The Demons of Shadow Moon

Part 93 - The First Memory (NEW)

Update: I've added memories of Luna and Akira's first encounter here. If you're a super old reader of this book, you may remember I initially had their first encounter written in a much later chapter, which is currently a draft from when I rearranged the plot a few years ago. I've been thinking of how important this memory is, as it adds a level of perspective and new understanding about Akira. And so, I wanted to add it here to help the reader build that new perspective sooner, which will create a better understanding of upcoming events. It also gives Luna that new perspective just before her confrontation with Akira, which should make it more interesting. Hope you enjoy!

Luna ran through the winding tunnels of the underworld, hoping to finally find the Royal Libary where she knew Akria would be. At last, she reached a clearing... but it wasn't the library. It was a river....

Luna paused, her body suddenly filling with a strange sense of familiarity.

"What... is this place?" she mumbled, stepping closer to the river.

A strange sense of peace washed over her and she crouched down, gazing at her reflection...

Suddenly, the image started to shift into a younger version of herself.

"Uh...?" Luna gasped.

Suddenly, she felt a strange dizziness come over her as she squinted her eyes shut. Her mind seemed to jumble with sounds and images as a hidden memory unleashed itself!!

She could see it... her past self... running through the walls of the underworld. When suddenly...

The small Luna came across a blue-green river. By it, a young boy who looked an awful lot like Akira sat. His hair was the same black waves with red markings; however, he had a fringe covering one eye like an edgy teenager going through a 'phase'.

Luna stopped with hesitation, but the boy soon met her gaze, hearing her echoing footsteps a mile away.

"Who are you?!" he snarled, seeming rather annoyed.

He held a stick in his hand, which he was using to draw in the dirt, an was an odd contrast to his royal clothing.

Luna gulped, freezing instantly as she held her hand close to her chest, not expecting the encounter.

She took a moment to gaze upon the boy...

"Luna..." she told him as she naively stepped forward in her curiosity.

"What are you doing here? You know this is royal grounds, right?" the boy grunted, clearly not appreciating her presence.

"Exactly! He'll never find me here!" Luna replied in excitement, initial caution hastily vanishing.

"Uh. Who?" he asked in confusion, seeming concerned of her sudden openness.

"My brother! I won Rock Paper Scissors, so he's it," Luna told him as she bounced closer.

The boy let out a small chuckle, turning into a laugh.

"Ahahah. Nice going," he smiled, earlier moodiness seeming to wash away. 

But his smile soon returned to a natural frown as he continued drawing in the dirt. Luna watched as he scruffed up the dirt... and realised he wasn't actually drawing at all. He was simply scraping up the dirt, flinging it without a care.

"But you shouldn't have wandered so far. It's dangerous. Stay with the people who'll protect you. They won't be around forever..." he advised her from his own experience.