Chapter 17: The Land of Moons630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5r2qDQzzom
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The days passed by slowly for the roughly four day trip. During this time, Alura studied the book from Hiatsu and practiced using her fire magic, under Marenzo’s watchful eye. It would be midday by the time the ship would dock after roughly four days. After disembarking, Alura’s jaw dropped when seeing the stunning landscape that rivaled that of Flora’s. “Oh…wow…” she whispered breathlessly with her slow steps leading her forwards, down the steps of the boarding deck.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVH9Uk3Cn1
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The grass was green and lush with trees of varying heights as well as sporting leaves which some were bigger than what she had known from home. In those trees that swayed to and fro in the wind, birds chirped happily as others took flight while chatting away to their buddies. She turned her blue-brown gaze over to see some of the trunks wrapped in an ivy-looking plant with small pink and indigo colored, four petal blooms. As she went with Marenzo, some of the trees even resembled palm trees which just added to her wide-eye fascination with this floating island’s variety.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFwbhN44gw
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The wizard nodded while following the walking trail at her side. “It’s commonly beautiful here, almost like a comfortable section of the tropics.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXfeEd6vhq
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“What kind of ruler is in charge here?”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfXZquOkPE
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“A female leader that can be moody but I chalk that up to uh…” he stopped himself before evoking any wrath from the half-demon. “Let’s just say she’s nothing like mother yet is more active than the man in charge of Meldano.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5zARgoVfk
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Alura eyed him suspiciously. “Ah, that’s interesting and good to know.” They made their way along the pathway as others got into transports sent by the ones they were visiting. “I wonder what those beasts are. I haven’t seen anything like them.” She commented while she watched the wagons and carriages being pulled off by dragon-like beasts that were as tall as horses, and their heads were roughly the same shape as a standard dog yet still retained some dragon style to it.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha3KyW1Kny
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Marenzo look over and shrugged. “Not sure. I never really came here much but I think that’s a Draya?”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTYug3cX5E
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“I think you were looking for the name of draylus.” Both looked over to the owner of the male voice. Walking up to them was a feline beast that also reminded Alura of gargoyle statues that were normally posed, ready to strike any to come and invade their home. “And it’s pronounced as der-A-lus as in lust at the end but no ‘t’ at the end.” He let out an embarrassed, little laugh as they both were giving him curious looks. “Oh, my apologizes,” he bowed his head with one hand on his chest. “I’m Quartz.” He introduced while offering his hand to the pair.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLcrshQZ6H
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Alura shook his hand then Marenzo. “Pleasure to meet you but, um, what are you?” she questioned curiously. “I never saw a demon like you ever on Flora. Then again, there weren’t too many demons on Flora.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtgOIRigI9
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Quartz chuckled softly in his throat. “I’m a baries type of demon. My mother was a snow leopard and my father was a gargoyle.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ459jL6pDD2
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“Aren’t those normally a cat and a bat?” the wizard questioned and Quartz nodded.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4hbI9585S
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“Yes and gargoyles are classified in the bat category due to their wings and their natural nocturnal nature.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eFHR8NVe8
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“Oooh,” Alura whispered and neared him as his large ears twitched.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGld16MVhB
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Her expression made him smile amused, starting to walk down the path before the young woman could touch his ears. “If you would both like I can show you around the farm land, and then to the main city for the night.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTR8qOcXjkl
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“That sounds nice!” she exclaimed with joy with a small jump before following after him. Marenzo didn’t follow as quickly but did once Alura had called to him with a wave over with her arm. Her attention focused on Quartz during the walk under the shade of the trees. “I’m Alura and,” she motioned to the young man, “he’s Marenzo.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXs7j0YjAr
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Quartz nodded to them at his side with his tail swaying as they walked. “It’s nice to meet you both. So, I take it you both are new to the island?”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBfdlogjbs
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“What was your first hint?” she asked with a small laugh.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8z1JqPsEO
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“New visitors are always astonished when they see us or our draylus.” The walk was quiet with soft chatter, mainly from Alura to Quartz as Marenzo observed around them while keeping an eye on their newly met friend. Quartz wasn’t oblivious to Marenzo’s distrust and eyed his rings that the wizard was subconsciously messing with one. This gave the baries an idea.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1BAiNpEBy
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Down the pathway a ways, and after some time of Alura quietly taking in the scenery, Quartz eyed the duo carefully before swishing his tail low and moving aside when Alura fell with Marenzo on top of her. Quartz moved his tail quickly as the wizard fell to knock off and claim five rings. He also grabbed a bag that had fallen from the wizards pocket using his tail to lift the items to his face to examine them. “Aren’t these interesting trinkets?”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgH5AudfEQ
