As the moon rose high above the thicket of trees, Asty and Noelle made their final touches inside the warehouse. They roamed around to see whether something was left unclean. After a few inspections, they concluded that the warehouse was squeaky clean.
Even the door that Noelle broke on purpose had been replaced.
The warehouse looked like a different place. From a rubbish container of rats and crows, it had become a safehouse of cloth and garments.
Asty sat on one of the boxes and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. She sighed in exhaustion. Noelle was standing still on the corner, catching his breath. He had just finished moving the cabinets from the corner.
"We're finally finished." he spoke between breaths.
Chaol's eyes darted in every corner of the room. His mind had shut down and his eyes were looking over like frenzy. "Where the hell did she go?" he thought.The unknown Night Hallow had just taken his prey and there's no way in the world that a simple negotiation would work for him. Whoever takes what's his would suffer a slow and painful death."Hah..." he snorted in displeasure. "Unbelievable."His vision had become cloudier as irritation started to fill his mind. His blood started to boil more and more. He was dangerously infuriated. "Owl. Yvonne."The two servants lunged down from the ceiling, creating an explosion of dust as they reached the wooden floorboards. With their heads down, they knelt and replied to Chaol obediently in synchronization.
With a light thud, the nameless Night Hallow fell into the bed of grasses. A sleek, wet blade pierced by his lung withdrew, leaving him onto the ground gasping for air.Asty slowly raised her head, her eyes blank and empty from confusion.A man stood still behind the injured body. He proceeds to kick his frail figure away from Asty's line of sight and then chuckled."Stop whining. You won't die from a single stab."Asty grabbed the speaker's leg and tightened her grip. "Why. Why did you do that? Just... why in the world, did you..""Oh come on," he replied. "I took the effort to rescue you and this is the reaction I get?"Asty raised h
Asty smiled sheepishly at him and withdrew her hand. She scratched the back of her nape and looked away. "It is late already. I should head back home now, my mother must be so worried. And probably, Noelle too."Chaol nods. "Of course."Thoughts swarmed inside his head. Asty was dangerously close to him. He could easily take her away if we wanted to. It was annoyingly irritating for him to see Asty's small figure all for himself. It was like, at any moment he would lose his mind. His urges, the feelings. They were uncomfortable for him. He had always been a patient man. But this time, he was itching so hard to control himself.Everything about her was just so damn irresistible and he was not sure if he could contain himself for much longer."Let's go
Asty tossed and turned above her bed. Her mind was boggled indisposition because of what the Count had confessed to her. She covered her cheeks with soft, white blankets and did not even care about the creature looking at her from the window.She was too busy trying to absorb what Chaol had told her. His dark voice etched into her brain like a tattoo."You are sold to me."Asty's exhausted eyes looked at the creature from the window, peeking at her. She heaved a sigh and whispered. "Are all of you Night Hallows just as unpredictable as he was?"The creature did not respond."I did not even expect that I had chosen to mend someone who had the chance to kill me. I mean, the count must be joking,
"Asty." the woman in a brown duster called keenly. Mrs. Pickinns walked towards Asty and Noelle with the two palace visitors behind her. They looked at each other for a good number of minutes until Noelle decides to break the tension.Asty hid behind Noelle, he glanced back at her and attempted to cover her. He then asked. "Mrs. Pickinns, what is going on?"The two visitors whispered something in Mrs. Pickinns' ear. She nodded a bit and closed her eyes as an expression. Noelle stood in front of Asty, covering her from them. His brows furrowed in an uncertain way. He then spoke lowly."May I ask what you are here for, kind Sirs?""Noelle, isn't it?" the captain of the Palace Guards acknowledges
The sun rose high and the sight of soaring towers emerged from behind the green mountains. As the galloping of the horses ceased more and more, Asty could hear the urban ambiance.She rested her head against the window's frame.Inside the carriage were Asty, Captain Ironfield and Instructor Yuran. They were all headed to the Capital to rendezvous with the King. The Instructor notices Asty's silence, so he tapped her shoulder to calm her down.Asty glanced over to the Instructor and found him, smiling pleasantly at her."You seem nervous," Yuran handed over a piece of candy. "I hope this eases you a bit."Asty smiled at him and took the candy from his palms. "Thank you, Sir."
