“It is so nice today.” Chloe smiled. “I am happy my parents are okay with me spending my break with you guys this year.”
“I agree. Spending some time just being kids is very nice.” Meredith relaxed in the beach chair she was sat in. The Pearl territory was close to the middle line of the world. This meant it was fairly warm all year round. It never snowed here. Though the winter months in the capital were close it felt tropical here.
“I don’t know how you do it.” Seth sighed deeply. He had come. There cousins were with their uncle.
“What do you mean?” Auna asked softly.
“Father said I should spend the break in the capital with uncle. It would be a waste to go home he said. I am depressed, yet you never seem to care.” Seth sighed.
“I cared; I still care. Why would you say I do not?” Auna stopped making her sand castle. Everyone looked to her. Their friends, the Pearls, and Sam were now looking to them.
“You should say sorry.” Josh elbowed Seth. He had been let in on the door secret. Auna trusted him after interrogating him with her true friend skill.
“Well, you always seem mature, and focused. Thought right now you seem a bit more normal. You never cried at home, never mopped around. You always looked everyone in the eye. I feel embarrassed, I don’t want to look anyone in the eye. I feel like everyone is looking at me strange, like they know father no longer wants me. How could I be so stupid?” Seth sighed deeply.
“I cried, many times. In this life I cried, I want nothing more than to be loved. I want a normal life, even if only one time. I know seem cold; it is a defense mechanism. If I cried all day, I would get nothing done. I would not have survived.” Auna went back to her sand castle while continuing.
“When I was young the staff taught me to walk, eat, and speak. They had work to do though. I spent many hours in soiled clothes, and tied to the bed as I got bigger. They needed to make sure I would not wander away. The soiled clothes could not be helped.”
“They potty train me as quickly as possible. They were not allowed to hire teachers for me. They had almost no time to teach me. Instead, they focused on one skill, reading. They taught me the language of this world, after that it was all about books. They brought me as many as they could without being scolded.”
“These books were mostly from their own children. They bought me magic books as they saw how talented I was at it. I had some understanding of the language due to being from another world. I could not read it though, even now my status screen is sometimes in my old language.”
“I spent everyday locked away in the staff wing. I looked to the garden, rarely being able to leave my room. I cried as I watched you with a woman. You always had a big smile, always holding onto her dress. I couldn’t see her face; she never once looked my way.”
“I cried after you would bully me at dinners with uncle. I cried when I woke in the night with nightmares, no one would come to soothe me. Soon I ran out of tears, why cry when no one came to wipe them away?”
“After I came to a realization, I had many times in my previous lives I stopped. Instead, I looked everyone in the eye with a calm expression. When people think you are scum, or pity you, looking into their eyes calmly unnerves them. It makes them angry to see someone so far below them looking so comfortable in their position.”
“When I finally met my father, he basically tossed me away. The men he hired put me in a bag, tied it tightly. They left me to starve on the floor of the forest. I managed to escape the bag only because of my skills. Without them I would have died from starving, or illness.”
“Ciela was left in a bag, I freed her. I knew going back was not an option. Father would try to kill me again, or try to use me for his own benefit. I stayed put, it was dangerous but safer than the Jade family.”
“I helped Meredith and her mother. They in turn helped Ciela and I. As you know that did fall through a bit. The church then tried to pressure me to be their tool. Now I am fighting for my freedom again. I am almost always yearning for freedom. Our mother cried and freaked out in public because she was looking for me. I don’t remember her face; I wouldn’t be able to recognize it if she were to walk up right now.”
“As a person always fighting to survive, I can look very mature, very serious. However, I am a child. I do want to enjoy that. I want to play hide and seek more, build castles, spend time doing nothing important, and just being a trouble maker. I can’t though, I never have that much allowance.”
