"Why are the four of you calling me Lady Moonlight?" I questioned, staring at the four girls standing in front of me and Bakunawa.
Sylvia gasped as she covered her mouth. "Oh no Captain…beauty doesn't seem to know that she's the second lightbringer…"
"What?" Jack mumbled, also surprised. "No wonder she seems baffled."
"Indeed." Sofia nodded in agreement, staring at my confused face.
"Oi Bakunawa, why is the lady moonlight like this?" Captain Blank asked, squinting her eyes at Bakunawa.
My brows wrinkled, glancing at Bakunawa in a questioning gaze. Bakunawa let out a loud sigh as she stared at Captain Blank; she communicated through telepathy again. Afterwards, Captain Blank nodded, glancing at me, then she looked at her crew members.
"Release them from the handcuffs, and give them space to have their private conversation," Captain Blank ordered, then she left, going to the quarterdeck.
"Aye aye, Captain!" The three crew members replied simultaneously.
Afterwards, they unlocked the stone cuffs on our wrist, and I felt the mana in my body and in the surroundings again, then they left going to the quarterdeck as well, leaving me and Bakunawa on the main deck.
Bakunawa then glanced at me with pulled up brows.
"Can you explain to me what's going on here?" I asked, feeling perplexed with the situation. "I'm really confused here, Bakunawa. Why are they calling me Lady Moonlight? And how come you know these pirates?"
Bakunawa sighed in resignation. [Mortal, I understand that this is bewildering, however, you have to believe me. I meant you no harm.]
"Then…just explain the situation to me," I said.
Bakunawa shook her head, looking at me helplessly. [That cannot be done for I am bound not to interfere. My role as the sacred serpent of the sea is to guide soul wanderers, and bring them together.]
"So, you mean that those four pirates are also soul wanderers?" I asked, looking stunned.
Bakunawa nodded her head at me. [That's right.]
My brows creased. "For what?" I questioned probingly. "Why did you bring us here?"
[Only the heavenly beings know, mortal. I am just a serpent meant to guide the soul wanderers in this world.] Bakunawa answered.
I pinch the bridge of my nose hearing Bakunawa's vague explanation; it only left me more stumped. I don't have the faintest clue on what's going on.
[But mortal, I also don't have any idea why these four morons started sailing as pirates. I left them about 3 years ago in the Majapahit Empire, so I could search for my sister Bacobaco and for the two lightbringers.] Bakunawa stated.
"Really?" I asked as I narrowed my doubtful eyes. "You're not lying, are you?"
Bakunawa nodded firmly. [Of course, mortal. I already told you that we sacred beasts don't lie about these matters. I just didn't know that those four would start becoming pirates.]
I released a sigh as I nodded. "Alright, I believe you but…what's a lightbringer? Pula told me that Kendra is also a lightbringer, but what does a lightbringer even mean?"
Bakunawa widened her eyes as she took a step closer to me, grabbing both of my shoulders, and the black fabric wrapped over her shoulders slid down on the surface wooden floor.
[Is that true? That Kendra? The person who you wrote a letter with? She's the first lightbringer?]
I took a step back, feeling startled. "First of all, cover your body first," I muttered, averting my eyes.
[Oh, sorry…] Bakunawa replied, looking down at her naked body, then she picked up the black fabric, wrapping it around her and tying it, so it wouldn't fall. The blue serpent then turned to look at me again, waiting for me to continue.
I knitted my brows as I continued, "I'm actually not sure, but before Pula died; she said that Kendra is a lightbringer. I just don't know what a lightbringer means. Is this about being a soul wanderer?"
Bakunawa grabbed her chin, pondering to herself as she nodded. [I see…so it seems that fate has already brought the two of you together. That's good then.]
"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked, perplexed.
[I cannot answer anything related to the fate of the world, mortal. I'm bound by my oath to my Goddess Idianale. But I'm quite sure that you'll understand everything in time. After all, destiny itself is already doing its work.] Bakunawa replied, slithering her snake-like tongue in and out of her mouth as she laughed joyously to herself.
My jaws clenched, feeling upset.
"No, I need to understand, Bakunawa. I don't want to remain clueless while this destiny is making changes in my life," I replied, stubbornly. "I don't like it."
Bakunawa sighed at me as she shook her head. [I can't tell you myself.]
"Then tell me how, there's gotta be a way for me to understand my situation, right?" I muttered, frustrated.
[That's right, and it's exactly why I'm bringing you to the Majapahit Empire. You will understand mostly everything you need to know there.] Bakunawa stated.
"So, the real reason you suggested going to the Majapahit Empire is for me to understand my situation? Not because of the dark attribute?" I questioned, forming my palms into a fist.
[Don't misunderstand. It's exactly because of your dark attribute that we need to go to the Majapahit Empire. It's true that dark attributes are hard to control, mortal. As a sacred beast, I don't lie about such important things. Even if it's a minor matter, I won't dare lie about it.] Bakunawa said strongly.
Hearing Bakunawa's answer made the vexing feeling in my chest disappear. Because I don't want to be betrayed again. "I get it, then that's all I need to know," I replied as my stiff face softened.
Bakunawa nodded as she sighed in relief. [I'm glad that you understand.]
