After twenty long years, Deluna finally set foot in that house again. Still the same as before, the thin woman entered in a polite manner. She knocked on the door, but she opened it for herself.
A smile slowly spread across her stiff face. She scanned every corner of the room she passed. Everything is still very much the same. Only age makes the walls and other displays look duller. The temperature in the house was cold. Or just the feeling. Because she knew no one was here. Except for the prisoner. Reeda's girl named Felis.
Deluna stepped gracefully. No fine shoes, no fancy clothes to mark her honor—as it used to be. When the Coalition had no influence whatsoever. As the three parts of the Lumons are not separated by envy and enmity. She walked slowly, as if she was wearing a long evening dress and high shoes.
Deluna used to visit here every two weeks. Chat over coffee. Smoking dry thyme with Gregora while talking about expansion in the pine forest. Her thyme plantation and a new cooking recipe that Deluna developed together with humans. She and Gregora had been close friends, even before the boy picked up the orphan. Aldora.
Deluna's friendship with Gregora can be said to be strange. Not one day after they met Gregora stopped praising Deluna. And the woman, never runs out of things to talk about. Everything flows like clear river water. But not romance. The two admire each other, but it's not domestic troubles they seek.
Until the Reeda massacre incident occurred. Deluna lost all her children and siblings. The woman ran frantically in her nightgown to her best friend's house for protection. However, at that time Deluna did not know that her best friend was a leader in the Lumons Coalition. The group responsible for the massacre.
At that time, Gregora told Deluna to hide in the basement of his house. Deluna trusted Gregora so much. She followed all of Gregora's directions. Deluna realized too late. Since then, Gregora only appeared and saw her once a week. Gregora locked up his best friend. Even though he had no intention of killing her. Unfortunately, Deluna already had high hopes. She waited too long, and Gregora didn't release her either.
Maybe the power had made her forget. And forgot to hurt Deluna. Who likes to be locked up for decades in an unethical dungeon if you tell the circumstances? Then, this is what happened now. Until a few days ago, Gregora was still holding the woman.
The prison room, right under Deluna's feet was standing now. Now the woman is free, Gregora—the man has stopped breathing. As soon as things turned around. Revenge makes Deluna lose her best friend. But that's fair enough.
"Hello, Felis," said Deluna. She knew Gregora's house so well, it was easy for her to find that girl.
Felis lifted her head, her eyes glazed over. Her curly hair was matted with blood and sweat. She's starving. The pain never left her. She couldn't think of anything else at the moment, except for her almost empty blood. Saying hello to Deluna, wasting her energy.
“I will set you free now. Don't worry. After this we will eat as much as you want. Deer, humans or Lumons, take your pick. Except me." Deluna joked, while cutting the wire that bound the girl one by one.
Felis nodded once. She didn't want to talk yet. She didn't even dare to breathe much. She was worried that hunger would make her blind. She did not want to eat the person who saved her. It was enough for her to be unfair to Candramawa.
Oscar appeared behind Deluna, of course both of them knew each other. Previously they had the same plan. But freeing Felis wasn't part of it.
"Oscar, help me get this wire off." Delena didn't turn around. Nor did she care about Oscar's face, which showed obvious distaste.
“Have you met Markus? Does he agree with what you do? On this Reeda?” Oscar asked in a sharp tone.
Deluna sighed, knowing that this man would not be easy to talk to.
"Can we talk about this later?" Deluna turned around after cutting the last wire. Facing Oscar who was already prepared with his light purple aisikla. She had forgotten the last time she saw that color.
“Save your aisikla, Oscar. Did you forget that I am also Reeda? And Felis is still related to me.”
However, it seems that Weesa doesn't like the concept of nepotism. Deluna drew her lips up. She accepted the Oscar challenge.
"Go to Laureen's house, sweetheart," she told Felis before confronting the Weesa man. "Do you know which house Laureen lives in?"
After Deluna told Felis about Laureen's house, the girl dragged her feet leaving Gregora's house. On the way Felis promised herself that she would eat anything that passed, as long as it had four legs. She needs power.
Thankfully, there was an unlucky wild boar passing by, like the God of Hell sent it on purpose. Felis didn't delay, she ate until she was full.
After that Felis continued her journey. Hope no one can smell her blood. No one.
***
Elsewhere, in the Coalition building, Aldora has just finished his sad story.
"And I found a red chip of aisikla on Gregora's body," Aldora said in closing.
"Are those pieces contains gold color?" asked Candramawa.
Aldora narrowed his eyes. Staring at Candramawa who was also looking at him warily.
Markus glanced at his nephew. He really wanted to hide his smile, express his condolences and then immediately return to his purpose of coming here.
"I'm sorry for the loss of all of us." But what was heard from Markus instead was his voice shaking like a goat.
Aldora nodded. Say thank you to the two people in front of him. Also convey the same condolences to Markus and Candramawa. For the death of Marlon and his future wife.
“How did you know about the deaths of Marlon and his wife?” asked Candramawa again.
"I'm sorry, news in this town blows harder than the winds in July." Aldora became clumsy to himself.
Markus, who had been worried that Aldora had caught him at the Garg family's house, became relieved and believed. Except for Candramawa, who had just stayed where she was. The girl asked, but no one answer could please her.
Aldora was relieved that Candramawa did not drag him into another matter. After all, Markus shouldn't know that Candramawa saw Aldora at the Garg family's house. Take Felis and take her away.
"No problem. Knowing that we share a common enemy makes me feel stronger, because we will soon face justice. Is that true, Candramawa?" Markus assured once again.
Aldora turned to Candramawa. The girl nodded. Aldora felt calm for a while.
“Soon we will get together, make a plan to catch that Reeda. We will build a new order. Those of us who are left, can definitely continue what the late Gregora fought for.” Markus made small talk while provoking Candramawa.
Chandrawawa agreed. Even though the ends of her hands clenched, the aisiklas came out like fingernails and eventually tore the skin on her hands until they bled.
Aldora finally got up from her seat after making sure the conversation this time was over.
"Where are you going now?" Markus idly asked. He always wants to know everyone's plans.
"I'm going home, to cremate Gregora's body." Aldora replied “As Gregora wanted.”
"Okay, we'll get together soon and discuss this. When you are ready, son.” This is the first time in his life Markus calls Aldora with the word 'son' like Gregora. Usually, Markus doesn't care. He is busy with his own business. He loves himself too much.
The bald man paused, nodded once then completely disappeared behind the door. Now only Markus and Candramawa are left.
"And now it's just the two of us. Where were we?" Markus was not really serious with his question.
"Dig." The Candramawa are consistent with their goals.
Markus opened his long jacket, rolled up his sleeves to his elbows. He smiled at his nephew. "Where should I start?"