The Last Luna : Chapter Five

Luna Mystery

A harmonious sound of a colossal horn welcomed us. It was an ivory-skinned horn, with crystals and pearls on its mouth. An average-sized woman was standing on its side, ignoring the loud blare that the horn can make. She’s wearing an Anne Boleyn Gown, I guess, and she folded her fan and placed it on a small desk on her back. She was extraordinarily charming. Her milieu, seen from where she was standing, was like filled with numerous and colorful flowers, that attracts us, the bees.

Ceira and I sat the middle of a nice, stilted chair and a massive table that holds colorful bags and a white envelope on each top. I neither touch nor open the package on my front. It was then when I remembered about something.

“Hey, Ceira, tell me. Are you a student of Lady Eve Academy?”, I suddenly asked. I let her to drag me in this place without knowing her completely, or at least just knowing if she was a co-student.

“Of course. Every girl who rode on that plane was. Don’t you know it?”, said Ceira.

“Obviously no. I can’t get it. The airport was also the school?”, I asked again.

“No. Can you remember the gas?”

“Yes.”

“It was a strategy, or more like a protection. Others knew Lady Eve Academy as a school for geniuses and of course, graceful girls. Say, how did you enroll here?”, she asked.

“Oh. I don’t know. It was my grandfather who told me that I am going to study here. And then, my aunt informed me that she already enrolled me.”, I said, confused.

“Really? That’s odd. Have you never been here?”

“No. NEVER BEEN HERE.”, I emphasized.

“Wow. How can I explain this? Have you heard of the word Gnome?”, she asked.

“Yes. Gnome is a mythical creature. Earth-dwellers?”

“Yes, it is. I’m an example.”, she said.

“No you’re not.”, I said, not trusting her.

“I’ll show you, at night.”, she said.

Funny girl. Psycho. “Sure.”

“I am not kidding.”, she said, seriously.

“I actually don’t mind if you are, Ceira. Just tell me whatever you knew about this school.”, I pleaded.

She was about to begin when the woman on the front said “Hi.”. It was then when I noticed that the hall was half-filled with girls on my age.

“Good evening to all of you. Welcome to Lady Eve Academy.”, she started. It was like she was telling a story to kids.

“I am Elmira Aylett, the Head-Mistress of Lady Eve Academy. First of all, I would like to praise you for facing such a challenge. As what I saw just this evening, I can feel that you are very comfortable with each other, which is a good thing, of course.”

I looked at the red-haired girl. Her friends don’t look like comfortable.

“Second, all the books and the rules and regulations of the school was on the table.”, she said as she pointed on every table. All in all, she pointed three.

“Please read them before taking a sleep. Good news, there is no school tomorrow. Feel free to visit each of the school’s room and facilities. I want each one of you to be aware of our lovely Alma Matter. That’s all for today, you can proceed to your rooms.”, she said. She has a lovely voice and a deep-dimple on her left cheek. She was incredibly pretty, I swear.

Room? Where the hell is it?

“Ladies!”, an old woman shouted. She got her attention, bravo.

“I am Lucia Poll. I’ll show you the way to your bedrooms. Please form a pair. Now!”

Scary, I thought. Ceira hold my hand. I hold her back.

We went out of the hall. Lucia opened a door and we entered it. It was dark at first, but as we passed by, the torched seem to have a flame. Amazing!

“Here. First pair! Write the name on the paper and get the keys on me! Faster! We all want to sleep early!”, she yelled. God. She’s scaring us.

We all followed her. Ceira and I got the room 5, out seven. We are going to enter when Lucia yelled again.
“Your stuffs are on the end of the corridor!”

Oh my. We all went and raced to the end of the said corridor. I easily searched out my bags, since Amelia tied the lavender ribbon of Georgia on them. Excellent.

Room 05 was on the left side or the corridor, if you’re from the stairs. The corridor was creepy, since Lucia’s odor was left, but the other side of our door was great. There are two single beds; each has a pale blue pair of bed sheet and comforter. The beds are parallel with each other. Between the two beds are two study tables, and two lamps. Opposite the beds are two closets. Keys were hanging on the lock.

“Can I have the one nearer to the window?”, I asked Ceira.

“Of course.”, she said cheerfully.

I took a step on the burnished floor. I made no sound. It was good. I suddenly noticed that there was a door beside Ceira’s closet. She opened it, curious too.

“A bathroom.”, she said.

“Pink-painted walls with flowers as design. The tub was big! And oh, there was also a window. Lynette, run to the window near your bed! Please!”

I obeyed. I ran to the window and looked on my left. Ceira was waving on a smaller window.

“There was a window in here! HAHA.”, she said happily.

“That’s good. Ventilation, I think. Can you describe more?”, I asked.

:Of course. There’s one towel hanger, a lavatory, as I said earlier a large tub, a body-sized mirror, a basket for clothes, bowl, and to my disappointment, a cabinet of first-aid kit.”, she said. And then I saw here on the door, dancing.

“You hate blood?”, I asked.

“Yes. A lot.”, she admitted.

I looked at the sky. It was already filled with lots of stars.

“Know what? Odin made stars and the sky and the moon and the sun.”, I said.

“Who’s Odin?”, she asked.

“A Norse God.”, I answered.

“Oh. Hey, you love studying?”

“Yes. That’s all I can do inside the house.”, I said.

