The Child of Moon

There was a woman, dressed in a shabby clothes looking at a boy with disdain in her eyes, her house wasn't great either they both had to live in a shed, and in winter there was no way to warm themselves. The boy could feel his legs and hands going numb, he saw the woman boiling some water. "Mom, can you give some of that to me, I feeling so cold". Hearing to this the woman turned around with rage in her eyes, "You want water, you bastard", with that she took a glass of boiling water and threw it towards him," DIE YO—!!".

With that Kauri's eyes opened, he was sweating, that was a strange dream that he had not seen for quite a long time. His body still was tired, it took him a moment to recall everything. Gibor, the fight with the dragon and getting that slash on his stomach. He slowly stood up, looking at his stomach and it was healed. Stitches had been made, it was closed which was a relief for him. A moment ago he said to Idris that he would help him defeat the demon king and when he dies, that would have been disastrous. 

Then he looked where he was. It was one of the rooms in the palace but a thousand times more luxurious than where he had been sleeping until now. "This bed is larger than the house I lived in," he thought. Then, he looked on his side. There Anushna was. She was sleeping while sitting on a seat right beside his bed.

Due to the commotion he was causing, she woke up too, and slowly she opened her eyes. And then suddenly jumped from her seat," You are awake, finally!!". She screamed.

"Yeah", he answered.

"Does it hurt or any other issue like weakness or something?", she asked.

"Yeah no, everything is fine, I am just weak, there is just one thing", he slowly covered his bare chest and said," Can I get my jacket back."

The jacket he was talking about was right now being worn by Anushna, it was battered up in the fight but right now it is as good as new. "Really, you are a guy why are you so shy like that!!", and with that, she quickly threw the jacket towards him.

Quickly wearing it he answered," Being shy has nothing to do with gender, I just don't like showing much skin."

"But tell me is everyone fine?" he asked her in a much more serious tone.

"Yes, thanks to you and your friends, there were not many casualties, most damage was taken by the buildings. Right now, there is work still being done on the palace, that's why you were placed here, in the king's room."

"The King's Room!!", exclaimed Kauri.

"Yeah, but he was the one who ordered so. The roof of the meeting room was still being fixed and he didn't want to disturb you from recovering properly," she explained.

"I would have to thank him later", he murmured.

"Yes", she said with a smile, "but there is someone whom you should thank before anyone else, so tell me who is it?"

After thinking for a brief moment, he gave off a gentle smile," Yes, of course, I must thank Idris."

"NO!!", she cried.

"Then, the person who stitched me up", he said cluelessly.

"NO!!, you should thank the person who cared for you the whole time, you were asleep!!", she screamed.

"Wait, was I fainted for long, how long has it been? don't tell me I was asleep for years", he screamed.

"So, it is not what is important. And why do you care if its been ages, it's not like your hair will go grey", he answered back.

"What do you mean, doesn't matter. I have lost so much time, as Idris already defeated the demon lord?", he asked.

With seeing no way out of this, she explained," It was me who took care of you, for the past week you have been asleep. From day till night."

"Oh", he answered and then he bowed a bit down, as much as his wound let him and said," Thank you very much, I am very grateful for everything you have done for me."

Hearing this Anushna started giggling again, and jokingly slapped his back," Oh we are friends you know, you don't have to say such things." which made him cry in pain.

Later, he got up and went on a small walk with her, she was supporting him as he still was not at his best, as they went around Kauri could see a lot of ministers, soldiers and maids looking towards him, giving a gentle smile and then walking away.

"What's up with them?", asked Kauri.

"You saved them from the white dragon, that's why they are showing respect for you", she answered back.

"That was my job, nothing much", added Kauri,

"No, they respect you the cause of what you have done and hence it doesn't matter if you are a hero or a peasant. For them, you are a saviour."

As they walked the priest came in front of them, he had one of his arms broken during the attack and so it was in a cast right now. They greeted each other.

"Are you alright, Sir?", asked Kauri.

Listening to that, the priest gave off a laugh and said," other than my hand being crushed everything is great, but Kauri, you should think of yourself more. Those injuries of yours were much more severe, tell me how the stitches are holding."

"They are great, I feel that I am already quite well, there is just a little bit of pain whenever I turn around other than that I am fine, thanks to you."

