CHAPTER 25- MISSION II

LUNA QUARTZ

We have arrived. As the sun slip below the horizon the soft muted colors of twilight begin to climb the western sky.

The sea was vaporously exhaling it's mist- the flowing of the tides was languorous. We left the dockyard and the beauty of the night came and blanket the sky. The breeze of the salted air were fresh with mix smell of sea weeds.

The princess and that Luna Crest are leading us the way and find a place where we can rest. I slowly pick out the knife in my pocket and look around the corner just in case. I need to be alarm after all this is not Estheria anymore but Andalia. Lamp post on the streets were lit up and the beautiful lantern were hanging on each houses. I heard the bell chimes on a nearby chapel and the people on the streets are on their way to their home.

This town seems pity for my eyes. The place we're sitting on a plain drought soil and even the plants are impossible to survive in such place. There might be a family of plant that can survive such hot temperature like cactus.

This town somehow reminded me back to my hometown Zenith, I was too young enough to witnessed the wrath of miasma spreading our borders. The power of empress became weak. That day she locked herself on her room for the lost of our Emperor in the war and even the deaths of our senior lunarian.

Humans are immune to miasma because they aren't affected at all.

That's why we high rank fairies can't go out freely in the sun when we past the human border.

I saw an old man sitting behind the walls of the gates and there was an umbrella and a dirty rug on the ground like it was his home. But not just one. There is more of em. They're homeless people whose left alone by those stupid rulers. Who didn't even help them or find them a shelter. What's the purpose of having a crown if they didn't even help the voices of their people, suffering like this.

Humanities are dumb!

We stop on a large building and later entered and they payed for the rental.

We're on room 034 and the place is worth it but the bathroom screams horror to me. I hate dirt specially human. Their shit smells horrible.

"Wow" dinig kong pagkaplastic na sabi ni ate na halatang nandidiri sa kwarto "Ang linis naman" she said, and it's too obvious that's she's being sarcastic and shiver as her eyes surveyed the place. "Eww" she brush the dirt off her shoulders and glanced up. Dush danced down from the ceiling.

The princess shock me when she tore up her dress, up her knees showing her flawless skin and it's blinding, my innocent eyes!! The boys turn their faces away and a few drop of blood came out from their nostrils.

She crack her knuckles and grab a broom. "What are we waiting for?"

"Finally someone notices, I'm actually allergic to dirt" said Ate Vanessa and grab the mop "Boys ano man? You want me to yetted you outta here?"

Until a few moment. I'm left alone standing while all of them working together cleaning the entire apartment. Cleaning every corners and swiping the ceiling. I rub my eyes to know if it wasn't a dream. Because they literally working together!

"Catch!!" Sigaw ni ate at napaupo ako sa bigat ng cellophane na may lamang mga gamit ng mga tao na dating nakarenta dito. Bukod na nga sa bwesit napaka dugyot pa nila maglinis ng iniwan nilang basura

Lumabas na ako habang dala dala ang dalawang supot ng basura. I past many doors and heard someone moaning nearby and heard a clapping sound but it's weird for me. Nevermind.

I whistle and I ignore it and walk down the stairs and give space to those people whose about to ascend the stairs and past me. There are many people on the lobby and the guard was being a gentleman and open the doors for me.

I went to the corner side of the apartment and dump the trash. And went back but something caught my eyes and I rushed immediately beside the wall and secretly peeped on them from a distance, having a serious meeting. There's a lady walking together with a fairy. Yes a fairy, those broken wings were the evidence that this fairy is now under the command of that woman. Now that fairy is like Luna Crest. An Erebus.

Those types of fabrics and numerous layer worn is a symbol of wealth. It Indicates that woman might be a part of an aristocrats or any highest rank in the royal family. I hid as I senses its about to look at my direction. The Erebus might have senses someone is watching them.

Ang mga senses ng tulad namin fairy ay napakabilis kesa sa mga tao.

I take a look at once and they're already on the carriages. I glance up and saw a tower and those shadows of the mountains surrounding the place. She's heading to the palace. My ears twitch and I pick out my knife and blocked the kunai and it landed somewhere far away. I jump backwards and throw my knife and his hood slip and I found that his not a man but a woman. Purple monolid eyes, Ash grey hair. Slender body hiding inside her coat with a broken wings. So this is the fairy that I've see earlier

"Lunarian. I must say you have a strong reflexes.." she summond the kunai and I heard a whoosh sound and I tilt my head a little and the she catch the kunai in the thin air if I didn't move my head that kunai will crash my skull "You have sharp ears too. Such honor to meet a lunarian in person" she bowed gently, showing her respect. We are third cousins by blood.

