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“Leo, get up!” Ares screeched.
“I’m up, I’m up,” Leo yawned.
“Good. Put something on—we’re going to buy supplies from the store,” Frost said, tidying his hair in the mirror as Zion pulled on a jacket. Leo grabbed the first clothes he found: an oversized t-shirt and equally oversized black pants. After brushing his teeth, he hurried out of the room. Ares led the way as they walked down the hall, turned a few corners, and encountered four unfamiliar men in black.
“Step forward. You need to wear this,” one of the men said, displaying a round metal contraption. “If you exceed the store’s area, you’ll be electrocuted until you return to the designated zone.”
Ares extended his arm. “Is this really necessary?”
One of the burly men simply nodded. Ares begrudgingly put on the contraption. “This is heavy,” he said, swinging his arm around.
Once everyone had donned the metal bands, they were ready to leave the castle. As they passed the garden for the first time, Frost exclaimed, “Wow, there are tons of stores down that road!” He dashed ahead.
“Oh, come on. You’re just excited because of the food,” Ares called out, chasing after him.
“Of course Frost is a foodie,” Zion said, following suit.
Leo groaned and jogged to catch up. “By the way, I made a bet with Excalibur that we’re going somewhere special today,” Zion said with a grin.
“Wait, the gray-haired guy?” Leo’s eyes lit up. “He’s the funniest of all the guards!”
Zion nodded, a proud smile on his face. “Yeah! Thanks, Zion,” Frost said as he slowed down.
Ares led them into the store, leaving the others standing in perplexity. The store was large, but it seemed small compared to the great hall. Leo marveled at the thousands of shelves. Ares pulled out a lengthy list and began filling the cart, consulting the list and the shelves. Frost scurried over to help, while Zion stood back, unimpressed, hands in pockets as Ares and Frost made progress.
Leo nudged Zion toward an aisle dedicated to new snacks. Zion smirked, sneaking four different flavors into the cart. “Surely it won’t hurt to add something for us?” Zion whispered. Leo stifled a laugh, while Frost and Ares remained oblivious. After what felt like an eternity, they finished the shopping and went to check out. Surprisingly, they had leftover money despite the large total. Ares frowned as he pulled out five bags of chips, while Zion frowned and put only four.
“What? I only put one!” Frost said, scratching his neck. Zion and Leo burst into laughter. Ares shrugged and grabbed more sweets, leaving Leo wondering if Rain had anticipated change, as he hadn’t been told there would be any.
As they exited the store, each snacking on a bag of chips, Leo observed the bustling city: people running, screaming, dancing, crying, jumping, laughing, selling, and buying. Although the city was busy, Leo found joy in watching the children play, feeling a lump in his throat. Zion noticed Leo’s change in demeanor and considered patting his shoulder, but hesitated. Frost was too engrossed in his food to notice.
Leo thought, *If only I had been like them, not trapped or kidnapped… if only I had a choice.* Zion realized the pain Leo was feeling. *All these children are free and happy, but at their age, I was struggling with my mother. Now I don’t even know if she’s alive or...* Leo shook his head vigorously, trying to push the memory away.
*This place is full of people… What would my life be like if I had been born into a rich family? My mother probably thinks I’m dead, but I won’t stop believing she’s waiting for me somewhere. Her cries still echo in my mind.*
Ares’s eyes stung, but he wiped them away. *I will return to my mother and find her,* both Leo and Ares thought simultaneously.
“Hey, have you guys tried this flavor?” Frost broke the somber mood.
The Lunas merely shook their heads and moved on. “What? Did I say something wrong?” Frost asked, staring at their retreating figures.
After reaching the castle gates, the knights stepped aside, allowing the massive metal gate to open.
“Wow, they’re allowed into the castle. Lucky people,” a child said, pointing at the Lunas. Her mother’s face turned red, and despite whispering, the Lunas overheard. “No, sweetheart. They’re the Lunas. They help our kingdom.”
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YOU ARE READING
The Chaos Of Luna's Mark
Fantasy--- In a world where the rarest of gifts is both a blessing and a curse, four unsuspecting children are thrust into a battle they never saw coming. When they receive the enigmatic **Luna's Mark**, a mystical moon symbol bestowed only once every 500...
