Zelenia walked toward the lake. Janus and Aisha run toward her and hug her. "Mommy!"
"Hi, kids! Did you sleep well last night?" She hugged her twins.
"Yes!" they answered at once.
"That's good. I'm glad. So, do you want another dish of the fish you caught?" she glanced at the cooler and counted the fish in it.
"Fish Fillet!"
"All right! We need one fish cleaned and deboned."
"I will help you, Miss Henderson." Kian, Shane's assistant, offered help.
"I'm bringing one now. How large are the cuts you prefer?" asked Xanther, stealing the moment from Kian. Carrying one giant fish, Xanther headed toward the back of the lodge.
"Um, four inches in length and an inch wide," Zelenia replied to Xanther. 'Wait, a minute… It didn't sound right. Why did I feel awkward with this size thing?' she murmured.
Zelenia shook her head and followed Xanther to the kitchen. She opened the door for him and prepared the spices and ingredients to make fish fillet.
"Hm. We're out of eggs and flour, and I need more bell pepper. I have to run downtown first."
"You don't need to go. Just leave it for Kian. I will tell him. Make a list of what you need," said Xanther. His action surprised Zelenia.
"Um…" she was about to thank him, but Xanther had already left through the back door." Okay! I better write what we need." She ignored this strange atmosphere.
As Zelenia climbs the stairs, she takes a pen and paper from her bag, listing all they need for lunch. She went outside, where Kian was preparing Mikael's sports car for the drive to town.
"Erm, I think it would be better to use the SUV to have more space for the things we need."
"Miss Henderson is correct, sir Xanther," Kian agreed.
"All right. Here is my credit card." Xanther handed his black card to Kian.
Zelenia also brings her credit card to pay for the ingredients. "Um, I should be the one paying for the food."
"It's all right. We troubled you too much already."
"Ah, a small thing. You guys helped us out," she told Xanther.
Kian was now leaving for town, so they began cleaning the fish. If the men weren't here, Zelenia would have cleaned and cut the fish with her skills through magic, but Xanther seemed very skilled in using knives for an ordinary human.
While waiting for Kian to return, Zelenia made lemonade and brought a pitcher outside.
"Thank you, mommy!" the kids exclaimed happily.
"You're welcome, kids," she smiled as she watched them drinking the fruit juice.
It was good that Mikael was here, along with Shane and Xanther. The kids were enjoying their presence. Also, Kian, now doing errands for them, arrived last night in a seaplane he flew by himself.
The plane had advanced technology. Kian maneuvered it earlier using a TAB when he brought the plane to the middle of the lake. Humans continue advancing their technology; in a thousand or hundreds of years, they will match against the Galatian's Galaxy.
Having a big family is not bad. It was fun for her as she grew up with one. But now, things would not always go along with her plans or what she dreamed of when she was younger. No, and it didn't matter if she failed to obtain those things she dreamed of long ago. She still has a large family her twins grew up with... the familiars are her family, and they never left their sides but protected them with all their might.
'Luna…'
'Priestess, is there another problem? I don't feel any evil forces at the moment.'
'Ah, I just wanted to thank you.'
Luna presses her lip. Why has the Priestess been emotional lately? She asked herself. She should not thank her suddenly. Everything she'd done for Priestess Zelenia was not because she was her familiar, nor was it her duty to follow her everywhere. It was because she wanted to fulfill her promise to herself.
'You should not say that out of the blue.' Luna pouted, concealing the emotion flooding her chest.
'You don't need to be shy!' the Priestess giggled.
'And you don't need to say it during random occasions.'
'Though we don't share the same mother's womb, I will always be grateful. You are the sister I have always dreamed of.'
Those days when she was new in being the Priestess's familiar, Zelenia used to tell her this, "I'm happy I have a sister now!"
"Don't tell me you pursued me for this reason?"
"Yes!"
Zelenia looks innocent, but it impressed the Grand Elders how she tamed her. Zelenia had refused to pursue the Red Phoenix. Aside from it being a male familiar, the Red Fire had chosen her, but she had requested to the Spirit Animal Council that she wanted her instead. Since then, the priestess has spoiled her. When Zelenia died, she used her energy to bring her life back. It took a year, but it was worth it. She cannot imagine life without her…
'Luna?'
'Hmm?'
'I left a lemonade in the bedroom.' said the priestess.
Luna appeared in the bedroom. She sat down on the bed and sipped on the glass of lemonade.
Anything the priestess prepared tasted sweeter than sugar. Luna's cheeks flushed when the icy drink reached her throat.
Standing below the house, Shane intently stared at it.
"Hmm…"
"Uncle Shane, what are you staring at in our bedroom?" asked Janus. He noticed that his mommy's boss was observing the house.
"Maybe it was only my imagination, kid," Shane told Janus, fixing his gaze on him.
Mikael grins at Shane. "He is afraid of the ghost. It must glare at him," he teases Shane.
"Shut up! I am not afraid of anything! Especially a ghost!" Shane shouted. The two ridiculed each other and over again.
Janus and Aisha giggled. Speaking of a ghost, they could sense Luna's presence from the bedroom they were staying in. Shane had mistaken Luna for a ghost. The twins looked at each other, grinning.
