The marketplace in Vesuvia buzzed with a cheerful air and warm atmosphere. The scent of baking bread, the sound of people chattering, music, and the hollering of sellers promoting their goods. Children laughing and chasing each other and marketgoers greeting each other. Pretty normal. Unless, you spot a magic shop and two people exiting the shop. The first one is a certain magician and the second is a guy with auburn hair. The duo were laughing and chatting. They were on their way for breakfast those two.
On their way to their usual bread stall, they passed by a girl with amethyst eyes and light brown hair tied in a half ponytail with fair skin carrying a bread basket full of pumpkin bread. Asra felt a certain frisson of magic pass between them like a slight ‘ZING’ and he looked back curiously but ignored it until Julian’s stomach gave a low rumble. The girl stopped short and turned behind to look at them. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I make you hungry? I’m just on my way to my sister’s, wanna come? I’m pretty sure I just bought the last batch of pumpkin bread from Selasi.” The girl said. Asra looked shocked and asked, “You know Selasi?” The girl nodded and asked, “Yeah, why?” Julian on the other hand looked suspicious and asked, “Just because you know him and you offered to invite us to your sister’s do you think we’re that stupid to follow you? It could be a trap!” The girl looked offended and Asra slapped his forehead looking embarassed. Really embarassed.
Julian stared at Asra and then back to the girl. “Wait. You know her?” he asked looking shocked. “We’ve met. At ah… my old fortune telling tent.” Asra said lightly. The girl nodded and answered, “Well, he may have forgetten me or probably didn’t want to tell you but… yes. We have met before.” Asra smiled at the girl who suddenly had a slight flush on her face before asking, “Well? The offer is still on. Take it, or leave it.” Julian shrugged and said, “I don’t mind. I’d like to make up for my rudeness previously. Asra?” Asra nodded and said, “Sure.” The girl smiled widely and said, “Great! Everybody wins! Come on.” Asra turned to look at Julian and Julian looked at Asra before shrugging and mumbling, “Eh.”
Asra soon caught up with the girl and asked, “You’re… Luna Astoria. Am I right? And… you have a sister named Marianna. Right?” The girl looked back at him and said, “I see you haven’t forgotten me Asra Alnazar. Yes. You are correct.” She smiled at him before making her way into a busy crowd. “Catch up you guys!” she called back to Asra and Julian. “H-hey! Luna! Wait!” Asra cried out worriedly.
He followed her through the crowd and he soon caught sight of her light blue shawl and ran towards her. She looked back and smiled before disappearing yet again. “Oh? You wanna play hide and seek do you?” Asra said quietly, smirking. Julian soon caught up breathing hard and panting out his words, “Wh-where did sh-she go?” Asra had closed his eyes and was muttering a spell. He soon opened his eyes again and smiled. “Over there.” He said, pointing to a dark alley. Julian looked nervous but followed Asra all the same.
The both of them soon heard a song being hummed and they followed it to soon reach the end of an alley to a more secluded part of Vesuvia. They saw a tiny village with children laughing and playing with each other,neighbours chatting with each other and a fountain in the middle of the village. The houses looked old but homely and they saw the girl named Luna waiting for them by the fountain. She smiled and waved them over. Asra walked towards her smiling and soon stopped in front of her, folding his arms. “I’m surprised you managed to follow me all the way here… Asra.” She grinned mischievously. Asra conjured a light red carnation from thin air and tucked it into Luna’s hair. “Well. I admire your skills at avoiding us and eventually leading us here.”he told her, smilingly. Julian cleared his throat loudly behind them, startling the both of them. “Oh. Ahem. Sorry. My friend over here is Julian Devorak. He works in the palace to cure The Plague.” Asra introduced Julian to Luna. Julian rolled his eyes before asking, “So? Are we gonna get there or what? Or are we gonna starve?” Luna whispered quietly to Asra, “Is he always so cranky? Or is it the fact he doesn’t like me?” Asra whispered back, “Nah. He’s probably just hungry. Like really hungry. He was so busy last night that he forgot to eat dinner.”
