The Last Moon

Chapter 12: The Awakening of Baconava

Rahul's POV

I opened my eyes and I was on top of a tree, I can hear the lady nymphs singing. I normally stay this far from their sight so I won't be mesmerized with them but I like to listen to their stories and their songs. It was in the middle of the night when a shining light brightens the whole place I see two young beautiful maiden who joined the nymphs on their playtime. Among these two ladies, my eyes were focused on the silent one, I can see her just watching the rest as she perks on the big stone next to Naga Unda. She shines so brightly and her smile takes my breath away. I cannot take my eyes from her, her every move s makes me want to follow her. I can feel her sweetness as she talks to the other ladies and as they listen to her. Her long curly brown hair flows elegantly at the back of her head as the ladies placed a flower behind her ears. 

The next scene was somehow different, I was talking to her and her name is Miyari. Getting to know her gives delight to my heart. But the way she moves and talks is a little different from the first time I've known her. I watch her shines in the depths of the night and enjoyed her moonlight. I visited her often and offers different treasures from the sea. But there was Sidapa who was always by her side. So I retreated and went back to the Lake Unda to unwind. I heard the voices of the maidens of the lake and to my amazement, she was also there, her calmness and beauty ills my being, I wanted to go near her but I'm afraid of the guardians of the lake. They forbid male being to come near these guardians if you do not want to be trapped by them. So I watched her from afar.

I somehow fall asleep and when I wake up I am at the swing by the beach. It was just a dream.

"Not a dream but a memory," Bacunava is lurking in my mind, "It's been so long since you have memories of your demigod's life. This is good for you, it will help us in our quest to find my original form," he said

"I can remember meeting a maiden and her name is Miyari but I cannot see her face after the dream. Why is that?" I asked Bacunava

"Perhaps, it has something to do with your curse," he explained

"Why I cannot remember the details of this curse?"

"Because you became a mortal and died several times and your memory was lost along with our original form," Bacunava explains, "We need to find the Lake Unda, that is our lead for now,"

"We need to graduate first so I can start my quest. That would be a few more months left after my 18th birthday,"

"This is good that you are remembering things from your old life, I hope this continues," Baconava

"I also hope so,"

 I need to do some shop visit today and find a new employee to do this work once I start my quest. I also need to inform Mother and Father about my plans. He went inside the beach house and shower. He remembers his run with Halea in the morning. He was on the opposite side of the road because of Aspin. That dog really does hate me. He keeps on looking at me and doesn't want to even get close to Halea. 

He was already checking some of the stocks in the supermarket when he bumps to someone.

"Rahul," a woman's voice calling him from behind. And he looked at her.

"Mrs Caelestes, How are you?" Rahul said

"Oh, just call me Ms Elena instead of Mrs, I feel so old," she said laughing

"I see you have shopped a lot today, is Aunt Rosario with you?" I asked

"No, I left her at home and I wanted to explore this place myself. What are you doing here?"

"I am just doing my rounds, are you going home now?"

"I'm buying some of these squids and shrimps then I'm going home,"

"Okay let me help you on that," I said and I asked my staff to prepare her order

"Here you go, let me help you carry your basket. Did you drive here or just use public transport?"

"I used public transport so I can be familiarized,"

"In that case, you don't mind if I bring you to your house, it's in the same way to my house,"

"I don't want to bother you, I can go by myself,"

"But it will be just in the same way, it will not bother me at all. I also wanted to see Halea, I hope that is okay,"

She laughed, "alright if you insist,"

We went to my car and I opened the door for her.

"You're such a gentleman, thank you," Ms Elena said.

"You're welcome, you were just like my mother she is also sweet as you are,"

We were driving and I told her about the different places we've passed by including the Pharmacy, parlour where my Mom use to go, the garden shop and Mushroom burger place where I brought Halea. She was happy to know those places, I know it will help her with their stay here. I also invited them to the beach in case they wanted to swim privately since our beach is secluded. We reached their home and I helped her bring out her basket. Halea was surprised to see me.

"Hi, Halea," I greeted her

"Rahul, what are you doing here?"

"I saw your Mom in the market and insist to drive her home instead of riding public transport,"

"Oh, that's thoughtful of you. Thank you for doing that,"

"Not at all, it was on my way as well. I'll see you tomorrow, just tell your Mom I went ahead,"

"See you," and she waved goodbye

I drove back to my house and parked my car. I saw my Mom on the garden tending her plants.