From the kitchen, Xanther sighed. The adult men were arguing again in front of the kids. He wanted to throw them tied with a rope into the lake, but that would be way too irrational to let the kids witness. It would be immature of him to do that, Xanther thought. He turned his head when he felt Zelenia staring at him.
"Ah, might you need more lemonade?" she offered, filling his glass again.
"Thank you. Are the kids okay to witness those two idiots?"
She laughs. She never imagined that Xanther would be more vulgar when off work, but he appeared much more excellent and even calmer then. 'Wait, why am I praising him?' It felt weird that she was thinking about her boss often lately.
"Don't worry about the twins. They are smart and mature for their age," she beamed while observing them, eagerly attending to the fish they were grilling.
"I can see how much you love your kids," Xanther praised her.
"I do! They are my life." Zelenia glanced at Xanther and caught that smile on his face, which he quickly hid. "Oh, the rice is now cooked!" Zelenia strode toward the rice cooker and checked out the food. She marinated some fish and prepared the ingredients to make sushi.
"Where did you learn all these recipes?" asked Xanther, observing her every movement around the kitchen. "Did you attend the Culinary Art School?"
"Um, no. I just learned from the Food Channel."
"Ah, I see."
She's glad Xanther did not ask further. She cannot tell him that it is easier for her to copy anything. Learning human skills was a piece of cake, but she respected and admired the original chef of the food she learned to make. She believes that one's hands have the power to make a miracle.
The Celestial Universe has the magic to bring miracles, making Earthen outstanding when doing handmade food and handmade stuff. She was impressed by those wooden carvers, and she loves woven stuff. Especially when the weaver was doing an intricate piece, they made remarkable things with their hands without relying on machines or magic. Instead, they used dedication and a passion for what they were doing.
She finally finished making fish fillet and sushi. The other fish has also been grilled. Zelenia set up the picnic table, and the kids cheerfully took a photo of the food in front of them.
Yesterday they shared food with the familiars. Today, they dined with four adults. Zelenia could see how much Janus and Aisha enjoyed this moment, sharing a table with more people.
It also surprised her that Janus was friendly toward them instead of having his usual aloof attitude when a stranger approached him. This trip was priceless, but the evil energy she had noticed earlier disturbed her.
It looked like she had to accept the Elves' offers of giving her a lodge inside their realm, just across this lake. It sounded wonderful.
"Mommy…" Aisha whispered.
"What do you need, hun?"
Aisha shook her head. "I'm good, mommy. I just want to thank you!"
That was sweet. It chokes her, and she sheds a tear that almost escapes from her eyes. It touched the bottom of her heart. I guess this is one of the countless fulfillment of being a mother. It doesn't have to be always big or grand, but a real happy face your children show you and a heartfelt thank you are much more satisfying.
Zelenia wanted to cry out. Fighting to keep them by her side every single day is precious to her.
"You are very welcome, honey." Lovingly, she peered down at her daughter. When she looked up, she caught the warm stare from Xanther. Now it made her wonder where his family was, as she had never heard from or met them: like when she crossed paths in the mall or park with the other executives in the company. Could it be possible he was alone and with no family? Or maybe he had a secret wife and child?
No, no… she is not Mona, who loves reading those novels on her phone with her entire break time to have crazy assumptions. Why is she thinking like this about her boss? Is she becoming paranoid about his overwhelming presence?
'You're not young anymore, Zelenia,' she scolded herself.
EXTRA SCENE:
She had now arrived in the middle of the woods. Luna placed her Crescent Moon Blade around her waist and enlarged its size. The blade also stands as her protection and shield. Now, she widened her senses. There are movements, but she cannot feel any flesh from this energy. It only means that these are shadows sent by the dark elf's mage.
'What is it, Luna?'
'I spotted them now, priestess, but they were just a shadow.'
'The host must be somewhere farther,' Zelenia's conclusion. 'The rest of the mountain is protected by the white elves. They won't dare to step inside the territory.'
'I could feel five elves coming in my direction, Priestess.'
'They must sense the negative energy roaming around.'
'One is near!' Luna released the crescent blade. She controlled the weapon as it sped toward the shadow. The shadow vanished as the blade touched it.
The elves had arrived and witnessed Luna when she attacked the shadow.
"Milady! Thank you for responding quickly to the area," said Fili, who prepared to shoot his arrow into the shadow.
"The other one has run away."
"We can chase it. Surely, it headed to its host." Karas retorted and began running.
Luna follows the elves, overtakes them, and searches for the shadow. It will be easier if the Priestess meditates to connect to the forest and every life in this place.
"Stop!" Luna shouted and released a bolt of energy from her body to create a shield. The elves halted and stood behind her. The host cast black magic and attempted to escape, but Fili released his arrow. He got him. The shadow followed him, but Karas quickly ran toward it while another elf forged a water ball and caught the shadow.
"Let me frost it." Luna offered and froze the shadow. She cast her blue fire; it fragmented into a thousand pieces before disappearing in thin air.
The elves bowed and thanked Luna. She was about to leave when she remembered something.
"Since your Prince offered to build a lodge for the Priestess' family, can you make a huge bathtub in the shower room?"
'Luna? You shouldn't make such a request.' Zelenia hears the conversation.
'You deserve it!'
'They already gave us so much.'
'They offered it.'
Yes, this is Luna. A stubborn familiar, but only thinks of her master...