The Reign of the Outlander

Chapter 9: On The Day of Her Birthday

"Happy birthday, Altalune," Amaris greeted Altalune as soon as she woke up.

"Amaris? Where Am I? What happened?" her eyes roamed around and found herself inside the small house where she grew up. "I remembered that I was completing the challenge and..."

"You were able to complete the challenge, Altalune," Amaris replied, helping her get up.

"Then, how did I end up in our house?" she was still confused, trying to recall everything.

"Whizka and Aliz brought you here. You were unconscious, Altalune. Both professors immediately run here."

Now, she remembered the last thing happened. She fell on the Dulo Mountain, right after she finishes her final task, standing one leg on the tip of it. No wonder why there are changes on the location. Whizka and her already returned to the Mahika Academy.

"I'm sorry. Did I sleep that long?" she changed the topic and ask a different question. "Thanks for greeting me on my birthday, Amaris."

Amaris was about to hug her when she heard another voice singing a birthday song, slowly entering the house. It was Whizka and Aliz. Both gray haired women, and professors happily smiled greeting Altalune.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, Altalune. Happy birthday to you."

Whizka was holding a small caked made of chocolate with strawberry icing and fifteen candles surrounding it. The little girl is now fifteen years old. And Amaris love to see her smile, forgetting for a while what happened in the Land of Illusion. She closed her eyes and make a wish.

"Thank you, professor Whizka and Aliz." She stood up and blow the candles on top of the cake.

"Happy birthday again, Altalune. I don't need to wish you anything, except that you grow as the same little girl we used to love back then," Aliz give her wish to the smiling Altalune.

"You don't love me anymore?" she changed her mood and pretended to be embarrass of what Professor Aliz has said

"No, you're not. I still love you even if you turned twenty, thirty, and golden years, Altalune." Aliz hugged her right after seeing her sulking.

"She's right, Altalune. We still love you. I don't have any wish for you as well. What I want is for you to develop a positive mindset. One day, Aliz and I, together with Amaris, will become your professors in Mahika Academy. And I want you to always think positive."

Amaris never thought that Whizka would bring up again, about the academy. She was looking at Altalune. Her face became a bit of gloomy, but she still managed to smile.

"Am I late greeting you, Altalune?" All of them turned around after hearing a voice of a man outside their doorstep. It was Lune, hiding his hands at the back, holding something to give it to Altalune.

"Oh, Lune. What are you doing here? When did you become friends with Altalune?" Aliz' curiosity suddenly acting up and Whizka just tap her shoulder to calm her down.

"Hello, professors. Happy birthday, Lune," his eyes were into her. He walked pass by Amaris, bowing in front of her, then on to the two professors where he saw in his peripheral vision the confused look of Professor Aliz, and when he stops in front of Altalune, he gave him the flowers.

"You picked these on the backyard of the school?" Altalune's frank expression made Lune shy.

"I'm sorry. I saw professors walking towards your house holding a cake, so I assume that it was your birthday. You know, you never told me your birthday since the day we became friends."

He was scratching his head, hiding his face, acting like a ten years old lad. Amaris, and the two professors, giggled upon seeing Lune's face turning red.

"Whizka, Aliz, Lune has been friends with Altalune since she was ten years old. Lune was the first to initiate being friends with her," Amaris explained. Whizka nodded while Aliz seems annoyed.

"You're not her mother, Aliz. Don't act like you're related to Altalune," Whizka whispered onto Aliz ears.

"No, I'm not. I was a bit agitated, but deep inside I felt happy for Altalune. At least, she found a friend in Lune," she replied.

"Yes, you're right, Aliz. Lune is a good boy back when Altalune was still ten years old. The rest was history. Whenever Altalune feeling down, Lune was always there to cheer her up. I even heard her telling her feelings to Lune." The last sentence Amaris said made both of them curious about Altalune's feelings.

"Do you mean?" Aliz suddenly made a follow-up, but she stops completing her question.

"They're too young for that, Aliz. What I was trying to convey is Altalune shared her thoughts about entering the Academy to Lune," she clarified while her eyes were starting at the two laughing at each other. She wanted to hear their conversation, but Amaris doesn't want to read their minds.

"I see. Altalune is eager to become one of the students, Amaris. If you're able to persuade the Headmaster of accepting her to enter Mahika, at the very least, the Head of the Academy would agree."

Whizka's words and suggestions were too impossible. She knew the temper of the Headmaster. The day she returned to the academy, she saw how disappointed the Headmaster to her. And Amaris would not beg for that.

"There is no harm in trying, Amaris. She's growing up. And you cannot silence her. Once she focused on one thing, she'll never give up. I saw her determination when she completed all her task. And I still have a lot of question to ask her."

Amaris knew what Whizka was talking about. She also witnessed how Altalune was able to open the door, swam into the fiery pit of the volcano, and stood one leg on the tip of the Dulo Mountain, until she became unconscious.

"I wonder how she ended up surviving in the boiling waters of the volcano? It's a mystery I was trying to figure out since the day I saw her mounting out from the lava."

Aliz and Amaris heard Whizka, but both preferred to keep silent. One doesn't witness Altalune's challenges, while the other one saw everything. They stop talking about her when all the saw Altalune walking with Lune in front of them.

"Professors, I'd like to thank you for remembering the day I was born."

"You're welcome, Altalune. Consider us, your mothers, too. That's what both of us clearly had in mind, ever since we saw you."

All of a sudden, Altalune hug Whizka and Aliz. It made Amaris heart as one of the luckiest foster parents of a fifteen years old.

"We're going out for a while, Amaris, professors. A walk maybe? Lune will accompany me, so all don't need to worry." Altalune gave Amaris a kiss on her cheeks, waiting for her response.

"You really a cunning one, huh? Go ahead. Keep safe, okay?"

Amaris allowed her to go out. She knew that she's safe whenever she's with Lune. After all, she's fifteen. Giving her a bit of freedom won't harm her. After saying her thanks, both went out for a walk outside.

"Do you know that Hiwagans never give presents to the celebrants, Altalune?" Lune started the conversation while strolling outside their house.

"So, that explains why I never receive any gift from each one of you. Am I right?"

"Yes, absolutely."

"Why is that so, Lune?"

"Well, according to the history of Mahika Academy, the previous headmaster prohibited it. I don't know exactly the reason why, but it's all about safety."

"Safety? You mean, something happened before in Mahika? Hmm. That's interesting. I hope we can find some answers on that, Lune."

"I was curious, too. Let's see."

Both stared each other for five seconds then laughed out loud. Who would have thought that Lune's last statement made her laugh?

"Thank you for staying by my side, Lune."

He head her. Lune responded by giving her a sincere smile. They were almost reached Amaris garden at the back of their house when both heard a sudden explosion five to ten meters away.

"The Mahika Academy!"

Amaris, Whizka, and Aliz immediately went out of the house. The same goes with Altalune and Lune who appeared in front of them.

"Was it a part of the practice?" Altalune was curious.

"No, it isn't, Altalune. I don't think Mahika students would throw a blast that sudden. Look, smokes started to embrace the Academy," Lune explained.

"Then, we have to find out."

Amaris, Whizka, and Aliz, including Lune we're surprised seeing Altalune disappeared like a flash in front of them. It was too quick that all of them didn't see her flee.

"We must follow her and help the students. If it's an intruder, I wonder how they managed to get inside the Land of Hiwaga."

Aliz and Whizka used their invisibility to return to the academy, while Amaris and Lune left alone.

"Use your powers, Lune. I need to see Altalune." Amaris body suddenly glow and in a blink of an eye, her existence cease to exist, leaving Lune the only one left.