...The Night the Moon Fell...

The moon hung low over the capital of the Kingdom of Aetherion.

Cold silver light spilled across the marble terraces of Solmaire, illuminating the towering spires of the royal palace. Beneath that pale glow stood a single figure, bound in chains forged with runic steel.

Valentina Ravenscroft did not look at the crowd.

Instead, she looked at the moon.

A strange calmness filled her chest, as if the world had already left her behind.

She could hear the murmurs of nobles gathered below the execution platform.

Whispers filled the night air.

“That's the Mistress of the Moon.”

“The villainess who tried to assassinate the royal family.”

“They say she practiced forbidden magic.”

“How shameful for House Ravenscroft.”

Each word floated through the air like drifting snow, but none of them reached her heart anymore.

Valentina Ravenscroft stood quietly at the center of the execution square, her long black hair falling over her shoulders like ink spilling into the darkness. The silver chains around her wrists glowed faintly, suppressing the mana in her body.

Six years ago, she had walked through these very streets as the proud heir of House Ravenscroft.

Now she stood here as a criminal awaiting death.

The irony almost made her laugh.

At the front of the platform stood the royal guard captain, reading from a scroll with a voice devoid of emotion.

“Valentina Ravenscroft, daughter of Duke Cassian Ravenscroft, you stand accused of treason against the crown of Aetherion.”

His voice echoed through the silent square.

“Your crimes include the use of forbidden magic, the attempted assassination of the Second Prince, and conspiracy against the royal family.”

Valentina lowered her gaze slightly.

Attempted assassination.

Forbidden magic.

Conspiracy.

Each accusation felt strangely distant.

Not because they were lies.

But because none of it mattered anymore.

The real tragedy had already happened.

Her family was gone.

House Ravenscroft—the military pillar of the kingdom—had been destroyed.

Her father had died defending their name.

Her mother had been imprisoned.

Ravenport had been seized by the crown.

And her younger sister…

Valentina’s fingers trembled slightly.

Adeline.

She wondered where her little sister was now.

Perhaps hiding somewhere far from Solmaire.

Perhaps already captured.

Perhaps—

No.

Valentina forced the thought away.

The royal guard captain finished reading the charges.

“The court has found you guilty.”

The crowd erupted into whispers again.

A faint breeze brushed across the execution square.

Valentina slowly lifted her head.

(Ignore what you have to)

Above the platform stood two figures she once believed would shape her future.

Prince Lucian Aurelius

And

Isabella Valmont

The future king and queen of Aetherion.

Lucian stood tall along the balcony of the Imperial Palace, his silver hair gleaming beneath the moonlight. His expression was calm and composed, like a ruler already accustomed to power.

Beside him stood Isabella Valmont, her crimson hair flowing gently in the night wind. The emerald brilliance of her eyes reflected the flickering torches surrounding the square.

They looked like a perfect pair.

A hero and his beloved heroine.

The same way any story had always described them.

Valentina studied them quietly.

She did not feel hatred.

She did not feel anger.

Only a deep, aching emptiness.

For years, she had loved Lucian Aurelius.

She had believed that one day, her loyalty and devotion would mean something to him.

How naive she had been.

Lucian had never loved her.

He had only needed the power of House Ravenscroft.

And Isabella…

Valentina’s gaze shifted to the young woman.

Isabella Valmont had always been dazzling.

Brilliant.

Kind.

Beloved by everyone.

Even Valentina herself had once admired her.

But admiration had turned into a rivalry.

The rivalry had turned into ruin.

A faint smile touched Isabella’s lips as she spoke quietly to Lucian.

Valentina could not hear their conversation.

But she did not need to.

She already knew how the story ended.

The villainess would die.

The hero and heroine would rule the kingdom.

A perfect happy ending.

At least, that was what the anonymous author had written.

Valentina exhaled softly.

The chains around her wrists clinked as she raised her head toward the sky again.

The moon was beautiful tonight.

Strange.

She had always loved the moon.

Her mother used to say that the Ravenscroft bloodline carried the blessing of the northern seas and the silent night.

But Valentina’s magic had always been… different.

While her family commanded water and ice, she had inherited something far older.

Something darker.

Moon magic.

