The night stretched endlessly above them, the full moon casting its silver glow over the vast, open plains. Every blade of grass shimmered under its light, bending gently as a cool breeze whispered across the land. The air was crisp, carrying the distant scent of damp earth and wildflowers, mingling with the soft rustling of the grass beneath their feet.

Emma walked alongside Luna, their pace unhurried, their footsteps barely making a sound against the swaying fields. Despite the stillness of the world around them, Emma’s mind was anything but calm.

Questions churned within her.

What is this place?

Which location is this?

What kind of magic existed here?

Each thought pressed against the next, crowding her mind like voices all speaking at once. The unknown stretched before her like an abyss, and she felt the weight of curiosity, of uncertainty, settling in her chest.

But she knew better than to rush.

Slow. Steady. One question at a time.

She exhaled softly, allowing the night’s tranquility to settle over her before finally speaking.

"If I may ask… do you come out every night? Or is it only when the full moon is out?"

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Her voice was calm, her gaze drifting toward Luna as they walked. The girl beside her, bathed in an ethereal glow, moved with an effortless grace, as though she were woven from the moonlight itself.

Luna glanced at her, a knowing smile curving her lips. There was something in her expression... a quiet amusement, a secret only she understood.

"Hmm…" Luna hummed softly, as if considering the question. "I suppose I could say that I don't come out every single night… But the truth is, it’s not the moon that decides that for me."

Emma arched a brow, intrigued.

Luna’s eyes gleamed under the silver light as she continued, her voice as smooth as the wind that danced through the fields.

"I choose when to appear."

Her words lingered in the air, carrying a weight Emma couldn’t quite grasp.

She chooses?

That only made Emma more curious, but she held back from asking further, for now.

The night deepened as they continued forward, their surroundings subtly shifting. The endless plains began to slope gently, leading toward the edge of a woodland where trees stood tall, their dark silhouettes rising like silent watchers against the moonlit sky.

The sound of rustling leaves replaced the whispering grass, and the air grew denser, filled with the scent of bark and damp moss. It was a stark contrast to the openness of the plains... a quiet, looming presence that carried the hush of secrets untold.

Then, just ahead.. a cave.

Nestled at the base of a small hill, its entrance was wide enough for two people to walk through side by side. Shadows pooled at its mouth, a dark contrast against the moonlit surroundings. It wasn’t deep. Emma could tell at a glance.. but it was enough to provide shelter from the night.

She stopped, her gaze lingering on it for a moment before turning to Luna.

"Why don’t we rest there until the night wears out?"

The words left her lips effortlessly, a decision made not from weariness but from an instinctual need to pause, to take in the moment to absorb before moving forward.

The night was long.

There was still much to learn about.