Claude nervously stood up as he bowed his head before my mother. “I-I…” He cleared his throat and looked at Her nervously. “M-Moon Goddess Lunaria, I-I am Clau…” He cleared his throat again when his voice cracked causing me to chuckle softly. “I’m… Uh… Claudian Alexander IV. I am…” He gulped. “I am Rachelle’s mate,” he said as he chuckled nervously.
I chuckled and covered my mouth seeing how nervous Claude was right now. After we both shared a kiss earlier, Claude realized that we did it in front of my mother. Judging by the expression of my mother, I could surmise that she was raising her eyebrow, scrutinizing Claude up and down.
(I know you, human. Your mother, Beatrice, always told stories about you and your sisters, Claude.)
Claude gasped. “D-Do you always talk to my mother?” Mother nodded. “H-How is she? F-Father misses her so much. We also missed her, too.” His voice croaked before he cleared his throat. I caressed his back and hugged his side because his longing for his mother was palpable.
I always caught him looking at the Peruvian lily garden where he told me that the Grand Alpha King and the Mother Luna Queen had always made their tea time there. He missed the former Luna Queen I knew. Claude had always been expressive of his feelings which were why even if we didn’t need to mark each other, Claude was always being honest about his feelings.
Mother levitated towards our direction before She placed Her hand on top of Claude’s head. (Don’t worry, Beatrice misses all of you as well.) Claude nodded and smiled after murmuring thank you. He gently took my hand and intertwined it with his. (I have a gift for you, Ragriel,) Mother said after a moment.
“Me?” I blinked when Mother opened her palm. There, there was a rectangular box that was in an elegant container with a moon and stars as decorations. “W-What is this, Mother?” I asked as I accepted it.
(Open it, dearest.)
I gently removed my hand intertwining from Claude’s before I opened the rectangular box. Then my eyes widened upon seeing the shimmering necklace that was glowing in sherbet pink. “N-Necklace?” I blinked seeing how the stone was glowing in it.
(That is a galaxy moon necklace, Ragriel. It is my gift to you as one of my daughters,) She answered. Mother chuckled when She noticed that I was rendered speechless while my eyes were focused on the necklace.
“It looked so beguiling seeing how it glowed. And the color was pink,” I finally spoke. “You know my favorite color?” I asked surprised before I turned at Claude who was smiling from ear to ear.
“Love, your mother is the Moon Goddess. How can She not know about your favorites?” he jested.
Mother chuckled. (Indeed. Claude is right.) She flew towards me and opened Her palms. (Allow me to wear it to you, my dear.)
Smiling, I nodded. “Yes, Mother.”
I inhaled sharply as soon as I realized that I already got the gist of calling the Moon Goddess Mother. It felt natural to address Her that. Perhaps, this must be the result that I was Her daughter.
I straightened my back when I felt the cold object near my collar while Mother was clasping it from behind. Claude was in front of me watching me with his hazel orbs darted on me.
(Use this necklace if you wish to speak with me, Ragriel,) Mother said when She placed Her hands on my shoulders. (But I already know that your power is developing nicely.)
I closed my eyes for a moment, pleased at my mother’s hug. I could already imagine if only Father was also here with us.
(Unfortunately, Magnius shall never be able to want that, my dear.) I stiffened as my eyes widened upon the realization that Mother could hear or know my thoughts regardless if I spoke them all in my head. (I know that you have been wondering why I chose to stay away from your father, Ragriel.)
In an instant, She was already laying beside Father’s lifeless body having two swords pierced him. Claude and I embraced each other after we were relieved that everything was over.
“Is what he said true, Mother?” I asked. “That he never wanted the agreement Claude’s mother and you made?” I turned my head at Claude who had a creasing forehead right now.
“Is this the reason why he never liked me at all?” I nodded at Claude’s question. “He even told me that he disagreed that I am fated with Rachelle, Moon Goddess.” He kissed my forehead which made my heart skip a beat.