Power drawn from shadows and starlight.

Power no one fully understood.

Perhaps that was why it had been so easy to accuse her of forbidden magic.

The royal guard stepped forward.

“It is time.”

The executioner lifted his blade.

The steel shimmered beneath the moonlight.

Valentina closed her eyes.

Memories drifted through her mind like fragments of shattered glass.

Her father teaching her swordsmanship in the courtyards of Ravenport.

Her mother brushing her hair while speaking of noble responsibilities.

Adeline smiling as it snowed across the palace gardens.

And Lucian…

Lucian smiling at her during the Imperial Academy festivals.

Lucian accepting the support of House Ravenscroft.

Lucian standing beside Isabella.

The memories twisted together until they became something unbearable.

Valentina opened her eyes.

For the first time that night, she looked directly at Lucian Aurelius.

He met her gaze.

For a brief moment, the square seemed to fall silent.

Lucian’s silver eyes were unreadable.

Regret?

Indifference?

Or perhaps nothing at all.

Valentina finally understood something at that moment.

She had never been part of their story.

She had only been a stepping stone.

The villainess, destined to fall.

A quiet laugh escaped her lips.

The sound startled the crowd.

The executioner hesitated.

Valentina looked toward the moon one last time.

“If I had another chance…”

Her voice was soft, barely audible beneath the wind.

“…I would never love you.”

The blade fell.

Darkness swallowed the world.

___________________________________

Pain never came.

Instead, there was silence.

Endless, weightless silence.

Valentina drifted through the void, unsure whether seconds or centuries had passed.

Then—

A voice.

Faint.

Distant.

“Lady Valentina…?”

Warm sunlight brushed against her eyelids.

“Lady Valentina!”

Her eyes snapped open.

A bright morning light flooded the room.

Valentina sat up abruptly.

Her chest heaved as she gasped for breath.

The scent of lavender and polished wood filled the air.

Her bedroom, In Ravenport.

No.

That wasn’t possible.

Valentina stared at her hands.

The chains were gone.

Her skin was smooth and unscarred.

A mirror stood across the room.

She stumbled toward it, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

The reflection staring back at her was younger.

Much younger.

Her face.

But not the face of a woman who had lived through betrayal and execution.

This was the face of a nineteen-year-old girl.

Six years earlier.

Valentina’s breath caught in her throat.

Outside the window, the northern sea shimmered beneath the morning sun.

Ships moved through Ravenport’s harbor.

The city was alive.

Untouched by tragedy.

Her door burst open.

A small figure rushed into the room.

“Sister!”

Valentina turned sharply.

Adeline Ravenscroft stood in the doorway, her violet eyes sparkling with excitement.

Her little sister ran forward and threw her arms around Valentina.

“You’re finally awake! Father was worried because you overslept.”

Valentina froze.

Adeline—

Alive.

Young.

Only twelve.

Valentina’s hands trembled as she slowly returned the embrace.

Tears burned at the corners of her eyes.

This was impossible.

This was a dream.

But, the warmth of Adeline’s small body felt real.

The sound of waves crashing against Ravenport’s harbor felt real.

Everything felt real.

Valentina pulled back slightly and studied her sister’s face.

Unharmed.

Unbroken.

Alive.

A sharp realization struck her.

The past.

She had returned to the past.

Six years before her execution.

Six years before the destruction of House Ravenscroft.

Six years before the story reached its tragic end.

Valentina’s gaze drifted toward the window.

Somewhere far beyond the horizon lay Solmaire.

And within that city…

Prince Lucian Aurelius.

Isabella Valmont.

The same people who had stood beneath the moon as she died.

Her fingers slowly curled into fists.

This time would be different.

She would not fall in love with Lucian.

She would not compete with Isabella.

She would not walk the same path that led to her family’s destruction.

The story could continue without her.

Let the hero and heroine have their happy ending.

Valentina Ravenscroft would simply stay out of their world.

She looked down at Adeline again.

Her sister smiled innocently, unaware of the fate that had once awaited them.

Valentina gently placed a hand on Adeline’s head.

“I promise,” she whispered softly.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Outside the window, the morning sun climbed higher into the sky.

But somewhere beyond the horizon…

Fate had already begun to change.

