One Day Before the Full Moon

"No," answered Luanvin, still looking calmly at the figures carrying the coffin.

Alhena stared at Luanvin's face for a long time, as if looking for an answer from that gaze as well as that calming expression. 

"He was almost on the verge of death. It wasn't him, but his spirit that started to be taken away." Luanvin looked at Alhena who was still staring at him until their eyes locked with each other.

"One hundred years you lived here. Have you seen Prince Kandra just once?"

Alhena was silent, she tried to remember about it, but no experience led her to get the answer yes to the headmaster's question. 

"Never, right?" Without waiting for Lanvin's answer, Lanvin already knew. "How many women does the king of Madeira ask for every full moon?"

"Fourteen at most, Headmaster. And at least seven. Normally the King of Madeira would rotate them one by one, and touch them until it eats all of them without residue. Does this have anything to do with Prince Kandra ?"

"There is. According to my inner clue, she was the victim that Madeira wanted this full moon. I understand now." 

Alhena was silent, she was a little difficult to understand Luanvin's half-hearted speech. The irritating news of the Head of this College talking as if to show that he would rather do it than talk. 

"What do you mean by the Headmaster, Prince Kandra will be the victim along with the Headmaster tomorrow night?"

Luanvin smiled a little. "It's more or less like that. Luanvin, I better start there now. Are you coming?"

"However, the Headmaster. How about Fateke tomorrow? Will the Headmaster let him destroy the College when he finds out that the Headmaster isn't there tomorrow?"

"I'm in college as well as in the Kingdom at the same time." Luanvin drew Alhena's sword and scribbled it on her fingers. 

Alhena who saw this could only be astonished, especially when the white blood from her College body almost dripped onto the ground. For a moment Luanvin's body jolted as strong winds shot from the blood-white shadow. Staring at Luanvin, The headmaster looked relaxed and clenched his injured fingers and immediately healed without a trace when the first opened. 

Sheathing Luanvin's sword again, Luanvin looked at him who didn't budge. "We're going, to the northern cardinal Kingdom now."

Luanvin had already stepped north, then prepared to swing his legs before Alhena's voice stopped him.

"But, Headmaster. How about-"

"What almost made you fall earlier was the figure of me, Alhena." Glancing slightly at the commander-in-chief, he said. "If you are in doubt and don't want to accompany me, go home. Say hello to all college students. I am Luanvin, I will go to find my identity and also carry out my duty to fight crime."

Lanvin stepped towards the north of the cardinal, the whisper of his heart asked him to step in that direction. Passing hundreds of people's houses and empty streets, Luanvin arrived at the border between the forest and a very wide green watery river. 

"That way, Headmaster. We must cross this river and descend that mountain to arrive at the northern Kingdom of the cardinal directions."

Luanvin was silent, he stared at a raft tied to a rope. Smiling a little, Luanvin walked over to him and looked at Alhena.

"We can use this to cross. You can use it, right, Alhena?"

The Commander-in-Chief nodded slowly, then without speaking she untied the rope and jumped onto the raft. Alhena pushed the bamboo she was holding so that the raft was closer to the foot of her College until finally Luanvin stepped up and climbed on top of the raft.

The two of them fell silent as the raft began to glide towards the north. Looking straight towards the north, Alhena pushed the bamboo to make her raft go faster. 

They reached the river bank after a while on the raft. Luanvin jumped to the side, followed by Luanvin. Staring at the raft starting to bob on the water, Luanvin moved his left hand with the remaining cloth shawl up. The raft disappeared after being enveloped in a white light view. 

"It belongs to someone," he said as Alhena stared at the water where the raft disappeared. "I've already returned it to where we found it. Hopefully, the owner doesn't suspect."

Alhena looked at Luanvin's face which seemed relaxed and explained. Sighing, he tried to compare Luanvin and the Colleges he had obeyed. Of the eight Universities, Luanvin's knowledge is higher. Even though this woman was just born, how could she possess and master these high-level sciences? 

"Chairman of the College, how can the Chairman of the College master those high-level sciences? May I know?" Alhena asked curiously. 

Luanvin smiled faintly, then took a deep breath. "I don't know, I'm just following my inner whisper."

Alhena was unable to speak, she started to follow the Headmaster. Entering the dense and dark forest, Luanvin seemed to casually step in front of him. 

"I don't know what happened to me, Alhena. I've never studied those magical arts, but I can use them according to what I need." Luanvin was still talking as he walked, telling how he felt for Alhena. "I don't know who whispered to me, there must be someone who always gives me directions. Both from the heart and the voice without form. Do you know who it is?"

