The coast, with all the things that are magical and inexplicable by the bookshelf in the human head. We always feel we can find a good excuse to turn our backs on time, or ride it. Sometimes too methodical so as to distance themselves from childish wonder. Still, nobody can explain why the waves that always look the same are able to calm the heart of a girl on the run.
Felis crouched on the outside of the cave facing the beach. Her knees and elbows were resting on one another, her chin resting on her fist. Her eyes looked ahead, a horizontal line with a mound—maybe an island, or just an ordinary rock that could disappear if the tide was high. Felis' mind drifted aimlessly, penetrated another dimension, which was in the middle of nowhere and uncertain.
Maybe it's a matter of longing. To Weesa's village, her mother, her college, her boyfriend, and her father who are already gone. Or about her feelings. What Felis couldn't even say to herself, let alone Candramawa. Also a new identity. All things began to unfold slowly, but, shouldn't an answer be a relief? What Felis knew, now that she remembered more and more things, she had to run farther and farther away from home. The greedier she is about the past, the more the future will be obscured by the misty forest. Dark darkness called mystery.
The sun seems to be coming up soon. If what she was seeing now were framed in a painting, then the faint red glow would be positioned to the left. Then the shiny black sand below, with a few rocks and hibiscus trees. One-clawed crabs scurrying in and out of the narrow hole. Which is ridiculous. Perhaps connecting one world to another. Another world. Like the old Felis world and the new world now. Which she never knew existed. Which turns out to exist, but negates the other world.
Felix took a deep breath, exhaled lazily. She didn't want to move on from all of this yet, when Candramawa walked up to him while slipping a bag over her left shoulder.
"We will go now," said Candramawa. She reached out to touch Felis's shoulder, but it didn't work. Candramawa doesn't want Felis' focus on the Quartz Bell and Lumons' future to be distracted by their feelings.
Felix nodded weakly. She stood up from her spot, facing Candramawa. Her back was convex, her gray eyes now made Felis look even sadder than she should have been.
"Are you all right?" Candramawa searched Felis' eyes. She wanted to convince herself that Felis didn't mind her decision.
“Do you have to keep asking about that?” Felis looked down, she turned her gaze back to the vast expanse of sea.
“I ask because I care about you, Felis. We must go now.” Candramawa was still looking for those eyes, she lifted Felis' chin.
"Yes," Felis answered slowly.
"I won't let you…" Candramawa looked at Felis with sad eyes.
Felis looked away. “You only know how to make yourself useful. I don't even know why we have to do all this!” Felis was annoyed. She was tired of running. She misses home.
"We don't have time to argue now." Chandrawa dodged.
“Indeed, because we never had it, because we kept running. We have never faced anything but running, Candramawa. And I don't have a choice, do I? Besides following all your orders.”
“Felis…” Then they were silent for a while. There is always a pause, which makes other sentences sound more meaningful,
"Okay, I'll tell you everything. About the Lumons prophecy, the book of Nostraduske and your purpose in life. Listen carefully because I'm not going to repeat it, nor will it take too long." Candramawa finally gave up. There is no perfect time for honesty. The late Garg had proven it. However, to what extent can Candramawa say that honesty?
Candramawa then pulled Felis' hand to a corner of the cave and made her sit quietly. While Candramawa sat on a lower rock. She blinked twice, as if what she did was able to simplify all the muck in her head.
“You are the last Reeda, Felis. You are the one destined to end the Coalition and usher in a new era for the nation of Lumons. I know, you don't think of our nation as a priority. You are used to living side by side with humans. You like humans more than your own people. But according to the prophecy, you are the one. You were born on a red misty full moon night. I was there. Now, all we have to do, all you have to do is find the Bell. Because…"
"Even if it's not my will?"
"Don't interrupt..." Candramawa tried to finish her words.
Felis frowned, her brows almost shaking.
“I know you don't want to, but, can you watch everyone die one by one? Your father, your lover—Genta, all of them died in vain to protect you.” Chandrawa looked down. "If we don't find the bell, all humans will also die, Felis."
The night after Felis fell asleep, Candramawa tiptoed lightly to a corner of the cave—away from Felis. The wound on her leg was completely closed, and all the aches or pains she felt had disappeared right when Felis tried to make her dinner.
She always had the bag slung over her shoulder. With all its contents, with all the secrets that she keeps in it. Slowly Candramawa pulled the book of Nostraduske that Deluna handed over to her. A Reeda woman who claims to be a relative of Felis.
Candramawa couldn't believe that Deluna could enter the Coalition building as easily as turning her palm. Candramawa could not believe that Deluna took the book and followed them all the way here. Because if it wasn't just coincidence or luck in the language, Felis is the only Reeda should be left here. Where did Deluna go during Reeda's massacre? How could she survive the coalition surveillance. Of the three types of Lumons, Reed is the easiest to recognize. They are rude, they act arbitrarily. What's more, they are cold-blooded. And Deluna—ah Candramawa finds it hard to believe.
How is it possible that until today Deluna is still breathing, standing straight and hunting to her heart's content?
As Candramawa recalled, only three times did Felis show her aisikla like Reeda. In the shack in the pine forest, later when she kills Jesse. And the letterman. If she had been followed from the start, Candramawa would have known. But she felt stupid now. She likes to mingle with humans too much so he loses her sensitivity and becomes careless.
Even though her father was a member of the Coalition, Candramawa had never entered the building. She could indeed read Weesa's spelling like Garg had taught her. Regarding the scraps of paper that she carried everywhere, Garg also left them. For Felis later, she said.
Candramawa faced the book in front of her. It was dark purple in color, and the cover was thick with peeling velvet. It smells bitter like wood that has been soaked in water and soil for too long. So familiar.
Slowly Candramawa opened the page. The book was so old that if she was careless, the paper inside would tear and crumble when she turned the page.
Chandrawawa narrowed her eyes. Her head twitched in confusion.
“Unreadable. It's meaningless,” she muttered while still flipping through the book.
She blinked several times. Thinking out loud. Candramawa is a smart girl, she considered once again the idea that just popped into her head. She placed the book beside her, her other hand rummaging through the contents of the bag. Took the scrap of paper Garg gave her.
Her palms became sweaty as she searched for pages in the lost book. Then she stopped suddenly. Her breath too. She connected the piece of paper to the Nostraduske book.
Candramawa's brown eyes widened as the letters miraculously scattered, ran, intertwined and formed new sentences. She almost burst out laughing, but he quickly suppressed it. Candramawa must always be vigilant, in case Reeda named Deluna is still around.
Now Candramawa understood why Deluna wanted to know the contents of the book. Maybe not only her. Everyone in the Coalition. Because Nostraduske could actually provide a clue as to the location of that Quartz Bell.
It was less than a week until the red misty full moon appeared again. Candramawa's spirit lit up suddenly, in her chest like a torch that had just been lit.
After reading she separated the piece of paper, put it back in her bag. Then the book, a newer piece of paper flung from it, lay on her toes. Without any expectation, Candramawa picked it up then unfolded it. After that, she didn't dare to breathe anymore.