Major Figures of the Kingdom of Aetherion

The Kingdom of Aetherion stands upon a fragile balance of power between the royal family and the great noble houses. Among them, three forces dominate the political and magical landscape of the kingdom.

The Imperial House Aurelius — the royal authority.

House Ravenscroft — the military pillar of the north.

House Valmont — the wealthiest power of the southern coast.

At the center of this balance stands a group of young nobles whose actions will shape the future of Aetherion.

___________________________________

...House Ravenscroft...

The Northern Military Dukedom

Renowned for their mastery over water and ice magic, the Ravenscroft have long protected the northern borders of Aetherion. Their members are known for their distinctive black hair and violet eyes, as well as their strong magical abilities.

Unlike the Valmont fox lineage or the Aurelius wolves, the Ravenscroft beast inheritance varied between generations.

*Valentina Ravenscroft

Title: Heiress of House Ravenscroft

Age: 19

Elemental Magic: Water, Ice, (Proficiency Level: 8, Moon (Dark Magic) (Proficiency Level: 5) [Note: Elemental magic proficiency is ranked from Level 1 to Level 10. An Elemental Magic Beholder is considered a master once they reach Level: 7].

Beast Form: None that are known

Special Title: Mistress of the Moon

Valentina Ravenscroft is the eldest daughter of Duke Cassian Ravenscroft and the heir to the powerful northern dukedom.

From a young age, she demonstrated exceptional control over water magic, surpassing most nobles of her generation. However, her true power lies in a far rarer ability—moon-aligned magic, a mysterious form of dark magic rarely seen within the kingdom.

Because of this, whispers spread among the nobility, giving her the ominous title:

The Mistress of the Moon.

Despite her power, Valentina was once known to be loyal, proud, and deeply devoted to those she cared about.

Future (Original Timeline):

Valentina was accused of treason against the crown, framed for crimes she did not commit, and executed in the capital city of Solmaire at the age of twenty-five. Her death marked the downfall of House Ravenscroft.

*Adeline Ravenscroft

Age: 12

Elemental Magic: Water, Ice (currently at Proficiency Level 5 in both the elements)

Beast Form: None that are known yet.

Adeline Ravenscroft is the younger sister of Valentina.

Unlike her elder sister, Adeline possesses a gentle and cheerful personality. She greatly admires Valentina and often follows her everywhere.

Though still young, Adeline has already begun showing promising talent in water magic.

Future (Original Timeline):

After the fall of House Ravenscroft, Adeline’s fate remains uncertain. Records of her disappearance after the family's downfall are scarce.

*Duke Cassian Ravenscroft

Age: 46

Elemental Magic: Water (Proficiency Level: 9)

Beast Form: Tiger

The current head of House Ravenscroft and the Supreme Military Commander of the kingdom.

Cassian Ravenscroft is respected throughout Aetherion for his strategic brilliance and unwavering loyalty to the crown. Under his leadership, the Ravenscroft army became one of the strongest military forces in the kingdom.

Future (Original Timeline):

After accusations of treason against his daughter, Duke Cassian fought desperately to protect his family's honor but ultimately fell during the conflict that led to the destruction of House Ravenscroft.

*Duchess Selena Ravenscroft

Age: 42

Magic: Ice (Proficiency Level: 9)

Beast Form: Serpent

The duchess of House Ravenscroft and mother of Valentina and Adeline.

Selena Ravenscroft is known for her elegance, intelligence, and powerful ice magic. Though she maintains a calm and composed appearance, she deeply cares for her family.

Future (Original Timeline):

Following the collapse of House Ravenscroft, Selena was imprisoned by royal forces.

___________________________________

...House Valmont...

The Archducal Lords of the Southern Coast

House Valmont governs the entire southern region of Aetherion, including its most profitable trade routes and ports. Their wealth rivals that of the royal treasury itself.

Members of the Valmont family are known for their red hair, green eyes, and their rare shapeshifting ability into the legendary Nine-Tailed Fox.

*Isabella Valmont

Age: 18

Elemental Magic: Fire (Proficiency Level: 6)

Beast Form: Nine-Tailed Fox

Isabella Valmont is the second daughter of the Valmont archducal family.

