Luna is nervous looking back to the woods. Coco is hiding and she secretly throws meat at him when no one is looking.
"I'm sorry Coco."
"Luna, what are you doing here?"
She turned back and saw Grey Cornelius. He looked at her suspiciously then towards the woods.
"Nothing," She answered.
His long black straight hair is flowing down his shoulder and his eyes glimmer with the reflection of the fire. He stared into her eyes as if trying to read her thoughts, to uncover her secrets. She feels uneasy and nervous.
"I wanted to ask you something." He said in a serious voice.
She gulps.
"Yes?"
Is he suspicious of me? I was nervous when they interviewed me earlier. I can't tell that I just possess this body. And, indeed, I don't have memories of this body. My skills were my skills when I was a 30-year-old woman and my name was Luna.
"Would you like to come with us?"
She glanced back at Grey Cornelius.
Is he asking me to come with him? Mr. Sebastian mentioned earlier that he's a prince. He can help me.
"Come with you to where?" She asked.
"After we found what we're looking for in this forest, we will leave and return to the capital. You saved our lives so I wanted to return the favor and help you."
This is my chance to leave this place!
"Yes!" She answered enthusiastically.
He smiled at her enthusiasm.
"Well then. We can leave after a week before the gate closes."
"Gate?"
I didn't see a gate anywhere here for the past years.
"The gate. You don't know about it?" He asked.
She shook my head.
The book never mentioned a gate in the forest. Did I miss a page?
"It's the only place where you can enter and leave this place. It only opens once every after several years before the full moon of the 6th month. It remains open for 10 days before it closes again."
"What!?"
Then I was trapped here for many years? That's why I can't leave? Did someone bring me here and intentionally leave me?
"Are you alright?" Grey asked.
"I didn't know I was trapped here. I thought I was just lost."
Why I haven't read this in the book?
She glanced back at Grey. He looks perplexed and a little worried.
"Do you remember what happened when you first arrived here? Did you notice something? I might be able to help you search for your family." He said.
Family? I haven't thought about it. But this body might have a family somewhere in this world.
"When I first woke up I was wearing a torn white dress. I was hurt and there was blood on my head." I answered.
Grey's gaze is intent.
I think he really wanted to help me.
"A white dress. Nobody would come into this place wearing a dress. Someone might have brought you here. Do you remember anything else?" He asked.
Grey's fingers brushed his chin trying to think of something. He looks adorable.
"Let's see. Oh! I was wearing a golden ring on my ring finger!"
Grey looked surprised. He seem to realize something but he didn't say anything. After a moment he smiled awkwardly.
"I'll ask someone to look into your case. For now, let's rest. We'll leave in the morning." He said.
The next morning, she joined them on their journey. Grey introduced her to the other knights and they all thank her for saving their lives from the poison. They were all very friendly to her.
"Luna, you can ride with me," Sebastian called her when he saw them mounting the horses.
"She'll ride with me." Grey suddenly speak behind her.
Sebastian just nodded. She turned back and saw him looking down at her.
He looks so good in the morning.
"Follow me." He said.
They walked towards the black horse. She read its thoughts. She can't help but giggle.
This horse is very proud of himself. He thinks he's the strongest, bravest horse in history. Grey looked at her confused.
"Ahem. Your horse sounds friendly." She commented.
"You're the first one to say that." He responded.
Then he holds her waist and put her on his horse. She felt electrified by his touch even though she was covered by his big cloak. When he mounted the horse and positioned the back, her heart started to race.
Maybe because it's been a long time since I had human contact and I feel excited.
When Grey holds the clutches, his arms covered her in a half embrace. Her back is also pressed to his hard chest when the horse started to move. She almost recites a prayer. She doesn't know why she feels very nervous all of a sudden.
It's too close... I haven't taken a bath for two days and the mud dried on my skin. Does my hair smell? I hope he won't feel disgusted about me.
"We are almost near the area," Sebastian said while looking at the map after a while.
They have a map. So they know this place.
"What are you looking for?" I asked Sebastian.
"Mystical beast."
I'm right! They're looking for a mystical beast. They're aiming the gordrock. But why do they need a mystical beast? What are they going to do to them?
In the book, there are many types of beasts mentioned. One of them is a gordrock and a tegarion. According to the description, Coco might be a tegarion. He fits the description. These beasts are both strong. And she also read about a Phoenix and a dragon. But these mystical beasts were more like legendary beasts in this world. No one found them yet but I read about a location where the dragon was buried and chained.
"Have you seen one before?" Grey whispered in her ear which brought a shiver down her spine. Maybe because he felt his warm breath on her skin.
"Y-yes."
"You do? What does it look like?" He asked with interest.
She remembers the mother of Coco.
"There was once a beast who lives near my dwelling. She's highly territorial and aggressive. But she never attacked me whenever we crossed paths, maybe because I'm not a threat. She was heavily pregnant. I think she's been pregnant for over 10 years."
Mystical beast pregnancy takes years.
The reason why the beast did not attack her is she can communicate with it. Although it did not like her, it knows she won't do anything bad to her or her fetus.
"I like living near her because monsters fear her. I feel safe. Then she gave birth during a full moon when this place becomes terrifying. I hide so I don't know what happened. She was gone the next morning."
She lied. She was there when it gave birth to Coco. The new birth mother has to fight the monsters to protect her cub. When the giant monsters woke, the mother told her to save her child. It was tragic.
They all stopped on our track when we heard the sounds of birds. We all look up at the sky. Flocks of birds fly over us. Their shadows darken the surroundings. She can hear their thoughts.
Danger!
"Monsters... one, two, three, four..."
Seconds later we heard vibrating sounds on the ground. And it gets stronger as seconds pass by. Up ahead trees started to shake wildly.
"They're coming."