Julian was looking around the tiny village not noticing that Asra and Luna were whispering about him. Luna soon spoke up saying, “Right. Seeming as we’re all hungry. Let’s get going. This way then.” She led them to she and her sister’s house which was painted a light sky blue colour with violet curtains on the windows. There were long silvery curtains hanging from the door frame and a vase containing jasmine flowers by the door. She parted the curtains and called out, “Sis! I’m home!” Another female voice answered her from inside saying, “That took you long enough Luna! You got me so worried! I was about to run out and find you but I decided to wait! And now you’re here! Why do you always get me so worried?! If mum was here she’d definitely scold you way worse than I am right now!” Julian and Asra who were outside heard Luna giggling before saying, “You’re still worrying about me. Always. I just met an old… friend. So, I invited him with his friend.” “Friend huh? He gave you that carnation didn’t he? It wasn’t on your hair just now so don’t you dare say it was Luna. Well, where is he and his friend?” “Outside. I daren’t bring them in yet without asking you first.” Luna said cheekily. “Oh ha ha. You’d bring them both in if I wasn’t here. I know you” her sister said sarcastically. “Aww alright. You got me. I’ll bring ‘em in now alright?” “Sure. They most be hungry.” “Ya don’t say.”Luna said. Luna came out again and invited Asra and Julian in. “Come on in, you two. Breakfast time.” She said winking at them. They followed her uncertainly into the house but relaxed once they saw that her sister didn’t look mad but was actually just a little older than Luna and looked as cheerful as her.“Julian,Asra. This is my big sis Marianna. Marianna, Asra and Julian.” Luna introduced them to each other. Marianna smiled looking at both Julian and Asra and nodding politely once the introductions were made. Julian had a slight flush on his face before he grinned and said, “Hello, Miss. My name is Julian Devorak aka Doctor 069. I work in the palace to help cure The Plague. Nice to meet you.” He said this entire line flirtatiously and Asra looked slightly annoyed and he muttered, “show off”
Marianna giggled before playing along saying, “Pleased to meet you,Doctor.” She too had a slight flush on her face but it soon disappeared. A lavender corn snake soon slithered out of Asra’s scarf and looked at Luna and Marianna. ‘Friends?’ Luna heard her whisper and her eyes widened. “Wait. Did she? Did I just hear her speak?” Luna asked hesitantly. Asra’s eyes widened too and he stuttered, “Y-you heard her speak? You’re also a m-magician then?” Luna shrugged saying, “Well, my sister and I learned magic. We still are. My powers are not fully developed yet but my sister’s already did.” Marianna nodded and said, “Our mother used to say that once Luna’s powers actually developed, they could actually be stronger or as strong as mine. I’m still waiting for that day to actually come.” Luna smiled wistfully and said, “Me too.” Asra looked curiously at the two sisters as well as Julian. “Say, Marianna. You don’t mind me asking your sister to become my apprentice do you? I do need someone to take care of the shop while I’m gone and to keep the shop going. The shop’s income is pretty low these few months since I’m away most the time.” Marianna smiled and said, “Already interested in her I see. I don’t mind, you just have to ask her. Not me”
Luna’s face bore a shocked look before she asked, “Why me? I think my sister is more suitable-“ “No. I need someone who could actually hear magical beings and can understand what they say. Anyway, we’ve met before so…” Asra said, smiling at her. “I mean I know your snake is your familiar but it may have been a coincidence I heard her.” Luna shrugged. “Luna, I didn’t hear the snake. Only you. So you have to be the one to go.”Marianna told her sister gently. “O-okay.” Luna said uncertainly looking up into her sister’s face. “Right. One more test to see if she was speaking the truth.” Asra said holding up his snake to Luna. ‘Friend?Luna?Name Faust.’ The corn snake hissed. “Her name’s Faust? Aw, that’s sweet. Yes. Friend.” Luna said petting Faust’s silky head. Asra looked surprised and said, “Wow. That’s the first time anyone actually heard and understood what she said. You’re a wonder Luna Astoria.” Luna smiled widely. “Thanks! Oh, I think it’s time we eat. It’s getting late. The bread will be cold soon.” She said. Marianna laughed and said, “You’re right. It’s time to eat. Hey, where’s Julian?” The three of them looked around for Julian and saw him leaning on the doorframe looking half-asleep by all the the talkety talk. “Hey, Julian! Don’t you wanna eat?” Asra called him, startling him awake. “Oh. Sorry. Just nodded off. Yeah sure.” Julian said apologetically. Luna shook her head before going to grab the bread basket and setting it down on the table while her sister busied herself around the kitchen getting cups.
