Fall Of Lunar Province

A tall figure stood still across the hallway, cloak swaying alongside the ashen wind. Witnessing his presence before a window, all Naomi could think of was how to escape in one piece.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” A raspy voice broke the silence, a presence so fierce and dark that Naomi took a deep breath before tightening her grasp over her daughter.

Raindrops began to seep through the open ruptures, coating broken debris and walls.

So this is him? How could someone be so strong? Luna thought, peeking through her mother’s grasp whilst breathing heavily.

She took a deep breath and tried to make sense of his vague emotions, but nothing arose; she still couldn’t use her ability properly. The fear within her grew with each second, like the peak of a heartbeat.

“To think a corpse could rise from his grave, how intriguing,” Naomi spoke, her tone still shocked, never thinking she’d hear an apparition of the past.

The divination flared—but this time, no stabbing pain. Instead, the world around her fell into that of a black void: no sound or smell. She began glancing in every direction, from side to side. She didn’t stop searching until a faint ripple.

Oh, what’s this? Do you have telepathy, too? The masked man asked Luna. However, instead of the expected voice, he appeared in front of her within the void. He tilted his head, fascinated by her mental intrusion as he fixed his kitsune mask. How come you entered my domain even when it seems you lack control of your husk? I must say, I’m surprised too.

What in the world are you? Luna’s gasps grew faster and unsteadier, feeling as if she were about to hyperventilate. Eyes widening, body swaying, and mind faltering.

You’ll find out eventually, but for now, may I ask you to stay out of my conversation with your mother? He whispered.

He lifted his finger towards her forehead in the gesture of a flick, but before he released his fingers, Luna stared at him with loathing eyes. As dark as a crimson moon, they nearly appeared bloodshot with how much wine seeped towards her pupils.

You’re the one behind all of this, right, Facalor? Luna’s eyes began to cry blood, accompanying her wide grin, overflooding with resentment.

Who's that? I don't know any Facalor? The figure asked curiously. Never mind that, kid, farewell. He flicked her forehead, summoning a force that blazes across her, disintegrating her presence in an instant. Burning like the heart of a flame, she flew—weightless as a dried leaf.

She awoke from the telepathic void, waking up to her mother as she stared down the unmoving man. Seeing her mother so focused without blinking further solidified the intruder as someone threatening.

“I must say I’m impressed. To think you’ve managed to make it this far in life.” He broke the silence, yet it appeared to be his comfort, his hellish haven.

“Maybe because I decided to stick around… all those years ago.” Naomi steadied her stance, further stabilizing herself against the odds. Thunder roared in the background, tearing the once-silent hallways.

Luna raised her head closer to her mother’s shoulder, trying to appear helpless as she thought of plans to help her mother. Though she knew her mother was a fierce paradigm, the strongest species on the entire planet, seeing her unable to attack him meant only one thing: the intruder was a real and powerful threat.

“You weren’t even part of the team.” A hushed chuckle escaped the man.

She took a deep breath. “And yet– I still fought beside you all…as family.” Her arms moved around Luna’s small frame, still greatly injured. Luna glanced at her mother with bewilderment, getting confused on top of her already emotional mess.

“You left the moment you had a chance to, yet I remained.” He raised his hand as if he were charging you a bill, as his shadow moved on its own, accompanying the cloak with a steady dance.

Her gaze sharpened before his slight budge. “Unless you know what it's like to have a family, I suggest you hold your tongue.”

“Hence I am speaking, you fool.” The masked man tilted slightly to the side, the faintest of light vanishing. A grin greeted the two underneath the pitch-dark hood, lowering his tone momentarily. “I must admit that I do miss what my late wife and I could've been, though.”

“And yet, here you are tearing other families apart.” Seizing another breath, her fury flickered anew. “Do you honestly think that it’ll heal your filthy void?”

“Every wound may heal with due time, but not all close shut.” His voice grew sorrowful.

“Tell me, is that why you’re hiding underneath that filthy rag?” Her eyes narrowed, trying to find any possible opening.

