CHAPTER 8- BEFORE THE INCIDENT

LUNA QUARTZ

I loiter the place until I reached the town of Esther and the place is bustling with crowds and the people are shouting, selling their products, merchandise, newly fresh harvest vegetables and fishes, hoping someone would buy. Deafening and annoying at the same time. I hid under the shadow and calculated The sun's temperature. It still morning around 10 am. But as soon the clocks ticks 12. I need to go back to our headquarters. The sun is burning my flesh. And I went to a shaded tree for a while I blow on my burn to keep it cool. Ang hapdi niya talaga

I hid my arms under my cloak and properly pulling down the hood to cover my whole face from exposing to the light and went to the shadows of every houses and trees to take a shade; anything that has shadow on it. We can't stay long in the sun. But I had seen the rise of the dawn and it was an ineffable experience. And thanks to Big sis Vanessa her cloak save my life from this harsh weather.

I passed so many drunk soldier men and the unpleasant smells burn my nose. I didn't actually says that i Don't like alcohol. I just don't like the smell of men. I covered my nose passing them and secretly pulling out their purse with a bags of golds in it, grimacing and hid them to my pocket. Another jackpot

I saw a lot of scouts passing the town for patrol and highly securing the place against us after Luna Ziegler attacked the carriage and bring home the gold and later give them to charity.

Pity for this soldiers. They highly trained themselves but they're still stupid for not capturing any of us and even gathering data is complicated for them. They didn't even knew what we look like but reimagined us a beast that lurking in the night. I slightly doing a samba and slowly passed them as I entertained them with my dance. Human on the other hand are simple creature. They have been fooled and my pocket is full. I sat down to the bench watching the banks. Securing their gold bars inside. Can't wait to get them tonight. My hands are itching for excitement.

"Target lock 12 o'clock" i maniacally laughed and stand. Lumabas ang babae'ng may dalang susi sa banko and I followed her secretly behind. As she past so many merchants, I glide there and simply pulled out her key but the guards stop me by blocking the path and I almost flop. They withdraw their weapons at me. I smirk while holding the key, raising my hands as a sign of surrender.

"Thief!"

"Thief, me? nah must be mistaken bruh, just buying myself a snack why is that a crime?"

"Ilabas mo na ang ninakaw mo kung ayaw mo masaktan!"

Owwss his threatening me

"Bring me my keys back! you thief!" Sigaw ng babae at nginisihan ko lang siya. Just showing her that I ain't guilty at all. Well being a theft is easy not unless your busted.

"Tsk tsk.. You got the wrong man I mean woman. Look its just chocolate." sabay nguya ko ng susi at napatunayan ko naman. Before I plan this. I asked for the help of my fellow Luna to make a fake key. The guts tells me that robbing that bank will be a success and it's tonight. Plan A was a success no need for my plan B. The Run and hide.. "No one tells me that eating chocolate is a crime and for your information. I'm a lady not a child. So gusto nyo akong hulihin. Heres my hand" abot ko pa ng kamay ko sa kanila para talian nila at hulihin ako. They changes their mind as I normally acted innocent.

"We're so sorry for we mistook you --"

"Don't be, everyone made mistakes.."

Umalis naman sila at humingi ng patawad sakin. Nagbow naman ako at kiss the real key and when to the tavern at umiikot ikot sa upuan then cross my legs and put out the money and ordered some wine.

"You seems blissful" sambit ng bartender and I tap my fingers on the table.

"I won a lottery today"

"Good for you. Must be your lucky day"

"Yeah. So i'm here to celebrate"

"And I got something for you" he poured a wine on my cup. This wine is only for VIPs and yeah as i took a drink the liquor hits the spots. It's perfectly delicious!!

I left the tavern while eating the last  pie and I heard the people screaming in panic at napatabi ako sa dumaang kwarwahe at bilis nakong umalis nang magsilabasan na ang mga scout ng palasyo.

⚜⚜⚜

I stop at the boulder and pull out my moonstone necklace and find the keyhole. Nang malagay ko na suminag ito at bumukas ang malaking bato patagilid. Our secret passage way to our head quarters. My soul left out of my body for a second as I saw our big sister Luna Vanessa waiting inside with her sour face.

"Luna Quartz!!! How many times do i have to tell you we weren't allowed to go out on a day light!"

I get scolded again "I'm sorry. Just want a fresh ai--"

"What! Fresh air?! Look what happen! If you exposed to much in the sun, You'll die! You funkin idiot! Luna Ziegler come here idiot!!!"

