Chapter 74: The Cloak of Restoration!
The temple of the Moon Goddess was bathed in soft, silver light, the ethereal glow cascading over Tessa as she sat in the center of the ancient structure. Her body shook with sobs, her face buried in her hands, the weight of unspoken emotions overwhelming her.
She hadn't been very lucky with love. James Rudbick had been a manipulative monster, his betrayal still a raw wound. And now, Adrian—the one person who had started to mean something more—seemed distracted by someone else. Nymff. And it hurt.
I can't lose either of them, she thought desperately. But how could she watch from the sidelines, feeling so powerless, as her heart twisted between the two?
"There, there, Tessa…" the voice of the Moon Goddess whispered softly from the depths of her mind, trying to soothe her.
But the gentle attempt at comfort only made the tears flow harder. Tessa pulled her knees to her chest, her body trembling under the weight of it all.
"Tessa," the Moon Goddess's voice persisted, a mix of tenderness and firmness. "You are the representative of divinity. You need to be strong. This pain you're feeling, it's the kind that only superheroes endure. And it's this pain that makes you powerful. Be patient... let Adrian choose. And if you love him, you must open up. Do not bury your feelings."
The words sank in slowly. Tessa's sobs quieted, her breathing became steadier, and gradually, the tears stopped. She wiped her face, feeling an odd calmness settling over her, as though the Moon Goddess had wrapped her in an unseen embrace.
But then, a thought struck her.
"Why are the Red Rhemonics so obsessed with the Sun God?" she asked aloud, her voice hoarse. "I mean, why are they so against you?"
The Moon Goddess's presence in her mind grew contemplative. "They may be under a spell cast by Rhemon, or maybe that lunatic Ikehara has twisted their minds."
"If they're under a spell, is there a way to restore them?" Tessa pressed.
There was a pause, long and heavy, as the Moon Goddess sifted through her vast memories, spanning centuries. Then, like a faint spark of light in the darkness, she remembered.
"The Cloak of Restoration…" she murmured.
Tessa's heart skipped a beat. "What is that?" she asked, intrigued.
"It is a powerful artifact," the Moon Goddess began, her voice tinged with the warmth of nostalgia. "It belonged to my dear husband, Solaris, long ago. But he lent it to another god, Akanon, and Akanon… well, he never returned it."
Tessa frowned. "What does it do?"
"The cloak," the Moon Goddess said, her tone growing more reverent, "has the power to restore everything. Memories, lands, people, even time itself. It can heal wounds, bring back lost truths, and break spells. If we could find it, it could restore the Rhemonic people, freeing them from whatever curse or spell they are under."
Tessa's mind raced. "So, we need to find this Akanon."
"Yes," the Moon Goddess replied. "But there's a catch. Akanon is a trickster and a liar. My husband stopped being friends with him for that very reason. He is known for setting traps and leaving riddles in his wake. No one knows if he's dead or alive, but one thing is certain—he always leaves clues to his whereabouts, thinking himself too clever to be found."
Tessa felt a flicker of excitement rise within her, a spark she hadn't felt since Adrian's distraction with Nymff began. "Where do I start?" she asked, already feeling the thrill of the hunt pulling her away from the heaviness in her heart.
"If you can find the Temple of Akanon, you will likely find clues to the cloak's location. But be careful. Akanon's games are dangerous. And Tessa…" The Moon Goddess's voice lowered. "He does not play fair."
Tessa took a deep breath. She had found something to focus on—something bigger than her emotions, bigger than her heartbreak. A purpose that, perhaps, would restore not just the Rhemonics but maybe even herself.
And as she stood, determination hardening in her chest, she couldn't help but think: This quest could be the distraction I need… at least until my heart decides what it truly wants.
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Tessa stepped out of the moon temple, the crisp night air filling her lungs as she wiped the last remnants of tears from her eyes. The moon hung high, casting a soft glow over everything, and there, under its light, stood Nyala, waiting for her.
Nyala, as she often did in Tessa's presence, gave a deep bow, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders. "Moon goddess," she greeted with quiet reverence, her voice soft yet full of respect.
Tessa blinked, surprised to see her at this hour. "Nyala, it's 4 a.m.," she said, her voice still a little shaky. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"
Nyala straightened but didn't step back. There was a glimmer of worry in her eyes, but she masked it with a small smile. "How could I sleep," she began, "when my moon goddess hasn't?" But her voice faltered as her eyes scanned Tessa's face. The slight tremble in her lips vanished, replaced by a fierceness as she noticed the tear stains on Tessa's cheeks.