“Let us stop this futile conversation.” His tone returned to his cold measure, dominating over the surrounding whispers. “Your moral theatrics bore me.”

In the blink of an eye, Naomi jolted back and formed ice shields around Luna. “Wait, give me a minute so I can take my daughter to safety first. Then I promise to give my Moonlight Husk.”

“Do not worry, I’m not interested in collecting the useless ones first, especially since yours is only half. After all, I already have another objective in mind.” He turned his head towards the neighboring hallway, taking a pause. “Speaking of which, I let those two get enough of a head start, so I’ll be excusing myself now.”

At the mention that he knew hers was only half, she flinched, moving in front of Luna.

“Kazai and Ava?” A-after all they did for you?!” Naomi’s voice cracked, saddened.

The man paused for a second, taking a deep breath. “No, for all they didn't do.” His voice, almost gentle. “Not that it matters anyway, they just so happened to possess the most powerful of the husks.”

“You do know that title belongs to my sister, right?” Her eyes narrowed, her breath pattern stabilized as she gently smoothed Luna’s hair.

“I’m not that foolish to face her,” he said, still in his raspy voice, but one of admiration. “Nor to fall for your futile tricks of buying time.”

“There was once a time you did face her.” Naomi’s heart twisted at her own words, reminiscing about what happened between her sister and the corpse in front.

Luna, witnessing what it’s like to be in the middle of two almighty paradigms and their intense aura, began to weep silently. What intense energy, she thought to herself in worry. The source that the planet has run on ever since its vague intrusion around 1.32 million years ago. Aura acted as the fuel to all abilities and everything in between, working as the foundation for half of the world.

“Not in combat.” The masked man replied, stopping his small gestures.

“Would it even make a difference now?” Naomi muttered, stepping back once again.

“It appears they’re getting further, so I must go now.” He turned once more towards the direction of the other hallway, growing desperate to reach the other two.

“You didn’t come here just to catch up. Tell me, what is it that you came here for then?”

“You’re as vigilant as ever, I see.” He returned to face her, tilting his head menacingly underneath the flashing lightning, each flash revealing more of a gigantic silhouette.

Enormous black wings that spanned over the length of multiple stained glass windows unfurled, with sharp, curved horns as dark as the night atop his head. “You’re right, this kingdom has overstayed its welcome, and so has the queen….” He whispered happily. “...Farewell, your majesty.”

On his way towards the hallway, he dismissively gestured with his hand, walking prominently away as if he owned the place.

Then came rays of blaring light forming towards the silhouette’s center, shining through the lancet windows as if they were nothing. The beams came towards the glowing sphere like a typhoon, so unfathomably fast that their eyes could barely keep up.

At the speed of sound, Naomi slid her foot backward and placed Luna on the floor while keeping her eyes on the upcoming blast. Keeping a hand in front of her daughter, she hastily jolts her left hand towards the dragon’s direction.

Only a second after the beast had begun firing their beam, it roared towards them with tremendous velocity. The beam burst towards them at a speed over Mach eight. Naomi barely put her crystalized shield in time, one of manifested radiance that outshone even the brightest of diamonds.

The impact blasted against her special shield, one far superior to anything her ice could offer, deafening the very castle around. Melting the fierce walls with each passing moment, the dragon didn’t halt for even a second, raising its attack pressure.

Glancing back at Luna, she hastily beckoned Luna behind her and stretched her other arm against the barrier. Channeling her aura through both hands, she was able to keep up with the dragon’s relentless beam even as it slowly burned her skin off, unsure her half of a husk could sustain such a frequency.

If I’m able to stop the attack but the heat is still getting through, then that means– Naomi analyzed swiftly, but at the realization, her eyes widened horrifyingly, glancing back at her daughter.

Letting go of one of her hands, she rapidly placed it on top of Luna.

A second later, a sigh of relief escaped Naomi’s satisfied smile. One by one, cracks began to form on her own shield, but she no longer cared. She gave her undivided attention to her daughter, upholding the one arm against the shining shield.

“M-mom! P-please don’t!” Luna cried intensely, bashing her hands against the small shield around her. “Y-you have to stay with me—I’m begging you! Dad will come to save us!”