"Do you need any help?" I asked her

"Yeah, change your clothes first and come down here and help me lift these babies," she said

I went as she told and after a few minutes, I'm already moving her new plants to the nursery. I also help her clean up and removed some of the weeds.

"You're a little late today, doing this?" I told her

"Yeah, I overslept that's why,"

"How was your therapy?"

"It was good, I felt relieved every time I visited that place, after this month the session is changing soon and I will be seeing her once every two weeks,"

"That's good to know that it is progressing,"

"Me too,"

After helping her, I received a call from Uncle Robert.

"Yes, Sir, how can I help you?"

"Rahul, are you busy today?

"I need to go visit the port later, but is there anything important you wanted me to do?"

"No need if you are busy, it's just Veronica she wanted you to accompany her in the movies,"

"I am sorry, I wouldn't have that much of a time Sir. If it's an errand of picking up something or is not bound by the time I might be able to help you,"

"Why doesn't she ask Halea instead, she might be interested in some movies plus they are both girls," I suggested

"Don't worry about her, I think she would have someone she can get to accompany her, alright Rahul I will see you around," Uncle Robert said and turn off the phone.

Veronica would go miles and even use her father just to ask me to go with her. Mr Robert knows that I will be busy soon, I asked Dad to just tell him about some of my plans so they won't bother me of those petty things with their daughter. My mom explained to her husband how my life is of my own, he does sometimes think that he can command me but I was just not his son. I obeyed them when I was young but after coming of age I explained my Mom about my life's mission which she somehow knew. When she took me in and the blood oath appeared on her she has that understanding that my life is never theirs. And when the time comes I need to leave. 

Her husbands know that the properties are under my name and it was given to me by my father which he never knew. I let him manage some of our properties as my guardian's spouse but once I turn 18, they will all be under my name. I will leave half of it to my mother so she can lead a comfortable life with her family. Other than that, nobody can tell me what to do about my life. 

I called Veronica to clear up her mess. After two rings she answered.

"Hi Rahul, did you change your mind? Dad told me you're busy,"

"Hi, Veronica, please next time don't ask your Dad to call me for something like that,"  I said

"But I know you won't even answer my call,"

"I am just busy, and using your Dad will not work you know that,"

"But with Halea you have time,"

"What do you mean with Halea,"

"I saw you two yesterday at the baywalk and I know that you walk with her after school,"

She saw that I remember the after school walk but the baywalk, I didn't know she's been observing me.

"Is there something wrong about it, as far as I know, I own my life and I have the freedom to do what I wanted,"

"I do not like how you are getting close to her, I used to be the only girl when it comes to you,"

"But you are just like a sister,  a family, Uncle Roberts daughter nothing more,"

"Don't rub it in like that, we are not family, I am not your sister. I wanted more than this, I wanted you,"

"I cannot do this Veronica, I just called to tell you to not use your father to call me,"

"I am busy as you know and I won't have time for this, I'll see you in school. Goodbye," I said and I turn the phone off.

Veronica has been spoiled by her Dad since she is the only child. They gave everything she wants. She used to be a sweet lady, we used to play when we were kids. But that was before I heard of Bacunava and has been directed to my path.

I remembered when I turned 16, the feast was a day early, I was in the crowd checking for the biggest fish that the fisherman caught when I heard the call from the ocean. More like a whisper, it was telling me the stories of the fisherman and how they have caught their fishes, that's the first time we have given the fisherman different awards for their hard work. And then that night I felt my body was so hot like I'm having a fever so I ran to the ocean when the water touched my feet the burning feeling slowly washed away, and I saw him in my mind. At first, I got afraid and then the water has taken me like a child wrapped in a blanket and I felt at ease like I was cradled by my mother's touch. The ocean spoke to me and told me not to be afraid, and brought me to shore and under the moonlight there I saw the reflection of Baconava floating, my reflection under the moonlight shows Baconava. He gently talked to me.

"I am Baconava your dragon spirit, you and I are one and the same. You should be able to shift into your dragon form today but unfortunately, we were cursed," he said and I can hear him loud echoing in my mind.

And the ocean speaks again, "You are the son of the ocean, and I am your mother. I will help and guide you. Your dragon has been hidden to you so that you will not perish but one day it will come out and you must be ready when that day comes. It will mean that your death may also be near unless the life you took will be given back and you will return to your old life as the demigod of the ocean and will be released from your curse," the voice from the ocean.

What she has spoken was still unclear to me until now. After that event, some of my memories came back but mostly it was a memory of my old human life related to my search for my dragon form. I believe this was Baconava's memory and not mine. It was only today that I had a memory of my life as a demigod of the ocean.