Lunaria: Genesis

5- Dinner

Prae Sul comes around after a long while, I lost track of time long ago. I sense as she comes down the hall and slowly opens the door as not to startle me. She sees me, sitting at the same table with a new book I pulled from a shelf at random. As I hoped, it appears to her as if I am reading, when I really am blinking at words and scanning the book for visual aids and pictures. There are a lot of small pictures in the book, some of normal things like apples, bridges, and camps, but others were odd like xylophones, yarn, and zebras. I have no idea what this book is about, but it was the biggest one on the shelf. Prae walked to me, smiling softly to herself.

"You look like you have been busy. Have you learned anything new?" She asked. Internally, I began to worry. I had not fully anticipated any response to this question. I have no idea what to say, so I try to think quickly.

"Yes....zebras....." I answered blankly, then I just hang my head. My body feels like it's turning ice cold from shame and embarrassment, but Prae didn't seem to notice anything. She just looks at me for a moment and then smiles.

"Well, you can come back here anytime you want to learn more. Now, dinner is ready." She says, leading me from the chair and forever away from the Library, much to my secret pleasure. We enter a small private dining room, the table set for two with plates piled with a variety of foods. I am a bit amazed, I've never seen so much food in one place, and even more surprised that it was meant for me. I stare at it in awe, I've never seen a chicken it's all the meat on it before, or a full cooked chicken at all. Nothing looked spoiled rotten, soggy, dirty, or thrown away. Nothing had mold on it or grubs and maggots. This was much nicer than my expectations, but Prae thought nothing of it. She sits down at the table and I seat myself after her. She begins to put food on her plate, distracted with her own hunger as I sit still. With her own plate filled with food she begins to talk.

"Lunaria, we found a family willing to take you in. It's an old family, they dominate the wine market and have acres of vineyards. The sole child of the family has long since past and the Lady of the family is a widow. They are happily willing to give you a place to stay and she can mentor you as you go through the Academy. This is a good place for you, they have a lot of money and status here in the village, and masters of their craft. They are good people." She says as she begins to eat. I sit in silence and watch her and the food in front of me. It all looks so inviting, but I have no want for it. It looks like forbidden fruit to me, as I cannot touch it or partake in it like before. I have had an entry stomach for so long hunger pains bother me no more, they don't even come to me. My body knows I won't eat so it doesn't even try. Prae notices this and looks at me with concern.

"Don't you want to eat? Do you not like it, I could have them cook something you like." She offers. I just slowly shake my head, there was no need to make more food I shouldn't eat. Prae sighs slowly.

"You must be nervous, I get it.  Everything will be fine, alright." She says, and continues to eat. After she had finished and people came in to clear the table, someone else entered, bowing slightly to Prae. He is a tall older man, with straight dark hair and a eyepatch for his left eye and a black and white vest suit. His other eye is a serious and stormy gray, and his face is angular and sharp.

"Leader Sul, I have updates from the Vino family. They have finished the required documents and are ready to take in the new child today." He said, looking up at her. She sighs, glancing to me then shaking her head.

"They are rushing into this faster than I expected. Let me introduce you to the child they are expecting. Sanies Armum, this is Lunaria. Lunaria, this is Sanies Armum, my right hand." She says. Sanies looks over to me and nods in my direction.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lunaria." He says, and I respond by bowing lowly, not meeting his eyes.

"Hmm. She is...different. Most children jump at the chance to speak for themselves. Is she always this quiet?" He asks Prae, who shrugs.

"Not unless you ask her to speak." She answers.

"She would serve well in the Vino family then. They are coming soon to pick her up." He says, placing a packet of papers in front of Prae and turning to leave. Prae sighs as she watches him go, turning to look at me.

"I guess you will have to go a little earlier than I expected. The temple will feel more... empty without you following behind me." She smiles softly. "Oh well, all to help you move on to whatever is next, right? I'm sure you will love it here. And I'll be here anytime you want to see me, ok. You better visit and tell me how you like living here." She says, giving a grin to enforce her previous instruction.

I don't know if I'll miss being here, I haven't been around for a whole day. This place is spinning around so fast, moving me from one place to the next without me saying or doing much about it. I just nod and sit back, awaiting the Vino family to arrive and claim me as their own.