I heard Her sigh. (Indeed. Magnius never liked Claude from the very start. He has plans for you. Your father… wants to use you for his personal gain.)
I looked at Claude and told him what Lothim told me. What my father said was the same thing I said to Claude. I watched as his face darkened, already knowing that he wasn’t happy at Father’s reasoning.
“Bastard… He deserves death…” He growled while I calmed him down by brushing my hands up and down his arm. It was effective because his annoyance dissipated and his expression softened.
(Have no fret. Now that everything has come to an end. I have made an assurance that this war shall be over,) She informed. (And Claude…)
He composed himself and looked at my mother. “Y-Yes, Moon Goddess?” he asked nervously.
(Lift the sanction you bestowed to my daughter. This has been my plan all along.)
Claude smiled, nodding. “I already plan to do that, Moon Goddess.” I gasped at Claude’s words. He would lift my sanction soon? Then he faced having a lovable expression in his eyes.
(All of the things that happened is my plan,) She repeated. Claude and I nodded. (I am glad that this did not turn out to be something worse.)
“What… do you mean, Mother?” I asked.
She approached us and placed her hands on our shoulders. (The vision I saw earlier is much worse.) She turned Her head to me. (If I had not warned you, Ragriel, your father will control you to reject Claude for the second time around.)
Claude and I gasped at Her words. I even shivered as I hugged myself, feeling my hands fidgeted.
“If that happens, what… what will happen at that time, Moon Goddess?” It was Claude’s turn to ask. His voice seemed like he was bothered by this turning event that almost happened.
Mother stayed silent before She decided to speak. (Both of you will die. You will die from heartbreak, Claude while Rachelle will die at her father’s hands.) She sighed. (The mate bond you both have is so strong that it cannot waver but once it has been severed for the second time around, it is at risk of extinction. No matter if my daughter is the Goddess of Mate Bond after all. She cannot put a remedy on it unlike the last time Ragriel managed to reconnect the mate bond you two have.)
My wolf suddenly felt nervous and uneasy at our Mother’s words. It felt uncomfortable that this part should have almost happened if… I did not listen to my mother’s words at that time or perhaps if I went directly to my father and did not meet Claude and Doctor McKenzie the halfway.
That could be a fatal death to both of us.
I gasped when Claude immediately hugged me which made my eyes widen. “C-Claude?” I blinked, looking at him.
I suddenly felt warm and at ease when I was in his arms. I hugged him back when I felt how frightened he was.
“It’s alright, love. It did not happen,” I assured him.
“I know.” He nodded. “I am glad that it did not happen. I cannot imagine myself courting our deaths.”
I agreed with him. I felt the same way. “And Cloudy… He would be alone without us.” I sighed as I felt my heart clench just by thinking about our son.
He distanced himself and bowed his head in front of my mother. “I shall thank you for you have warned Rachelle, Moon Goddess. Thank you as well that you helped us avoid that path…” I heard him sniffing. I hugged his side when I felt that he was being troubled by it.
(Thank you, too,) Mother said before She heaved out a sigh and approached my father’s lifeless body. (Magnius shall be punished for putting everything in disarray. His soul shall stay in the fire spit back in the celestial palace.) She waved Her hand and I immediately saw that She was taking the soul of my father. I looked away as I didn’t want to see his soul anymore. He had done enough torment to us and the whole kingdom. (Ragriel, you know your mission as to why I have returned you here.)
Claude had a perplexed expression when he darted his hazel orbs at me. It meant that he wanted to know what was happening.
I was about to answer when Mother butted in. (Ragriel is my first offspring whose mission is to find the rest of her sisters. I have granted her a second life just to fulfill the said prophecy I bestowed years ago,) She added.
“But, Moon Goddess Lunaria, how many are your daughters?” Claude asked. “You did not bestow that information to your prophecy.”
(They are… twelve actually.)
“Twelve?” Claude and I said in unison, shocked at that revelation.
