Book 7, Chapter 79 - Crescent Moon

An endless blue sky . Vast, yellow sand . Nothing seemed to exist between .

The wind kicked up plumes of grit, forming into dervishes that danced along the dunes . For a moment sky and sand were joined as the swirling winds meandered toward the northern horizon . Out there was a ribbon of green that could be easily overlooked or dismissed as a mirage . A secluded oasis in the shape of a crescent moon hugged a small lake that reflected the azure heavens above .

It was a small respite from the desert, with a population of only several hundred . Most were pregnant women and children . A rare sight in today’s broken world .

It was certainly a target . There were those who sought to plunder the oasis from its wealth and women . However, in an almost mythical fas.h.i.+on, anyone with wicked intentions – from the lowliest bandit to the mightiest sweeper clan – was annihilated before they could act . No survivors remained, only the memory of their cruel fate .

Over time people came to know that this otherwise ordinary encampment was protected by a mysterious power . It was unbreakable, una.s.sailable .  

Sprout rose with the dawn . He fetched some water, cleaned, cooked and fed the animals . Once all his ch.o.r.es were done, he then sat by the camp’s entrance and stared out into the wastes .

He was a large and hideous man, but although he looked intimidating he was actually quite timid . People ordered him around all day and he never complained . Instead, with an amicable smile, he merely did as he was told .

Sprout’s past was a mystery to him these days, but that didn’t trouble him . He didn’t want to know what had happened to him before . Something was wrong with his head, but he thought maybe that was a good thing . All misfortune and unhappiness came from the past . What people regretted and what they missed . Sometimes it also came from fear of the future . Sprout focused on the present, where he was happy . There was no need to dwell on the past . There was no reason to fixate on tomorrow .

He was happy now .

What made him the happiest was sitting in front of the oasis and protecting it . He stared at the sand dunes, rolling across the horizon like frozen waves . Overhead the solid blue sky stretched on forever, as empty as his head . It was glorious . Just a blissful emptiness, with nothing to think on and nothing to fuss over .

Clink, clink!

The jangling sound of a makes.h.i.+ft wind-chime rose with the breeze . Sprout’s eyes caught a group of small dots on a distant ridge . He turned back and shouted over his shoulder . “The Master’s back! Master’s back!”

His words surprised the oasis denizens . Sixty or seventy percent of the people here were women or children and from among them came a pretty – if rather thin – lady . Her hair was tied back with a kerchief and she was wrapped in simple animal leathers . Among the folds was a small infant .

She was Luciasha, the leader of their home .

It was strange that in this brutal world, where the strong often subdued the weak, a woman with no powers to speak of served as their leader . This was even more surprising when one learned that the camp actually had many capable fighters who all bowed to her .

Beside Luciasha stood a woman dressed all in black . She held a sheathed long sword in one hand . Serious in speech and manner, with her face covered in a dark veil, she was an intimidating figure that could cut down a contingent of Skycloud warriors without issue .

Revenant’s eyes were fixed on the horizon . “He’s back . ”

Luciasha’s lips curled into a faint smile . “Yes . And he’s brought others with him this time . ” 

It was clear from the people’s reaction that this visitor was not an enemy .

Among the encroaching group was a group of camels and other beasts of burden, laden with supplies . Cheers erupted among the denizens as the resources were delivered and they rushed over to greet the arrivals .

A young man dropped from the back of one of the beasts and addressed the people with a wide smile . “Don’t worry, there’s enough for everyone . Sprout, let’s get this stuff pa.s.sed out . ”

Sprout happily obliged . Luciasha then came over and looked the young man over .

“Squall, I’m surprised you have the time to visit!”

The young member of the Hand of Gehenna was around twenty five now and had the bearing of a mature traveler . He’d changed a lot from his days with Bloomnettle Company, but even after all this time he was still a part of Luciasha’s life . Although they were apart much longer than they were together, both knew it was only for a little while .

But… she couldn’t help thinking of someone else whenever they met .

It always made her sad . Even in this secluded place sometimes news pa.s.sed through . She heard tales of the things he did . Crescent Moon’s safety was due in part to Squall’s protection, but she knew he was watching out for them from his far-away capital, sending people to keep their little patch of desert secure .

The rift in their relations.h.i.+p had never healed…

Squall responded in a gentle voice . “I came to see the little one . How is he?”

Luciasha held a small boy against her chest, no more than two years old . He was sleeping soundly . Even in this inhospitable desert the boy looked healthy and adorable . Obviously the product of tender love and care .

“Who’s this?” Her eyes turned to a tall man by Squall’s side . He wore drab gray clothing and had many weapons strapped to his back . The stranger was slightly older than them .

“Ah, I almost forgot . This is my brother, Frost de Winter . ”

This was Frost? She was surprised to finally meet him . Luciasha first heard the name five years ago Sandbar Outpost . He was praised as a great demonhunter and talented military commander . It was later that she learned from Squall about their shared blood .

Frost dropped his hood, revealing a bearded and handsome face . He was in his thirties, but the burdened look in his eyes made him look much older . The das.h.i.+ng air he once bore was gone, but it was replaced with a grim sort of resolve .

“Can I see him?”

“Of course, you’re his uncle . ”

Luciasha carefully handed him over, and Frost’s calloused hand took the child from her . His dour features broke ever so slightly and there was the faintest hint of warmth as he stroked the boy’s cherubic cheeks .

“Does he have a name?”

“Everyone here has taken to calling him Wolf Cub . A pack of wild wolves was roaming near the camp the night he was born,” Luciasha said with a gentle laugh . “He doesn’t have a proper name . We wastelanders don’t care much about that . ”

Frost nodded . He looked down at the pure little life and stared in silence for a little while . Soon a terrible war would come and many would die . In all likelihood most of humanity wouldn’t survive . One day it would fall to Wolf Cub, little Skye [1] and Cloudhawk’s disciple Azura to fill their shoes . Architects of a new era .

Frost and people like him… all there was left for them to do was leave these young people with the best chances possible .  

Squall broke in . “We need everyone to pack up and come with us right away . ”

Luciasha was surprised by this news . She didn’t like the idea . “We’re fine here . Why should we leave?”

“The final fight is coming . Nowhere on this planet will be safe . We need to bring you somewhere else, where the war won’t touch you . ” A coquettish smile touched Squall’s lips . “Cloudhawk’s opened a portal to another world . It’s got a huge city . Safe . There’s hot water, bread, comfortable lodging… you all will live there . ”

Cloudhawk…

It felt like it’d been an eternity since she heard that name . A long time ago – in another life – they were like brother and sister . After Adder all of that changed . She bore him no ill-will anymore . Actually, she felt guilty for what happened . These days he was a G.o.d-like figure, standing at the front of humanity’s rebel army . She was just a little mouse hiding in the sand dunes .

Squall continued . “Come on . You have to leave, for me and for our son . ”

She nodded . “Alright . ”

Crescent Moon was abandoned . As they left, Sprout stopped every few steps to look back with a downcast expression . This had been home . No one bullied him . He was happy . Now it was all going to change .

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