The Last Moon

Chapter 4: Laon

The first day of school is quite exhausting and fun somehow. After class, Adrienne and Amelia showed me around, we went to see the other buildings at the back which belongs to the lower years. Then we went to see the field, it's big they have 6 grandstands, tracks, Volleyball courts, Basketball courts, badminton courts surrounding the field. And in the middle, football players are playing on one side and baseball players on the other side. We climbed up the water tank tower and on top, we can everything. That was one of the relaxing places I've been so far.  

What made this day interesting are the people I've met, interesting people, stories of tribes and the exciting part is knowing the story of the Goddess that has the same name as me. By some means, I sense that I am special, but I don't like how these people are giving me the attention, so much for being invisible. I hope my uniform to arrive soon.

I am in bed and Luna decided to sleep with me, meowing as if asking for my day.

"It's been a tiring day, Luna," I'm talking to my cat and now my dog sneaked in beside me whining, "Yes, Aspin, I'm tired," looking at him. Then I looked at the ceiling and just started to talk to them again like I always do.

"Did you know that I have the same name as the warrior goddess of the moon?" I said and Luna answered as if she understood and continued cleaning her fur.

"They called her Dia Halea, just like in my dream Naga Unda called me Dia Halea. Do you think I have any relation to her?" I asked Luna and she moved and lay on my chest and started licking my face,

"Luna, I'm awake, I'm not dreaming so don't lick my face," I hold and kiss her. "alright, I'm going to sleep. Good night you two," Kissing both Aspin and Luna. I close my eyes so sleep can come.

***

I glanced at the beaming light that touches my face, it has awakened me from my deep slumber. Its light is blinding, I raised my hand to cover the light then I realized that a figure of a man is standing in front of me and I am on my knees while another lady speaks beside me. I looked at her and her face is the same as I am but her beauty is enchanting that I cannot take my eyes off of her. She speaks in a different language which I somehow understand, and then she looked at me. She looks deep into my eyes as if confused to who I am, my mouth began to speak as I watch at the back of my mind as if watching at a scene from a movie.

“Yes, father, “my mouth utters in a language that was known to my being, “I would protect my sister, I will go wherever she will go,”

“You are of one entity,” he took my hand and as well as the lady beside me and place it on top of her hand, “Grow your followers and let them pray to you. Do not forsake them so they will not forsake you. You both have grown and it’s time that you go live the life you’re destined to,” he pauses and turned his back on us and she holds my hand.

“I fear of the day that I might lose one of you, but I cannot hide you both forever. I will always be here to keep an eye on both of you. Miyari and Halea, go and claim your place in the sky. Be each other’s strength and light,”

“Yes, Battala,” we both answered.

We followed what our father has asked us to do. As he brightens the morning sky, we rise at the dusk, Miyari is the light of the moon that you see while I hide my light so that I am visible to those who looked at us. We rise equally at night and everyone have known us as one. The whole land was once called Laon where both human and supernatural creatures live together in harmony. There is no differentiation as each one has a role to play.

I once again see myself behind Miyari as she shines brightly giving strength and hope to the creatures, we called followers. I see the gold ring chain in my right hand adorned like stars in the night as I moved my hands and looked into it. I see myself standing in the highest mountain looking down at the land and water that surrounds me. I hear the prayers of the faithful beings calling my name, asking me to hear their cries. Some has lost their loves ones; others struggle to survive and some just come asking for an ear to listen. As I moved my hands, the gold ring chain transposed into a bow and arrow and I pulled the string to launched the arrow, granting the prayers of my followers. The arrow turned into a shooting star and flew in the night sky. Allowing them to know that I am here listening to their prayers.

From the bow, the weapon changed into a single edge long sword with a thin blade from the guard going wider as it reaches its two split tips a shorter thinner curved tip and a long-pointed one, designed to kill when it pierces. As I gazed into the Kampilan, the sword that I am holding, it appears as if I was dancing, gliding and stretching both hands while the other handheld the mighty sword. I feel sliding my feet as if I am in a battle. As I close my eyes following the movement that is encrypted in my being, a sudden breeze surface and gave a loud hiss.

