Grey peered at Luna. Her face is full of worry and her eyes started to water. Her hands are trembling. He doesn't know this bird but it is very clear that she values it a lot.
Grey glanced up at the sky and saw that it started to get dark. Then he heard a horse coming in their direction. Sebastian is riding it.
"Prince Grey!" Sebastian called him as he dismounted the horse.
"Sebastian?"
"I came since you still haven't arrived. I already sent the knights to the gate. We have to leave now." Sebastian announced in an urgent tone.
They turned to Luna who is already gazing back at them.
"You guys leave ahead. I'll look for Porcha." She uttered. Her voice feels defeated.
Her eyes show hopelessness and worry.
A part of his heart feels uncomfortable as he noticed Luna's expression. All he thinks about is he can't leave her here. Not like this.
"Come with us." He said.
"I can't without Porcha. I'm sorry." She said in her quivering voice. Grey can see how she tries not to cry in front of them. How she blinks the tears that would start to show in her eyes.
He remembers the time when she would listen to the stories of the knights about the capital, the towns and stores, the food, and the people outside this place. She would listen intently with her eyes full of excitement and wonder. She was very delighted that he would smile unconsciously as he watches her.
"Please Luna..." He said in a serious voice as he extended his hand to her.
Luna smiled bitterly. Her eyes are full of longing. The freedom she dreamed of, the adventure with Grey, and the knights she anticipated. The things and stories she only heard and wanted to see in person. And Grey... the first man she likes in this world.
Luna grabs his hand and moves forward. She stopped in front of him when their bodies were close to each other and their faces were inches away. She put her hands on his shoulder and glanced up at his beautiful face. A face she would like to remember. Before he could react, she tiptoed and her lips touched his cheek. A parting kiss.
Grey was stunned and could not even react to the sudden action when Luna stepped back and hopped on Coco. She turned to Grey and Sebastian for the last time.
"I hope we see each other again. Goodbye Grey, Sebastian." She said in a solemn voice.
"Wait-" Grey called as he tried to stop her but Sebastian held him back by his arm.
"We have to leave now Prince," Sebastian asserted.
Sebastian is also feeling uneasy about leaving Luna here but they can't force her or drag her with them when the gate is closing. The Prince is the priority. Once he gets trapped here, he can't leave anymore until the gate opens up after several years.
"We can't leave her here," Grey uttered in a serious voice that is almost mad.
"Prince, we can't help it anymore. All we can do is come back here after the gate opens up again. But now, think of the empire. Think of the war that is coming." Sebastian argued.
This is not about leaving someone behind but the future of the empire.
Grey's eyes wavered. He looks back at the path Luna and Coco leave, and there is no more trace of them. Grey felt that a part of him was taken. An uncomfortable feeling starts to grow inside of him. But his duty as a prince is the top priority. He must protect the empire and its citizens.
With a heavy heart, both of them leave that place.
Grey is riding Gideon. A mystical beast that he couldn't have without the help of Luna. He knows why he's feeling this way. Maybe because he's thankful for her and he also pities her. That's why he wants to look after her and help her. He felt that if he will leave now, he will regret it later.
There must be a way! But what is it?
A way... Grey realized something.
"Stop!" Grey commanded.
Gideon stopped running. Sebastian noticed and halted his horse as well. He turned back to ask the Prince why he stopped.
"Leave first Sebastian. Wait for me at the gate." Prince said in a commanding tone.
"But Prince-"
"In case, I didn't make it, leave and look for Benedict. His ability is teleportation. He lives in the town of Belrose. Go!" He commanded urgently.
Grey turned to leave without giving Sebastian a chance to speak or stop him.
Grey rushed to look for Luna. He glances up to the sky and it's starting to dark. About an hour left before the sun completely sets.
Up ahead Grey heard a noise. In the sky, a flock of birds flies going in a certain direction. A lot of birds with different species fly over him. He felt that this is related to Luna and her bird. He decided to follow their directions. Then he reaches a place full of birds in the trees and the sky. It was like a feast of thousands of birds. He looked around and saw a familiar figure standing. Luna.
She's holding something in her hand.
"Luna!"
Luna looked in his direction. She was very astounded as she saw him.
He dismounted Gideon and run towards her.
"What are you doing here? It's getting dark." She asked. She sounds very concerned.
Grey looked down and saw an unconscious bird in her hand.
"Is this Porcha?" He asked.
"Yes, she's wounded but she's still alive."
Luna looked up at the sky with birds flying over her.
"You may all leave now. Thank you." She uttered.
Then the birds all fly away as if they understand her. Grey looked at her with a complicated expression. But there's no time to ask what just happened. Why is she speaking with the birds as if they can understand her?
"Let's go now. The gate is about to close in half an hour." Grey said urgently.
Luna quickly hopped on Coco as he was with Gideon. The two mystical beasts run so fast as if they were chased by the darkness of the night.
Luna never saw the gate or know its location. It was not provided in the book. The surrounding is starting to get dark and the tip of the sun is peeking into the west. The full moon will start soon...
They passed by the usual area she hunts or gathers food. Up ahead she saw the millennium tree that she usually passes by when she gathers herbs in the past. She remembers admiring this tree and trying to create a house inside of it but the tree bark is harder than the stone so she gave up. It's the oldest and biggest tree in the forest. This tree is as tall as a 50-story building in her world and as wide as a stadium. In the center is an opening she never saw before. There is also a door that looks like a part of the tree or is attached to the tree. It's starting to move. It's closing!
"Run fast!" Grey commanded the two mystical beasts as they tried to reach the gate.
Then the ground started to shake. The giant monsters are waking up...