Bound Beneath the Moon [ONC 2021] ✔

Chapter 9

Yet again, I'm waiting on the balcony. Waiting for Erie to show up. I hope I dropped enough hints. I smiled at her and kept looking in her direction, like a small cry for help. A wanting for an escape from this pointless reality. It's not until I see white ears poking over the balcony railing do I feel reassured.

She looks so nervous when she peeks her head over the balcony. It's adorable to see.

She laughs awkwardly. "So. Am I in the right place?"

Judging by that smile, she can tell how excited I am to see her. How could I not? She's bringing more joy than I've felt in years.

"Yes, please come in."

After helping her up, I guide her to the small balcony table. I had already set everything up, just in case she came to visit me again. Pillows and blankets scatter the floor to form make-shift beds and seats. On the small, golden table, lies some small plates, teacups, and a teapot with steam rising from the mouth. I tried making my tea this time. I hope she likes it. But what if she doesn't? Then I've just embarrassed myself in front of Erie. I should've thought this through. Maybe I should have thought this through more.

Erie takes a seat, folding her legs and putting her hands in her lap. I take a seat on the other side of the table.

For a few moments, it's silent. I mean, what do I say to her? What could I say that wouldn't make this situation painful and awkward? I could ask her full name, favorite color, favorite food, but I can't think of the words to say. All I can think about is the future. Our future? I can't be certain. But I want it to be her. I want it to be her who falls asleep by my side and the one that helps me keep the peace of my home planet and the one who marries me. Not Jhorlauhin. Not any of those other stupid suitors. I want it to be Erie.

Please. Please win so I can have you as my wife.

I'm lovesick. So, so lovesick. But it's just natural. In Zophoria, love is easy to find. Once you have that bond, once you share that first kiss, you're inseparable. You have found your soulmate. Never have I seen that bond break easily. Except for once, but then again, I don't think Vanila is capable of forming that bond.

So it's quiet. Very quiet. It's almost uncomfortable until Erie finally says something.

She takes a sip of her tea first. She seems to like it, thankfully. "I've been meaning to ask, what's your religion?"

"That's..." I try finding the word. "A question."

"Sorry, I just wanted to know if you had the same belief as your parents. The belief in the goddesses Taquib and Kavas I think?" her chuckle is out of place compared to our earlier words. "I don't really know much about it so I wanted to hear about them from you."

Oh. She's just curious. She's not meaning to be offensive. I mean, it's Erie. How did my mind assume she would be criticizing me?

I have to clear my throat in case my tone comes out as harsh. I wouldn't be surprised if it did. "Yes, I'm Sezoshin like my parents. Kavas is the goddess of the stars and Taquib is the goddess of the planets."

The tip of her nose scrunches up and her ears twitch. "Planets? I was expecting her to be the goddess of life or something like that." She's doing her awkward blush of realization. Like she's just now processing the words flowing out of her mouth. "Not that I'm judging. I'm not in the palace to criticize you and your beliefs. You believe in what you believe in, I don't care and I'm not trying to... Uh, to be rude. Here. In front of you. Like, not that I like being rude. Or I am rude. I try not to be—"

My laugh cuts her off. "Erie, darling, you're fine."

Darling. I called her darling. She's just as startled and embarrassed as I am, but she doesn't say a word. I try not to focus on it. She's curious about me. She wants to know about Taquib and Kavas. I can do that. A simple explanation. Nothing awkward or flirty about telling her the love story of the goddesses—

Okay. Maybe this is going to be a little difficult to control.

I get to my feet. I wander over to the corner of my room, where an array of bookcases lean against the walls. Small lanterns and plants fill in the spots where the dozens of books don't fill. Most of them are history books. The stories of ancient cultures and civilization, the development of different off-world governments, even the events that led to the structuring of Zophoria's system itself. Since I was little, I was always fascinated by history. My collection of tales, stories, and documentaries reflect this all a bit too well.

I don't know why it takes me so long to find it. It's my favorite book. My fingers trace the brown leather spine before I tug the book free from its corner of the bookshelf. On the cover, golden ink fills it, the corners tattered and ripped. I used to be so obsessed with this book, reading it every night. Before I could read, I remember Marious and Mako would take turns reading it to me before I went to bed. And no matter what, every time it was read to me gave me a different feeling. 

My first dozen attempts trying to scan the pages angered me more than anything. So many words, so many pages. But then when Mako read it, every word came out smoother than silk. So it turned to envy. Mari struggled to pronounce every word right, sometimes even skipping over a few words, which made my fury more bearable. Mako's gentle, loving tones started to turn dull and empty over time. Mari's laughter-filled stutters became bored mumbles. It's almost like they gave me the hints. I could've told what paths they were on. I could've prepared myself more for their passing if I just realized how scarcely they cared for their lives.

Seeing the worn-down cover after so long gives me nostalgia. But it's so dreadful I can't focus on it for long.

I make my way back over to the small balcony table, sitting on my knees before presenting the book to Erie. Her ears twitch as she picks it up. "What's this?"

I take another drink to calm my nerves. "Sezoshin stories. It's a rather large collection, but it's worthwhile to read through."

She looks overwhelmed. Why? I thought she would get so excited by the book. She seems so curious, so loving of knowledge that it seems natural a new learning experience would raise her spirits no matter the problem. I can tell her some of it. Just to shorten some of the books.

"Once, back in the days before the galaxy was formed, there was a lone soul. And all she was surrounded with was dust." I think I fixed the problem. She looks at me with much more anticipation than before. "She didn't have a name, nor a purpose. And it bored her. So, out of boredom, she created the stars with what she had. But even with so many lights in her world, she still was bored. She took a star— one of her favorites that she constantly played with— and made it the center of something. Somehow, with the little dust and light she had, she created someone like her. But the new arrival wanted a name, so she named herself Taquib. Despite not wanting something to go by, seeing how it was pointless with just the two of them, Taquib named the other being Kavas.

"And, just like Kavas, Taquib thought their world felt empty. So she created planets to go with Kavas's stars. The more planets and stars they created together, the closer they grew. When they shared their first kiss, it blessed every planet throughout the universe with life. Plants, animals, people. But the first thing their love created was the life of Zophoria itself."

She lets out this cute, tiny little gasp. "They were in love?"

"Uh, yes?" Another chuckle from me. "I thought you would have already known that by now. It's simply just the tip of the iceberg of their tales."

She finally smiles at the book. But not soon after, the tip of her tail twitches and her face turns a deeper purple.

She gets to her feet. "I, uh, I'm sorry. I have to go."

She's leaving me again. Won't she ever be able to stay long?

"Why?"

An awkward laugh escapes her lips. "That's... A reason I don't think I should talk about." She walks to the balcony edge. "Would you like me to come back tomorrow?"

My smile comes back. "I would love that."

She jumps over the balcony edge before I can get another word in.