The four of them soon started to eat. Breakfast was a cheerful affair as everyone spoke with each other and laughed when Faust decided to ‘squeeze’ Julian while he was drinking his tea and he ended up pouring the tea onto his coat. Julian looked embarassed but felt much better once Marianna cleaned up the mess with a simple cleansing spell. Luna kept giving Faust sideway glances. She knew that Faust purposely let herself be heard by her only. But why? Hmm… That’s a question for another day. Luna kinda felt sorry once breakfast was over since she would be following Asra home soon. Wherever that is. Julian looked kinda sad too. She didn’t get a chance to tell her sister about it because he soon pulled Marianna to the kitchen requesting ‘private talk’. Marianna and Julian soon emerged from the kitchen, both of them looking decidedly happier. Marianna gestured to Luna to come to the kitchen to talk to her so Luna got up looking curious.
“Guess. Guess what he told me.” Marianna said, eyes shining. “Um… Asked you to be his girlfriend?” Luna guessed. “No. He invited me to be his apprentice at the Palace to help him with his medical stuff! And… what’s more, he’s going to come and accompany me here if Countess Nadia doesn’t allow outsiders to reside in the Palace.Isn’t that great?!” Marianna said excitedly. Luna smiled and said, “I guess it’s our lucky day. Do you like him? Is that it?” Marianna giggled and said, “Hmm. Just a bit for now because he seems so manly.” Luna shook her head and said, “I don’t know how can you fall for a guy who looks like a chicken to me.” Marianna looked cross and retorted, “I don’t know can you fall for a guy who has a snake that talks.” “Okay. Okay. I won’t judge. So? We part for now?”Luna asked. Marianna nodded smiling and saying, “Yeah. Take care little Luna.” “You too, big sis.” Luna replied hugging her sister tightly. They hugged each other tightly before they walked back into the dining room. Asra raised his eyebrows and Luna nodded at him smiling. “Yup. We can go. We said our goodbyes already.” Luna told him with a cheeky grin. Asra smiled back and said, “Okay. Let’s go then.” Luna laughed and said, “Wait a minute. We need clothes. Stuff. I’ll go get them for a while.”
After just a few seconds, Luna came downstairs clutching a big cloth bag. Julian’s eyes widened and he said, “What?! So fast?! How?!” Luna giggled and waved a hand at him. “Magic. That’s what. Magic.” she told him as mysteriously as possible. Julian rolled his eyes and said, “Ah. I forgot. Magic. Right.” Asra got up and said, “Okay. Enough talkety talk. Time for us to go. I’m scared the shop will be broken in. Again.” Luna waved goodbye to her sister before following Asra.Once she was a few metres away from home, she turned back and whispered, “Goodbye big sis. I promise you. I will take care. Goodbye for now.” The two magicians left the little village and the house behind. A figure watched them go from the window. “Goodbye, Luna. You’re on your way now… See you soon. Lil’ sis.” The girl whispered.
The end… is just the beginning. Farewell… is another journey.
CLIFFHANGER!! NEW SEQUEL COMING OUT SOON!! PLEASE BE PATIENT GUYS!! I MAY CONTINUE THE STORY AS ONESHOTS!! MAYBE A SCENE WHERE LUNA DIES FROM THE PLAGUE AND ASRA RESURRECTS HER AGAIN! MAYBE A JULIAN CHEATING ON MARIANNA STORY!! SO… BE PATIENT!!!
@wolfordluna34