Mother nodded. (Ragriel is bound to find them and reunite with them. Until then, once it has been announced about the birth of the twelve spirit goddesses and fulfill their duties here in the mundane world I created, you and your sisters must return to aid by my side.)
“When shall that happen?” I asked. “Are there any specific dates on finding them and my sisters and I returning to the celestial palace, Mother?”
(No specific date for that. I will bestow you on how they are doing and it is up to you on how to reunite with them and how you must tell that you are the first offspring. Upon returning by my side, it shall happen once I have called all of you.)
“Then does this mean that Rachelle and her sisters are not bound to stay here in the mundane world after all?” Claude asked.
(Indeed, you are correct.)
That earned him to silence. I held his hand and looked at him, worried. Was he worried about those things? Didn’t he want my mother’s purpose after all?
“Do you… wish to disagree, Claude?” I asked, hesitant. Seeing him in a silent state made me wonder what on earth he was thinking right now.
He coerced a smile and shook his head. “If… that is what the Moon Goddess said, then… it means that I must cherish my moments with you until… you come back with your sisters to the Moon Goddess’s side.” He sighed and gulped.
“Are you sure?” Why did I feel that he was being troubled at that moment? This was making me worried.
Claude cupped my face. “Yes, Rachelle. Worry not. I shall be alright.” I closed my eyes for a moment when he planted a soft kiss on my forehead. I inhaled slowly as I felt the respect he had for that kiss.
(It’s settled then.) We turned to Mother. (Once you find them, Ragriel, bestow them with their specific necklaces which are meant for them.)
In an instant, She opened Her palms to show a transparent rectangular container of… galaxy moon necklaces? I got awed upon seeing each of them having different colors.
I immediately counted them and gasped. “Eleven?”
(Twelve, darling. You are wearing the twelfth necklace.) I mindlessly touched the necklace I was wearing as I nodded.
“Alright.” I inhaled and nodded. “I shall find them.”
“Um…” Mother and I turned to Claude who got our attention. “I… I happened to meet your second daughter, Moon Goddess.”
“What?” My eyes widened. Claude nodded his head. “When?” Claude told me that her name was Isabel as the one who took care of our son right now. As soon as he mentioned that name, I gasped and clapped my hands. “Cornelius’ mate!” I said excitedly. “Who would have thought that she would be my second sister?”
I suddenly wanted to meet her. Isabel… I will remember my second sister’s name.
“She said that her deity name is Iseldis, Goddess of Healing and Hunting.” My jaw dropped? Iseldis? Goddess of Healing and Hunting?
Mother chuckled. (Iseldis…) She held my hand. (This isn’t the right time you two will meet. Be patient, my dearest. Time will tell when you two will meet. Do you trust me?)
Claude and I exchanged glances. He simply nodded. “We will have Cornelius and Philippians take our son there. I am certain that you two will meet and reunite, Rachelle.”
Right there and then, with Claude’s assurance words and Mother asking to trust Her judgment, I nodded. “Alright. I shall trust your judgment, Mother.”
Mother nodded before She took our hands and clasped them together. (Claude, Rachelle, I shall take my leave. Everything has fallen into its proper place already. The peace from the war shall be granted.)
“Yes, Mother.”
“Thank you, Moon Goddess.”
She turned at Claude with a silly smile. (One more thing, son-in-law, you shall start calling me Mother from now on.) Then She turned to me. (You can enter my world, Ragriel. Make sure that Claude is properly invited. Mortal ones aren’t allowed to come to my celestial world unless they have approval from my daughters or mine.) She smiled and nodded. (Perhaps, Claude might want to speak with Beatrice there.) Claude gasped as his eyes widened.
“R-Really? Can I?” Mother nodded.
(Yes.) She tapped our heads. (Rule the kingdom together. I am always by the side watching all of you. Until we meet again…) With that, she disappeared before our eyes.
Then the frozen surroundings returned to normal and the Eagle Mist was shocked upon seeing me alive and well.
Claude and I exchanged glances before we laughed at their expressions. After that, we embraced each other again.