"Yeah…" I mumbled in agreement. "Sorry for being distrustful…it's just that…it's not easy to live in this world."
[No, it's fine. I understand where you're coming from. I have experienced the same thing over and over again, so it's understandable.] Bakunawa stated.
"Mm," I hum, still feeling guilty. Then I stared at Bakunawa curiously. "So…are all soul wanderers lightbringer?"
[No, not everyone. There are only two lightbringers in this world. They are called Sunlight and Moonlight.] Bakunawa answered.
"I see," I replied, enlightened.
[Do you have other questions? As long as it's not related to the fate of the world, I can answer it.] Bakunawa stated.
"Then how's Ynez doing inside your body?" I asked.
[Oh, she's fine, don't worry. My body remains the same inside me. It's only my appearance that changes.] Bakunawa explained.
I nodded my head. "I see, well then, that's all for now…"
[Well…let's go talk to those four in the quarterdeck.]
Afterwards, Bakunawa and I talked to the Mystic Pirates, and it turns out that they are legal pirates paid by the Majapahit Empire. So the other kingdoms or pirates, who try to conquer and annex the lands of the Majapahit Empire, will get plundered and destroyed by these four pirate girls.
"Lady Moonlight, why don't you join us as well?" Sofia questioned, smiling cunningly.
My lips curved to a wry smile as I grabbed the back of my neck. "I…I don't think I'll fit in, hehehe…"
"That's not true, beauty, I think we'll all get along in no time," Sylvia stated, smiling at me in a flirty way.
'But that's not what I meant by it,' I thought to myself as I felt even more awkward.
"Come on, girly. It will be fun to have you around us," Jack persuaded, giving me a wooden cup full of wine.
Captain blank nodded in agreement as she yawned. "I agree…"
I chuckled awkwardly as I glanced at Bakunawa for help; she only shrugged at me. My mouth twitched as I glanced at the four pirate girls; they all stared at me with glittering eyes of expectation I sighed, scratching my neck as I contemplated to myself on how to reject them nicely.
"I still have to…" I trailed, looking at the sea for answers, and that made me remember Kendra.
Instantly, my eyes lit up as I mumbled. "I need to go back to her…"
Now that I discovered that Kendra and I are really the same; it only made me feel like I really need to see Kendra again; I need to tell Kendra that she and I are both lightbringers and also soul wanderers. It would be awesome if we became friends; this is probably why Pula talked about Kendra to me.
I smiled to myself as I glanced at the four pirates again. "I still have some important things to do," I said.
Captain Blank nodded in understanding. "Is that so? Alright then," Captain Blank said, yawning.
I heaved a sigh of relief; it seems that Captain Blank is an easy going person.
"It's too unfortunate that Lady Moonlight wouldn't be able to join the group, but it's fine…" Sofia mumbled to herself sarcastically, erasing something on the paper. "It's fine even if I already added Lady Moonlight to our strategy for the next raid."
Hearing Sofia made me smile wryly.
On the other hand, Sylvia pouted. "Awwe, I really want to travel with beauty, but since you have other important things to do, then it's alright…"
"Sorry, my savior," I replied, a little guilty. But no matter what they say; I absolutely don't want to become a pirate.
"Stop sulking, idiot, you don't look cute," Jack sneered at Sylvia. Then she glanced at me and gave me a wink. "Don't mind this idiot, Lady Moonlight."
I smiled back at Jack, then I glanced at Bakunawa.
[If this is your decision, then that's alright as well, but I hope that you could help Kendra once you return.] Bakunawa stated.
"Of course," I said in a matter of fact tone. "I'll try to convey every important detail to her, don't worry."
Bakunawa nodded in satisfaction. [Also, make her become affiliated with the White Elves.]
My brows furrowed. "But I don't even know these White Elves myself, Bakunawa."
[That's alright, these four will help you and Kendra with your future endeavours.] Bakunawa replied, then she glanced at Captain Blank communicating something with her through telepathy.
Captain Blank nodded. "Roger that, Lady Moonlight."
"What did you tell her?" I whispered to Bakunawa, standing beside me.
[Nothing much. I only told her to not forget their duty to serve you as the Lady Moonlight.] Bakunawa answered.
"Huh? What are you talking about? What duty?" I questioned.
[You might not know this, but these four are Saint-Warriors from Goddess Mayari; the Goddess of the moon and the ruler of the night; she is the Goddess of combat, war, revolution, hunt, weaponry, strength, and beauty.] Bakunawa explained.
"I know who Goddess Mayari is. I read it in the books inside your body. What I'm asking is why do they have a duty to serve me?" I replied in a whisper.
[Mortal, you will know soon enough once we reach the Majapahit Empire. But right now, I can only tell you this much.] Bakunawa answered, looking troubled.
"Then we should hurry there," I suggested, feeling anxious that I seem clueless about these things.
Bakunawa nodded in agreement, and she told Captain Blank about it, but they said that there is an incoming pirate who plans to infiltrate the borders on the harbor town of the Majapahit Empire, so they can't accompany us.
At that, Bakunawa and I separated from the Mystic Pirates; Bakunawa then started sailing to the east sea of the Paloma Ocean, continuing our journey to Nusantara Island.