To Them, Who Stared At The Moon

The night was deep by the time I woke up after falling asleep due to the herbal medicine the elf gave me. I may have judged him wrong. That I am alive right now is enough reason to think that he did try to poison me not. I can feel a bit more energy in my body, enough to let me stand up and walk. I went outside of the room in search for the elf. When I assumed that he was nowhere inside the house, I stepped outside. I had a leisure walk under the night sky, something I never thought I would be able to do after that near-death experience. I continued to search for the elf, following a path of stone steps that was obviously the only path constantly used by the only person in this forest, the elf. After a few minutes of walk, I halted at the beautiful sight my deep blue and red eyes have witnessed. I stood in awe of what I have seen, the elf staring at the moon, as if having a conversation with it. To my perspective, he even resembled the beauty of the moon, for the light he emitted was akin to it. I cannot find any fitting words to describe him and cannot even speak for I was still awed. Without looking my way, he spouted words that made me come back to my senses.

-I see that you have regained some of your lost strength, lady.

I casually walked and went for the seat beside him. The sound of the cicadas at night acted as a background music for this solemn night.

-I am at your debt, elf.

-Worry not. I have no intentions of asking anything in return. It just happened that I was passing by just before your time came, lady.

-Thank you still. Time, you say? Sadly I have lost all sense of it long before.

-What could you mean by that?

I gave off a smile and looked at him with a confusing pair of eyes, for I have no intentions of letting him know of my past. He gave off a blank face that made an impression that he had no interests of digging deeper into what I said, instead, he asked,

-If I may ask, lady, have we met before?

-I think I've met you in one of my dreams.

I said, the smile in my face still in tact.

-May I ask your name, lady?

-How rude it is for a gentleman to ask for a lady's name without giving his.

While the smile never left my face, the coldness never left his regardless of whatever I say. I do not think there is anything wrong with it, though. There is nothing wrong in showing no emotion when you feel none, unlike what I am doing right now. There is deep sorrow inside me over what happened in my land, and yet, here I am, faking a smile.

-Apologies, lady. I am Estes, the king of the Moon Elves.

-I see that you have a twisted sense of humor, Estes. King, you say? But the king of elves is supposed to be asleep by now, is he not? I am Lunox.

-I believe it is only a coincidence, then, that you share the same name as the great Twilight Goddess who is also supposed to be asleep by now?

-No, I am that Lunox. Can you not see from my features that I have both light and dark attributes? As for you, …

Our conversation went to a halt as I waited for Estes to make a response. I may have doubts about him being the Moon Elf King, but because of what I witnessed earlier, I would not be surprised if he was telling the truth.

-I do not need you to believe me. But do you not think that the mere fact that you are alive right now is because I am the moon king?

-Pardon?

-I believe you were aware that your wounds were fatal, and only someone with healing powers equal to the moon elf king can heal such injuries.

-When you put it that way, it does makes sense. But what could you be doing here? Are you not supposed to be in deep sleep right now, or at least partaking in your world's war?

For the first time since meeting him, I saw an expression coming from Estes' face. I cannot quite figure it out but it looked like that of an upset one. He is mad. I probably asked something I should not have asked. As a group of clouds slowly covers up the moon, Estes stood up and suggested that I went back to the room. Something that has ben weighing on my mind ever since I realized that I will not die just yet has resurfaced and made me utter without thinking—

-Estes!

Perhaps surprised that someone called out to him using his name, the king halted his steps.

-Can I ask you a favor or two?

-I believe saving your life is enough a favor but yes, as long as it is within my capabilities.

-Can I stay with you for a little longer? In your house, I mean?

-You may, but I do not think the living conditions in here are satisfying for a lady like you.

-It's fine. I think it's fun being with you after all.

-Then you may stay as long as you want.

-And another thing, will you please call me by my name?

-Fine, Twilight Goddess.

It was not the response that I wanted, but it is fine, as long as I have a place to live in after all the chaos that has happened in my land. With that, the night ended and both of us returned to our respective rooms.