The moon was a crescent shiny brightly in a clear sky. Auna still couldn’t get over the beauty of a single moon. On her old world the surface was usually only traversable during the night. She had spent many lives learning the stars, now though they were all unfamiliar. She wanted to learn more about the constellations of this world. What did they all mean? Did the people of this world even put meaning to constellations?

“Hey, you like stars? Or just the moon?” Jeff asked yawning.

“I want to learn all the patterns in the sky from every point of this world.” Auna said dreamily.

“Well, I don’t know that many. But you see that constellation there that looks like a five-pointed star with a star in the middle?” Jeff asked pointing to sky.

“Yes.” Auna had spent many nights looking at it, the five points were dull compared to the middle star.

“That is called the star of stars, at its centre that is the Gods Ice star. It points north always. There is a similar constellation in the southern lands. Instead, it is a X shape with the Gods fire star in the centre. Even though the southern lands are warmer the south pole is just as cold the northern one.” Jeff spoke calmly captivating Auna.

“What are the southern lands like? I know the kingdom of Jules encompasses majority of this continent. The Artic country taking the most northern, and Lindle taking the southern.” Auna asked Jeff.

“Hmm there is a lot of water in the southern part of the world. It’s why the southern land has warmer temperatures. The water takes longer to warm up and cool down. There are a few countries made up of islands. The only whole land masses are Lindle and Filan, they are both connected to two main continents. There is a southern continent, Iceland, however majority of it is waste lands. Iceland the country taking up the Eastern side with Wan taking a piece of it. Wan also has some islands. Perhaps I should get you a map one day.” Jeff noticed Auna was a little confused.

“Yeah, it’s confusing enough trying to remember the 18 main territories or noble families of Jules. Then there is the kings’ family as well.” Auna sighed, it was time to wake the others. Perhaps one day she will get a map?

After waking everyone except Ciela they ate and left the crater. They started out by the clearing. Aunas’ map was in her head due to her skill though she could show it on the status screen to everyone else.

They travelled in relative silence. Meredith was on Theos’ back for the trip while Auna led by foot. Auna was more comfortable walking for long distances. It was just before midday when they reached another clearing, this one was a marked safe zone. Many people were here. They had travelled much further than Auna had gone.

The adult males were able to handle most lower-level monsters with ease. So, their route was much faster and easier than Auna had thought it would be. The group had convinced her to keep going, with the promise of finding a spot for her to place a Moon door.

At the thought of a moon door back in civilization she could not resist. Apparently, they could trade clay pots, their maple candies, and their kills for things. Their other produce and fruits may not go for much though as it was common.

The people at this safe zone didn’t take notice of the group until some one noticed Auna on her wolf. She had switched with Meredith a few minutes before the clearing, she was not comfortable with large crowds.

Auna had her wings out as well. Many people were staring, apparently this clearing was only an hour away from the border town. They were technically in Bloodwave territory. This meant the town was under Marybeths’ control. With her looks the people stopped staring and went back to what they were doing. It was a like mother glaring at her child.

“We are almost there how are you girls?” Marybeth sked. Auna had fallen asleep on Theo and began stirring at her words. They had travelled 10 straight hours from the clearing. With the most direct route possible. Auna was tired. She had flown for part of the way as it was faster than walking even. These people were mad.

“I’m okay mom! I’ve only been walking for a few hours!” Meredith smiled, with her speed slowing down the group they had taken double the time the adults and Auna would have taken. On a bright note, it gave Auna more rest.

“I’m awake.” Auna said wiping drool from her mouth and Theos’ fur. “Ah sorry Theo.”

“Good morning, well, mid-afternoon. We can see the town from here.” Jeff smiled.

“You are all mad men how you are all still going?” Auna flopped back down on Theo she had never expended so much energy. She shifted lightly. “Is my back burnt?”

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“Oh, my gods! Look at her back. We haven’t even left the forest yet how did you get so burnt?” Marybeth looked very worried and went to pick Auna up.

“I have a curse; it makes me pale and burn easily in sun light. I usually wear a mantle.” Stretching Auna waved away Marybeth. “It’s okay really, can we stop for a second?”

They stopped at Aunas’ request. She jumped down from Theo Ayda rolling off as well. She opened her storage to show a chest, first she pulled out a pair of sunglasses. Next, she pulled out a mantle to drape over her shoulders. She tied it in a loose bow in front of her. Jumping back on Theo she put away her chest. “Ready.” She spoke yawning again.

“How could a child have a curse like that?” Jeff said quietly.

“Here check for yourself, it isn’t like my status is a secret.” Auna handed over the crystal that had her full status screen.

Jeff handed it off to his lady right way.