Asty had never felt so suffocated before in her life. Every time she moved her fingers she was in a constant fear of doubt. Thoughts invading through her mind like there's no tomorrow. Why did the King invite her to a dinner? What is inside the envelope she had given him?"Nervous, aren't we?"It was now a common feeling for Asty these passing days. That feeling of an unusual and pining sense of danger. That feeling of uncertainty and having no knowledge of your environment. She was scared of it. She was so unsure that it frightened her.She pauses a while and looked at him a bit. "I-I am, I'm sorry Your Majesty, I can't help it.""Quite the honest one, you are." The King had finished his meal. The maids drew closer and took his used plate away.Seeing that he was done, Asty immediately rushed to eat her food. Every grain, every leaf, every chunk of meat. She gobbled them up. She wanted to finish to
“Your price."She stared at him with confused eyes. Her heart beating faster than it had once was. Her lips shivered and her teeth shuddered in terror. She contemplated for a few seconds what the King had told her. Then she realized.He was selling her someone."That... is very bold of you, Your Majesty." she fearfully whimpered. "I.."The King composed himself and took a step back to give her space to breathe. He directed his sight on her. She was trembling and she wanted to leave. She was trying to hold back her fright against his presence and knowing the type of woman that she is, he knew that she wouldn't want to disappoint him.At least that's what he believed in.
The bells rang from the distance. The woman with the bright orange hair stood behind the huge doors of the church. Her eyes were closed and a smile was evident on the woman's lips. Everything that she dreamed of was finally before her eyes. The moment had finally come. She opened her eyes and the doors finally parted ways. Her eyes fell to the long golden aisle that she so dreamt of walking one day. Beside it, on the benches, for all the people she loved and cared for. She felt her heart start pounding and racing faster and faster, when her bright persimmon orbs reached the center of the long corridor. There he stood, the love of her life, the apple of her eye, the man who taught her how to love. He had a smirk on his face and she just wanted to get over with that aisle wipe that smug grin off his face with a kiss. The music started. The harmonious synchronization of chorale brought everyone to their tears. Her mother who was standing also, in the aisle— staring at her beautif
Asty was walking around the palace when she noticed something strange everywhere. The maids seem to be avoiding her and she did not seem to see a single sentry guarding the gates.Everyone seems to be very busy and every time she would greet them they would only turn away."That's odd." she told herself. "They don't really act like this to me before."She walked around and around and even brought herself into the garden. But there was not a single person around.What was going on, she thought.She couldn't even find her friends anywhere in the Palace. She had woken up with absolutely nothing but the chirping of birds. She looked around to see if there was someone she can talk to.Yvonne wasn't there, Chaol wasn't there. Even her brother was not there."Where could they all have gone to?"She noticed that the maids were stealing glances at her. She would look at them and wave but then they would only avoid her gaze. A little bit
After being able to speak with her mother, Asty led the group to a path in the woods that led to a field of dandelions.They looked around and saw how beautiful it was. The sun was before them, and they could feel it burning through their skin, but even so— their eyes were fixed on the blanket of flowers that seemed to flow against the wind."This is so beautiful." Lana commented.Asty smiled at her. "This is where my mistress is buried.""Why isn't she buried in a proper grave?""That is because this is what she requested. That is a part of her will to be buried under the field of dandelions, chrysanthemums, and daisies. She wanted to face the sun and the skies. She wanted to look at the blanket of stars as she rested. That is what she imagined."They smiled at her and walked towards the field."I think it is better if we leave you be." Chaol told Asty, Yvonne, and Robynn. "I think you guys need more of an alone time with this,
