Accidentally Became Luna

ABL 54: Our First Date

My heart violently beat against my chest as I stared at those huge bronze doors; who could open those anyway? Maybe this was a mistake. I couldn't remember anything at all. All that I had studied was gone the moment we arrived here.

What was a leader? The role of a leader is to be a big meanie in front of people because they cannot deal with their own emotions and find it better to bottle up their feelings. After all, they think they deserve to be heard. That didn't sound right.

Okay, to be fair, that was a hard question; maybe I should try explaining the phenomena of the eye theory—I knew that one. Purple eyes were purple because they were powerful beings? Oh God, I'm failing!

I told them I couldn't do it, I told all of them, and they convinced me I could. Fuck all of them!

"Breathe," Miall said as he turned my head and made me face him. Suddenly, all the anxiousness was replaced with butterflies when I saw him smile. "There you go, you'll do great," he whispered, pressing his lips on my forehead.

Lies.

"Right," I agreed, nodding as I held onto his shirt. "But I can't remember anything," I mumbled as I snuggled into his chest and breathed him in.

"That's because you're pressuring yourself for no reason. Just relax, and you'll do alright," he rubbed my back soothingly, and I melted in his arms.

"Okay," I breathed out. "But is it—" I looked at him, and he was already staring at me. "Yes, it is," I answered, pressing my head back onto his chest.

"Once you finish the exam, I'll be waiting for you right here."

"Promise?"

"Mhh," he hummed, and I pouted.

"That doesn't sound convincing, but aren't there many people here?" I asked, looking around at everyone.

None of them had the slightest hint of being nice. They all had stoic expressions and were standing alone. And here I was, clinging onto Miall like a baby.

"Eclipse is one of the biggest exam centres in Nioz, with the most intelligent and strictest examiners," Miall answered, and I tilted my head to the side.

"You're leaving something out, aren't you?" I accused him, and he gave me a boyish grin, turning me around to face the opening doors.

"I can't let you miss out on all the fun; now go on," he pecked my neck, and my face felt warm. With one hand, I touched my cheek, trying to cool it down, and with the other, I turned to face him with my middle finger up, and he chuckled, waving.

As I entered the building, my breath was taken away. High ceilings were decorated with light patterns in contrast to their dark colour. The arches were designed in a way I had never seen before; twisted where they would curve, they gracefully fell as pillars to the huge building. It was almost like a heavenly experience.

The floors felt smooth against the sole of my shoe; this building was absolutely beautiful. Nioz was truly magnificent, and I wanted to experience more of it.

I had no idea where I was going; the hallways went on and on without a single arrow on where the exam hall was. Frustrated that I wasn't finding my way, I stopped before an engraving that seemed worn out on the wall.

"Cool," I whispered as I studied the engravement. This was the first time I had seen something like this.

It was a woman whose eyes were cast down as she stared at something in her hands. Even though parts of her had disappeared, I could still make out the engraving. Whatever she held used to glow; now, it looked dull, like washed-off paint.