After a few minutes of walking while looking at it Marybeth handed it back “I see, please don’t be so trusting with such information in the future. Most people don’t hand these around to everyone”.

Auna ended up understanding she opened a chest again putting it away. She had not known it was something to protect. She had been keeping it on her person.

Soon they walked up to a building that was closer to the centre of the small town.

“MARY!!!!!” A tall man with flaming red hair rushed up to the medium sized blond women. He picked her up swinging around. He then grabbed Meredith swinging her around while Marybeth straightened her clothes.

“Auna This is my husband, Edward; you may call him just Edward. You did save our lives and guide us out of the forest after all.” Marybeth smiled.

The people around them shifted their eyes to Auna and went quiet. They looked like they could not believe the words of their lady however, they knew she would not lie about such a thing.

“Um, hi just Edward I’ve brought your friends home.” Auna was blushing and trying not to look at the tall man. He was similar in build to her father which brought up bad memories.

“Why don’t we go inside somewhere more private?” Edward seemed to gloss over the joke, while Jeff was snickering beside Auna.

Once inside what Auna now knew was the mayors house she was settling on the floor with Theo and Ayda. She had declined twice to sitting on the couch. She was nervous and just wanted to feel her pups’ fur on her back.

“So, you are?” Edward smiled softly looking down. Auna had taken her glasses and mantle off out of respect.

“My name is A, Jade.” Auna spoke softly not meeting his eye line.

“I see, why did my wife call you Auna then?” Edward was still speaking softly.

“My soul name is AunaLuna.” Edward nodded at that.

“I was at the Jade estate, until I heard my wife had disappeared. I heard a few whispers about a small girl that had died. The register listed her as lost during training over a year ago. Oddly enough she had the same given name.” Edward continued to ramble a bit before Marybeth elbowed him.

“I take it you were thrown away in the forest. That method of ridding a noble of children is not uncommon after all. I know Regan and I look similar. We are cousins after all. Well third cousins twice removed. It means we have the same great great grandparents.” Smiling Edward waited for Auna to say something.

“You look more handsome than Count Jade.” At that Auna blushed and put her hands over her face.

“Ha, yeah I know. Thank you though. So, Marybeth while I enjoy teasing this girl will you explained what happened?” Edward turned his attention to his wife.

Marybeth spent awhile explaining the events that led to them being lost in the forest, going to Aunas’ crater and even the details of everything she learned about Auna.

Auna had dosed off again as they spoke, she was physically tired.

“Perhaps we should let her go to bed and pick this back up in the morning?” Edward had said, even though the sun was not setting yet.

“I’ll go back to Ciela then, you said I could put a moon door here?” Auna was suddenly at attention.

“Sure, if you promise to come back in the morning. Oh, and let me use the Moon doors as well.” Edward smiled as Auna gave him a thumbs up.

“Mayor!” Edward called for the mayor. He was a small man with grey hair.

“Yes, my lord.” The mayor asked.

“Did you set up what Jeff asked you to?” Edward said.

“Right this way my lord, we have a spare closet on the upper floor. We rarely use it; it just had some bedding in it. We have cleared it out for you as asked. I hope this is good enough for you.” The mayor explained as he took everyone to the second floor.

Soon they stood in front of the empty closet, it was a roughly 4 feet deep and wide. All the shelves had been hastily removed.

“Here put it in here at the back.” Edward said motioning for Auna to enter the closet.

“Yes, Sir.” Auna walked forward into the closet. The mayor watched curiously. His 12-year-old son was standing beside him as well.

Auna touched the wall, for a moment she wondered will it work on a wooden wall without stone? Of course, it will, the door will adapt it will cost a bit more mana though your reserves are full. With that she pressed forwards humming a song, she found it easier to focus and calm her nerves if she sang. She had loved music in her old world, and often sang in the moons light when everyone else was asleep.

Soon the door appeared. The carvings were still the same. The door itself was now a wooden one though. She opened the door as majority of the people watching gasped.

“Theo Ayda go on through, Ciela must be waiting worried sick.” The purple hue of the inside of the door turned into the small orchard again. She had figured out only the doors people have permission to enter in the network would work for them. She planned to give Edward the permission to enter this door, the clearing, and the tree door. She didn’t want anyone using her door in the house. She could also edit the list of who could use the doors, and which ones they could use on her screen.

“Well, I’ll be going now Edward, Marybeth.” Auna went to step forwards.

“Make sure to come back in the morning, we will have your requested items ready for you.” Marybeth waved goodbye as Edward did with a silly grin. He was a goofball for sure.

Auna walked through the door shutting it behind her. Ciela tackled her as soon as she was on solid ground. After Ciela let go, she went to the clearing to check for kids.

Auna ate dinner with Ciela as she spoke about what had happened that day.