• L u n a r i a •

Chapter 2

        Lunaria awoke, her eyes slowly opening to see a vast ocean and the sky. The most prominant detail, though, was the full moon in the sky. She sat up in her bed, still in her cotton sleepwear, and went to step onto the ocean.

        Suprisingly, the ocean floor was just a normal floor if it were slightly damp. She took another step confidently as the water reflection rippled beneath her. Glancing behind her, she noticed that her bed appeared to be almost floating atop the surface.

      "Lunaria..."

        Lunaria started frantically searching for where the voice came from. Instinct kicked in and she looked at the moon in a trance.

      "My child...come to me."

        Still staring into the moon deeply, Lunaria walked towards it as it shone brighter and brighter. As she got closer to the blinding light, the moon morphed into a young woman. 'About early thirties,' Lunaria guessed.

      "My darling. How do you like your home?" The woman asked, smiling. She radiated of warmth and tranquility, making Lunaria sigh.

      "I want to leave. All there is are books and classes and things that I am not fit for. But I doubt I'll get any chance to leave," Lunaria said. She looked into the woman's eyes, noting the gentleness and sincerity in them.

      "Don't worry, child. Your chance will come sooner than you think."

         With this final remark, the woman reached out and hugged Lunaria. A blanket of warmth lay over her, and she smiled as she felt herself fall into the soft darkness.

                                  ● ● ●

      Lunaria's eyes fluttered open. She shifted onto her side to stare out the window, and grinned into the darkness as she saw the night sky still out. The words of the moon woman echoed in her head like a broken record player; "Your chance will come sooner than you think." This excited her but also made her think for the better - she should start preparing for that day. As she started silently putting her things in a travelers' bag, she heard a noise.

      She creeped towards the window, peering out slightly. Her heart fluttered as she saw the one thing she had been hoping for - a boat. Moving back a little, Lunaria smiled as she watched people loading crates and barrels onto the deck.

      She grasped a leather strap of the bag and double-checked it. Knowing she had everything she needed, she closed the windows of her room to make it completely dark after making a Lunaria-shaped lump in her bed. A single leap to her door was all that was required for Lunaria to open and close the door and step into the bright hallways' light. She winced a bit at the brightness, but quickly adjusted to it and smiled. She started to make her way down the many floors of the temple, ready to accomplish something amazing.

                                  ● ● ●

      Lunaria was at the Main Hall of the temple when a colbalt-colored light stole her attention. She immedietly strayed from her path and went towards the light, completely captivated. As she made her way through a crack in the wall, she saw a secret she didn't expect to even catch a glimpse of. In this hidden room there were potions and treasures alike, with ancient spellbooks, gems and enchanted weapons. There was another hall, however, that was much less grand. The walls were lined with nothing but cobblestone, mostly likely illuminated by magic. Suddenly, there was the sound of hurried footsteps entering the hidden room from an unknown source. It was already way past down-time, the time where all students were sleeping or preparing to sleep. Knowing better than to get caught here, Lunaria quietly dashed down the cobblestone hallway with light steps.

      No-no-no! Not here... I'm so close, I can almost be free! Lunaria desperately thought, as she skidded to a halt in a fork in the path. She realized quickly that they led to the same place, so she ran down the right hall.  She almost hit her face in a wall but managed to brace herself, lessening the impact. She rubbed her injured arm and turned. A statue of a wizard stood, seemingly casting a spell. Lunaria glanced into his hand, which held a real spellbook. As she stared into it, she heard a yell.

        "Hey-! Lunaria, don't touch that! Look away! Away!"

      Lunaria looked at the person in her persuit - and gasped. It was Chancellor Bergen, a man of very high standing in the Temple. Panicking, Lunaria firmly grabbed the spellbook. Chancellor Bergen went to grab her arm, as Lunaria was knocked back by a blinding light cast by the spellbook.

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      Chapter 2 is done! I worked pretty hard on it so I hope it's good!

   Once again, I read all the (no) comments so please leave suggestions.
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