“No, you are here. You say you are upset because you are being cut off from the Jade family. You are acting like you are being thrown onto the street, or sold off. No, you are not. Jade is still paying for your school, still keeping you on the registry, and is not trying to kill you. Stop feeling down for yourself. You need to take advantage. Learn as much as you can, gather power of your own. Grow strong enough to survive.” Auna stopped her speech.
“I just don’t know how you can be so strong. We were both born defective, aren’t you still afflicted with it? How can you stand so tall with such thin shoulders?” Seth didn’t make eye contact. “I know I don’t have it as bad as you have. I am scared though.”
“Don’t be. You can always escape to the dungeon. So, stand tall, proud, and without remorse. If anything goes wrong run away to Ember Moon.” Auna smiled softly.
“Thank you. I know I have not treated you well. I let father and mother poison my mind. I thought we were better than you. That I was better for being able to rid myself of it.” Seth sighed.
“I must ask, why did Count jade count you both as defective? He showers his youngest with love and praise. Like a father should.” Chloe asked.
“Oh. I guess you don’t know my class other than my sage one.” Auna laughed. “Don’t give me that look. Seth is it okay?” Auna asked. When Seth gave a nod, she continued. “Look here.” Auna showed her job Moon Slave.
“You are a slave?” Chloe looked confused, it made everyone laugh. “Did everyone else already know?”
“I think so, either they figured it out, or I showed them.” Auna shrugged lightly as she dug a moat for her castle.
“Why are you a slave?” Chloe pushed.
“Both Seth and I were born with slave jobs. His was upgraded within two years. Mine was not, it was obviously unique. Father hid me away because of it. Mother did not have a slave job; she must have felt like it though. She was brought from the wastelands against her will. I still have the documents to prove it. I have finance documents to as a backup plan.” Auna used her water magic to fill the moat.
“Back up for what?” Chloe asked.
“Easy, if he pushes me too far, I will destroy him. The only reason I have not used it yet is because it was proved the assignation attempts were not Count Jade.” Auna smiled. “Right Nick?”
“That is right, intensive information gathering was done into him. We found out other secrets along the way. Nothing too scandalous though. We did not find any connections to the attempts on your life. We did find some information that it is someone powerful. Most likely someone close to the King. We have yet to narrow it down though.” Nick gave a wink. “Please leave it to us though.”
“I will for now.” Auna nodded.
“Can I?” Jensen shot up once the moat was full.
“Sure, go for it.” Auna backed up as Jensen gave a soft roar stomping all over the castle. He smiled and settling down in the place that once held a brilliant sand castle. “I’ll make the next one on you.”
“Go for it.” Jensen gave a wry smile before closing his eyes again.
“You two are very odd.” Meredith shook her head as she and Mateo added more details to their castle.
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“So?” Auna drew her eyes together. “Why does that mater?”
“Do we have to go over how dense you are again?” Meredith laughed loudly as Auna rolled her eyes. Auna focused too much on creating a new castle.
“So how are the dungeon finances going?” Seni asked. “Do you think you will your freedom?”
“I am not sure yet. The wine might bring in lots, we are thinking about planting more rice and corn for different alcohols. They are fairly easy to make in the dungeon with the dwarfs and sell for a decent coin. The fruits are being processed into alcohol as well. We might be known as a brewery soon at this rate.” Auna tilted her head. “We think I should be able to free myself.”
“That sounds wonderful. I hope you children are not tasting it. You are all still too young for it.” Seni gave a scolding grin. “I would love to try it though. You have winter grapes rights?”
“I see, you asked as you wanted some of the first batch.” Auna gave her a knowing smile.
“Auna, do you want to swim a bit?” Jensen asked looking up with a castle on his stomach. The castle was beautiful, with spiral turrets and windows. The detail achieved on a moving stomach was incredible.
“Sure. Sounds fun. Does anyone else want to jump in the water?” Auna asked everyone as Jensen took his time destroying the castle.
“Sure.” A chorus of voices rang out. They all went into the water to explore. A little swim for the children was more like deep water diving. They spent an hour in exploring underwater caves, and the seabed. They found neat shells they brought back for the younger kids. They also found pretty stones they gave to the Seni as she collected them.
