lightsΝοvεl ƈοm
When I was born, the first thing that I saw was the full moon.
It was like a mother, kindly gazing down on me from the heavens and gifting me the power to survive in this world.
As I grew, I began to understand a few things about myself and my surroundings.
Depending on the phases of the Moon, my power would increase and decrease beyond my control.
On moonless nights, I had to hide deep underground because this was when I was at my weakest.
The concept of time eluded me, but as the seasons came and went, my intelligence also increased.
It was then that I realized I was different from the other Monsters in the forest.
Aside from me, there were three powerful beings, and I didn’t dare approach them, in fear that they would hunt me down.
The first one was the weird-looking monster in the North.
It had the body of a Lion, the wings of a Bat, and the tail of a Scorpion.
The Humans called it, King Manticore.
A very fitting name for such a regal beast.
Even from afar, I could sense that it was a very repulsive Creature.
Just feeling its presence was enough to make my skin crawl. I could tell that it was a very bad Creature, so there was simply no chance of the two of us getting along.
The second Strong Monster was a Giant Snake in the desert. It usually hunted at night, which was very annoying.
I also foraged for food at night, and there had been instances when the two of us met each other.
In the beginning, all I did was run away from it.
However, every time we happened to meet during the night of the Full Moon, I didn’t hesitate to fight against it as payback for all the bad experiences I suffered from it.
I managed to win the fight, but the hateful snake escaped. Since I didn’t really eat meat, I just let it go.
Since then, whenever we met, it would no longer try to eat me, and we manage to co-exist just fine.
Then, there was the Third Creature.
If the King Manticore made my skin crawl, then this monster made me feel like my entire existence was in danger.
I had only seen it once, from a great distance.
However, when its eyes gazed in my direction, I felt as if my soul was being squeezed out of my body.
I knew then and there that, even if I fought it on the night of the full moon, it would be impossible for me to beat such an evil creature.
My intuition was telling me that the moment I attempted to even step into its domain, it would be over for me.
That monster would eat me and add my strength to its own, making it more powerful than ever before.
It was truly a horrifying existence and something that I didn’t want to face no matter what.
Fortunately, it very rarely left Deathseeker Forest.
My home, which the Humans called Janga Valley, was in the opposite direction of the Forest, making it the farthest location from it.
For that, I am thankful.
The Giant Snake looked like a harmless worm compared to such a horrifying existence.
Many years have passed since that fateful encounter, but one day, I sensed a ripple spreading across our world.
It was as if a breeze of fresh air had entered our Domain.
Although it was faint, I felt as if this world where we lived had suddenly opened up, allowing Humans that we hadn’t seen before to appear in our territories.
These newcomers were powerful, and they could shoot fire, ice, water, wind, and earth from those small branches that they held in their hands.
Some even fought using sharp things that could cut Monsters in half.
Although they had no fangs, claws, or beaks, they were still very deadly, and my instinct was telling me that meeting them was a bad idea.
However, I also knew that when the night of the full moon arrived, I would gain the power to repel them from my territory.
I only wanted to live a peaceful life, foraging for fruit and edible plants that grew in the valley.
It had been four days since I’d gone outside to look for food. Fortunately, I had the habit of storing food in my nest, so I didn’t get hungry.
I didn’t dare to go out on moonless nights to look for food since those were the times when I would be at my weakest, so I developed the habit of always bringing food to my home whenever I was in the mood to do so.
But my food reserves were dwindling very fast.
If I didn’t forage soon, I would run out of food.
I didn’t like to starve.
Starving was very painful.
But there was one good thing that happened a day ago.
I sensed someone who felt like a kindred spirit.
I was tempted to meet with her, but she was with a very scary person.
The Janga Valley was my territory, so I somehow gained a bit of authority in this area.
Even if I didn’t leave my nest, I could vaguely feel and sense everything inside the valley as if it were a part of me.
Even when I closed my eyes, I felt my Kindred Spirit shine as brightly as the moon.
Beautiful, kind, and loving.
But the person standing beside her was weird.
This person radiated a blue color.
He gave a feeling of safety and warmth, which was a good thing. Just by looking at him, I couldn’t help but feel thirsty.
The weird guy was like spring water that tasted sweet and made me feel full and happy.
If he was with my Kindred Spirit, then she would be safe at all times.
However, there was something scary being projected above him that covered the entire valley in darkness.
It was bigger than that Giant Snake, more deadly than the King Manticore, and more horrifying than the creature that lived in the forest.
I was wondering why something like that was staying beside that person, who was glowing like a blue light.
Did he not know that such a dangerous being was towering over him?
Just as I was thinking these thoughts, the horrifying creature that was as tall as a mountain glanced in my direction.
I almost screamed out in fright as its glowing purple eyes locked on my body.
But this creature didn’t do anything and only smiled at me.
It even raised the thing that Humans called a finger over its lips as if telling me to not say a word.
I nodded my head subconsciously, agreeing to its silent demand.
If that creature were to hunt me down, I knew with utmost certainty that there was no place in this valley that I could hide. Even now, the mere thought of being hunted by such a creature filled me with dread.
‘At least, it doesn’t seem that it wants to eat me,’ I thought. ‘Maybe I can give it some fruit as an offering so we can get along?’
I truly wished that we could get along.
How nice would it be if I could be with my Kindred Spirit and become friends with that weird blue guy?
For now, I would just observe them.
A few days later, I would be able to say hello to that lady who was glowing as bright as the Full Moon in a sky filled with stars.