Echoes Of The Moonbound Heart

The village of Lirawyn slept beneath a silver washed sky where the moon burned brighter than any lantern and lakes shimmered as if stirred by unseen worlds. Houses with moss covered roofs lined the quiet streets and soft trails of mist curled along the cobblestones. It was a place where legends breathed with the morning fog and every child grew up hearing stories of strange echoes that followed those who dared walk alone at night.

Evelyn Darron had lived in Lirawyn her entire life yet she never believed in the old tales. She preferred the certainty of ink and parchment over whispers drifting in the dark. Her days were spent cataloging ancient folktales in the small village archive a stone building that smelled of aged leather and forgotten secrets.

But everything changed the night the echo found her.

She had stayed late sorting through a bundle of journals recently discovered in the attic of an abandoned estate. The candles burned low casting trembling shadows across the walls when she heard a soft rhythmic sound behind her. Like footsteps. But not. It was softer yet strangely resonant as if the sound came not from the ground but from the very air itself.

Evelyn froze. The hairs on her arms rose. She turned her head slowly breathing as quietly as she could. No one stood in the doorway. Yet the echo continued tapping in a steady pulse.

Hello Evelyn.

The voice was masculine warm and filled with emotion. It came from nowhere. From everywhere. It filled the room pressing close around her as though the speaker stood right behind her shoulder.

She spun around heart pounding. Who is that Who is here

There was no answer. Only a fading hum like a sigh swallowed by the darkness.

Evelyn gathered her belongings and hurried outside locking the archive quickly before stepping onto the silent street. The moon hung low spreading a pale glow over the village. With each step she took the echo followed whispering in faint pulses matching her movements. She felt it brush along her thoughts like a memory trying desperately to be remembered.

That night she barely slept.

The next morning she visited the village elder Rowan Hargrave a man with a long white beard gentle brown eyes and the burden of knowledge he often wished he could forget.

Something haunted me last night Evelyn said sitting across from him as his fireplace crackled. It knew my name.

Rowan studied her carefully. Then he sighed slowly. The moon is growing brighter again. I feared the echoes would return.

What are they she whispered.

Rowan leaned forward hands clasped. Long ago the Moonbound existed. Beings of spirit and shadow. They lived between realms not living not dead. Some were gentle. Some were not. They echoed through our world searching for those whose hearts resonated with theirs. When the moon burns bright the veil weakens and the Moonbound begin to cross.

Evelyn tried to swallow her fear. So this thing has attached itself to me

Rowan hesitated. It calls your name. That means it remembers you. Or wants you to remember it.

That night the echo returned stronger.

Evelyn stepped onto her balcony overlooking the shimmering lake. The breeze brushed her hair but the world felt unnervingly still. Then the voice drifted through the air once more.

Evelyn I have waited so long.

She gripped the railing. Who are you What do you want from me

The moonlight thickened swirling around her like mist. And then she saw him.

A figure formed from pale silver light standing on the lake as if the water cradled his feet. His hair flowed like liquid moonlight and his eyes glowed with endless longing. His expression was soft almost aching.

My name is Lucien.

She stared breathless. Are you real

Lucien nodded slowly. When the veil weakens my form can hold in your world. For moments at a time.

Why me Evelyn whispered voice trembling.

Because you once knew me.

Her chest tightened. I have never seen you before in my entire life.

The wind stirred the lake creating shimmering ripples around him. His expression fell wounded.

You have forgotten he said softly. But I have not.

Before she could speak again his form flickered weakening. Then he vanished leaving only silence and moonlight behind.

Evelyn did not sleep once again.

The next day she returned to the archive determined to find answers. She searched through journals records folk tales anything referencing the Moonbound. Hours passed. Then she found it.

A leather bound diary written over one hundred years ago by a woman named Elara. The entries told of a Moonbound man who came to her in nightly whispers. A man of light with eyes full of sorrow. A man named Lucien.

Evelyn felt the blood drain from her face.

She read further. Elara described a bond between her soul and Lucien’s. But their worlds could not merge. When she tried to cross the veil to join him she vanished forever.

The diary ended abruptly.

That night Evelyn returned to her balcony heart racing. Lucien appeared again materializing from swirling moonlight his expression weighted with emotion.

You were reading today he said eyes soft. I felt your fear.

