THREE YEARS ON.
Felis was fixing her hair in front of the mirror when a loud noise came from the kitchen. The smell of smoked meat and omelet seeped into her room through the crack in the door, which began to expand as a sign of the changing seasons.
It's been three years since the Quartz Bell was found. It's been three years since the nation of Lumons finally started a new era. Which is quieter, which is more peaceful than before. No Coalition interference.
It's kind of ironic to talk about the Coalition these days. Because the only official left seemed to be more interested in other things than fighting for her own people. So, changes take place without bloodshed. Isn't that the almost impossible thing in human history? But Felis managed to do it.
“Felis!” Her mother screamed from outside. Ruined the girl's daydream.
"Yes, in a moment!" Felis replied, glancing at the clock on the wall. She straightened her body, she tidied her clothes again. She noticed her gray eyes—the red dots had disappeared long ago, just like the blue dots in Candramawa's brown eyes.
Then she came out of her room. "Stop yelling at me, will you?" Felis squeaked when she saw Laureen sitting at the dining table with a crumpled face. Her brows knit together.
"Oh, I'm going to die in a minute!" Laureen complained, "And I have no husband."
Felis coughed at Laureen's words, the juice she drank spurted out, almost dirtying her clothes.
"What's your problem, Mom?" asked Felis trying not to laugh.
"This morning I washed my face. Then I looked in the mirror.” Laureen was trying to make this conversation more serious than anything else. "And I, Oh!" She's being dramatic. She massaged her temples with a sad face.
Felis rolled her eyes. Her lips pulled down.
"Don't be like that to me!" she snapped. “Look at my wrinkles! The longer I look the uglier I am. My hair is starting to turn white. And I'm going to be a grandma.”
Felis nodded. Lazy to comment. "Where's Candramawa?"
"Already departed. Every day late for work. I'm sure next month she will be sacked again.”
"Mom should have bought her a vehicle, so she doesn't have to walk and be late." Felis snorted, “You guys have to wake up soon…”
"Yes, forward hit back hit," complained Laureen.
"I'm sorry, at that time I had no choice." Felis looked down. Remember again on a red misty full moon night.
"I know Felis. Candramawa is important to you.” Lauren changed intonation. “I always secretly thank God, because now we are ordinary humans. Apart from my wrinkles and my hair.”
Felis nodded again. Slowly she chewed the breakfast Laureen had made. While pondering.
"What is it?" Laureen had been watching Felis' behavior.
Felis shrugged. "I'm fine."
Lauren raised her eyebrows. "Okay…"
"Mother, do you think my decision is right?"
Felis heard Laureen sigh.
"After three years Felis, what's bothering you?"
"I don't feel at ease."
"You haven't told Candramawa yet?" Lauren teased.
"Not that." Felis did not want to continue. She didn't want Laureen to think too much. "That's enough. I have to go." Then Felis got up from her seat.
"Your house in Weesa village has been sold?" asked Laureen as she watched her son leave.
"Not yet, but someone made an appointment to have a look," Felis said softly.
“Hey…” Laureen held Felis' shoulder at the door of the house. “If you want to bring some things from the Garg house here, I won't stand in your way. My house is your house, Felis.”
Felis smiled. "Thank you, Mom."
“Don't forget to stop by Alfredo.” Laureen returned Felis' smile while holding out a bottle of clear water. Then the girl walked away. Towards Weesa Village.
***
After two hours of waiting without certainty, Felis decided to leave Weesa's village.
The prospective buyer never came. And waiting in a house full of bad memories makes Felis feel even more erratic. Next time, maybe the girl would take Laureen with her or ask one of the neighbors to see if anyone was interested in the house.
Fifteen minutes walk, Felis has passed through a teak forest. While the green scenery of the pine forest stretched before our eyes, Felis needed to climb a higher hill to reach Alfrore. Two-branched pine tree. What is now is just an ordinary tree.
Felis looked at the tree for a long time. The longer the leaves, the rarer. The stems are getting drier.
She poured all the water from the bottle Laureen entrusted to her.
“It's been three years Alfrore, I'm sorry,” Felis said the same sentence every time she came here.
"It's been three years, how are you?" Another voice came from behind, making the girl jump in surprise. Felis quickly stood up, her body staggering because of the sudden heartbeat. The figure was already standing there. Her clothes were black, and her nose and mouth were covered with cloth.
“Deluna…” Felis stammered.
Deluna opened the cover of her face. "Felis." She approached her niece.
"What do you want to come here?" Felis anticipated.
"Don't worry Felis, I won't hurt you. Now I'm as human as you. All Lumons do.” Deluna's cheerful tone of voice made Felis even more suspicious. "Look at here."
Deluna crouched near Alfrore then she wiped the ground next to the old pine tree.
Felis gasped. "How could that be?" She asked when she saw a new shoot emerging from one of Alfrore's roots. It's so green, the stems are moving—but not from the wind.
"How could that be? Of course it can, Felis.” Deluna chuckled, then sat down, "All of this is because of you."
Felis noticed Deluna's eyes, she blinked twice.
"I didn't mean to be mean, Felis. I just want everything to go back to the way it was." Candramawa's tears flowed down her temples.
Even though Candramawa had given up and lay down on the ground, Felis never took her eyes off of her. From Felis' other palm, a golden red aisikla appeared. Felis raised it high. She gathered all her strength. Then she swung it to the ground.
With that, Felis thought that a new era had arrived and the Heaven God's punishment would pass from the Lumons.
“Blaar!!” The Aisikla clashed with the Quartz Bell.
With a light that was as bright as the sun, Felis broke the bell into nine parts which scattered to the eight winds.
One more piece remains in place. Felis buried it near Alfrore.
When Felis woke up from her sleep, the sun had already set. And Deluna was no longer there—or had never been there. Felis really wasn't sure. She decided to prove to herself that what she just experienced was not a dream. She rummaged through the ground looking for Alfrore's new shoots.
A few moments later Felis flabbergasted. Then like a madman, she ran home.
"Mother!" shouted Felis breathlessly. She barged into the house. "Mother!" she shouted again when she got inside.
She saw people crowding there. Right in the middle of the living room. Felis didn't manage her heartbeat as she scanned her surroundings. Thick black spots splattered on almost a third of the floor of the room. Instead of being calm, now cold sweat actually made her palms wet.
Felis cut through the crowd. Her hand reached out, pushing aside unfamiliar shoulders—so she could see what was really going on.
"Oh, Candramawa," Felis screamed when she saw Candramawa lying on the couch with a dirty face.
Laureen knelt beside the body holding her hand. Felis quickly collected herself, she took a place next to Laureen.
"What happened to her, Mom?"
“Someone harmed her. When these people brought Candramawa here her bones were crushed. They thought she was dead." Laureen told the story through tears.
"Why not take her to the hospital?" Felis railed at his mother with questions. Annoyance churned in her chest. Felis clenched her fists, holding back her anger.
Laureen shook her head, then removed her apron from her waist. She wiped Candramawa's face with a cloth until the black liquid was gone. Seeing that, Felis was immediately thrown back.
"H-how come?" Felis spat while watching her palms which were suddenly full of wounds. Then she looked at the unconscious Candramawa.
The wounds on Candramawa's body just disappeared!
END