"Lune, don't follow me I said!" My big brother carried me and placed me back in the bed.
He walked towards the door again and started to make his leave, but I would follow him once again.
"Lune..." My big brother sighed and crouched down, looking at me. "you can't go outside. Father and mother forbid you too."
I tugged the edge of his clothes and said to him. "Lune don't want to go out. Lune want's big brother to stay."
Big brother looked at me for a moment than he spoke. "But Lune..."
"Please..." I pleaded but he just looked at me. "It's lonely in here. Mommy and daddy are busy, Lune doesn't want big brother to leave him."
Looking at me, big brother sighed again. "Fine..."
"Really?"
"Really."
I was so happy when he said that. "Then, then can big brother tell Lune about the outside world."
Big brother pondered for a moment before he replied. "Do you want to go outside?"
I was confused when he suddenly asked that. I mean, I did not know why he would suddenly say that because the both of us knew quite well that it was deeply forbidden.
I shook my head and said to him again. "Lune doesn't want to go outside. Lune just wanted to know what outside is like!"
Big brother was surprised but he just smiled. He must've felt so lucky to have such an obedient little brother.
"Wait here a sec, okay?"
Then Big brother suddenly left the room, and I couldn't chase after him.
I sat there quietly, staring at the door. I waited and I waited but it was just so long and big brother did not return. My heart felt broken. I thought that he promised me, but it was just an empty promise in the end.
When big brother finally returned, I was crying. He became flustered, he did not know why I would suddenly cry.
He lifted me up and hugged me. As he caressed my hair, he asked me softly. "Lune, why are you crying."
Sobbing, I tried my best to answer him. "I-it was because Lune thought big brother would not return. Lune, Lune waited so long."
My big brother chuckled and he beamed at me. "Lune, you silly baby. Have some faith in big brother okay?"
I was dumbstruck for a moment. Yeah, that's right. That was very ridiculous of me. I should trust big brother more. After all, he was my big brother and he will take good care of me.
I laughed at myself at that, then I hugged him again. "Big brother, what did you do. What took you so long to return to Lune?"
A broad smile appeared in big brother's face. He showed me a large pile of papers that was wrapped with leather and introduced it to me.
"I brought you some books." He said.
"Books?" I tilted my head in confusion but he just laughed at me.
"Yeah, these are books." He opened this so-called book and I saw a bunch of weird lines and he called it characters or simply as letters. "Books can tell you about a lot of things about the world. It has some stories and some facts. Some books also have some illustrations. If you really want to know what's outside, I bet you'll love books."
I stared blankly at the contents of that book that I don't understand. And that whole day, big brother stayed with me and taught me how to read these books. It was very fascinating. Books do tell us about the world. It wasn't so long till I got so into it.
Every day, my big brother would come in to my room and spend the day with me and everyday he also brought me some books.
Without me realizing it, my room became full of books like a library and didn't feel as empty as before.
And also, as time passes. Big brother became more distant and his visits became rarer and rarer. Until such time he doesn't' come to me anymore.
But even so, just like what he told me. I had faith in him. I waited every day, hoping that he would come. But alas, he didn't.
Reading some books, I heard the door open. I didn't care about it as much as before, because I knew that no one would come and visit me anyway, except for the servants who brought me my meals.
I felt someone sat beside of me. When I turned around, I saw my big brother that I hadn't seen for so long. I got so excited that I suddenly hugged him.
When I looked up at him, He showed me a smile but his smile at that time was empty. It felt so sad.
The two of us played that day, but big brother was so absent minded but I can't seem to understand what he was thinking.
Tugging his sleeve, I asked him. "Big brother, what's wrong?" He just looked at me but he didn't answer. "Did Lune do something bad? Big brother, are you angry?"
Big brother was stunned when he looked at my teary eyes. Just like before, he lifted me up and embraced me, coaxing me to stop crying.
"No Lune, it's not your fault. Sorry, big brother isn't feeling well lately. It must've been so sad you're always alone here."
"It's okay. Lune knew big brother had his reasons. Lune did feel lonely, but Lune wasn't sad at all."
I lied to him that time. It was the first time I did. In truth, I was crying every night when neither mom, nor dad, nor big brother would come. I just don't want them to be worried. Lune didn't want to be a burden.
Reading books helped ease the pain though. I was really grateful that big brother taught me how to read. I would be learning to read later on though, but that won't happen till I became three. I would be starting to learn magic at time as well, but I'm not really that interested.
One again, I did not know what occurred in big brother's mind when he asked me again. "Lune, do you want to go outside?"
I looked at him and shook my head. "But mommy and daddy said were not allowed to."
"I know, but I can take you outside. But that is up to you whether you want to or not."
I thought about it for so long. I was always told it was highly forbidden. I did not know why but I 'am envious about the others who could. I always wanted to see what the outside look like. I'm not contented by just reading about it in a book anymore. But it was forbidden.
After a while I made up my mind. I nodded. "Yes, I want to go outside."
Brother showed me a happy smile when I finally agreed. At some point, seeing that smile again felt so happy I did not care about getting into trouble anymore.
"Just be quiet, okay?"
"Okay!"
Just as he promised, big brother secretly took me outside. I was completely fascinated about it. Just as the books had said, the clan of trees is indeed full of trees.
The houses are carved inside of big trees, while some of the houses are built on the trees. The clan estate was surrounded by the forest and everything about it was leafy green.
Big brother gave me a tour around the clan estate, but we are careful not to get caught by anyone or well sure get in big trouble, and we did very well. However, I did not know why, but big brother got scolded that night.
"You foolish boy! Why did you that?! Have we not told you enough not to take Lune out of his room!" Dan shouted at him as big brother sobbed silently.
"Naru, don't be so harsh. He's just a child."
"But he could've killed Lune!" My dad argued with mom but the two of us were confused.
I was lying in the bed and felt so weak and in pain that tears just flowed from my eyes. I never felt that pain before. I felt as if I was being torn apart from the inside.
"Father...what's wrong? Why would Lune die just by going outside? What is wrong with little brother dad? Please tell me!"
Our parents were stunned when he asked that. That should be kept secret but they unintentionally said something they shouldn't.
But honestly, I was curious as well. What is wrong with me that I had to be locked up in my room to keep me alive. Why am I the only one who wasn't granted with freedom?
Mom and dad had no choice to explain everything. But their answer horrified us.