On a small hill overlooking the camp of the Wanderers on the Fourth Island, Thirteen was sitting in meditation.
Tiona let out a low hiss, prompting the young man to slowly open his eyes.
The sun was starting to rise from the east, peaking over the horizon and bathing the world with its radiance.
After deciphering the ancient text from the second Pyramid, Thirteen was finally able to understand what the two Pyramids represented and what role they played in the bigger picture.
And it filled him with dread.
In less than seven weeks, the Lunar Eclipse would happen, and with it, a gateway would open.
From that gateway, several Moon Walkers would appear.
Their goal was to kill all Rank 2 Monsters and above in the island, using their blood to conduct a special ceremony that would corrupt the Moon Princess, transforming her into a being that fit their needs.
They would then take her back to their own plane of existence. As to what would happen to the Moon Princess, no one really knew.
For no one had managed to live to tell the tale.
At least, that was what it looked like on the surface.
In order to confirm a few things, Thirteen would need to talk to Uncle Boo, since the Majin seemed to know about the upcoming ritual.
He had observed the Rank 8 Sovereign for an entire day, and from what he could see, the latter genuinely wanted to get along with the Wanderers.
After weighing the pros and cons, Thirteen finally came to a decision.
“So have you come to a decision?”
Uncle Boo suddenly appeared beside Thirteen and whispered in his ears, almost making him jump in surprise.
Tiona hissed angrily at the middle-aged man because she was also surprised by his sudden appearance.
“Don’t do that again, Uncle Boo,” Thirteen said as he patted his chest. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“Nonsense,” Uncle Boo replied. “You are too young to have a heart attack.”
The middle-aged man with long black hair and brown eyes sat cross-legged beside the boy and stared at the rising sun in the distance.
He looked like someone who had weathered countless hardships in life, and the aura he emitted had a tinge of sadness to it.
“Uncle Boo, tell me more about the Lunar Eclipse,” Thirteen stated. “I’m sure that we can’t just waltz into the Gate of the Moonlight like you always say. The missions given to Wanderers aren’t that easy. There must be a catch.”
Uncle Boo chuckled but didn’t say anything, his gaze remaining fixed on the sun poking its head over the sea.
Five minutes later, Uncle Boo finally started to talk.
“Once upon a time, a beautiful girl was born in the Arcadia Archipelago,” Uncle Boo started his story. “She wasn’t born the way humans give birth to their children. No, when she was born, a heavenly apparition appeared.
“The moons, Artem and Chandrea, overlapped with each other in the heavens as if they were kissing. A moment later, a moon beam descended from the skies and landed on the Arcadia Archipelago.
“From that moon beam appeared a girl who would soon be known as Callie.”
Uncle Boo’s expression softened as he mentioned the girl’s name, making him look at least ten years younger.
“If we go by human years, Callie looked like a young girl who was around eight to ten years old. She was strong, smart, and filled with curiosity. All the monsters on the island wanted to eat her because in their eyes, she was special… very special.”
A chuckle escaped Uncle Boo’s lips as if he remembered something very funny.
“One day, after running away from a Rank 4 Overlord, Callie hid inside a cave. She had just eaten, so she decided that she would take a nap until the Monster pursuing her gave up and went away.
“But on that particular day, something unexpected happened. Callie dreamt, and from that dream, a Beholder who wasn’t supposed to start existing in this manner was born, and he became Callie’s first best friend and confidant.
“The two lived happily together and fought many battles side by side. Ten years passed since that day, and yet, Callie aged very slowly. Even after ten years, she still looked like a ten-year-old.
“But that wasn’t a big deal for them, and the two continued to live their life happily. One day, while the two were taking a stroll on the beach, they came across a heavily injured Unicorn lying on the shore. “Being the good girl that she was, Callie nurtured it until it regained its health. But after getting a full recovery, did you know what that pervert said to her?”
“Let me guess.” Thirteen pondered. “I’ll marry you when you are older?”
“Not quite,” Uncle Boo snorted. “He said. ‘Too bad, you’re still too young. If you’re just a little older, I might have taken you as my bride.’ Out of anger, the Beholder bit that bastard’s face, making it scream in pain.”
Uncle Boo clicked his tongue in annoyance as if he remembered something very disgusting.
“But since that day, that Unicorn has stayed beside Callie as her Protector, with the excuse that he is just waiting for her to grow up before he takes her to the Main Continent as his bride,” Uncle Boo stated. “The Unicorn and the Beholder were like oil and water, always butting their heads with each other.
“But they both worked together when it came to one thing and one thing only—it was none other than Callie’s safety. Slowly but surely, their Ranks rose until both of them became Rank 5 Sovereigns. “With the two of them protecting her, no monsters dared to set their sights on Callie, knowing that if they did, they would meet their end. These happy moments continued for a few decades when suddenly, another phenomenon happened.
“On one stormy day, thunder and lightning roared and streaked across the heavens. In order to be safe, the three stayed inside their cave until morning. But when the sun rose, they noticed two pillars of light shining in two different locations.
“Callie said that they should go and investigate what they were. Wanting to please her, they obliged and took her to the First Island. There, they saw a Pyramid. But she suddenly fell into a trance, then walked toward the Pyramid as if she was possessed by something.
“They tried to call out to her, but that didn’t do anything. So, they did the only thing they could do and followed her. She explored the Pyramid as if she knew everything about it. She paused to read the ancient writings while still in a trance.
“The language she used was not something that they could understand, but through their connection with her, they were able to piece together the message that was written on the Purple Tablet. “On the day of the Eclipse, when Chandrea’s vision is covered by the sun, the people of Artem will descend from the heavens to claim her child,” Uncle Boo said softly. “After that, she fainted, only to wake up the next day looking weak and very pale. It took her three days to recover, but as soon as she felt better, she urged the Beholder and the Unicorn to visit the second Pyramid.
“The Unicorn and the Beholder tried to dissuade her, but she still went to the Pyramid, leaving the two of them no choice but to follow her. Just like what happened with the first Pyramid, she once again fell into a trance and read what was written on the Golden Tablet.”
Uncle Boo closed his eyes as if trying to remember that exact day when their happy and peaceful lives started to crumble like a sandcastle hit by a large wave.