The Book of the Sun.

The book of the sun.

Once it was a core artifact for the organization of Lunaris, but one day it disappeared from history.

The guards were guarding it at the organization’s headquarters—with the moons aligned on the horizon.

They heard a rustle of pages, the trembling of words.

They observed the book in wonder as it hovered over the void, turning its pages without stopping—as if it had life. It spewed over the thousands of words it once held, becoming a normal book.

It was then that the book of the sun was removed from people's minds and from history as well.

*****

Hitsuki was tied up near a river, as the guards chatted over the campfire. He looked at the bright sun, sweat dripping through his suit.

“At least have me remove my suit dammit.” He muttered. A droplet entered his eyes, burning his pupils.

Through his half-visible eyes, he could barely figure out the figure of a book lying before him. It washed ashore at his feet.

“What's this?” He mumbled. The book had markings—five suns in five corners, just like his pocket watch.

It's as if it were a bad omen. First was his teleportation, now what will happen?

“%$#@ $%#@! %^& #@! $%# %^^& #$%$?” a guard asked, but he couldn’t figure out any of his speech. “@#$$, %$^ @#! #$%%&@$ #$#@%$#@ @^ %$#@$ !@ @#$$ ^@@% %$”

[T/L: From where did you get that book? Well, you will be executed so might as well keep it.]

His hands trembled as he picked up the book, fearing the worst. Adrenaline flowed through his body ever since he was here, not knowing anything but the engraving on the pocket watch. He was lucky that he wasn’t killed on the spot.

He opened the book anyway. Maybe it contained something about this peculiar world? Or something about his world?

His disappointment flashed on his face as he opened to find the book empty. It only had margins and page numbers, but it looked as if the texts were ripped out of its body.

“So much for having some expectations…” he muttered.

He blinked as he was about to close the book, when he was met with shade.

An oddly cool shade, and a warm light over his body. A cold breeze wiped away his sweat.

He looked at the blank horizon, as if it were the void, mesmerized.

“Huh… maybe this place is amazing… after all…” he mumbled.

In front of his eyes hovered seven moons aligned over the horizon. Three on each side, with one red moon in the middle. It looked just like his eyes.

It was the blood moon.

He looked at the tent, where Princess Hanahoshi looked at him and her guards with terrifying eyes.

“It’s my fault isn’t it?” Hitsuki laughed. “I might really be turning insane…”

He looked around, seeing the guards slowly burning under the moonlight glow, while he enjoyed the low shine.

It wouldn’t be true that he wasn’t terrified at the scene as well. He was, by a lot. Maybe more than Princess Hanahoshi. He looked at the guards’ bare body melting as if someone poured acid over them.

His voice trembled. “Are you guys okay?”

But all they replied were grunts of pain.

*****

Behind the curtains of the tent, the scared Princess muttered as well. “It’s all my fault… for breaking the norm…”

She could do nothing but watch. For, getting out meant her getting burnt as well.

But she saw one person—someone completely unfazed by his surroundings. Someone not bound to this world, nor its rules. Someone completely different—one who could survive not only sunlight, but can bask under the moon’s wrath as well.

“YOU!” She screamed at Hitsuki, throwing a key at his feet. “I am setting you free… on one condition… please… please… help them. Bring them here under the tent…”

She cried, for it was all her fault. It was her carelessness that brought them their demise. Truly, severe consequences awaited them…

*****

Hitsuki didn’t understand anything that Princess Hanahoshi said. But he would not miss the opportunity to grab the key to his freedom.

As he held the book, it glowed under his arms, as if a revelation had been imprinted on its pages.

“YOU! I am setting you free… on one condition… please… please… help them. Bring them here under the tent…”

The string of text hovered over the empty pages, as he watched with curious eyes. Now he had a way to communicate with this world, with the book as his sole companion. He rejoiced over the fact, before rushing to one of them.

The guards writhed in agony and the moonlight burned their top skin, almost revealing the muscles underneath. The smell of burnt human flesh made Hitsuki gag, but he had humanity in him to help his dying enemies.

But could you consider them enemies? For they are as concerned about their life, as fearful of death, and as knowledgeable as you about the world?

He rushed towards them, his footsteps echoing through the woods.

But then, he felt odd.

He felt his surroundings close up on him.

He felt time slow down before him.

Then he stopped.

Hanahoshi couldn’t scream at Hitsuki for not saving the guards. For she was terrified as well.

Both of their hearts dropped from their bodies. One on the bare ground, the other on the comfort of the tent.

Both of their legs trembled at the sight.

For they have crossed the forbidden land on the forbidden hour.

For the forest of spirits had awakened…