LUNA: Alpha’s Soulmate from Another World

“I never expected that walking around the market in Mylonas would be so enjoyable. All the items displayed by the vendors are so interesting and unique,” Luna commented excitedly, her eyes sparkling as they sat at one of the outdoor tables of a restaurant near the town square.

From their vantage point, Luna could see the town square, where there was a large fountain with an elegant and dominant wolf statue in its center. Birds were chirping and flying around the fountain, adding to the magical atmosphere. People from various walks of life were also relaxing in the square.

The women wore beautiful dresses, while the men wore suits with long tails, vests, cravats, or ties accompanied by accessories. Although some women wore simple dresses like Luna and Ghea, the square was a place where people from different social classes gathered as one. They didn’t seem to harbor any hate, with some even greeting each other warmly, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Ghea laughed at Luna’s comment and nodded in agreement.

“You’ll be amazed during the festival. Merchants from all over the continent will come and sell their goods, and let me tell you, it’s spectacular. Even the Gaia festival in Foryeust is extraordinary, so you can imagine what it will be like in Vasilos.”

“You’re right.” Luna nodded, shifting her gaze from the town square to the magnificent and luxurious building in the distance, the Imperial Palace of Vasilos, standing gracefully with its spires reaching toward the sky.

A building that stretched wide from east to west. The grand structure, predominantly white with elegant touches of gold and a blue roof, added to its majestic appearance. Luna could see the imperial flags fluttering on each wall of the palace. Even from a distance, she could sense the opulence and grandeur emanating from the palace’s medieval architecture.

Luna couldn’t see the entire building due to the high walls separating the city from the palace grounds. Still, from where she sat, she could already guess the generosity of the palace’s interior. Four tall towers stood at the corners of the palace, strong and sturdy like guardians. Ghea mentioned that the distance from the square to the palace was quite far, taking two hours to reach the main gate. If it looked huge from afar, one could only imagine its grandeur up close. Ghea followed Luna’s gaze and smiled.

“I didn’t know a palace could be so large and magnificent,” Luna commented in awe, her voice clearly reflecting her amazement.

“Amazing, isn’t it? This is also my first time seeing the imperial palace. Like its owner, the palace exudes an aura of power and dominance that makes anyone both admire and fear it,” Ghea replied, still gazing at the palace.

“And don’t forget the dangerous and mysterious aura. Don’t be deceived by the apparent luxury, Ghea. Didn’t you tell me that the Emperor of Vasilos is a feared tyrant?” Luna added with a serious tone.

“And don’t forget respected,” Ghea emphasized, her eyes flashing sharply.

“Yes, that… so surely the place holds great dangers within…” Luna looked at Ghea, who was observing the imperial palace, before lowering her gaze to the teacup she had ordered a few minutes ago.

“But I admit the architecture is extraordinary, indicating that the owner is extremely wealthy.” Luna smiled ironically and lifted her head. “So, where do we go next?”

Ghea sighed and smiled slightly. “George said he just finished meeting his client an hour before dinner. Do you want to rest at the inn, or continue exploring?”

“Is there an antique shop around here? I’d like to take a look…” Luna asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling with hope.

Ghea smiled at Luna’s enthusiasm. “It seems you’re an antique lover. Am I right?”

“Alright. I’ll ask the restaurant waiter. Wait here. I’ll be right back.” Luna nodded and watched Ghea walk into the restaurant to ask.

Luna shifted her gaze back to the town square once Ghea was out of sight and smiled in disbelief. Everything seemed normal. Everyone looked like ordinary humans, but when she remembered that most of them had wolf souls and could transform into wolves at any time, it was truly extraordinary, she thought. Even the predators she saw were so beautiful.

The men had handsome faces, and the women had beautiful faces as if their beauty was designed to trap prey. Luna shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. Ghea had said that the werewolves in Vasilos ate livestock meat and not the flesh of other creatures, so Luna should feel at ease, right?

While busy observing the town square, Luna’s eyes accidentally caught sight of a strange figure standing near a lamppost. Luna couldn’t tell whether the figure was male or female because they were wearing a cloak with a hood that covered their face, but judging by their posture and height, the figure seemed to be a man.

