I spun around in excitement for the Festival, the Festival Lunae. The bright colors of Leichtleaves and Luxflies seemed to circle around me as what looked like a tornado. Sounds of chattering, likely in excitement for the Festival, were heard all around. I looked down over the bridge, waving to all of those riding Taubolsh. They waved back. I looked to the sky, which, even though the Moon was not present, was bright. Luxflies flew all around, and Leichtleaves were being blown a bit up due to the heavy wind. Speaking of which, that is when I felt it against my back. I shivered for a second, before turning around. I left the bridge, walking along the sidewalks. “When will she get here!?” I thought to myself. “You can't miss a Festival,” I said under my breath. “What was that?” the girl in front of me asked. I looked up, slightly taken aback.
“Julia! I have been waiting for ten minutes! I thought you were going to miss the Festival,” I said. “I would never,” she replied, slightly offended at my remark. We both looked to the sky. “I hope She returns,” Julia mumbled. “Me too,” I said. “Joshua, we haven't seen Her, ever. It's been a thousand years.” “I know,” I said. “But, we have to have hope. That's what we've always been taught, right?”
Our conversation was interrupted by the announcer, whom we walked towards. I looked down at the reflective river. Taubolsh riders were still present, releasing jars of Luxflies and throwing Leichtleaves into the sky. Looking to my right, I saw the lush, multicolored forests of Lunae Zonam. Several kittens and foxes scurried across the leafy floor, as the wind blew the leaves of the plants towards the announcers. Several Leichtleaves created a beautiful image of pure, gold, luminescence. Golden Leichtleaves had to be my favorite. The blue Leichtleaves looked wonderful, but the golden ones just fit so well with where we were.
I looked ahead again, continuing onwards. The two of us eventually reached the announcer, and took our seats. “Today, 1023 years ago, our dearest Mater Lunae departed for the Moon,” he said, silencing the crowd. None were mad at Her.“We hold nothing against Her for this. She was tricked. She deserved not what happened to Her, and I believe that ever since Her departure, Her only goal has been to return to Her home.”
“As the time draws near for our ceremony, I would like to speak of the great achievements we have made, even without Her. I believe that, upon Her return, be it within my lifetime or not, She will be astonished at all we have done, and will continue blessing us.”
The crowd clapped in applause, looking towards the Announcer, who was also the Mayor, George. He bowed, before stepping down from the stage. My eyes returned to the sight of the beautifully reflective river. I felt drawn to one of the bridges, an older, more overgrown one. It was made out of dark brown wooden planks, whilst most of the visibly newer ones had linen colored planks. There were still Luxflies and Leichtleaves decorating it, but they were…"I do not know when She will return. What I do know, is that She shall. She shall travel across the realms to Her home, Her home in Lunae Zonam, Her one and only Home!”
That was impossible. I'd never seen this before. Flickering? Yellow, blue, green. I walked forwards, the wind raging on, even more than it had before. “What?” I questioned.
There was, of course, no response. I walked over the arching bridge. No Taubolsh went under this bridge. I looked towards the sky, confused at what was happening. I heard the usual ruffling of leaves from the wind and the crowd speaking. I was alone, though. No one seemed to notice that I had gone off, not even Julia. I looked back, before returning to my glance of the sky.
Flicker.
The Luxflies, the Leichtleaves- they had stopped flickering. Now, they had just… stopped. Not just there. It was everywhere. Looking back, I saw no one. I only saw the darkness of the empty Lunae Zonam, and only heard the wind beating against everything in its way.
The water splashed due to the aforementioned wind. The rich multicolored forest went silent. The animals made no sounds. Not even crickets. Pure silence was all that remained. “Hello?” I said, hearing the sound of my voice echo throughout Lunae Zonam. There was no response. I spun around, yet slower, as I had before. The true nature of this place was strange. A sense of hireath washed over me, as I looked at the mountains, the trees, the creek, the village off in the distance, which, too, emitted no light.