Asty and the others were sent in a carriage that was intended to traverse them into the village of Erana. Asty watched as the sea of trees ran across her vision. She stared at it for a long amount of time before wondering something in her head.Chaol reached out to her head and made it rest on his shoulders."Is something troubling you?" he asked her."No nothing at all." She told him. "I was just wondering a few things.""Like what?""They are not very pleasant things." She told him and smiled. "It's best if I keep it to myself.""You can always tell me about it. I won't mind." Chaol smiled at her. "Is it because of the battle?""Yeah." she nodded. "Polo was... in pain. I didn't know that he had to go through all that that's why he became the way he was. He went after so many painful things in his life that I cannot even imagine happening to me.""You saw his memories?""I did." she nodded at him. "They were not very go
TWO WEEKS AFTER THE ECLIPSE WAREverything was starting to get better and better. The castle was finally starting to have its exterior and interior repair. It was not an easy path for them to take. The villagers that survived the war still had fear lingering inside their hearts. But nevertheless, even if there were fear and there was uncertainty, villagers continued to place their trust in the king. The king provided them with all the construction materials that they will be able to use to fix their houses that were crushed and broken during the war. While the villagers were singing their songs as they hammered their walls, a man came and frantically told them about the good news."Everyone, everyone! King is holding a celebration in the square! We must all go and watch it! Everyone's heroes will be displayed! And the parents of those who had lost their lives will be given compensation and medals for the achievement of their
Asty walked within the flames of the ground as she approached the lifeless corpse of her beloved. she clenched her fists upon seeing his torn body and closed her eyes as the tears streamed down from her face. There is no greater pain in the world than to lose someone you love.It is a pain that will be permanent inside your heart and will linger around for so many years. And she was not sure if she was prepared for that. Everything was so sudden, so fast, so abrupt. Did not know what to do or what to expect. The betrayal, the revelations, and then suddenly turning back the tables to prove that the ones she thought were the criminals were actually the innocent ones.She crouched on the ground and reached out to his cold body. What else can she expect? He is gone and he will never come back to her. The eclipse was an unfair event. The people viewed it as equal, but to her, it was only another cruel event.
"Please pull the lever, Polo!""I got it!"It was another day for the folks to work. Polo, who was now one of the known people in their village, was helping them with the fences against the wolves."Is that all for today?" the builders asked one another."Yeah I think so." he then looked at Polo. "Good work today, boy. Your wife must be so happy to have you around."A blush escaped from the male's cheek. He scratched the back of his nape while looking at them. "S-She isn't my wife, yet.""So when are you, lovebirds, planning the wedding?" one of them nudged his arm.Polo chuckled hesitantly, feeling pressured at their constant teasing. "We planned to do the ceremony on the fourth." he told them. "You guys are invited, of course.""That's what we'd like to hear!"They all gave Polo a smack in the back, a customary thing for them to do to and express their encouragement to their buddies.Minutes later, a familiar vo
Have you walked in the same path for so many years again and again?Have you ever wondered how tiring and exhausting it was to see the same things on your line of vision?Have you ever wondered if you'll ever be able to finally get a chance for a change?For the tenth moonchild, yes.Unable to find his true purpose of life, he found a vessel of his own and walked the lands of the earth for eons. He crossed seas and loitered in land, to find his very reason of living.It was unusual, for he could not find it.He would lift his head to the stars and ask the skies above if they could give him an answer of who he was, but his plight were mostly ignored. He was troubled.He did not know who he is.There he was, in the middle of a snowy mountain, surrounded by wolves and white-colored bears. The creatures did not pounce o
His soft flesh made way for the blade to sink inside.The tenth moonchild screamed in agony as he felt that searing pain as Asty's blood mixed with his and felt that burning sensation of the area, started to fizz.The laceration she had inflicted on him was deep. Polo crashed into the ground, as Asty's hands were still fully attached to the hilt of her sword. She looked at him with a cold expression and whispered against his ear, showing no ruth."It's over—"She was not able to finish her words. All of a sudden, Asty's head started to hurt.'Ah...' she winced inside her head. 'What is going on?'The woman's head felt like she was being drilled. She attempts to remove her hand from the hilt of her sword, but it wouldn't budge. She started at the glowing blade that was pierced onto his spine.In that brief moment, it felt like everything around