"Yes? what, what i'm coming! I'm coming... Oww.. oww" Napangiwi ako ng gumulong si kuya sa hagdan habang nataranta sa sigaw ni Ate luna Vanessa. She's the big sister of lunarian. We are half blooded pixies and we were known for our biggest crime on Zethara's.  Our target for today is Estheria. The kingdom of that naive princess whose soon to rule the kingdom and had fewer knowledge about our existence.

Far from the east side our fairy became a slave there but in this kingdom they do nothing but kill every single one of us. I won't forgive humanity for making us slave and be under their command.

Dinampot ako ni bother Luna Ziegler na parang maliit na bata at nilagay ako sa sofa at ginamot ang napaso kong balat but as long as  my burn healed. The tattoos that marked of his abilities, healing are fading. As long as he uses his ability his slowly loosing his half pixies. Kaunti nalang ang kanyang tattoo dahil karamihan sa'ming lunarian. Umuuwing  pasa at minsan duguan pa.

"I'm sorry kuya"

"Its fine. Wag ka ngang matigas ang ulo tatanda si Big sister sayo Luna Vane" he smile and pat my head. I wasn't actually listening to him but my attention was on his tattoo "Don't mind this mark of gift"

"But still..."

"Good noon everyone!" Sabay lagay niya ng mga ginto sa harap ng pinto at humugot ng malalim na hininga. Grinning ear to ear for his achievements.

"Kuya anyari sayo!!" Nashocked kame kase nagmukha tinapang sunog na isda  si Luna Eva. Umuusok usok pa siya at binatukan siya ni kuya Ziegler at kinasungadngad niya. Pinagalitan talaga siya at basehan sa pagiging matigas ang ulo mana ako kay kuya Eva. Kame ang takasero sa headquarters namin. Lumalabas ako ket daylight.

I went up to the halls and lit up the torches. I stop at the portrait of my beloved lunarian. Marami kami dati at ngayon apat nalang kame. The messenger is going extinct. I can't stand if that day comes that are race will be erase from existence. I won't let it happen. Sampu kaming half blooded pixies and anim ang nasawi samin dahil sa mga bantay ng palasyo. Nasa ibaba ang mga moonstone key nila. Ako ang bunso saming apat.  Ang dating big sister namin ay si Drexien kaso naglaho at sabay sabay silang naubos.

My moonstone key is beaming and I went down and they have waited for me on the living room "No time to loose the Empress is waiting for our arrival. Meron na naman sigurong nangyaring masama. Hopefully the Empress is fine" sabi ni ate at mabilis na naming binalot ng aming katawan ang cloak at idinikit niya ang palad niya sa salamin at unti unti itong naging lugasan.

Dumaan kame sa sanga ng aming sacred palace tree and saw everyone greeted us. The place is so big kaso its been long rotten by the gossips of mankind. But as long as this tree is alive theres still hope for us. May mga batang naglalaro at binibigyan nila ako ng treats at buong puso ko namang tinanggap. Nang makarating na kame sa pinto ng palasyo pinagbuksan naman kame ng mga gwardia.

The lights was blinding and my feelings began to flicker inside me. Seeing our magnificent superior safe. She's expecting us. We bow down to her gracefully. She's so beautiful her beauty is far more enchanted. She never ages.

"My dear subject. My deepest condolence upon the lost of our fairies. They have been abducted from their nest and many of them died and some are missing. I know they're alive, the energy keeps bugging me till now. I trust you lunarian to bring them back here safe"

"You can count on us Empress Syrielle. Don't exhaust yourself to much, we assure you they'll come back here alive"

"I hope so"  The Empress was so depressed and leaned on the wings that have been preserve. The remains of our beloved Emperor. "I trust you with all my heart, be safe"

The prince wants to be part of us but we are afraid to take him to the outside the border. We can't save him lalo na kapag mahuli siya ng di namin alam. Our big sister was killed upon my negligence and cowardness as I encountered human and I did nothing that day but trembling on my spot, crying while men are laughing at me with their weapons.

There she rescued me in the midst of death and hopelessness in my eyes. blood shattered everywhere and metal clang was heard and a loud cried of men.

I couldn't sleep from the brutal memory that I want to forget. I wont let that that's why I trained so hard to protect our Superior.

