Lunation of Fate

Chastine’s jaw dropped in shock. Will we be found out? This thought immediately lingered in her mind.

It was fortunate that even though Maxill hated sunlight, he chose to perch up above them. The local wasn’t able to see him at all.

Maxill, being a black bat, hid in the shadows in the little alleyway they had just emerged into.

Meanwhile, Juste was also spotted so he remained a wolf.

He started scratching his body with his hind leg and then came sniffing Chastine while wagging his tail, making an impression that he was Chastine’s dog.

“Wow, is that your dog?” the local began the conversation with her.

Being quick witted that she was, she responded, “why, yes, yes! This is my dog, Juste.” She happily smiled back at the Makinarian and patted Juste at the head. Juste barked happily.

“Is it an aggressive one?”

“Uhm, no, no! He’s a friendly dog ahehe!”

Juste then came sniffing the local on the foot.

“Arf, arf!” Juste played along with Chastine’s plan. He was wiggling his tail after sniffing the local.

Chastine noticed there were rows of bunting high up on the roofs. There were also fireworks lighting up in the sky. They were beautiful to watch.

“What’s happening in this place?” Chastine questioned the local.

“Oh, so you’re a visitor then? Were you lost?” The Makinarian had no hint of doubt that she was an innocuous visitor in their city.

“Ah, yes! Do you know were the library is?” Chastine’s retort was straight to the point.

“Why do you want to go to the library? Everyone’s at the bazaar having some fun. It’s Makina Festival Day today. Look at me, I’m wearing a werewolf costume for the party later.”

“That’s nice hehe! Well I uhm I happen to meet someone in there.” She grinned at the local.

“Arf, arf!” Juste acted to agree with what I just said.

“Oh, right. Just go straight here, turn to the right and you’ll see some signs that’ll lead you to the Makina Library.”

“T-thank you!” Chastine bowed down in gratitude.

The local caught a whiff of her hair. “No offense, but have you had a bath after your long travel to this city?”

“Oh god, It would be nice to have one.”

“There’s a bath house you will happen to come across as you head to the library. It’s a few blocks from there, you won’t miss it.” The old man smiled after he replied.

He added, “They sell clothes too!”

With the good news Chastine heard she thanked the old man again “I can’t thank you enough, mister.”

“No worries, young lady. You remind me of my daughter.” He smiled fondly. “Well, I’d be going along now. Take care.”This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

“Ok, mister. Take care, too!” She waved at him while he walked opposite to where they were heading.

Maxill then shifted back to human form; so was Juste.

“Well if it isn’t right timing…” Maxill said.

“Do you think it’s safe for us, Maxill?”

“If he’s wearing a werewolf costume, I bet it’s safer to roam around in our human form. Let’s pretend to ‘wear’ a werewolf and a vampire costume.”

Maxill then continued, “by the way, let’s get to the bathhouse, quick. I’m also dying to cleanse myself.”

—

“What? A communal bathroom?!” Chastine’s whole face turned crimson red.

“Ah, hehe, yes, ma’am.” The attendant was pardoning herself while she weakly smiled at Chastine.

“Well, Chastine, old geezer said you stink.” Maxill was teasing him.

“D-don’t worry Chastine, I-I won’t look.” Juste’s face also looked flushed. He bowed his head and tilted it sideways.

“Let’s get inside you two!” Maxill was giddy with enthusiasm and put his arms around Juste and Chastine’s shoulders to push them to go inside the steamy pool.

After they have had some bath and put on some new clothes, Chastine planned to head to the library immediately.

She was still embarrassed about seeing Juste’s half naked body. His lower half was submerged in water.

On top of that, she was worried that they’ll be found out.

But the boys were having quite some time in the city instead.

“How cool is this place!” Juste enthusiastically commented.

“You should try human food, especially their strawberry cheesecake!” Maxill was convincing them to go to a café.

“Yeah? I think I want to try them all!”

“Aren’t you carnivore?” Muttered Chastine. She was getting anxious about their decision to eat at a café.

“Nope. We’re actually omnivores.” Juste smiled as he spilled out this fact.

“Relax, Chastine. Live a little. It’s your time to chill for a while. Let’s seize this chance to do what we want in a human city.” Maxill pointed these to Chastine.

“…ok.” She said those words while trying out a smile.

—

“Your costume looks real mister!” Some ladies were crushing on Maxill.

“Thanks. I took some time working on it.” He then posed handsomely for the ladies. One lady almost fainted.

Maxill then sat at their seat and started to eat his order.

“Yum.” Maxill was slicing through his cheesecake.

“I didn’t know you had sweet tooth.” Juste was swirling his spoon in his parfait.”

“Haha! Sugar gets me excited. You seem to be the same.”

“It’s my first time tasting something sweet as this. All we had were fruits and berries. There’s little aftertaste but I dunno, it tastes good to me.”

“That’s special sugar for you.”

Meanwhile, Chastine ordered the heaviest meal on the menu. It was just practical of her, as she gets tired easily compared to the two. She must consume a big amount of food for an extra dose of energy.

Chastine had already whisked away her shyness before. She was happy that the three of them were getting along nicely. “Thanks for treating us, Juste.”

“Of course. I tagged you along on this quest. It’s just appropriate. Besides, you guys don’t have any coin on you.” He didn’t mince his words.

Maxill then demonstrated his mind control skill on the waitress. “Hi, will you give me your tip?”

The waitress quickly handed her coins to Maxill without hesitation. He then snapped his fingers and the waitress snapped back to reality. She didn’t remember what happened.

“There, I have coins.” Maxill then flipped the side of his hair.

“Show off.” Juste smiled in the process. He had now warmed up to Maxill like Chastine, being brutally honest but unoffensive towards him.

“By the way, why were you hiding the book from me? I would know eventually because you tagged me along with you.” Maxill grew curious about this secret.

“I was going to tell you, I was just looking for the right time,” Chastine pointed out her reason. She then added, “I know Juste won’t initially approve, but here we are.”

“Hmm, point taken,” Maxill nodded then sipped some of his latté.

“Anything else you want clarified?” Chastine asked Maxill.

Maxill then smirked and asked them, “When will you two decide to be a couple?”

Juste coughed out his drink, while Chastine doused out what she just drank at Maxill’s face.

Maxill didn’t get angry, but he stopped poking them with embarrassing queries. “No further questions.”

After they ate at one of Makina City’s café, they headed back on their way to Makina’s library.

They stood in awe about the building.

But confusion had set inside their minds.

Because it looked like a casino instead of a library.