"There is no need for that, young man. You have saved us all, I was just paying back the debt. I knew you would do big things, but this quickly, even I could not have predicted it."

After saying so, the priest left as he had a meeting with the king, the city was still being built and the priest being one of the wisest men was an important asset to the kingdom. People were working hard to build back the nation. No more they have to fear a dragon attacking their nation thanks to the heroes and also having their beloved princess safe. They all were quite motivated to work, but here was Kauri unable to do much alone, he was being taken care of by the princess.

"Don't worry I can do it myself", said Kauri.

"I am not at all worrying", said the princess as she shoved grapes in Kauri's mouth," but you have to gain your strength, once you are in good shape. You will be awarded a medal by my father. All your party members are already been awarded only you are left."

"Ok", he murmured," but where are they? I have not seen any of them, anywhere in the whole building."

"Yeah, 'cause they are gone on a mission, it is outside of the city. It may take them a few days for them to return."

Hearing that Kauri got a bit sad, Anushna could understand that he was sad because he was unable to be of any help, right now and so she changed the topic." hey, let's go there", she started to drag him to the tree where they trained for magic.

Touching the tree gently, Anushna remarked," I could have never thought of any single thing that happened a week ago, with that white dragon and you."

"Yeah."

Then suddenly she turned around and asked him," So tell me what it was like, where you grew up. I mean what you did, what kind of games you played and so on?".

For a moment, he thought and said," There is not much to tell."

" But still, we are friends. You tell me. I don't even know your full name yet."

"Kauri Agathis", he answered," but you didn't tell yours either."

"Wait, you didn't know. I thought they all must have told you already, anyway", she answered," Anushna Subala."

They then asked him very eagerly, "Now then, tell me about your childhood."

"First of all promise me, you won't cry", he asked.

"Why would I cry?", she asked.

"I don't know, the last time Dolen asked me and once I told him, he started crying and hugging me."

"Alright, alright I promise", she answered back.

"I never knew my father and to be honest neither did my mother. We came from a poor household, and taking care of me as well as making money to have both of us fed was too much for her. I felt she resented me for that. And so she was always angry at me, hurting me for even the slightest of things."

"So that burn scar all over your chest?", Anushna asked.

"Yeah, I guess she didn't want to give me some warm water. Later, when I was 7 years old, she abandoned me and left the city. After that my life was a blur, I remember working with a lady in her shop. She paid me some money, usually, I was able to do with it. Though the cold was bad, there was always a risk of frostbite but I survived. After that when I was 10 years old, suddenly one day the old woman died and the shop closed. I was out of options and thought of joining the military but I was too small for that. Later one day a giant boar attacked the town, I was able to fight it, though not kill it. But still, the teachers at the cathedral saw something in me and I was chosen as one of the students. Being the only student of commoner heritage mostly everyone hated me but somehow I made friends with Idris and here I am."

Once it ended, Kauri could hear sniffing sounds from his side, Anushna was in tears.

"That must have been hard", she remarked.

"Not really", he said." I thought being less descriptive would make it easier", he thought to himself confused by the situation.

"But honestly your kingdom is much better, I can see that on the street. Your father is a great king, he really takes care of the people of his nation that's why I guess people here are so happy. Sometimes I wish I was born here."

Hearing this put a smile up Anushna's face," and then we could have been childhood friends", she cried.

Listening to this Kauri gave a gentle smile and said," Yeah that would have been great."

For some moment they just sat there, just basking in the sunlight as the gentle breezes cooled them down. Nothing could have been better than this. 

"Hey Kauri", said Anushna," why don't you just live here in Gandhar. I mean if you like it here."

For some moments, Kauri didn't say a word but then he broke his silence," I would love to but unfortunately I have a promise to keep, a promise I made to myself, to kill the demon king and for that, I will have to move away from the safety of this palace and move towards the east."

This made Anushna say," Just like the promise you made to my father. That was why you protected me."

"Maybe but the main reason for protecting you was because you are my good friend. You are important to me, and that is why I will do whatever it takes to stop the demon king."

This made her blush.

Then, he continued," But maybe after killing the demon king. I could come back here."

Then suddenly Anushna jumped up, all excited," Yeah of course you can, but first promise me that."

"Yeah I promise", answered kauri," but right now I have to go." with that he jumped up.

"Go where?", she asked.

 "I have some important job I have to do, in the dragon's den."