Naomi’s trembling lips and shallow breathing couldn’t bear it any longer, and she broke free like a dove in spring. Her tears etched icy trails down her rosy cheeks.

Crack.

With every shaky breath and soft tear her daughter took, she smiled grievously, but she couldn’t leave her daughter without a sweet warmth. And so, she took one deep breath and crouched onto her knees.

“Hey, listen to me, dear.” She wiped the dust off her lips, acknowledging the inevitable.

She began wiping away her precious tears, still breathing unevenly. She used her free hand to warp any areas missing, and thus, her daughter had a completed suit.

“Mom, don’t do this to me, please!” Gasping heavily, she grabbed onto her hand tightly.

“I know that this won’t keep up for long, and I may not be able to say all I want to, so please listen.” Her right hand began to burst with blood and revealed the tense muscle layer. Yet again, she barely acknowledged it and returned to her daughter’s eyes. “I-I know that the b-burden of being queen may be hard, n-nearly impossible at times, but never forget that it's more than just a t-title. Being queen is a duty that no one else but you can fulfill, for you must feed, teach, protect, and care for the millions of people who place their faith in you.”

Naomi inhaled a steady breath and exhaled one just as much, looking down on her daughter’s small hands as they grasped over her own. She looked at her daughter for the last time, her eyes as joyous as the moon itself.

“That aside, I know I haven’t been the nicest of moms, nor have I had as much time to give you. I may have been strict at times, but it's because I care about you and want to see you grow.” Her smile, so radiant and warm that it appeared blessed by moonlight itself. She reached towards Luna with both her hands and placed something by her chest. “Please, no matter what, never forget the love I have for you, Luna. Mom will always be by your side, no matter how far apart we are. I love you forever, my little moon–”

Whoooosh. The dozen cracks exploded the shield and out came the atomic blast, annihilating everything in its path in overwhelming fashion. Castle collapsed, kingdom crushed, and life gone. Luna was ragdolled several dozen feet away from the destruction, crashing into the tundra several times.

There she lay, looking up into the sky with dreadful eyes. Still gasping and seeking air as her mind revolted violently. However, a faint glow appeared where her heart rested. With no time to breathe or cry, and her thoughts unable to perceive anything, an overwhelming pain erupted from her chest.

Her heart was stabbed internally with what felt like a thousand needles. Agonizing screams and screeches relentlessly disturbed the surrounding snow as blood escaped through her nose, ears, and mouth, staining the grounded clouds.

Her limbs reacted on their own, reaching for something to hold on to as her body twitched like a dying animal. Her shrieks echoed all across the distance, reaching the ruined castle once more. Begging for air and help, her agonizing pain continued for a few more seconds until the whitest of screens appeared before her.

Her mother's half of the husk, having no place to had sought its way into hers, reconnecting into one. Even for someone who was born under the cold moon, the icy pulse was so cold that she wanted to sleep forever.

Everything went white. Then there was nothing.

…

Days had passed since the catastrophe, and Luna had been recovered and healed by the loyal attendants of the Kingdom. Even as the reconstruction continued, it appeared as if everyone else didn’t even bother to acknowledge it. Emotionless as a statue, Luna stared at the casket for countless hours, even after the funeral had long since ended. Her mother’s frame, the only other company in the room, greeted her with a smile as if she were proud that she had become queen.

Her eyes were as dull as dried blood, cracked by overwhelming guilt and regret.

She stood there in her royal attire, decked with luxurious designs and accessories, for another few hours, still, unwavering.

Then finally, she blinked and came back to life. She smacked her lips. Starving, thirsty, mentally and physically. Walking towards the door, she gestured towards the casket to wait for her return.

And so she did, returning with two plates of exotic ice cream, a frozen fruit salad, and two glasses of berry juice. “So I know it's been a while since we ate together, and I know ice cream really isn’t food, but what’s a little rule-breaking going to do?”

After she toasts the two glasses on her own, she picks up the mess, yet leaves her mother’s breakfast as is. She bows before the casket, closing her eyes, and takes a deep breath.