Luna frowned suspiciously because the man was wearing a black cloak and hood that stood out amid the vibrant colors of the surrounding clothes, making the black cloak and hood seem conspicuous and odd.

Luna continued to watch the figure, who was staring at a couple standing near him, but as if sensing her gaze, the man suddenly turned, and Luna felt as though his eyes were looking directly at her. A chill ran down her spine, her breath caught, and her heart started pounding. She quickly looked away and smiled at Ghea, who was returning from the restaurant.

The wind blew gently, making her brown hair flutter beautifully. Luna quickly tucked a stray lock behind her ear as it was bothering her. “How did it go?” she asked.

Ghea smiled slightly. “I asked the waiter. There’s an antique shop not far from here, just a few blocks away. We can walk there. Shall we go now?” she said.

Luna tried to smile and nodded, although her mind was still preoccupied with the mysterious figure from earlier. “Thank you, Ghea. Let’s go.”

They both stood up and started walking towards the antique shop, leaving the town square. Luna glanced back at the spot where the mysterious cloaked man had been, only to find it empty. She quickly brushed off the unsettling feeling before standing up and letting Ghea take her hand, leading her into one of the bustling alleys.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

…

Whether it was just her imagination or not, Luna felt like she was being watched. She didn’t know exactly when it started, but she had felt it since leaving the antique shop with Ghea. She had asked the fae woman if she thought the same. Still, Ghea had immediately shaken her head and said she didn’t notice anything unusual, even confirming it by looking around carefully.

Hearing Ghea’s response, Luna felt relieved and tried to dismiss the discomfort. However, a few minutes later, the feeling of unease and vigilance returned. For the second time, Luna felt as if a pair of eyes were watching her.

That was why, for the past five minutes, she had been constantly looking over her shoulder, trying to ensure that her feelings were wrong. Ghea didn’t notice her discomfort at all, as she was drastically recollecting Mylonas’ history with bright, eager eyes.

They continued walking around Mylonas, visiting stalls selling various trinkets, or just grabbing a bite at available eateries. Eventually, they arrived at the town park, where Luna’s unsettling feeling grew stronger, setting off alarm bells in her head. Luna’s steps halted, and Ghea had to stop as well.

The woman looked at Luna with a questioning expression before glancing over Luna’s shoulder. Her initially confused face brightened as she exclaimed, “Luna, look! Apple candy!” Then Ghea grabbed Luna’s hand and pulled her to one of the sweet stalls.

Luna groaned internally. She could only stand still with her arms crossed, her eyes following Ghea as she picked out the candy she wanted to buy. Her brown eyes inadvertently strayed across the street, and her breath caught, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up as she saw the mysterious cloaked man again.

The man was standing strategically behind a building in the alley so that unless one looked closely, people wouldn’t notice his presence. Luna blinked and turned to get Ghea’s attention. When she finally got Ghea to look and pointed to where the mysterious man was standing, the spot was empty again.

“Oh my, you might have accidentally seen a tracker or an elite imperial guard,” Ghea said, shaking her head slightly.

“Really?” Luna murmured uncertainly, glancing at the spot where the man had stood before letting out a heavy sigh.

Luna bit her lip, still feeling uneasy. “But why would he keep watching us? Could it be something we did?”

“Why would you think that?” Ghea frowned. They continued walking along the city sidewalk toward their inn located in the eastern part of Mylonas.

Ghea smiled reassuringly. “Several times, trackers or elite imperial guards have visited my inn, and they are indeed very mysterious. Maybe you noticed them because you’re a ‘newcomer’ paying attention to your surroundings, unlike the ‘locals’ who generally don’t care about what’s around them.”

“Oh… maybe you’re right.” Luna glanced at the apple candy in Ghea’s hand and smiled as she saw the woman enjoying the candy so much that she started humming.

Her brown eyes turned forward again, taking in each building one by one, and she smiled slightly, accepting Ghea’s explanation for what she had seen.

…