Chapter 002 - Return to Dunkerson

A couple of minutes pass before a voice calls out, “Next! Who’s next?!”

“It is Hera of the Liddicoat Kingdom,” I answer.

“You plan to become a citizen here?” A young man asks with suspicion in his eyes. “Tired of all the vampires there?”

“Yes,” I answer. “And maybe,” I add.

“What kind of spell do you use?”

“Mostly elemental spells. Potions.”

“How about combat?”

“Not much.”

“What do you mean by ‘not much’? You’re not even carrying any magical weapons.” The guy rolls his eyes and takes a note on his sheet of paper. “I will let you join, but are you really sure? It will be a crazy competition,” he warns. “You know how popular the Lycan king is. Most female mages want to be the new Luna.”

I nod, perfectly knowing how popular Gideon is. He is so popular, in fact, that he will cheat on a wife who’s done nothing but to love and serve him.

“That’s why there is a competition, right? To decide who deserves him.”

The man behind the table snickers, “Well, that is, if he will ever be at home for the new Luna.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

Gideon is a lazy man. He enjoys staying at home and drowning himself in all kinds of luxury and pleasure. The only thing he really ever loved—that is productive—is combat. He said it keeps him fit.

The man leans forward and says with a sly grin, “Well, you are from Liddicoat, so you still don’t know, but the Lycan king has been traveling for the past two years to search for his Lost Luna. You know, that plain-looking woman with massive magic and insane, god-like skills.”

“What woman?” I ask, pretending not to know.

“Luna Serra Lore-Dunkerson. Although, she’s Mage Serra now if she’s still alive. You might have difficulty earning the Lycan king’s love if he is still searching for his Lost Luna.”

“Oh,” I mutter. Thankfully, my glamour is of a different woman.

The other man on the table nudges him. “Stop that. You know how crazy the Lycan king gets when that mage becomes the topic.” He shifts his attention to me and warns, “He doesn’t believe that she’s dead so she’s looking for her. So, you be careful about discussing that too. Mage Serra is currently a hero in this kingdom. The Lycan king insisted on that.”

My frown deepens. Caius never told me about it. Besides, he is supposed to tell me everything about the Dunkerson kingdom! He left out this massive information from me!

And so, once I confirm that I am registered, I make my way toward the inn. There are a couple of inns in the town, but I know exactly where he is. The tiny crystal he gives me is a pair. He has one as well. It’s so we can communicate with each other anytime, including finding each other wherever we are.

I enter the inn and climb up the stairs. When I reach Caius’ room, I grab the doorknob and push it open. My lips turn up at the sight. Caius lies naked on top of the bed. He looks like some kind of ancient warrior god, both very handsome and muscular. And between his legs is the female server in the restaurant, her head bobbing up and down as she sucks on him.

The naked woman looks at me and shrieks. Caius shifts his attention and looks at me. He sighs as he watches the woman hide her naked self. She frantically puts on clothes while pulling a blanket around her body.

“What are you doing here?” he asks.

“Ask your lover to leave the room,” I say. “We need to talk.”

“Can you please wait?” He points at his erect manhood and adds, “I am still enjoying myself.”

“No.”

Caius groans. He runs his fingers through his blonde hair and shifts his attention to the young woman. “Lydia, I am sorry, but you need to leave. I will find you tonight, then we can continue.”

The woman named Lydia nods, and she moves toward the door. Once it’s closed again, I activate my magic and create a sound barrier. That way, none of our conversations will get out of the room.

On the other hand, Caius gets up from the bed and takes his clothes. “What is this about, Serra?” he asks, annoyed. “You know exactly what I am to do when I invited that woman. I’ve told you multiple times to find lovers while we are traveling. That way you won’t disturb my fun times.”

I snort. “You forgot to mention that Gideon’s traveling to look for his Lost Luna,” I say, ignoring his complaints. “He has been searching for me.”

Caius audibly groans as he turns his back on me and wears his clothes. “Why is it important? You think he’s fallen in love with you while you were gone? Just because he is searching everywhere for you? You never thought that maybe, he just plans to properly kill you this time? Or maybe, he lost his mage pet so he wants it back? Or maybe he realizes that he is insufficient without his mage with the insane magic?”

I bristle in anger, “You promised you would tell me everything happening in this kingdom!”

He turns towards me and sits on the foot of his bed. “Look at you now. This is the reason I don’t want to tell you. Now that you know that he is looking for you, what will you do? Return to his loving arms?”

I glare at him. “So, you intentionally lied to me,” I accuse him.

“What do you expect me to say?” He rubs his forehead. “His traveling and searching for you means nothing.”

“It means that it will be easier to win him over once we reveal that I am his Lost Luna!”

“And then what?” he asks, crossing his legs. “Make you lax and believe he will really fall in love with you?”

“That is not—”

“Really, Serra? Just hearing about it, you come running here, even if you know exactly what I am doing with that young woman. You are already panicking at the thought that maybe… there is a chance that he actually loves you.” Caius shakes his head and sighs. “If I told you, it would endanger our plans. That man will only love himself. Don’t make yourself believe otherwise. Or you will end up like last time.”

“You really are an asshole,” I mutter under my breath as my anger rises again.

He shrugs his shoulders. “I am just being honest with you. Besides, I am your only friend in this world, Serra. Even if, until now, you don’t believe that.”

“You are just like him!” I shout at him and run towards the door. I deactivate the sound barrier and slam the door in his face.