Luines - Book 1

Chapter 18: A Night At Awaji Island

Hal hung on to Zee's hand as he recovered. Madame Pura had healed his wounds earlier, while she consoled her. Zee was one of them; he was like her, a Luine. They shared more than childhood now, but the same fate.

"Of all people, why did it have to be you? Why did you have to be a Luine?" She murmured as she held his hand tightly. "I thought you'd be the one keeping me sane in this Luine bit. Looks like we're sharing this too."

Earlier that day, they found themselves transported in a Shinto Shrine. The moon was gleaming at them, while Ryu was carrying Zee. Zee was glowing brighter than the moon and the stars as they entered the shrine. Hal ran to Ryu and checked on them. Zee was like a child sleeping in a quiet embrace, despite all the blood and torn muscle. Ryu smiled, "Zee isn't that heavy. Don't worry."

Mitsuki Miho said, "We're in the Izanagi Shrine in Awaji. Why did Zee bring us all here?"

A sharp high voice spoke, "I asked him too." Kinou Maeda pranced towards them. "Welcome to my home!"

Hal Cruz raised a brow, "I never thought you lived in a temple. I thought you'd live in a more extravagant place."

Kinou Maeda brought out a wooden staff with long strips of white shredded paper attached on its tip. She waved that staff into the sky, and spun around like all her movements were a dance. At her third turn, their surroundings changed into an imperial palace lit with giant gold lanterns. The wooden panels were now a fortress of high white walls, glittering adornments and a dark black roof. At the end of her dance, she bid, "Follow me. The rest of the Academy are inside."

Now, Hal squeezed Zee's hand again, "Please don't die on me. You promised."

The door rattled. Neon Requyem came in. She looked sullen and exhausted, as she laid by Zee's bedside. She said, "How is he doing?"

"Recovering." Hal said. "Tell me the truth, Neon. What was your wand doing in Quiapo that night?"

Neon leaned by the wall and released a sigh. "The Realm Council said that I wasn't alone. There was a young boy who had skills that surpassed any elemental caster. So, High Priest Goshawk sent an envoy to Quiapo to have him checked. I insisted that I should go on his behalf, but he didn't want me to be put at risk."

"Instead, my dad died because of that wand." Hal said bluntly. Again, she felt Neon's heart drop. Although, that feeling felt more like hers, but she felt it too in Neon Requyem. That's how much it hit her; just a thought of him made her lose her breath. "Neon, no secrets from now on. We're three now, and there are four more to come, right? I don't want my dad's death to save that wand to go to waste."

Neon bowed, put her hands together, pointing in two opposite directions, and looked at Hal, tears were welling up in the corners of her eyes. "I truly apologize for your dad's death, Hal. This is how we honor those who had fallen." She spoke in whispers that felt like a soft chant. She released her hands, "I hope your dad would find peace. Even if we do a resurrection spell, that wouldn't last for more than 24 hours."

"My dad will be okay, but how do we stop Bakunawa then? We can't afford another death."

"They taught me the spell to exorcise an evil spirit, but we'd need the Luines in order to do that. Would you be ready to lend a hand if ever?"

"I'd be ready if you would. But, weren't they seven? How do we replace that?"

"I heard there was a Halliwell in GEOS Academy. They were witches before who helped during the 2100 war. Their magic is as potent as a newly awoken Luine. And we need one more. I know there was a being who helped them during the wars. There was the Immortal."

"I could ask Maeda. You know, she has so many connections that she could help us out. Besides, Ryu is in the same College as her." said Hal.

"Please do. I'll handle the Haliwell then."

"Okay." Hal said. "Do you think we'd get to survive this? I mean, do you think we, Luines, get to see the end of our wars?"

"Times are changing. I'm hoping we would. Just don't lose the proud woman that used to march in the halls of GEOS."

Hal had a bright smirk as she remembered those moments that nothing scared her. She was untouchable then, wherein death didn't really scare her. She was mad at the world then, but she walked like she owned it, or the world owed her one. Now, she's a Luine who has got the world on her shoulders. She said, "You better get some sleep, Neon. Tomorrow is another day."