Luna walked back to the camp together with Coco and the gordrock, Gideon. The two are getting along. It seems that Gideon is pleased to see another mystical beast. Somehow, Luna understands him a little. She was ecstatic when she saw another human being for the first time after years of being trapped in this place. It was like seeing a light in the darkness.
Luna heard the sound of horses nearby. Then she saw Grey riding his black horse approaching her. His expression is grim but when he saw her, relief washed his face.
"Luna." He uttered her name with concern.
He hastily dismounted his horse and approached her.
"Where have you been? We've been looking for you for an hour now." He said in a scolding tone.
Sebastian and another couple of knights arrived and all rushed toward her.
"Luna! You said you were only going to poop, why didn't you come back to the camp? It's been three hours since you left. Did you poop that long?" Sebastian said. He sounds pissed.
What the... Why does he have to mention that in front of Grey and the knights?
She glared at him but he just rolled his eyes. Somehow, Luna felt comfortable with him. Like they've known each other a long time ago even if it's only a few days.
"I'm sorry guys. I got a little lost earlier." She answered.
Grey exhaled.
"That's fine. We should go back to the camp now. We heard something in the forest earlier that's why we rushed to look for you. It's not safe to stay here." Grey uttered.
"Oh, you mean the gordrock? I brought him with me." She said enthusiastically. She's excited to show them the mystical beast they are looking for. And finally, they can leave this place!
Grey was momentarily stunned. Even Sebastian and the knights were surprised by what they heard from her.
Gordrock is the mystical beast they were looking for. Before coming to this place, they trained so hard to capture a mystical beast. Mystical beast numbers were slowly deteriorating due to hunters in the previous hundred years. When the potion to tame them was invented, the people took advantage of it to capture them and ate their hearts to attain their magical abilities. 50 years ago, the previous emperor passed a bill to stop the production of potion and made it illegal to protect the beasts. Potions can only be found in the black market now.
"Gordrock?" Grey asked in disbelief as he tried to look around her but failed to see anything.
"Yes. Please meet Gideon." She introduces it to them as she steps out of the way.
A round animal with thick golden fur walks out from Luna's back. Its legs are short and it has a round belly. They all look down at the small animal walking confidently in front of them.
The look of disappointment on their faces as they saw the animal.
"Luna, it doesn't look like a mystical beast. Are you sure it's a Gordrock?" Sebastian asked.
The knights at the back chuckled.
The gordrock scowled. Thinking of biting off the head of the humans in front of him.
"Of course, he's a powerful mystical beast. This is his original form." Luna answered trying to appease Gideon.
"Prince, do you think it's a mystical beast? It looks like a wild pig," Sebastian whispered to Grey.
"If Luna says so, then it's a mystical beast," Grey answered. Luna heard him and then smiled.
Although this is not the appearance they expected of a gordrock, Grey believes Luna. Besides, they haven't seen its mystical form yet. He even wished its true. He doesn't want to capture a mystical beast and tame it with a potion. It's against what his grandfather did to protect the beasts.
Grey squat down and petted the gordrock. The beast seemed to like it.
Luna read Gideon's thoughts and realized Gideon is a female and she likes Grey's face and warm touch. She adores him.
"I can't believe you're a female," Luna muttered to herself.
Grey heard her and smiled. He put Gideon in his arms and stroked her fur with his fingers.
"What a beautiful girl," Grey muttered adorably.
Gideon's hearts flutter at the sudden compliment.
I want him to be my master! Gideon thought.
"She wants you to be her master," Luna translated nonchalantly.
Grey looked at her confused.
"How did you know?" He asked.
Ops!
"I-It's because she seems to enjoy your touch. Haha." Luna retorted.
They went back to the camp and Gideon won't leave Grey's side. Coco is a little jealous. They compete to grab his attention.
When Luna introduced Gideon to the rest of the knights, they laughed at its appearance. They thought she was kidding when she told them Gideon is a mystical beast. Grey scolds them but they keep teasing the poor beast the rest of the night.
"Guys stop, you're hurting her feelings," She warned them.
"We apologize Miss Luna but I think you mistook a wild pig for a mystical beast," Darius said while chuckling. The rest laughed with him.
Gideon is losing her patience.
Stupid humans want a death wish. Gideon thought.
Luna flinched at the gordrock's violent thought.
"Sir Darius, you should stop laughing," Collen said taking her side.
Grey and Sebastian were talking to each other not far from them. They were about to join them when they saw Gideon transformed into its mystical form. Everyone's eyes turn round at the majestic sight. She is terrifyingly massive. She roared loudly in front of the knights who laughed at her earlier. They all fall to their knees with fear in their eyes as they look up at her.
"I told you she's a mystical beast," Luna uttered.
Even Grey who did not doubt Luna's words is in awe of the sight. He never saw a Gordrock before. He only read about them in books. Even the mystical beast of the barbarians is not as big as what they are looking at right now. Gordrock is indeed the king of all mystical beasts.
Gideon saw Grey. She quickly transforms back to her original form and runs towards the man excitedly.
"This thing is really a mystical beast..." Sebastian uttered in disbelief as he gazed at the gordrock approaching them.
Grey look at the little thing with fascination. He squatted to the ground and petted its head.
"We will leave in the morning," Grey said.
Luna smiled after hearing that.
The next morning, Luna woke up early. She's excited because they will start to travel back to the gate. She washed her face with water and noticed the paint finally fading out.
"Good morning Luna!" Sebastian greeted her while she was trying to rub all the residual paint on her face. She stopped what she was doing and turned to him.
"Good morning Sir Sebastian!" She greeted him as she smiled brightly at him.
His happy face turned grim as soon as he saw her face. He stared at her like he just saw a ghost or something unexpected. Then his head slowly shakes as if he's in disbelief but still stared at her strangely.
"Georgina?"
(Dito ka lang by Moira ost)