Gifted with remarkable beauty, intelligence, and charisma, Isabella has always drawn the admiration of those around her. Her mastery over fire magic and her rare fox shapeshifting ability make her one of the most talented young nobles of her generation.

Future (Original Timeline):

Isabella eventually married Prince Lucian Aurelius, and together they became the king and queen of Aetherion.

*Damien Valmont

Age: 22

Elemental Magic: Fire (Proficiency Level: 7)

Beast Form: Nine-Tailed Fox

Damien Valmont is the heir of the Valmont archdukedom.

As the eldest son, he is expected to inherit control of the family's immense wealth and influence. Damien is known to be sharp-minded and protective of his family.

Future (Original Timeline):

Damien supported the royal faction during the fall of House Ravenscroft, helping secure the southern territories under royal authority.

*Bridget Valmont

Age: 25

Elemental Magic: Fire (Proficiency Level: 8)

Beast Form: Phoenix

The eldest daughter of the Valmont family.

Bridget is known throughout noble society for her elegance, political insight, and commanding presence. Many nobles believe she could rival even seasoned politicians in courtly negotiations.

Future (Original Timeline):

Bridget later played an important role in strengthening the alliance between House Valmont and the royal family. She was engaged to the Crown Prince the year earlier (As per the original timeline, so... Five years after the present timeline).

*Archduke Victor Valmont

Age: 51

Elemental Magic: Fire (Proficiency Level: 7)

Beast Form: Nine-Tailed Fox

Head of House Valmont and one of the most powerful nobles in Aetherion.

His influence extends across trade networks, merchant guilds, and maritime commerce throughout the southern seas.

*Archduchess Cynthia Valmont

Age: 48

Elemental Magic: Fire (Proficiency Level: 8)

Beast Form: Phoenix

A brilliant political strategist known for her charm and diplomatic skill.

Many nobles believe she is the true mastermind behind House Valmont’s immense social influence.

___________________________________

...The Royal Family of Aetherion...

House Aurelius

The royal house of Aetherion commands the power of earth magic and possesses the rare ability to transform into powerful wolves.

Their silver irises symbolize their royal bloodline and shapeshifting heritage.

*Crown Prince Sebastian Aurelius

Age: 24

Elemental Magic: Earth (Proficiency Level: 7)

Beast Form: Wolf

The eldest son of the royal family and the rightful heir to the throne of Aetherion.

Sebastian is known for his calm demeanor and strong leadership abilities. Many believe he will one day become a wise and capable king.

Future (Original Timeline):

He surrendered to Lucian when he understood that, there was no chance of winning for him, as Lucian had the support of the military and as well as the wealth and support of all the major alliances of the Royal Family... Later on he married Bridget Valmont and rebuilt the destroyed dukedom of Ravenscroft.

*Prince Lucian Aurelius

Age: 20

Elemental Magic: Earth (Proficiency Level: 5)

Beast Form: Wolf

The second prince of Aetherion and one of the most charismatic figures among the younger generation of nobles.

Though often seen as charming and intelligent, Lucian possesses a deeply ambitious nature and a keen understanding of politics.

Future (Original Timeline):

Lucian eventually ascended the throne alongside Isabella Valmont after a series of political conflicts that reshaped the kingdom.

*King Magnus Aurelius

Age: 52

Elemental Magic: Earth (Proficiency Level: 8)

Beast Form: Wolf

The current ruler of Aetherion.

*Queen Evelyn Aurelius

Age: 48

Elemental Magic: None

Beast Form: Panther

The queen of Aetherion and a powerful figure within the royal court.

___________________________________

...A Story Rewritten...

In the original timeline, the story of Aetherion ended as a tale of triumph.

The hero and heroine rose to power.

The villainess fell.

But now, fate has changed.

Valentina Ravenscroft has returned six years into the past.

And this time…

The Mistress of the Moon intends to stay far away from the story that once destroyed her life.

But fate rarely allows its characters to abandon the story meant for them.

___________________________________

...The Day I Regressed...