“Shall we eat?” Seni asked as they went toward the house. They ate a big meal of grains, fruits, and meat. They were going to spend the night by the sea in sleeping bags.
“Shall I tell you children about the constatations?” Seni asked as the children were looking to the sky. They would be watched all night by the guards to ensure their safety.
The spent the next hour listening to Seni talk about the stars. Auna was drifting in and out, not very interested in the stars of this world. At least not at this time when she should be more focused on her survival. However, the lonely moon constellation brought her back into focus.
“Why is called that?” Auna asked snaping her head to the place Seni was describing.
“Well, my people say the moon once walked among us. The moon had been kicked out of the creators’ garden long before the fairy born were created by said creator. There are many different theories as to why. The most common one is the moon had committed a serious sin.”
“The serious sin is unknown to our people, not passed down among us. Some of think our people never knew the real reason. We do know the creator made us to worship the moon, play with the moon.”
“When our people were first created the oceans were shallow, and very few. Our world was mostly land, and fresh water. The creator did not like salt water, or vast water. However, the moon cried so much that the world filled with salty water. It is why the oceans’ tide moves with moon.”
“Our people were praised, and care for by the moon. The moon did not want worshipers though, it longed for a family. The moon would walk the world running from the sunlight toward the darkness. The darkness would run from the moon though. You see the sun hurt the moon when it was close, and the glow of the moon hurt the darkness. They were, and still are in a constant struggle of balance.”
“The constellation is a row of three, a cluster of stars in a circle followed by a crescent shape, with in turn in followed by a line. It is to represent the sun, moon, and blanket of darkness. The moon still cried so much the creator needed to give the moon more. First the creator tried giving the moon a child.”
“That child grew old and died though, creating more tears. The creator gave the moon back the child over and over. Creating the rebirth cycle on this world. The next thing the creator gave the moon was a friend. This friend for a while kept the moon happy, kept the tears at bay.”
“Then one day the moon left, followed by her friend. Then the sun, and finally the darkness. The creator mourned them all. He put a bright rock in the sky made of fire to replace the sun, he created a smaller rock that would reflect the light to replace the moon. The darkness was harder to replace, many things like clouds, and monsters helped. The world began to rotate to imitate the journey the moon use to make, not perfectly though.”
“After that the creator cried deeply for many nights. That is why we have the Pada season. It is believed by our people to be the creators tears, as they still mourn the lost of the true moon, sun, and darkness.”
“If the creator kicked the moon out of the garden, why were they sad when they left for good?” Auna questioned. Something struck a chord deeply inside her, she just couldn’t put her finger on it though.
“The creator did not know what they had. It is a moral story about treasuring what you have before you have to mourn what you have lost.” Seni covered her back up with the blanket, patting her chest lightly. “It is a legend passed down for eons. Who knows what is and is not true?”
“I feel like there is some truth to it.” Auna yawned as she looked back to the stars.
“I do as well. Maybe one day I will travel back to my homeland, look though the ruins more. They say deep within the old temples the story of the creation of the world is written. They say we can even find the creator if we learn the temples.” Seni spoke softly about the temples and their secrets until all of the children were deeply sleeping.
“Good morning!” Auna called as she tackled Jensen awake. “Don’t be lazy!”
“You are just excited for my moms’ pancakes. Five more minutes.” Jensen turned throwing her off of him.
“Yes, and she said she won’t start them until we are all awake and ready.” Auna pressed more.
“Also. I want a hint. I remember you were created for me, travelled with me. You said if I can up with things on my own you would give me more. You have been stalling for months!” Auna whined deeply. The rest of their friends were mostly occupied with breakfast preparations.
“Fine. Let me think a minute.” Jensen rolled over closing his eyes again.
“That story last night. It isn’t just fiction, is it?” Auna pressed.
