Chapter 4: Constancia

Luna bit her lips and extended her arms to reach for her pillow. Her bed is swaying and her head weighs like a ton. She wriggled to move her body to the other side but something is holding her firm.

Is there an earthquake?

Earthquake had been common in recent years and she’s not surprised if one is happening right now. Only that can cause this bed of hers to rock. Luna stirred and instantly felt a hammering pain on her head. She raised her arm to hold it still.

Then everything came back to her at once.

She entered the vortex, fell on crystal-like-grass, saw golden trees and was knocked unconscious by some invisible club!

Immediately opening her eyes, Luna was startled at what she saw. A huge man. No. A giant of a man is holding her atop a huge black beast! To where they were going, she knows nothing. Instinct told her to bolt out right and get loose from the man.

She has powers, she can control the wind and catch her fall and-.

Then with a deflating sense of bravo, she remembered her powers "sort-of" does not work on this strange world? Nevertheless, she knew she had to try something.

Her head was reeling of ideas how to get away. Years of training had taught her how to be calm and think on her feet.

Luna was about to take action on her plan when her eyes glanced ahead. Her mouth gaped open at the sight before her.

The view caught her breath away.

Magnificent!

Not far ahead, sitting on top of a hill is a castle of trees and crystals. She cannot imagine how it was possible. The base of the castle was century old, may be even millennia old trees by the looks of its large trunks and roots.

About a hundred of these trees made of gold and other crystals formed a loose circle. In between them, its branches tightly crossed forming a thick wall. It rose high above, reaching the clouds. Other branches stick out at the side and instead of leaves, the branches hold small dwellings made of twigs from the same tree. The fruits on the trees, just like the ones she saw at the forest reflects all kinds of color. She had never seen anything to compare it with.

High on top passed the cloud was the most beautiful dwelling. Vines of crystals holds the outer wall with flowers of different variety adorning its roof. The front is open and spacious, stretching all the way to the other side. Luna thought it looked similar to an airstrip. It was that huge.

"Is this... Fairyland?"

Luna’s voice trailed off, not finding the right word at first. Just above a whisper, full of awe.

Nonetheless, the giant holding her, heard it. "No. This is the Kingdom of Constancia." His voice was deep and loud. Declared with pride and wonder.

Luna reluctantly took her gaze from the castle and faced the man who carries her. She should have been afraid. The man's eyes bored on her. If his glare was supposed to scare her, the opposite happened. She oddly felt comforted and safe.

The man must have notice her quizzical look for his frown deepened.

"Kingdom of Constancia...?"

She asked and once again drawn to the beauty of the castle.

"Yes. And that is Mirage Castle." His hand raised to point in front of them.

"Is that where you're taking me?"

Despite everything going on, Luna felt giddy at the thought of setting foot on a majestic place like that.

"High on top the most beautiful dwelling?"

Similar to a child on her way to candy land. She cannot hide the hope and excitement in her voice.

Not getting a response from the quiet giant, Luna looked back and was about to nag him for an answer. But she was stumped at the intensity in his light gold eyes.

Thump. Thump.

Her heart started to beat like a drum. She cannot comprehend the foreign sensation. What is this?

Luna looked away. Her face burning. And for the love of god, she does not know why she is suddenly feeling so shy! Weird!

“Ahem.” Clearing his throat, the giant spoke. "Yes, Princess Luna. I'm bringing you to Mirage Castle, where your sisters are waiting."

Wait. The giant knows her?! Luna was taken aback.

"How did you know my name...?"

And he called her Princess?! And what sisters?! What does he mean by that?!

She was about to fire a barrage of questions at him when he suddenly raised his fist and commanded everyone to a halt. They already reached the base of the castle.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Luna saw a tree came to life and branches moving to reveal a path for them.

Everything seems like a dream. It was mind-blowing. It is as if she entered a secret forest.

It was vast. With gold trees everywhere. The branches were huge and created interlacing pathways in different levels. Fruit crystals hung all over the branches illuminating the whole place. It gave the place a surreal touch.

As they go further in, Luna saw creatures, and men and women who looks like human except that their skin glows and is luminescent. And upon closer look, the bridge between the nose and upper lip is flat unlike humans. Others are so tall and their eyes are so pale that it would seem from a far that they have no pupil at all.

Luna was so distracted by all the things she saw that she did not right away noticed that they entered a big bubble compartment.

A small bald man was waiting inside looking up at the giant. "Directly to the main hall General Wolf?"

"Yes, Ambose."

The general responded without glancing. Luna can see that he is deep in thought. His name is Wolf. Indeed, a fitting name for a man as ferocious looking as his namesake of a beast.

Luna cannot phantom why they are just sitting on a horse not moving forward. Then she heard a grating sound. She looked up in time to see another hard bubble encased the one they are in with vines supporting it. It started to turn. The speed was slow, rotating around them and the bubble room begun to ascend. Looking around, Luna saw other bubbles serving as a lift to higher-level dwellings.

As they near the top, Luna began to see the path they came from and the golden forest, creating multiple of colors. Up close, it was so amazing but from afar, she cannot find the words to express the beauty before her eyes.

The lift came to a halt moments later. As they step out, an arc of flowers greeted them. The room was huge and the same flowers adorning the arc roofed the ceiling way up high. One side of the room opens to a wide veranda railed by interlacing vine. Tree trunks line the side serving as the foundation.