Umalis din kame pagkatapos at bumaba kame sa ugat ng sacred tree and went to the longest bridge through dwarf fairies. They are families and they're the hopes of the plants but the arrogant of men with greed, pride heart, split our reunion. They didn't knew what they have done. They blame us for their dying lands. Their croft and orchards are been impested. Without having a thought of that fairies had than nothing but help them.

Di maalis sa isipan ko na bat napakasama ng tingin nila samin. Bat nila ginagawa to at pinapahirapan kame. But power is power. Knowledge and freedom are still being  ignored by so many. They have forgotten the seven sacred virtues of lives. They didn't knew they allied with the seven sins. And now our world is hunted by the soldiers and armies Zethara.

Paunti unting hinahatid kami ng mga ugat sa kabilang empire. Hanggang sa marating na namin ang bayan nilang sinalanta ng mga tao. Minsan nakakatakot na talaga sila. Gusto nilang angkinin ang lahat para lang sa kapakanan nila. Di sila nakokontento.

Dumaan lang kame sa kanilang mga tahanan at wala ni isang nakaligtas sa kamay ng mga tao lahat sila nawala. Patuloy na kaming lumakad hanggang sa marating na namin ang bayan ng mga tao at makulilim na at mukhang maghahating gabi na at nasalpak pa si kuya eva sa nakaharang na putol na punong kahoy. Inalalayan lang siya ni ate at iniluwa pa nito ang kain niyang putik. Nakakatawa talaga si kuya Luna eva ket pilitin niyang magseryoso pero epic na epic talaga siya.

But my emotion went down to sorrow. Seeing the forest tear down and they piled it up and sell it without even replacing a new one. Human's are killing the planet. Like they own it even God is the one who made it, humans are greedy enough to share this land to other species they take it for granted. Do they even have a heart?

Naghiwa hiwalay na kame and I went to the street and climb up to the tower at biglang tunog ang bell na muntikan ko pang ikabagsak sa baba dahil sa pagkabigla. I hardly close my ears dahil sa lakas ng tunog. Nainis ako dito at sinuntok ko. By my stupidness I hurt myself at napahalik ako sa kamao ko. Parang nabalian ako ng buto.

Para akong maiyak iyak dahil nasugatan pa pala ako. Muntikan ko pang suntukin ang bell pero di ko nalang tinuloy. I jump on the roof and saw Luna Eva from afar sitting at the chimney. He wave at me and I wave back. And hid as I saw a soldier marching, patroling the place again. I jump down and sneak and im Lucky tonight, the heaven is on my side. There's a human clothes hanging and I immediately grabbed and wore it. And had my way to the town like a normal people.

May mga nadaanan akong nag iinuman at gumewang gewang na sila ng lakad at sabay naman silang gumulong sa mga damuhan at nakatulog may isa namang lumapit at inabutan ako ng pera.

"Bayad" sabay sinok pa nito at napahagok at bumagsak sakin. Napahalik siya sa dibdib ko at nasampal ko siya tsaka umatras at pinahiran ang dibdib ko. I shivered and the alcohol is so nasty on my nose.

May lumapit naman na lalake at inabot ko sa kanya ang bayad. Isang waiter at kilala ko siya dahil mahilig akong maglibot libot dito. Pinahintay niya ako ng ilang saglit at inabutan ako ng sukli at binalik ko naman sa lalake na natutulog sa cemento.

"Ang bait mo naman binibini"

"Tangna mukha ba akong babae?! Patawag nga ng karwahe para ihatid sila sa tahanan nila" utos ko at tumakbo naman ito at tumawag ng karwahe at mabilis namang dumating at inalalayan silang lahat na ipasok dun

Umalis na din naman ako "Amph miss" napahinto ako ng tawagin niya ako at di rin ako nag alinlangan lumingon sa kanya Ng masama ang tingin

"Hindi ako babae"

"Oh sorry it's just. I haven't seen you around. Bago kalang ba dito?"

"Di lang talaga ako lumalabas"

I leave him and went to the palace. I look up and saw a lot of guards securing the place. I need tactics. They royalties are on the move. Naglakad lakad lang ako at nililingon pakunwari ang lugar na maaring maging lusutan ko sa gate at makapasok ng palasyo. I jump on a branch and roam my eyes at

Nakita ko ang pagsidlak sidlak ng moon key ko sa bulsa at dali dali akong nagtago at itinambad ko sa liwanag ng buwan. Big sister is calling.

"Luna retreat for now. Luna eva has been--"

"Has been what?" Kinabahan na ako dahil sa boses palang halatado na masamang balita.

"Murdered..."