Lunation of Fate

Juste remembered one his mother’s greatest work.

Being a herbalist herself, he never would imagine the vastness of Saraise Isaacs’ scientific accomplishments if he didn’t look for the ingredients of the Remedium.

Her mother’s discovery and breeding experiments landed her a place in scientific books.

He started to feel enthusiastic and excited about getting the next ingredient.

Saraisium ordinem, also known as ice rose, is a succulent plant that had been specifically bred for the very purpose of making the Remedium.

It was fed with a special liquid while being exposed to the sun, and then nipped and attached to a base plant.

Repeating this technique many times, Juste’s mother was able mutate a special component in the plant which was one of the ingredients needed in turning a human to a fellhound, and vice versa.

Maxill spread the map again on a flat surface to know where to look for the ice rose.

According to the codex, the ice rose is endemic to the Ham Desert.

Maxill started to move his eyes, following a trail on the map, until he reached this so-called Desert of Ham.

“You sure that’s the plant we’re looking for?” Maxill questioned Juste’s pick. He intended to clarify and confirm to Juste to erase all doubts.

The athletic fellhound blurted out a resounding yes. “Yes, definitely. Kind of remembered her experiments of the ice rose many years back.”

“Hmm…” Maxill raised an eyebrow while being a big disappointed about the fellhound’s memory. “…you seem to forget almost all of the important things in your life.”

“Oh, but I do remember now. I only need a certain object to let me remember what happened in the past.” Juste defended his recall ability.

“And his each of his memory comes back to him just when we needed it most.” Chastine seconded to Juste’s valid alibis.

Maxill was assessing how they would get to Ham Desert. He thought of other means of transport, but every good point he could think of just led him back to employing an airship.

“Uh-uh. D*mn, we have no choice left… so guys, I think we need to rent an airship… there’s a hangar nearby this shop. Juste? Chas?”

“It’s fine with me,” Chastine said.

“Me too. Budget’s not a problem,” said Juste.

“Ok, but let’s be careful about picking an airship.” Maxill rolled back the map and put it in one of his top’s pockets.

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The trio arrived at the hangar nearby.

Juste and Chastine were amazed at what they saw. Huge airships were sitting along a long stretch of land, while some were refitted to be ready for their next flight.

But Chastine was little worried about Juste and loud sounds. She gently squeezed his hand and told her fellhound boyfriend, “Are you going to be ok, Juste?”

Juste became suddenly confused about her question. “What do you mean, Chastine?”

“Well… I just thought you’re sensitive to smell… and to sounds. You think you’re going to be ok?” Her beady eyes looked straight at his blue-colored pair.

Juste smiled at her girlfriend’s thoughtfulness. He smiled at her while also gently squeezing her hand back. “Don’t worry about me, Chastine. I’m going to be fine. It’s Maxill that’s going to have a problem, specially if he turns bat.”

“Oh…” It never occurred to Chastine that her best friend was the one to suffer from the loud sounding airships.

This might be the reason why Maxill was thinking of other ways to avoid using an airship at all costs.

Granted, he survived the army commander’s vehicle. But he was just lucky it was using a huge balloon instead of those noisy turbines.

Still, there was another reason why the tall bloodhunt was avoiding an airship as transport.

“We should avoid colorful and outrageous airships. It would be annoying and it’ll attract birds.”

“We should also pick a large AFV-one with two rooms minimum and have no fancy decors.” AFV stands for armored flight vehicle.

“Maxill, are you ok?” Chastine was starting to be concerned about the bloodhunt.

She felt that her best friend was feeling uneasy about the whole affair of looking for the right airship, especially now that she considered what Juste had told her.

Maxill reassured her that he was alright. “I’m fine, I’m fine.”

He brushed up his wavy locks using his long fingers while heavy sighing. He then closed his eyes to keep what’s left of his cool and calm composure.

“Hey guys, I think I just found the right ride for our trip.” Juste happily declared what he found to Chastine and Maxill.

Because of the bloodhunt’s preoccupation and anxiety, he wasn’t able to notice that Juste already reached the end of the huge paved lot.

When Maxill viewed the chosen airship from afar, he felt relieved that it wasn’t fanciful looking and was large enough for his liking.

But his momentary relief suddenly crumbled just in seconds when he heard a familiar voice behind him.

“Maxill? Is that you?” a feminine voice was calling out his name, and confirming whether her hunch was right.

Maxill suddenly twitched his eyes and his body stood still like a petrified statue. Goosebumps appeared all over his skin.

He didn’t move an inch. He was planning to just ignore what he heard and walked towards his companions.

But his companions made things worse for him.

“Hey, Maxill, over here!” Juste called out for the now anxious bloodhunt.

Chastine also mentioned his name, “Max, let’s go.”

She was about to grab Maxill’s hand when suddenly, Chastine noticed the female figure behind Maxill.

“Hello?” The pretty witborn waved at the feminine figure. From the looks of it, Chastine thought that her fellow female witborn was an AFV technician of some sort.

Chastine repeated her greeting. “Uhm, hello. We’re looking for the owner and pilot of that airship.” She pointed towards the far edge of the hangar where Juste’s chosen ride was sitting.

“Oh? That? That’s mine.”

“Really?!” Chastine was wholly amazed about finding out that a female witborn can man and own an airship at the same time.

“Yes, no BS. I’m the owner of Sweet-16.”

Maxill couldn’t help but dismiss the fact that it was indeed that woman’s airship. “Bollocks! That’s not Sweet-16! Every inch of it looks classy.”

Because of his blabbing, the female pilot confirmed that it was indeed the bloodhunt that she knew and grew fond of.

“Maxill, it is you!” She hurried to get near him, and hugged him from behind. “Thanks for the compliment!”

Maxill couldn’t move an inch. He was still finding it hard to process what had transpired in their search for their chosen transport.

‘What are the f*cking odds. To hell with the f*cking odds!’ was Maxill’s inner monologue.

He tried to move with all his might, grabbing the woman by the head and pushing her away as fast as he could in his current state.

But the woman’s grip was quite strong. She then observed Chastine and looked at the pretty witborn with suspicion in her squinty eyes.

Chastine detected it so she made sure to dismiss whatever romantic relationship she looked like she has with Maxill. After all, she undoubtfully knew Maxill to be 100% gay.

“Uh, my boyfriend over there wants to hire you and rent your airship.”

She loosened her grip on Maxill, sighed for relief, and then stretched out her hand to introduce herself to Chastine.

“Oh, alright. Well, well, you’ve arrived just at the right time. I overhauled my baby.”

Chastine reached for her hand to shake it, as a form of greeting.

“Hi, I’m Chastine. Nice to meet you.”

“And you can call me Bunny.”

Maxill placed one of his palms over his face.

He knew things will no go smoothly as he had planned.