The Moon Symphony

Blue Moon

"What is it?" I asked.

Apo was looking at me, saying nothing. I can feel that he was stopping himself from telling me.

"Ayari, it's hard for me to say this, but."

"Hey guys, what are you doing?" Ani suddenly butted into our room.

Apo and I were both surprised by her appearance out of nowhere. Apo stood up and decided to leave the room, not saying anything.

"Did I disturb you?" Ani said and moved towards me.

"Oh, it's nothing. Apo was also about to go out, so that's okay." I lied.

"I have something to tell you, Ayari," Ani said, and the expression on her face changed.

"Sure, go ahead."

"Honestly, I have been getting visions for two days straight now, and it's the same," Ani said.

"Like what?"

"I saw a sea of fire, a whole village, burning. I cannot identify if where that village was." Ani was trembling after saying those things to me.

"Calm down, Ani," I said and patted her shoulders.

"There was one thing that I saw that hit me so hard," Ani said.

"What is it?"

"The person I saw in my dreams, causing those things. It was Apo." She said.

What?

"Everything that I saw in my dream felt like it was so true."

"Okay, Ani. We need to rest. We will talk about this tomorrow. Calm down."

"Okay, thank you, Ayari, and I'm sorry."

After that, she left the room, and I was alone, wondering about what she said. Can Apo do that? I can't sleep that night. I was thinking about everything.

The next day, I decided to check on their training. Everything was going well; Ani and Ester were getting the hang of using the Goddess gifts.

"Master, you don't look so well. Did you get any sleep last night?" Baku asked.

"I'm fine, Baku," I said and smiled at him.

"So, where are we heading next?" I asked him.

"We need to find the whereabouts of Estrella. We need to retrieve the Star Shatterer."

"Do you have any clues on how we can find the lost village?"

"I know someone that can help us with that," Baku said confidently.

"Who?"

"You will find out soon," Baku answered and returned to the two girls.

-

I looked for Apo, but he was nowhere to be seen. Anan told me that Apo left the village to do some business. I was left here, still curious about what he wanted to say.

Two days had passed, and it's the day of the Blue Moon already. For the past days, I continued cultivating, and my power keeps on increasing. I was able to cast magic, and it was not as exhausting like before. I felt that my body was full of vigor too.

My sister and Ani improved a lot during those days. Baku was a great mentor. Ani can now use the Galeforce with ease, while Ester can cast a super sturdy barrier, deflecting most of our attacks. It's also surprising that her brute force leveled up too.

Honestly, it was scary. I don't want to get hit by Ester's fists. Unlike her appearance, she appeared to be a brawler. Most of her abilities are body enhancement. The rest of us can use enhancements, but not on her level. Baku said that it was already high-level magic.

I was told by Lakambini on my dream the other day that I need to cultivate in the Moon Pillar. That's the place where the assailants attacked the real Ayari.

I asked for instructions if how I can reach the Moon Temple. Ester said that it was behind the Palmora Grooves.

In the evening, I immediately went to Palmora Grooves to finish my cultivation. Anan wanted to come, but I disagreed. They said they were just worried about me, but I told them that I could handle myself.

After some discussions, my sibling agreed. The way to the Moon temple was so dense. The Palmora groove gave me an eerie feeling. It's like someone was watching my every movement. I couldn't understand what it was, but I ignored it and continued walking.

Many people don't venture into this place because they were afraid it was filled with unknown creatures. Villagers told many stories about the Palmora Grooves and usually scared children who don't listen to the elderly.

I continued to walk, following the path towards the temple. The atmosphere was so unsettling, giving me chills. All I can hear was the rustling of the leaves and my footsteps.

As I was getting nearer to the temple, I saw a group of hooded people. Their appearance was the same as Batibat's. I can tell because they have the same crest on their outfits, like some skeletons holding a crown.

I crouched down behind the tree and tried to hide my presence. I learned the spell from Baku.

We need to move to a different spot, the hooded man said.

I was trying to listen to their conversation, and I decided to get closer to them. I did not notice a twig under my foot and accidentally stepped on it, creating a cracking sound.

"Who's there!" The man holding a staff said.

I tried to hold my breath so that they will not notice me. Then all of a sudden, someone grabbed me from behind. The person put his hand around my mouth. I struggled, but his grip was too firm.

Maybe it's just a stray animal, don't mind it. We need to go. The small hooded man said.

After minutes of staying in that position, they decided to leave. The person who pulled me to safety let go of me. I looked and checked if who that person was.

It was Apo.

"What are you doing here? "I asked.

"Shh, lower your voice Ayari. They might not have left yet."

Apo was right, and we still need to be cautious of the surroundings. I looked at him and asked again if what he was doing here. Apo opened his pouch and showed it to me. It was full of medicinal herbs.

"I picked this up for Anan to use. I want to thank him properly. I am on my way back to Bulan, and what are you doing here alone?" Apo asked.

"Tonight is the Blue Moon. I need to cultivate at the Moon Temple as instructed by the oracle." I answered.

"Oh, okay. Do you want me to accompany you?"

"It's okay. Thank you for your offer." I said.

"I insist, and we don't know if someone might attack you again. It's still dangerous because of the group of people earlier. We don't know if they will go back here."

"Okay, I understood."

I agreed with his offer, and we started heading to the Moon Temple.

"About what you said the other day, what is it?" I asked.

"Ah, forget about it. It's nothing." Apo said, scratching his head.

Should I ask him about what Ani said in her visions? Not now, I guess.

We arrived at the moon temple. It was a cave surrounded by vegetation. At the top of the cave, a stone carving looks like the Moon, and beneath it was ancient text. After cultivating for a few days, it also gave me the ability to decipher the text.

The writing goes as "Those who seek shelter, Call upon the benevolent moon as she hears you all the time."

The whole place was different from the Wind Temple back in Amihan. We followed the path downwards where the location of the Moon Pillar. On the walls of the cave were carvings and images that looked like people praising the Moon. Some carvings show a dragon eating the Moon, while others depict a maiden wearing a gown battling monsters.

I am sure that maiden was Mayari. It's because of the crown on her head.

We continued to walk and reached the end of the path. We arrived at the bottom of the cave, and I was surprised by what we saw. The place was so magnificent and serene.

In the middle of the cave, a lake is immaculate, and the surface is open where the moonlight enters. It looks so beautiful; I feel relieved and calmed my senses. Apo and I enjoyed the view so much.

The reflection of the moonlight was so immersing and so powerful as if a strange force was pulling me. I followed the power and held out my hand. The mark on my hand reacted, and one by one, floating devices made of us ice appeared, connecting to the center of the lake.

I slowly stepped on the path made of ice and walk towards the middle. I reached the inner part of the lake. There was a large stone made from Aquamarine sitting in the middle.

There were also ancient texts inscribed on the stone.

Moonlight guide those lost souls as they take their journey to the afterlife.

I remembered the myth of Mayari. She was also the guardian deity of the underworld. After reading those words, the necklace that Lakambini gave me shined brightly.

The large gem reacted and created a small slot where the necklace could fit. I looked at Apo, and I saw him giving me a thumbs up.

Here goes nothing.

I placed the necklace on the hole. The gem glowed brightly, and the whole surrounding got filled with moonlight. I felt the outburst of energy gently wrapping around me.

I got uncomfortable when I noticed that I was wearing nothing when the light started to gather around me. I don't know how did that happen. The fact that Apo was there, seeing me naked, made me embarrassed.

The surge of light continued to envelop me as the moonlight continued to hit the gem. I closed my eyes to concentrate on the flow of power.

When I opened my eyes, I was back at the familiar place I usually saw.

My house.