Gaia
2013 Words
Luna’s PoV
Since this morning, Juliet has been busy preparing me for dinner tonight. Both Juliet and Gunther seem to take this seriously. Why? Because they want me to be friends with Gaia, Cyrus’s shut-in daughter. I lost count of how many times did I sigh today.
“Is that our Luna? Wow! You look really beautiful, Luna. I’m sure Gaia will want to be friends with you. Juliet, you did it again. Luckily our daughter follows your gene.” Gunther made it his mission to praise me every time he looked at me.
I have to admit; I do look beautiful. Whenever I looked at Juliet, I couldn’t let my curiosity go. My mind constantly tells me that Juliet must be related to the ancient royal family. Did any of my cousins ever marry common people? Or did Juliet run away from home so that she could marry Gunther?
Anyway, time will tell. I have to wait until I am older to investigate this matter. For now, I wonder what sort of person this Gaia is. Is she that typical innocent girl who scared him out after being bullied? Or is she a child who doesn’t want to mix with others? I guess I have to wait until tonight.
“Luna, please don’t bring any of your books.” I sighed before turning my back to the books and walking to Juliet.
“It wouldn’t hurt to have a day to play around, Luna. If you do well tonight, your father and I will buy you a new book.” Oh- is that a promise I heard? I’ve been eyeing a new book about magic affinity. Perhaps I can take this chance to have it. I smiled at Juliet.
“I will do my best.” Juliet smiled as she got ready for dinner. Gunther took me in his arms as we walked out of the room.
“Luna, do you wish to enroll in the academy?” The academy?
“The academy is where all those who want to learn go to. It might be hard for your mother and me to do, but we will find a way like we always do. So, Luna- what do you think about that? Do you want to go to the academy?” Hmm- I wouldn’t want to make their life harder.
“No.” I shake my head no.
“Luna?” I nodded.
“Yes, papa.” I hugged Gunther’s neck. Besides, I don’t see why I should enroll in the academy. I already did when I was princess Celestia, and I graduated top of my class. As long as I have access to books, the academy will only be a hindrance for me.
Not long after, all three of us are going to Cyrus’s home, where I shall finally meet Gaia. And as we strutted along the street, our neighbors and those who knew us would greet my parents and me. Everyone here knows what sort of kid I am. It’s rare for a child to be respectful to others. Perhaps that is why they seem to like me.
“We’re here.” Oh- what a lovely house they have. This reminds me of when I had a greenhouse not far from the main palace. The owner must be a herbalist or someone who likes flowers.
“Gunther! I’m so glad you could make it. Juliet- it’s been so long. And you must be little Luna.” Gunther and Juliet smiled at me.
“Luna. Do greet your uncle Cyrus.” Oh-
“Nice to see you, uncle Cyrus.” I bend my knees while bowing my head. Cyrus seems surprised.
“Oh my- I don’t think I deserve such curtsy.” Oh, wait- commoners should greet each other like that. It is simply a force of habit. I have to blame the royal nanny for this.
“I read in books.” Cyrus laughed before he invited us into his humble abode. When I entered his home, I could smell a faint sense of medicine lingering around the small yet comfortable home. I was right- this man and his wife seem to be working as herbalists.
“Honey, where’s Gaia?” Cyrus asked his wife, who walked out to meet us with a child hiding behind her.
“Gaia, don’t be shy. Meet Luna.” Gaia listens to her father and greets me before hiding behind her mother again.
“I’m sorry, Luna. Gaia is a shy girl. I’m sure eventually she will be brave enough to say hi.” I nodded as I watched Gaia, who tried to hide her face from me.
“Luna, it’s not polite to stare.” Juliet's voice out. I apologize for my rudeness before taking a seat while Gunther and Juliet converse with Cyrus. Gaia follows her mother around until the woman places Gaia on a chair beside her. Gaia turned her back to me as soon as she was seated.
How do I deal with this matter? From the looks of things, she seems to share the same age as me.
“Luna,” I said while extending my hand.
“Gaia.” This girl said without turning around.
How should I approach this girl? Should I converse intelligently? No- that would scare her even more.
“Gaia, do you want to be friends?” Gaia lifted her head before facing me.
“Yes. Papa said you’re kind.” Me? Kind? If only you knew what sort of person I was in my previous life.
“Let’s be friends.” Gaia nodded. Good- that went well.
“Do you like reading?” Gaia nodded her head with a small smile finally creeping on her face.
“Mama said I am smart because I like to read. Do you want to see my books?” Finally- someone who shares the same hobby as mine. I nodded before following Gaia to her room.