Morning light filtered quietly through the tall windows of the Ravenscroft estate, casting long silver beams across the polished floor. The northern sun was pale and cold, its light softened by thin clouds drifting above the sea beyond Ravenport. It illuminated the vast chamber in gentle silence—touching the carved wooden furniture, the pale olive drapes embroidered with frost lilies, and the large bed at the center of the room.

Valentina Ravenscroft slowly opened her eyes.

For several seconds she simply stared upward, her mind clouded by a strange heaviness. Something about the world around her felt distant and unfamiliar, as though she had awakened from a dream she could not fully remember.

Her gaze lingered on the ceiling.

The wooden panels above her bed were carved with intricate patterns of winter flowers—frost lilies and glacial vines twisting across dark oak. It was a design she knew well, one she had grown up seeing every morning for most of her childhood.

But she had not seen it in years.

Her breathing faltered slightly.

The room around her was quiet, almost eerily so. The faint scent of lavender drifted through the air from the dried flowers placed on a nearby table. The soft rustle of curtains stirred whenever the wind brushed against the windows.

Everything was painfully familiar.

Too familiar.

Valentina slowly pushed herself upright in bed, her hand instinctively reaching toward her neck.

Her fingers trembled.

There was nothing there.

No wound.

No blood.

No trace of the blade that had once ended her life.

Her heart began to beat faster.

The final memory returned to her with frightening clarity.

The cold stone beneath her feet.

The murmuring crowd gathered in the capital square of Solmaire.

The accusations of treason echoing through the air like a cruel chant.

And the executioner standing behind her.

She remembered the moment the blade descended.

She remembered the overwhelming darkness that followed.

Valentina’s hand slowly lowered from her neck.

Then she looked toward the mirror across the room.

A young woman stared back at her.

Long black hair flowed loosely over her shoulders, catching the morning light with faint blue reflections. Her sharp features were delicate yet composed, bearing the unmistakable elegance of the Ravenscroft bloodline. And her eyes—deep violet, almost like amethyst—were the same eyes feared and admired throughout the northern territories.

But something about them had changed.

Those eyes held memories that the girl reflected in the mirror should not possess.

Memories of betrayal.

Of loss.

Of death.

Valentina slowly rose from the bed and walked toward the mirror, her bare feet silent against the cold floor.

The girl looking back at her was younger.

Much younger.

Nineteen years old.

Exactly six years before the day she died.

A quiet breath escaped her lips.

“…So it’s true.”

Her voice sounded unfamiliar in the still room.

“I returned.”

The words felt strange, even as she spoke them. Yet the truth was undeniable. Somehow—by fate, by magic, or by some mysterious force she could not yet understand—she had been given another chance.

Another life.

Another beginning.

Valentina closed her eyes briefly, forcing her thoughts to settle. The weight of everything she remembered threatened to overwhelm her, but panic would solve nothing. If this truly was the past, she needed to remain calm.

She had always prided herself on discipline.

Even now, she would not lose control.

A soft knock sounded against the door.

“Lady Valentina?”

The voice of a maid drifted inside.

Valentina opened her eyes again, her expression quickly returning to its usual calm.

“Yes,” she answered.

The door opened gently, and a young maid stepped inside before bowing respectfully.

“Good morning, my lady. The duchess asked if you would join her for breakfast. His Grace has already left for the military council.”

Father.

The word echoed quietly in Valentina’s mind.

Duke Cassian Ravenscroft.

The man who had led the northern armies with unwavering loyalty for decades.

The man who had died defending his daughter’s name.

Valentina felt something tighten in her chest.

“…I understand,” she said after a moment.

“I will be there shortly.”

The maid nodded and quietly left the room.

Once the door closed again, the silence returned.

Valentina remained standing before the mirror, staring at her reflection.

Her parents were alive.

Her house still stood strong.

And the future that had once destroyed everything had not yet begun.

For the first time since awakening, a faint tremor passed through her fingers.

If she had truly returned to the past…

Then everything that had happened once could happen again.

The accusations.

The betrayal.

The downfall of House Ravenscroft.

Her own execution.

Valentina slowly clenched her hand.

“No,” she murmured quietly.

“Not this time.”

She would not allow history to repeat itself.

She had just finished dressing when the door suddenly opened again without warning.

“Sister!”

A small figure rushed into the room with unmistakable energy.

Valentina froze.