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Marenzo frowned as he grunted getting up and managed to get one ring to teleport back into his hand. “Hand those over, now.” He demanded as he wasn’t amused.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoS7QxPmtM
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Quartz looked from the rings to Marenzo with a curious expression. “You look too old to be a novice.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdU9DAv9xV
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“Quartz, return those rings and that bag now.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2wxkiwioF
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Alura started to stand while dusting herself off. “Why are you so irritated? Can’t you just get more rings later?”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXZHIgMPCZ
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The beast raised an eyebrow at hearing her questions then looked to Marenzo before a sly smirk crossed his face. So, she doesn’t know about what these rings can do? His loud thoughts were met with a sharp glare from the wizard, a confirmation to his question.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWDzwwiZ08
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“Marenzo, answer me.” Alura ordered as she took hold of his shoulder only to be shrugged roughly off with no answer.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo1jPGniFW
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“You know it’s dangerous to pose as something you’re not with another who may or may not hold a lot of strength just yet.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxN668w3jc
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“Why aren’t you just teleporting them back to you instead of getting mad?” she questioned softly with both confusion and concern.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E1OqJ6fAd
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She got no answer as the beast spun the bag on a finger, eyeing the wizard humored. “Yes, why don’t you teleport your belongings back to you through my demon aura? You were able to get one ring back after all.” He purred as he was noticing a small tired glint in Marenzo’s eyes after he had managed to get one ring back.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPL2lDsOCc
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“Because I don’t want to show off,” he snipped sharply with the one ring gripped tightly in his fist.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokdX6Kf8TD
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Alura stepped forwards after a few tense moments passed between the two men. “Maybe you could just return to him his rings?” she held a hand out, “then we could continue and you can tell us about Lunar as well as about the cities here.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrODMHLkhs
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Quartz thought it over as he spun the bag on his finger once more before catching it into his palm. “Hmm, nope,” this blunt answer caused Alura’s jaw to drop some and her own irritation to spark. “I’ll return them once he can explain why they are so important to him. I mean…a wizard with special jewelry that’s such a grand treasure yet looks so simplistic, makes me very curious as to why it’s so treasured.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcRJ2b0uUS
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“Fine,” she turned to face Marenzo with her arms folding. “Tell him why they are special to you.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KDiWvjksV
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Marenzo bit the inside of his cheek with irritation at being put on the spot. He took a deep breath and proceeded to walk past him while grabbing and pulling Alura with him. “I don’t like showing off and I’ll get those back later.” He growled with a bit of a dark tone to his voice.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMGSQlnYcH
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Quartz watched the wizard closely. You can find me later after the festival has concluded. I’ll wait at the Sweet Nightly Moon for you the day after. He thought loudly enough to ensure Marenzo heard him as he took his leave so not to invoke any rage from either one, until at least they had time to cool down.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtY7fMsYMP
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After Quartz had left, taking off into the sky, Marenzo put the one ring he got back onto his ring finger with the release of a breath. Not the one I was aiming for but it’s better than nothing. It was one that had a light engraving of a snowflake on its band with small evenly spaced wavy lines along both sides of its edges.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKgi23QDhq
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“Marenzo,” Alura began as he continued to lead the way without giving her a glance. She frowned with her cheeks puffing out a little as she quickened her step to get in front of him so they were face to face. “Hey! I’m trying to talk to you.”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh82ZUQ8cm
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“Huh?” he looked up to meet her sight.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcmpPQTRZU
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“What’s going on with you?” she folded her arms. “Why didn’t you just tell him why you wanted the rings back?” she was curious on this as well as to the reason why herself.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6LG5Hk2Df
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He shook it off with a shake of his head. “Nothing I need to put out there. I already told you, I don’t like showing off and I also don’t like getting…into family issues.” He lied as he didn’t feel like telling her the real reason yet. “Now, come on, we need to get to the city so we can locate a place to stay before we start looking around.” He stepped around her and continued on with her gaze locked on him.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbYx3pUlib
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“…What’s going on with you?” she muttered softly, starting to follow after him as a question began to creep up and bite at her mind. “…Is it because you couldn’t use your magic to get them back?” this question caused his shoulders to tense a bit. “Demons have an aura that matches their type, both magical and race with other factors. Was his just too strong?”630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiJQxsry2b
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“Drop it, okay? I’m going to be meeting with him after their festival is over.” He responded in a quiet tone as he didn’t look back to her. She didn’t answer and they continued along the dirt path.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLnhOtJcnI
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