.
Under the gentle luminescence, their souls intertwined, weaving a bond that transcended the boundaries of their worlds. Their whispered conversations
like fragile cherry blossoms dancing in the spring breeze, unveiled shared dreams and unspoken desires.
As the weeks turned to months, Hikari found herself entangled in the silken threads of forbidden love. Her heart, once solely devoted to her celestial duty, now yearned for the warmth of Jin's touch, the promise of a life beyond the confines of the shrine.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
Together, they dreamt of defying the heavens, their love a blazing sun threatening to eclipse the moon's ethereal glow.
However, the watchful eyes of the elder priestesses, guardians of tradition, soon discovered their clandestine affair. With hearts heavy with sorrow, they decreed that Hikari must sever earthly ties and return to her celestial obligations.
Though they granted her fleeting moments to meet Jin, they warned of the dire consequences of her wavering devotion.
For her life force was the sacred offering that ensured the kingdom's prosperity, a delicate flame flickering under the watchful gaze of the moon goddess.
With a heart heavy as a stone lantern, Hikari turned her gaze upwards, her spirit a solitary firefly against the vast canvas of the night sky.
As dawn's first blush painted the horizon, Hikari stood resolute. With one last lingering glance at Jin, his face etched with the pain of separation, she ascended towards the summit, her silhouette bathed in the moon's celestial embrace.
Silent tears streamed down Jin's face as he watched her disappear into the heavens, their love story echoing in the silent whispers of the wind.
Though separated by the vast expanse of the night sky, their love remained a beacon of hope, a testament to the enduring spirit of the human heart.
Though separated by the vast expanse of the night sky, their love remained a beacon of hope, a testament to the enduring spirit of the human heart.
a testament to the power of love that transcends even the boundaries of the divine.