Adeline Ravenscroft.

Her younger sister stood in the doorway, her dark hair slightly disheveled from running through the halls. Her violet eyes sparkled with excitement as she hurried across the room.

Adeline wrapped her arms tightly around Valentina without hesitation.

“You’re finally awake!” she said brightly. “Mother said you might still be resting.”

Valentina did not move at first.

The warmth of the embrace felt strangely overwhelming.

Adeline was alive.

In the future Valentina remembered, her sister had vanished after the fall of their family. No one had ever told her what became of the twelve-year-old girl once the Ravenscroft estate was seized by royal forces.

Some claimed she escaped.

Others believed she was taken away.

But the truth had never been revealed.

Valentina slowly placed her hand on Adeline’s head.

“…Good morning,” she said softly.

Adeline pulled back slightly, studying her face.

“You sound tired today.”

“I didn’t sleep well,” Valentina replied.

That explanation was simple enough to avoid further questions.

Adeline nodded thoughtfully before smiling again.

“Well, breakfast is ready. Mother is waiting.”

Valentina hesitated for a brief moment before nodding.

“Adeline, could you tell Mother that I’m not in the mood to eat right now?”

Adeline replied, “Okay, but you shouldn't skip breakfast.”

“Actually, I have an upset stomach. I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night.”

Adeline replied “Okay, should I tell mother to inform Uncle Jasper (Royal Physician)”.

“No need Adeline, I am okay... I believe that I will feel better, if I sleep for a little more.”

Adeline replied, “Okay”

As Adeline left the room, Valentina allowed herself a quiet glance at her sister.

Adeline’s cheerful expression was exactly as she remembered.

Innocent.

Unaware of the cruel future that had once awaited their family.

This time, Valentina thought that future would never come.

She would make sure of it.

After her conversation with Adeline, Valentina remained in her room, quietly observing the surroundings that felt both familiar and strangely different.

The Ravenscroft estate had grown quiet. From her window, she could faintly hear the waves of the Ravenport sea. Servants moved quietly through the halls completing their duties, while the distant wind carried the faint scent of the sea into her chamber.

Valentina sat at the desk near the window.

A blank notebook rested before her.

The sunlight fell gently over the pages, casting shifting shadows across the room.

For a long moment she simply stared at the empty paper.

If she had truly returned six years into the past, then there was something she needed to do immediately.

Something vital.

She needed to remember everything.

Not just the large events everyone knew.

But the small ones as well.

The overlooked conversations.

The quiet alliances.

The misunderstandings that slowly built into catastrophe.

Valentina picked up the pen.

The ink touched the page.

And she began to write.

She started with the year.

The year that had once changed everything.

The year she entered the Imperial Academy of Aetherion.

The year she first met Isabella Valmont.

And the year Prince Lucian Aurelius began gathering the alliances that would one day place the crown upon his head.

Valentina wrote carefully, her memories guiding each word.

She recorded the major political shifts she could recall—the tensions between the royal princes, the subtle competition among the noble houses, and the growing influence of certain alliances that had seemed harmless at the time.

Then she wrote about the smaller moments.

The rumors whispered among students at the academy.

The arguments she once dismissed.

The conversations she had never fully understood until much later.

Looking back now, she realized something painful.

Her downfall had not been caused by a single mistake.

It had been the result of countless events slowly guiding her toward a role she never intended to play, ‘The role of the villainess’.

Valentina paused, staring at the half-filled page.

In the story the kingdom remembered, she had been the enemy.

The ambitious noblewoman who betrayed the crown.

The woman whose actions forced the royal family to act.

The villainess who stood in the way of the hero and heroine.

She closed her eyes briefly.

But that story had only been written from one perspective.

This time, she would not allow herself to become the villainess again.

Valentina finished writing the final lines for the night and closed the diary.

Her hand rested quietly on the cover.

“…This time,” she whispered.

“I will survive.”

Outside, the sun slowly rose above Ravenport, its bright light spreading across the endless sea.

The same city that once witnessed the downfall of the Ravenscroft dukedom would now witness the beginning of an entirely different future.

For the Mistress of the Moon had returned—stronger and more determined than she had ever been.

The story that once ended with her execution had only just begun.