“I see that you’ve grown a liking toward your birthday present. I must say I worked really hard to make it possible.” A lady giggled from above, her voice identical to hers but assertive and cheerful. She took out a fan and began cooling herself down as she examined the place.

To her surprise, she was greeted with a strange laugh. It only grew more consistent and louder, Luna’s hands clawing on the gold floor.

“What’s this I see? Aren’t you going to give me thanks?” She scoffed, shutting her fan as she repositioned her legs for comfort. To her amusement, she noticed that Luna managed to tear through the golden tiles like a stick of butter. "You do know that's real gold, right?"

“Oh, Facalor. You don’t know how excited I am to finally meet you.” Luna whispered diligently, breathing heavily as if she really were.

"How are you sure it's me? What if I were the one who attacked the–" Facalor raised her eyebrow slightly.

"No, he has nothing to do with it. You tried to trick me into believing that he was you." Still hiding her face, her voice grew grimmer by the second.

“So you do know who I am? Oh, how nice it is to be free!” She shook her head, showcasing her silver hair as it flew across like gentle feathers. "See, I thought you'd confuse me with the guilable assassin I sent after your mother the other day–"

“Tearing you from limb to limb will be my life’s greatest honor!” She interupted with maniacal joy, lifting her head and facing her in a flash. Her grin reached from corner to corner. "The masked man can wait another day."

Her eyes bloodlust for vengeance, piercing into Facalor’s soul.

“Is that so?” She reopened her fan, resting her lower half face behind it.

“Even if it takes my last breath. I won’t die until I have your head.” She stood up and looked right into her eyes, reducing her grin to a smirk. “Luna is near.”

A sudden silence and a black pitch, taking a moment to shine bright.

Neoma and Luna had opened their eyes again. The dark room and its dull ceilings have not changed, and the soft silence returned, slithering around the room.

"May I ask why you wanted to relive our life again?" Luna gazed into Neoma's eyes, intrigued by her sudden request.

Momentarily, a peaceful wave gently placed its warmth over the two.

Luna removed her hand from Neoma and leaned back on her bed, taking a sigh of relief.

"My memories have begun to vanish faster recently." Resting her hands on her knees, she sighed in exhaustion.

"I see, then, if no further report, you are dismissed," She raised her hand from out of her hair's mess and rubbed her eyes.

"I thank you for the permission. I will take my leave now." She stood up formally and patiently, bowing once more once she got all the way up.

Neoma took a deep breath, exhausted from the prior bowing, as distant volume began to scare off the silence.

"Now that I reviewed my memories, I have changed my mind and recommend you prioritize recovering the capsules faster. My power in the wrong hands risks not only the kingdom but the entirety of Japan." Resting her eyes shut, she began to fall asleep, dozing off more by the second.

Thin ice began to form around not only her but the entirety of the room, a signal that her slumber was approaching and that her divination was blocked.

"Don't worry! Leave this to me, and I'll assure you everything will return to normal." Neoma smiled, glancing once more at her before turning towards the door. "Maybe we can also get someone to help."

Hearing the faint snores begin to escape Luna, she smirked even more, grabbing hold of the knob and turning it slowly.

"That would be much appreciated. Thank you," She faintly whispered, falling asleep a few seconds after.

Quietly closing the door to the room, Neoma tiptoed the first few steps away from Luna's bedroom and returned to a formal pace once further away.

Oh, Luna. I finally created an opening in your plan, and I'm going to seize it. She thought happily, skipping along the hallway with a brimming light. Prepare yourself, your majesty!

A few minutes passed by, and Neoma finally reached the castle's outskirts, satisfied that her secretaries had already requested help from the neighboring city.

She rested against a nearby wall, facing the distant city and its faint ruckus, and took a sigh of relief.

"Allowing those humans to escape was the right choice." She whispered to herself before noticing a faint ray of violet light rise into the far clouds, right near the heart of Yokohama.

Neoma's plan was set into motion.

She held her hand to her lips and smiled, chuckling lightly.

Now, I leave the rest to the future.