“Aw. I don’t like it. Boring.”, she said. I smiled.

“I must unpacked my things now. You too, Ceira.”, I said.

She nodded, then we start doing our things. I placed all of my clothes and accessories on my closet and the books on my table. I took a cold shower and wore a chemise.

“You won’t take a shower?”, I asked Ceira as soon as I finished.

“Later. You’re asking something earlier.”, she said.

“Oh yeah, I am. About this school-thing.”, I said.

“Have a seat, it’ll belong. Ready?”, she warned.

“For anything. Go, Ceira.”, I gave her a Go Sign.

“On ancient times, people, especially the Greeks believed on the power brought by the Four Classic Elements – air, water, earth and fire. But as time passed by, this belief faded, but not on the sacred place of Stonehenge in England. During the times, a King named Hansel sacrificed the life of his precious wife just to summon the spirit of the moon.”

“The moon?”, I asked. Why not the sun?

“The sun was the symbol used by their enemies. So King Hansel believed that the moon can defeat the sun. So, he summoned the moon, which was named Luna. Luna agreed to help King Hansel by giving the night-counterparts of the four classic elemental powers, but in one condition. Luna needed a body that time, but she needed a clean and a virgin, dead body. King Hansel informed Luna that his wife, which was actually his mistress, was still a virgin and unharmed or untouched. Luna agreed to merge with the king’s wife. As promised, Luna gave King Hansel’s four children, two boys and two girls the power that can defeat the Sun Army. The youngest, named Salamander had the power of the fire, the youngest girl named Gnome got the stronger power of Earth, the eldest lady named Undine controlled the water, stronger that Salamander’s and Gnomes’, and Sylph, the oldest of all the siblings manipulated the wind. They successfully defeated the Sun Army on just 29 nights, since they attacked when the sun has set. Then, King Hansel and his kingdom received the peace that they wished.”

“What happened to Luna? Did she die?”

“No, though they believe that she was reincarnated. Since the king’s wife was just ordinary, Luna’s body started to age. So what she did was she transferred her soul to a teen. It happened on a new moon.”

“There’s no moon.”, I murmured.

“Yes. She did it on a new moon on a purpose. For the times that she spent as the king’s mistress, she learned to love the children that possessed her powers. Since there’s no moon, the children became weak, which threatened the whole kingdom. She did the ritual on a new moon so that the new Luna, who was a lot stronger made by her young body and less experience in making sin, can supply the energy needed by the children. Since then the rituals of being a luna was made on a new moon.”, she explained dramatically. Her hands and her body swayed, as if she was telling a story on a theater.

“What about the salamander and company?”, I asked.

“Those who are born on a Full Moon possessed a power depending on what the color of the moon was when they’re born. Ceiron and I were born with a yellow full moon. And we are Gnomes. WE possessed the power of the Earth.”, she elucidated.

“Why? I mean, we can not just study.”, I said.

“The prophecy about the rise of the Sun Army is near. Just a year, I think. They are just getting ready for anything that may happen. They’re training us.”, she said.

“What if they attacked in the morning?”, I asked again.

“That’s what Miss Aylett is for. She’s our source of energy.”

“Or I think not”, she added.

“And why?”

“I think her health was imperfect for holding such a strong power. She had an asthma. She needs to pass her power, before the lunar eclipse comes.”

“Lunar eclipse?”, I asked.

“Yes. Another time when there’s no moon. There’s no source. She needs a stronger new Luna.”

“What are the signs of being the next luna?”, I asked.

“I don’t know. I think that’s a confidential one.”, answered Ceira.

“Oh. I still don’t know what my power is. What if I don’t have such power?”, I asked.

“Of course not. If you’re an ordinary woman, you’re surely a corpse now. Ordinary person can’t live when he or she already inhaled that gas. It’s a poison for them.”, she said.

"Are you going to read the rules and regulations?', she added.

"Maybe tomorrow. It wasn't that important for me.", i answered.

"I'll copy you, Lynette-sama.", she said.

“You’re a Japanese?”

“Yes.”

“You are a good English speaker. Thanks for everything, Ceira. I really appreciated it.”, I said sincerely.

“Thank you. It’s my pleasure. And oh, I am enjoying speaking your language.”, she said then she smiled. She was cute, especially when she was giggling. Ishikawa. I’ll remember that name forever.

“Arigatou.”, I said. She looked surprised.

“O yasuminasai, Ceira-kun.”, I added.

“You knew how to-! Oh. Doo itashimashiite, Lynette-sama. O yasuminasai!”, she said back, doing the Japanese bow. I clapped my hands once and bent over.

I trapped myself with the warm comforter and let my thoughts about going home to vanish and disappear. I already missed my Grandpa and Amelia and Mike and Aunt, but not Nathaniel. Never.

I found myself sleeping with the soothing sound of the air that was freely entering on the window. Though I am asleep, I can hear Ceira’s squeak while sleeping. And oh, I heard a strange sound. It was like a flute, and it’s appeasing the part of me that wanted to go back home in Oxford. I still don’t know lots of things about this academy. But since Ceira told me that story, I can’t stop my nerves from shaking, or jumping. I don’t know why, but I can feel something inside me that was so happy whenever it heard the word “Luna”.

“Luna.”, a sweet-voiced whispered on my ear. I knew it.