I see a giant scaly creature emerging from the depths of the ocean, it has a serpent-like body. As I looked into its eyes, I can see its arrogance as tries to swallow the light from Miyari, I leapt as high as I can and removed the mask covering my face enough to blind the dragon serpent, I launched my sword and plunged it into its heart. I landed on my two feet above the water. The creature sways in the air and crashed on the ground and in the water. I held the dragon’s head in my hand, as it gasps, I saw how its last breath leaves its body, a tear fell in its eye yet it gave me a smile. I looked into its orb as it closed down, I closed my eyes.

And I heard the sound of the alarm beeping in the bedside table. Luna’s beside it moving its tail as if angry complaining that I haven’t woke up yet. I turned the alarm off and stretched and look out of the window as I opened the drapes to let the light in. I hear the chirping of the birds from the outside as I turned the window pane. I feel the rushing wind brushing my face and it gives me the same chill feeling from my dream.

I sat down, trying to remember what I just dreamt of, they come to like a snapshot from a movie reel. I must have just imagined the story that Adrienne told me yesterday but it felt so real. I went back to my routine and started to prepare for school.

The school is not so far from my house and it would be nice to have a walk in the neighbourhood. I am wearing my hood so I can cover my face and not get distracted. I wanted to get familiarized with the place so walking would help me do that. I can see people passing by me, some are like me on their way to school, some to work and others to the market. I like the fresh air that touches my face, unlike in the city every corner is dusty with the pollution but here everything feels fresh. A lot of trees which makes walking so relaxing, there are a few cars and farming carts but overall it’s not crowded. After a few turns, I can see the campus in the distance, I felt someone was following me so I glanced to check who it was and I saw Rahul about 3 meters behind me. He looks like he’s lost in trance, he’s looking so far and in very deep thought. Then I heard someone called my name and saw Matthew and Jason, running towards my direction. I wonder how did they know it was me.

“Hey, Halea, wait for us,” Jason said

I stopped for a while and saw them crossing the street and walk beside me.

“Hey,” I responded

“Let’s all walk to class since we will all go in the same direction,” Matthew

“We will be your bodyguards, “Jason said trying to be funny. I smirk and moved my shoulder for approval.

“You don’t like talking, huh?” Matthew

“Depends, If I need to,”

“By the way, how did you know it’s me?”

“Well, we called and you looked, plus you’re the only one not wearing a uniform,” Matthew said we are now entering the gate and I saw Adrienne she seems like waiting for someone.

“Hey, Halea,” she comes in our direction, I waved to acknowledge

“Hi Adie,” Jason said with a big smile

“Hi Matt, Jay, I’ll steal Halea since your big boss is looking for you two,” she said

“Or we can all go together,” Jason still talking to Adrienne. And she gave him that ‘eye roll’ snob look.

I kind of enjoy looking at this two, their like cats and dog.

“Alright, will see you around,” Matthew said and he started pulling Jason and run towards the classroom direction.

Adriene anchored her hand on my arm, as we walk.

“So, do you want to go on an outing this weekend?”

“To your grandma?”

“Well yes, and to our farm, we can go get some cashew nut and mangoes. There’s also this freshwater swamp that flows from the mountain top passing the farm where we can go bathe. It would be fun,”

“I like that idea; can we go as well?” Caleb butt in, “It would be fun to visit Apo Estrella,”

“Hmm, let me think about it. I also need to ask permission to go,” I said

“Oh, that’s a shame, but if ever you’ll go let us know so we can join the fun,” he said

“Ok, no rush. Sit beside us. Ms Simein wouldn’t mind,” she said as we enter the room. I like sitting in the back where I can see everyone and everyone cannot see me. Caleb went to sit at his chair where his buddies are. I saw Ms Simien doing her attendance call and she just looked at me without mentioning my name since I am the only one wearing civilian clothes.

The class went on as usual unlike yesterday, today went out smoothly since I didn’t have any distraction. I was able to properly understand the lessons and made some notes. I realized that their lessons are already far from where my class in the city, which means I need to read and cope up on the lessons that I was skipped. There were on 3 lessons apart so it shouldn’t be difficult. I guess they are advance here compared to the city students, maybe because students here are more diligent than of those in the city.