“You are right, it is not completely fiction. Anyway. I was your first true friend, and you were mine. I might have been created for you, but not as a friend. As a toy. You were too kind for that. You never did anything to upset the creator, the sins were not your own to shoulder.” Jensen smirked. “That is, it.”
“Come on I could guess most of that. I’ll take it I guess, as long as you wake up!” Auna smiled. She knew that he was worried about giving her too much at once. If he, did it could have her end up in a coma again. She shook her hair out; it had gathered too much sand over the night.
“Yeah, I am awake. I should brush that for you.” Jensen sighed. “Why do you never take care of it?” Jensen was right she would wash it, and brush it but nearly as often as other girls.
“Auna. What are you going to do once you are free?” Jensen asked dreamily as they ate pancakes.
“So much. I want to sail the ocean, map the world. See everything! Though I will still have a year of school left. I will have to wait I guess.” Auna sighed.
“Well, you could spend your summer break after the Yarren party that year sailing. You kids know how to do that. From what I hear you did not get to use the skills yet.” Seni smiled.
“I guess we could, make it to the Dunder islands down east from here. Could explore them and sail back. If it takes too much time, we can use a door. By then I will not care about who knows about how powerful I am.” Auna smiled.
“Well, you might want to keep somethings secret. The moon door is something amazing, just letting everyone know might be bad. Even if you have the power, you think can protect yourself.” Nick said.
“I guess you are right, I will have to be more careful than just zipping around the world without a ship.” Auna nodded.
“Yes, no obvious zipping around. No mater how cool it would be.” Nick agreed with her. “Though I hope to be able to benefit from the not so obvious zipping around the world we all know you will be doing.” He gave a smirk as Seni sighed.
“I will allow you to benefit from it.” Auna winked. “Of course, we will have to be careful.”
All them laughed and continued to talk about what they would do when she was free. They would travel with her, explore new lands. Even map the entire wastelands to find more answers about her, and her job. They would try to find more dungeons to explore, assuming they would be at the bottom of their own. Perhaps they would be strong enough to clear out a village area in the great monster forest.
They spoke about the number of babies in the dungeon there would be by the time they were sixteen. The people were getting more comfortable with their lives. They wondered briefly how the Wardite territory would look in the few years it would take for them to reach sixteen. Would the king still be trying to save them? Would the soils become fertile again? Would their dungeon be holding deserters from the Wardite territories?
They spoke about the secrets the wastelands should be holding. They could have unique monsters for Meredith to tame, plants for Ciela to plunder, treasure for the triplets to discover, creatures for Chloe to slaughter, and answers for Auna. When Auna had mentioned Jensen might not want to travel, as there didn’t seem to be a big reason or motivation for it. Jensen just shook his head with a shrug letting her know he would follow. That was motivation enough for him. The other derailed for a while to talk about how dense she was.
In all seriousness they had to work out how they would free Auna. Their Ember Moon dungeon profits were no where near enough to give her that. Especially since she was too honest and would not take their share. They spoke in jokes saying they could start a war for her stop, gaining her own title which could partly void the agreement. If she got a title, she would most likely get land, that could generate money. A title would also allow her to move more product without being eyed as much. The two Gary men also seemed gaining a title was the best thing to do. She didn’t know how that was really achievable.
They moved on to more serious topics. They wanted to carefully cultivate the growth of their pets. They did nto want to lose the unique subclasses they had. They put together a strategy that would help make sure they would be the best they could be. They would feed them a variety of food, take them to fight different creatures, make sure they used their wings, and try to teach them different magics. They were already specializing their magics, feeding off their owners’ styles and strengths. Ciela was happy Ziti seemed to be gaining farming characteristics. They settled that what they were already doing might be the best actions.
They ended their autumn vacation blissfully gathering the school books they needed, they made sure the dungeon was ready to go back their school schedule, and finally made sure all the moon doors were ready. Soon they would be entering the fourth year of school.