Chapter 3:Isura's Grief
Beyond the gazing stars,the vast wide ocean,the beauty of the night,Isura rested with her serpents.
She was laying down on the soft sand of the beach with thick brown trunks and greenish plants of palm trees towering over her.
The trees created shadows and the air was cold and thin.She took one breath.
Mist emerged from her open mouth.The mist travelled and travelled until it vanished before it could exit the island's coast.
Isura sat up and rested on the trunk of the tree for a while.
"ISURA."A voice whispered from behind her.
"Huh?"She turned her back to the voice,still confused about the situation.
"COME,MY DEAR CHILD."She rolled her eyes and stood up,almost tripping over her sapphire silk made dress.
"Hello?"Her voice echoed and bounced off the walls.
"Closer."
"I'm right here."
"Look at me."Lunar was now visible to Isura's eye.
"Finally I can see you!"
"It felt like I saw you a few hours ago.But it's been days!Time is passing really quickly,don't you think my daughter?"
"It is passing quickly…mother."
Lunar tried to smile but it ended up looking weird due to a sea serpent's facial proportions being completely different compared to a human facial structure.
"The Genshi are still trying to figure out the signs of the ILO by now.And I can assure you there's not much time left.You know how in The War Of Fury the kitsunes prophesied the moonstone to land?"
"Yeah.That's because they have enhanced senses so each generation of the kitsune race would be told about the moon stone."
"Well they can tell the signs of the ILO aswell…"
"How?"
"Like you said,enhanced senses.The kitsunes were known for predicting things.They were wise but…Rida was their last hope."
"The kitsune leader who lost his son?"
"Yeah,that's him.But my point is that the Genshi may discover more evidence about the ILO due to the kitsunes helping them.Despite being extinct,the kitsunes always left clues for their fox brothers and sisters and now…the humans may accidentally pick up their clues."
"SO YOU'RE ONLY TELLING ME THIS NOW?"
"Isura,be patient for once!I left you for the sake of sea serpents.The ILO keep balance in the universe. If one was gone then…t-then it would be bad wouldn't it?"She came to a look of realization,as if she had tripped up on her own words. As if,as if…she had contradicted herself.
"What?You looked concerned mother."
"Nothing,just an itch.."Sweat rolled down her forehead slowly and it slowed to the tip of her jawline.Lunar had doll eyes.Lifeless eyes and a lifeless expression.She had slipped up.Very bad.But Isura was too clueless to figure out what she had meant.
A moment of silence.Lunar stood confident and tall.While Isura was looking at the ground,Lunar had her head up,eyes faced down at her own daughter.She sneered.
"I'm glad I didn't take care of this brat.She's no good to be a queen,a name for the serpents at all!"Lunar's voice echoed in her mind.She planned to manipulate and antagonise Isura until the day of the rebellion.Then a thought clicked and she let out a miniature hum.
"Speaking of the rebellion.."Lunar continued.
"You weren't speaking of anything?"Isura crossed her arms,suspicious.
"Oh!I guess you could say I was drowning in my own thoughts."
"Continue."
"But the rebellion. It's going to happen tomorrow.The final sign of the ILO arriving on earth is going to happen tomorrow-"
"The final sign?What are the signs again may you remind me?"
"The signs in chronological order are:
Unnatural cosmic events such as the blood moon
Sea serpent population declines
Dragons slowly turning human
Those are the three signs my child. Do you have anymore questions before I may go?"
"I-I.."She stammered desperately.The serpent was lost for words.
"I want to be more confident,just like you.I want to be a good leader for these sea serpents. So how can I do it to defend myself?"
Lunar thought.She thought for a very long time but Isura was patient.
"Isura,my dear child.Confidence is a mask.Wear it well and they'll follow you without question."
"Thank you..."And then the vision of Lunar had faded into thin air.The mist spread across Isura's face.She closed her eyes slowly and inhaled the mist.
Isura was confident thanks to Lunar's carefully chosen words.
And hopefully,the sea serpents will fall for it like she did.