We were at lunch break and I joined Amie (Amelia) and Adie (Adrienne). We were sitting at the park and Amelia is telling her story.

“I was out in the woods last night with my brother it was almost midnight when we saw a big shooting star. It was fascinating, I haven’t seen a shooting star that closes before,” she said while eating

“Did you make a wish?” Adie asked laughing

“Wishes are for kids,”

I remembered my dream, “shooting star is like a vessel that takes the sorrow of those lonely souls, and provide hope,” I said and they both looked at me, “I just heard it from someone,” and I smile

“I didn’t know you’re deep,” Amelia said

“If I saw it, I would wish to find true love,” Adrienne said dreaming,

“It’s not like you,” Amelia said laughing

“why not, at least if comes true then the wish is not wasted,” Amie and I laughed and teased her.

“I bet, you’ll get what you wished for,” I said chuckling then I remembered Jason, they look good together

“So, what were you doing outside in the middle of the night,” I asked Amie

“Oh, were tending a sick dog it got hurt last night and we couldn’t bear to see it hurt”

“How is it now?”

“It was better this morning, but my brother stayed home to make sure it will fully be recovered,”

“That’s kind of him,” I said as I much my burger.

We finished our lunch and they helped me with some of the lessons I’ve missed. And we went back for the afternoon classes.

The week is ending so fast and ever since we moved here, I kept dreaming of this place with different scenes and creatures like a fairy tale uncovering new stories each night.

It was engaging as every night I dreamed of different beings, there were the Lambanas (Fairies), meeting with Gemang and other deities, there were Tala and Hanan and just the other night I woke up listening to prayers of the human-like creatures called Sagay (dwarfs), as their elder’s litanies were about future livelihood and security. The Goddess of the Moon granted their prayers, with the light of the moon, they were able to journey to the middle of the earth to mine golds, rubies, diamonds and ore they were made as keepers of these earthly treasures used by different creatures like fairies, dragons and others. These creatures can be seen only in the moonlight, then can hide in the foresight of men and other creatures.

As much as I enjoy the dreams I am having, I am puzzled it all ends up on the same scene where I slay the dragon. Then I would wake up remembering patches of the dream except for the dragon. It was like a memory playing in my head as I am seeing them from my eyes and sometimes moving along with them from my body.

Today is the day I would go out with Adrienne and Amelia to visit their farm, Somehow, her Mom asked my Dad for permission and my Mom has pushed me to go. They picked me up from my house and I brought in a little knapsack containing some change of clothes, snack and water bottle. I brought in my phone just to capture photos; I know there won’t be any cellular signal in the place we will go.

“Are you ready?”

“Sure,” I said as we ride their motorized traditional cart.

“We will be riding the car and then we will transfer to a motor cart as we go to the foot of the mountain,”

“It’s a bit difficult for the car to go up as the road is not paved,”

“I understand. How long will be on the road before we reach your farm?”

“About 30-45 minutes,”

“Let’s go then,”

We passed by the market and turn into a road going to the grove, then we transferred to a motor pulled cart, more like a tractor-pulled cart. It was fast enough but the only difference is the noise that it makes as we drive along. It was fun watching the change of scenery, I can see the farm fields on the right side of the road while the forest like passage on the left. We arrive in an open field with a big hut on its end. On the left side, there were smaller huts but as we move closer it’s a pigsty and a barn.

The whole place was surrounded by big trees and farm animals are everywhere. I saw Adrienne and Amelia pay their respect to the old people as they take their right hand and held it to touch their forehead as this is part of the traditional culture, I followed them, though I am not familiar with anyone there.

“Bless you, child,” the old women say as we take their hands.

There were about 3 old women outside the hut as we entered, we took off our shoes and walk barefoot inside the wooden house. As I enter the hut I felt a familiar feeling, one that I feel whenever I'm dreaming, I suddenly felt that my spirit just lifted and I am just watching in her eyes, though I can feel all the movement of my body it is as if my spirit is far apart. I suddenly felt dizzy and fell on the floor, fainted.

“It’s not yet time,” I heard a whisper, very close to my ear as if a wind was just blown,

“But everything will fall in its place at the right time,” it speaks again while everything is black I felt like I was in a reverie.