"Who did this?" Nyala's tone shifted, sharp as a blade, her hands instinctively balling into fists. She was no longer the reverent protector. In an instant, she transformed into a female version of Ecdy, ready to fight anyone who dared hurt her goddess.
Before Tessa could respond, Ecdy, who had been lounging in the shadows, appeared beside them with his usual cocky smirk. "Oi, what's all this about? Someone made our moon goddess cry?" His playful demeanor vanished when he noticed Tessa's red eyes, his smile dropping instantly. "Whoever did this, I'll knock them outta the solar system."
"I'm fine." Tessa forced a smile, waving them both off. She didn't want to explain the real reason she had been crying. It was too raw, too tangled up in her confusion about Adrian and Nymff. "You two are being dramatic." She exhaled, trying to bring some levity into the situation. "I was just... thinking about my mother. What she had to endure."
The lie was weak, but it worked well enough to lower their guard, at least a little. Nyala's fierce expression softened, though her eyes remained narrowed, unconvinced. Ecdy cocked an eyebrow but didn't push further.
"Really," Tessa continued, "I was reflecting on something far more important—something that could change the fate of the Rhemonic people." She straightened up, shaking off the remnants of vulnerability. "The cloak of restoration."
That got their attention. Both Nyala and Ecdy immediately leaned in, eyes wide.
"The cloak of what now?" Ecdy asked, his brow furrowing.
"The cloak of restoration," Tessa repeated. "It's an ancient artifact that belongs to the god Akanon. It has the power to restore memories, lands, people—even time itself. If we can find it, we might be able to free the Rhemonic people from the spell that Rhemon and Ikehara put on them."
Nyala's brow furrowed. "Rhemon and Ikehara… the ones responsible for turning them against Solaris and the moon goddess?"
"Exactly," Tessa replied. "It wasn't Solaris, the true sun god, who enslaved them. He's not the enemy. Rhemon and Ikehara are. But the cloak… it can undo their control. It can restore the Rhemonic people to who they truly are."
Ecdy rubbed his chin, looking impressed. "Well, that's certainly a hell of a quest. I like it. But Akanon's one slippery bastard. If we're going after him, we'd better bring our A-game."
Nyala crossed her arms, her eyes still full of concern but now mixed with determination. "If this cloak can help, we have to find it. But how do we start?"
"Clues," Tessa replied. "Akanon's arrogance is his weakness. He always leaves clues to his temple. We just have to track them down."
The reluctance still hung in the air between them. Nyala and Ecdy had both seen Tessa shift the conversation away from whatever was truly bothering her, but there was no clear culprit. Without evidence, without answers, there was nothing they could do. So, they let it be—for now.
"Alright," Nyala finally said with a sigh. "We should tell the others, then. Everyone needs to know what we're up against."
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Within the hour, the core group gathered in the dimly lit war room. Ms. Caldwell and Mr. Thompson stood side by side, their faces tense. Even Joel, usually so distant and isolated, had made an appearance, his face stoic but attentive.
Tessa stood at the center, feeling the weight of their gazes, but she pushed aside the remnants of her earlier emotions. This was bigger than her heartbreak—bigger than all of them.
"The cloak of restoration," Tessa began, her voice steady, "is our next mission. If we can find it, it could be the key to freeing the Rhemonic people from the spell Rhemon and Ikehara have placed on them. But it's hidden. Akanon, the trickster god, has it. And finding him will be a challenge."
Ms. Caldwell's brow furrowed. "And what makes you think Akanon is still alive? He's been missing for eons."
"He always leaves clues to his temple," Tessa replied, her voice full of certainty. "That's where we start. We find the clues, and we find the cloak."
Mr. Thompson leaned forward, his face drawn in concentration. "And this cloak... you really think it can restore entire people?"
Tessa nodded. "It has the power to restore anything—memories, lands, even time itself. If we get our hands on it, we might be able to undo the damage Rhemon and Ikehara have done."
Joel, who had been silent, spoke up. "And Akanon? What do we do about him?"
Tessa met his gaze. "We deal with him. One way or another."
There was a moment of silence, the weight of the situation sinking in. Then, with a nod from Ms. Caldwell, they all agreed.
It was decided. They would search for the cloak of restoration. But as they prepared, Tessa couldn't shake the heaviness in her chest. She had to focus—on the mission, on saving lives—but the ache of her personal struggle remained, lingering like a shadow.
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