"Gadalean" I said with a bit stunned on my voice and cast a pity look at her and she put her kunai back " How did that lady own you?"

"I can't remember because I have different master and she's the last to pick me after been sold many times and brought me here to Andelen.. wait why are here did someone bought you too.."

"No, We came here to find the Fonesian they are here as an act of trades.."

"Trade you say.." she stop and look somewhere like something is familiar.

"May nabalitaan kabang ganon" diretso kong tanong

"Familiar.. You mean the trade from Estheria? But I thought is just something that will help our kingdom from its dying economy. Fairy being trade? That's absurd!" she said while brushing her fingers on her chin and then glance at me "How do you know about this, Ikaw lang ba mag isa dito.." napahinto siya at tinago ako sa likuran at may nakita akong mga gwardia na dumaan.

"You're countess sylphina's fairy assistant what are you doing here alone in the middle of the night? And whose that person's behind you?"

"..Ah she's with me" she said with a lil stuttering on her voice "Were heading to the palace I just came here for a walk and buy something for my master"

The four men narrowed their eyes to me. I remain calm but my chest is pounding fast. I just slightly bowed my head to ease their suspicions on me

"Just hurry malapit na ang curfew"

"Aye sir, I'm on my way" she said and the men march and past us without further questions.

Medyo nakalma na ako at bumuga ng malalim sabay kapa ng dibdib ko. Humarap Siya sakin "Sabihin mo sakin ang tungkol sa trade...

"We'll save your ear, those box sealed that was sent here are fairies, we were on a mission to save them but going to that palace is impossible but thankfully that idiot princess is here to help us.."

"A princess you say, my sounds interesting.." napatigil naman ako ng panliitan niya ako ng mata. Kinabahan ako na parang may kakaiba sa kanya."There's a princess mention I heard when I was on the meeting with the noble council. I forgot her name but she must be the reason of announcing an alliance of the North.." Hindi naman siguro tatraydurin ako ng kauri ko. A slight grin slips her mouth. "Well, well, well thank you for that I'll report this to my countess.."

"You traitor!" I began to hissed at her and preparing myself to attack, her actions already gives a hint of betrayal of her own kind how can I be so stupid! But before I could attack her, she walk past me and I kick her but she blocked it with her own hand push my feet away and dust off those dirt off her shoulders.

"The trade is on the way to the palace. I already knew about the trade before you, my countess will begin their ritual by three days after the ball"

"You knew but you didn't even.."

"I didn't betrayed my kind, Maybe it is. My life is chained by human which means. I live only to serve her command even it's a crime. My countess is waiting for me, hope to see you soon with that princess. The Grand witches will be awaiting for her. Could it be princess Esthelian..."

"..how"

"So it's princess Esthelian? But I heard she died... oh whatever thank you for being stupid" a blast of wind almost created a sand storm and yet it didn't last long and the sand storm disappeared together with her.

I never felt so disappointed from my own kind and I'm blame for this. I'm not gonna make any mistake again. I must warn others for this.

I rushed back to the apartment and saw everyone placing the plate on the table while Kuya Ziegler and that Luna Crest are cooking. "Oh Ayan dumating na kanina kapa sa labas malayo ba yung basurahan?"

"You okay Luna Quartz bat pinagpapawisan ka at namumutla, may nangyari ba?"

"Halla pinagpawisan, may workout na gaganap....aray" tinapunan ko siya ng plastic na bas sa mukha na kinatigil niya

"Baliw ka talaga kuya.." sinara ko na ang pinto. Nagdadalawang isip akong mag sumbong sa kanila at may kasalanan ako dun pero malay ko rin na traydor itong sa angkan namin..

"Oyy Luna okay kalang?" Ate Vanessa snaps her fingers at me. Nilakasan ko lang ang loob ko at hinablot si ate papuntang balkonahe "you seems weird.. what happen?" Her voice became serious and I laid my back to the wall and covered my face

"I encountered a Gadalean"

"A healing fairy? Well that's good.."

"No it's not"

"What d'you mean? what happen?"

"It's a long story but about the fairies being trade in this kingdom she was aware of it"

"Don't tell me you slip your mouth again. Don't tell me it's an Erebus"

I nodded my head "I'm sorry"

Ate Vanessa heave a deep sighed and a misty smoke came out from her mouth and she sounded so frustrated and clucked in disbelief. She stomp her foot and went back inside and tell them what happen when I was away. I slightly peep at them and Luna Ziegler's head turn to me shook his head in disappointments.

It happens again, I'm so stupid. That day I happens to be with our senior lunarian. We're on patrol. My tears drop and I sat beside the balustrade and hug my knees and buried my head. I make the same mistake again.