Evelyn stepped closer though uncertainty trembled in her chest. Who was Elara to you

Luciens gaze dropped to the lake. She was the last human soul who felt the echo of my heart. But she wanted more than I could give. She tried to cross into my world. I tried to stop her. I failed. I have carried that guilt for a century.

Evelyn shivered as the pieces began forming a terrifying picture. Why come to me then Because I look like her Because you see her in me

Lucien shook his head sharply pain in his eyes. You are not her. You are you. Your soul has its own echo. One that called to me long before you were born.

Fear and fascination fought in her chest. What do you want from me

Lucien lifted his hand but the moonlight around his fingers flickered. I want nothing but the chance to exist beside you in the only way I can. I want no harm for you Evelyn. But the veil is thinning faster. Other Moonbound will cross soon. They are not like me. They hunger for life. They will follow the echo you carry.

The echo I carry What do you mean

Lucien approached until only inches separated them though they could not touch. His voice lowered.

Part of my essence bound to you when I first called your name. That bond shields me. But it also draws the others.

Suddenly a loud crack split the air. The sky darkened. The moon dimmed. A cold wind whipped across the balcony.

Lucien looked sharply upward. They are coming.

From the treeline shadows rose twisting and swirling into elongated forms. Their bodies shifted unnaturally their eyes nothing but hollow emptiness. They moved toward the house with terrifying speed.

Evelyn backed away heart hammering. Lucien stepped in front of her though his form flickered violently.

Stay behind me he commanded.

The creatures approached speaking in fragmented voices. Give her to us. The echo belongs to us. She will feed the void. She will cross the veil.

Lucien roared a sound that shook the air. You will not touch her.

A blast of silver light erupted from his chest striking the nearest creature. It shrieked and dissolved into smoke. But Lucien staggered weakened.

Evelyn grabbed his fading arm instinctively though her hand passed through him like mist. What do I do How do we survive

Lucien turned his glowing eyes to hers. You must sever the echo.

How

Find the Veilspire tree in the forest. It stands where the realm divides. Touch it. Claim your soul for your world. I will protect you until dawn if I can.

She bolted down the stairs sprinting through the village streets as shadows rushed behind her. Lucien flashed in and out of existence striking them with bursts of light though each attack drained him further.

Evelyn reached the forest breath coming in sharp gasps. The moon flickered overhead bathing the path in unstable light. The trees loomed tall twisting with ancient power.

Lucien appeared beside her barely holding form. Hurry Evelyn. I cannot hold them back much longer.

They ran deeper as the shadows closed in. Then she saw it.

A towering silver barked tree with glowing veins that pulsed faintly. The Veilspire.

Go Lucien urged voice cracking. Touch the heart of the tree.

Evelyn placed both hands on the glowing trunk. For a moment nothing happened. Then the world spun. A blinding surge of energy rushed through her body. Her heart pounded as if trying to break free from her chest.

The shadows screamed falling back. The bond between realms snapped like a pulled wire. Pain hit her like lightning. She cried out collapsing to her knees.

Lucien appeared before her struggling to hold form. His edges flickered fading.

You did it he whispered.

Evelyn reached for him but her hand passed through his dissolving body. No Lucien Please do not go

He knelt in front of her though barely solid. A soft smile touched his lips.

Your soul is whole now. The veil cannot take you. The others cannot claim you.

Tears streamed down her face. What about you

He looked toward the moon. The bond is severed. I cannot remain here. But this time I leave without regret. I found you. I protected you. That is enough for me.

Evelyn shook with emotion. Will I ever see you again

Lucien cupped her face with a fading hand she could not feel but could somehow sense. When the moon burns brightest you may hear my echo. And when your heart calls I will answer in whatever way I can.

His form shattered into soft silver light drifting upward like snow.

Evelyn whispered his name until the forest fell silent.

Days later the village returned to its calm rhythm but Evelyn carried a quiet ache. Every night she stood by the lake watching the moon ripple across the water hoping to hear the soft echo of his voice.

Weeks passed.

One night as the moon rose full and bright a whisper drifted through the stillness.

Evelyn.

Her eyes filled with tears not of fear but of something deeper something she finally understood.

He was gone. But their bond though severed still lived in echoes that crossed realms in ways she could not explain.

And she whispered back standing beneath the silver sky.

Lucien. I remember you now. Always.

The lake shimmered as if the moon itself answered.