“Papa bought me all kinds of books. But my favorite would be this one.” Oh- it’s none other than a children's book about empress Celestia.
“Do you like her?” I asked.
“Celestia is kind.” Huh? Kind? Me? Well, previous me but still, which part of me was kind?!
“Luna, Gaia? Dinner’s ready.” Cyrus opened the door and ushered us to the dining table.
“Luna, did you manage to be friends with Gaia?” Juliet seems worried.
“We’re friends. Gaia likes to read. Can Gaia come to our house?” Juliet nodded.
“Of course, honey. Gaia is always welcome.”
“And you’re always welcome here, Luna.” Cyrus and his wife smiled at me. That’s good to know.
A FEW DAYS LATER,
As promised, Gaia did come to visit me in my home. Since then, Gaia and I have exchanged thoughts about every book we read. Even though it was hard for me to teach Gaia how to read difficult books, somehow, this girl manages to catch up without any problem.
“Luna.” Huh? Oh, I shouldn’t bring Gaia out to the park.
“Don’t worry. Everyone here is nice.” Gaia grabbed hold of the hem of my dress when a group of boys approached us. Seeing how there were a couple of older kids with them, I decided to close my book and give mg utmost attention to what was happening.
“Why are you here, Gaia? I thought we made it clear that we don’t want a daughter of a witch to be going out and about.” Huh? A witch? So Cyrus’s wife is a witch? That’s impossible- I couldn’t sense any mana resonating from Gaia’s mother.
“Luna, you should associate yourself with that girl. You should have been friends with us instead.” And why would I be friends with a bunch of kids who know nothing but playing around and making trouble? As much as I want to make them pay, I should retreat.
“Let’s go, Gaia,” I said while packing our books into the basket.
“Hey- this is getting annoying. Luna, you-” I made it known that I was not in the mood to talk to them. At least they know when to stop talking to me.
“Let’s go home, Gaia.” On our way home, I couldn’t help but stop by a cotton candy cart.
“Hello, Luna. Oh, is that a friend?“ I smiled at the salesperson before giving him two silver coins.
“Here you go.” I took the cotton candy and gave it to Gaia.
“For me?” I nodded as I took a bite.
“Do you want to have a sleepover, Gaia?” Gaia looks at me with her eyes shining like the brightest star. I take that as a yes. When we got home, I told Juliet that Gaia wanted to have a sleepover. Gunther said that Gaia should go home for today and come again tomorrow with her parents. Gaia agreed before she followed Gunther home.
“Oh, Luna- this is your first sleepover. Should I prepare something?” Juliet hummed as she continued to cook in the kitchen. Is it customary for parents to be this excited?
“Luna, as promised, I have something for you. It’s on the dining table.” Is it the book that I want? I went to the table and smiled. It’s the book that I always wanted. How much did it cost them, though? I know books about magic aren’t cheap.
“Mama-” Juliet smiled.
“Don’t worry about anything. All you have to do is to have fun. Let papa and mama think about everything else.” Sometimes I think that Juliet knows how to read her mind.
“Thank you.” Juliet smiled.
I went to my room and began reading the book. I always wonder what sort of magic exists in this world. It has been hundreds of years since empress Celestia discover the magic and the supernatural. Did the future generation even bother to keep the knowledge I had provided in its original order? Or did they try to experiment with every array that I had shared and create even better ones?
The excitement within me disappeared when I began reading the first chapter. What sort of mockery is this? Is this the level of magic talent this world has? A simple summoning spell would take how many years to master?!
Garbage! If this is how the academy has been teaching its student, I will bother to attend. If Ophelia were here, she would be laughing with me.
Ophelia.
My heartache as I remember the woman who changes my life. Whenever I asked grace about Ophelia, she would only smile and brush my question off with another question. Why is Grace hiding it from me? The goddess is becoming more and more secretive about the things happening around me.
“Luna- are you reading your new book?” Gunther walks into my room with a big smile on his face.
“How is it?”
“The book is good.” Gunther suddenly took my little hand and placed a book in front of me.
“I thought you would want a gift before your birthday in a few days.” My birthday? A gift? When I looked at the book's title, I couldn’t help but cry.
“It’s a book about Saint Ophelia. I heard you’ve been searching for books about the saint. When I was in town today, I saw a man selling it by the road. I know I have to buy it for my daughter.” I hugged Gunther while thanking him.
“Your welcome, my little Luna.” Finally- I get to know what happened to Ophelia after being killed. Words couldn’t describe what sort of things I’m feeling right now. For Gunther, it may be silly for a four-year-old to cry about a book.
May the Goddess bless this man and his wife with health and happiness.
- Writer
