The Reign of the Outlander

Chapter 5: She Was Ten Back Then

She was ten back then. Altalune was eager to see the world around him. Most especially, the Academy, where Amaris worked for. She tried to understand why every day, at the academy, her guardian, her so-called mother, went to clean the surroundings, mowing every grass, and piling it at the center like a haystack.

The courtyard was like a soccer field. There was a fountain at the center. A big eagle where waters flowed from its mouth. And whenever she saw students going outside, around twelve in the afternoon, releasing powers, showing their skills, and improving what they can do, she was asking herself, as to why she was not one of those students.

In the backyard, she was there with Amaris, carrying her in her Amarenia carrier while she continues to water the plants. Sometimes, she removes her Amarenia and puts her in front of her while cutting some leaves, or removing dried one's hiding behind those twigs, either that of the flowers, or plants.

What made her curious even stronger was the word why. Why Amaris doesn't let her enter the academy. Then, one day, while they were watching a few miles away from the courtyard, Altalune asked Amaris.

"Is it okay if I ask you, mother?" she was used to calling her mother, since that's what Amaris preferred, on behalf of her best friend Mona, Altalune's real mother.

"Of course. Go ahead. I'll listen," Amaris replied. She stops eating her cinnamon bread and watches her closely opened her mouth.

"Can I be one of those students?" She was pointing at those children releasing magic, and powers, a few miles away from them.

Amaris looked at the direction of Altalune's finger, just to confirm that she was talking to the learners taught by professors of the academy. Before she could reply, Amaris heaved a sigh, took a deep breath, and think of words to explain it to her clearly, so Altalune can understand.

"Dear, of course, you can. You're still ten years old. It's not yet the right time for you to enter the academy," she lied. She tried to console her. She was cheering her up. Amaris does not want her to cry. That was the only word she can come up with.

"When is the right time, mother?" she made a follow-up, and Amaris need to think of another convincing answer.

"Maybe, when you reached thirteen, or fifteen years of age?"

It was another lie. It was not her intention to give her a false assurance. The truth was when she reached thirteen, or fifteen, she'll ask the Headmaster to allow her to become a professor, and let Altalune enter the academe. She planned to teach her every little thing about magic, and powers. Amaris knew how she can unleash her powers, but she preferred Altalune to discover it with herself. What she can do was to guide her, and do everything to protect her from any harm or danger.

"Then... Oh, I have three to five years left, mother? Look at my hands." She raised her left hands and showed it to Amaris. The so-called mother and the guardian smiled at her.

"Yes, you are correct, dear. I am sure that one day when you reach the right age, you'll be one of those students that I will watch from afar. Or maybe, teach you as well."

She couldn't resist the urge to hug her best friend's daughter. "I love you, Altalune."

"I love you, too, mother."

Both hugged each other while they continued to watch the students doing some activities. At the back of her mind, Amaris hopes that one day, Altalune can figure out a way to unlock her powers, sealed by Mona on her body.

...

Laal Kingdom

6,000 feet above sea level

Roughly, about five hundred years ago, a war broke out from the Kingdom of Laal. Mona just gave birth to her child and transferred the responsibility to her only best friend, Amaris. She left her chamber, and appeared in front of the king and queen of Laal Kingdom, ready to face the battle.

"Ready to win this battle, my king, and my queen?"

An enthusiastic Mona greeted her parents. Both nodded and smiled at her. Without any dramatic hug, together they pulled out their sword and started fighting the enemy.

The moon guardians were battling demons and giant Cyclops from the land of Katatakutan and Impyerno. The king made his sword longer and release it to all giant Cyclops circling him. The Queen, on the other hand, change her sword into small daggers that have blue flames appearing at the edge and started throwing one by one to demons emitting toxic gases. The blue flames from the Moon queen created an explosion to her opponents.

Mona, the Crown Princess, and the only child of King Monte, and queen Nala, flew higher. She was surrounded by demons and Cyclops below, and she must prepare herself to blow them all at once. Demons changed its form into a flying one and faced Mona, while the Cyclops down there were waiting for her fall.

Just like the queen, Mona's sword's releases blue flames. She was pointing its edge in front of the demons floating around her. The sword grew longer, until it's enough to swung back and forth to her enemies.

"In the name of the Kingdom of Laal, by virtue and power of the sword in my hand, I'm ordering you to slay these demons!"

After saying those words, Mona swung the sword, and the blue flames on its blade reached the demons, slashing them one by one. All demons surrounding her fell on the ground, and her sword returned to its original form. Looking at the giant Cyclops waiting for her arrival, Mona shifted into a Crown Princess.

She was wearing a silhouette, white and silver dress. Her moon-shaped crown was visible on her forehead, and her eyes were ablaze. Raising both her left and right hands, a ray of light went out from her head and eyes, targeting the giant Cyclops. It was a tiring battle, but in the end, King Monte, together with her queen, Nala, and her daughter, Mona, they accomplished.

Demons from the Land of Katatakutan, and giant Cyclops from the Land of Impyerno were both killed by the Moon guardians, leaving no traces of evils in their realm.

...

BACK IN THE LAND OF HIWAGA, the then ten years old Altalune was sitting on the empty bench when someone approaches her from the back. Amaris was busy planting some new flowers and did not notice the young lad.

"Hi little girl, what is your name?" he asked. Altalune was checking him.

He was taller than she. She stood up and face him, scrutinizing every inch of his features. He was smiling at her. He's a slender lad, trying to make a friendly face in front of her. She's about to answer him when Amaris called her.

"Altalune?" she called her in a questioning way, and she turned around to look at her. "Who is he?"

"I don't know, mother. He just approached me, asking for my name," she replied. Amaris stops doing what she does and stands. She went towards Altalune and smiled onto the lad, waiting for the ten years old little girl to answer him.

"Hello?" He waved as soon as he saw her standing in front of her Altalune.

"Hi. You are?" she knelt and caress his head, asking his name.

"My name is Lune. I'm one of the students here. I just saw her sitting alone on the bench," he answered courteously. His deep-set eyes were still eager to hear an answer.

"She is my daughter. Her name is Atalune," she saw his eyes gleam, and suddenly grab Altalune's hands.

"It was nice meeting you, Altalune. See you around."

Amaris giggled. The lad left after grabbing Altalune's hand. She never thought that someone from the academy will notice Atalune's existence.

"Are you happy meeting a friend, Atalune? His name sounded like yours. Did you hear his name?" she turned her gaze on her, and smile.

"Lune. That was what I heard from him. But, why did he grab my hand, mother?" Amaris wanted to laugh, but she controlled it. She explained why Lune grabbed her hand earlier.

"It's to do a handshake. It's a form of greetings, Altalune. If someone wants to greet you, and you do not know that person, they will ask for your name, or they will tell your name first. After that, they'll offer a handshake. Just like what Lune did earlier."

Altalune was still confused, but she gets the point. "Like this?" she grabs Amaris hands and does the handshake on her own.

"Yes, that is what you call a handshake."

"Thanks, mother."

"You're welcome. Let's go back. Okay?"

Amaris and Altalune returned to the garden. The ten years old girl sat down on the empty bench while Amaris went back to finishing planting the new flowers on each plot.

UNKNOWN to them, Lune was still watching them from afar. His curiosity about them brought him towards the garden. It hasn't been that long since he saw them every day before entering the academy, whether in the courtyard or the backyard. Sometimes, inside the premises or hallway. He wants to befriend her. And now that he already knew her name, it's about time to move to his next plan.