Parting the long weeds blocking the way, Luanvin asked Alhena who faithfully followed behind him. 

"Maybe Rishi is the leader of heaven, the Headmaster. So far, Rishi, the leader of heaven, has always given instructions to the universities he sent. Not to mention the Headmaster himself."

Luanvin was silent, he decided to believe. As long as the instructions lead to goodness, then he will do it. 

"Still far?" Lanvin asked as he climbed the mountain.

"In about half a day we will arrive at the magical gate of the northern cardinal kingdom, Headmaster."

"Alright." Luanvin continued to walk up the mountain. The air temperature was starting to feel chilly even though the day looked bright with bright sunlight. 

***

Luanvin and Alhena arrived at the village again, this time smaller. It was at the bottom of the mountain where they descended. 

The occupants look like people who have high religious knowledge. Bringing sacred candles made of large and short bamboo. Their clothes are white, wearing a headband for men and wearing a scarf between the arms of the left hand for women. Lanvin could even see some young girls tucking yellow flowers behind their ears and holding a candle in both hands. 

"They are the Wisaka tribe, the Headmaster. This village is called the holy Wisaka village, the closest village to the northern kingdom of the wind." Alhena sighed softly as if it was hard to continue. However, seeing Luanvin's curious look made Alhena continue her speech. 

"Many of the men of this village are victims, it can even be said that these men are a storehouse of prey who will become victims of Queen Madeira. That was why every girl who had turned eighteen had to wear holy clothes and carry a holy knife with them wherever they went. Because the knife has the power of prayer and is feared by the demon nation Madeira," he said while looking at some of the villagers who occasionally went back and forth. 

"Their faces are also unfriendly, a result of disasters and kidnappings that occur once a month. They don't easily believe in new people who reprimand or come to their village."

"Help!"

Luanvin sharpened his hearing when he heard the faint scream. Still standing on the plateau of the border between the mountain and the village, he could sense that his voice was coming from the direction of the forest.

"Help! Help me! Help!"

Lanvin stomped his feet on the ground, then spread his arms while jumping and flying towards the sound. 

"Headmaster!" Alhena who was shocked to see the sudden action of her College immediately shouted. She also floated her body and followed Luanvin towards the southern forest.

Losing track, Alhena chose to perch on a tall tree with no branches. She scanned his surroundings from a height until finally, she saw a black light streaking swiftly across the shady trees. 

Alhena floated her body towards it, trying to catch up to the black shadow that shot past without leaving a trace. 

"Help! Help me! Ah, let go! Help!" 

The young man who was being carried by the sinister black figure shouted. He is like a sack of rice carried without a burden. This sinister black figure is strong, so he can carry it that way. 

Alhena who was just about to emit light from her palms gave up when she saw her College was already standing a few meters in front of the black figure who was carrying the young men in white.

Alhena's body straightened, then slowly descended and managed to hit the ground. Luanvin stared intently at the figure that continued to dart. Holding the hilt of his silver sword, Luanvin pulled it from the scabbard with a strong whoosh, the wind blowing violently in the aftermath of blinding white light and directly hitting the black figure. It was as if he didn't think there was Luanvin in front of him and ignored the figure of the highly educated girl.

Guard!

As fast as lightning, Luanvin had re-sheathed his sword and flew swiftly towards the two creatures that had bounced back. His hand reached out, pulling the body of the young woman who was still on the shoulder. Pulling the backcloth covering his body, Luanvin carried him higher and saw the body of a sinister black figure that had already crashed into a tree and shattered into ashes. Accompanied by the fracture and destruction of the tree where it bounced.

Guard!

Silence, the young man he was holding fell unconscious and leaned on his shoulder. The strong effect of the light of his sword makes a person who has no body restraint will have an impact, even though the light is not directed at him, there is still an effect. 

Luanvin got down, stepped on the ground, and placed the girl on the grass. Alhena approached, with an amazing face and was also amazed at Luanvin's power. How can the Headmaster easily destroy a creature if he had to spend half his strength to defeat him? 

Luanvin touched his chest before finally, a light shot out from his palm. After everything is absorbed, Luanvin raised his hand and helped the girl to sit up and vomited black blood from her mouth.

"Get some water," said Luanvin, as he looked up at Alhena.

The Commander in Chief of the Forbidden College immediately walked away, towards a creek and fetched water using a bamboo segment. For a moment he was back and helping the young men drink before finally, she lay down again as if she had no energy. 

In a weak state, the man said. "Thank you for helping me, Headmaster. This is the first time since it's been a hundred years since the kidnapping of young boys was carried out by the minions can be thwarted."

Even though his chest was tight, the man still said. He didn't know what else to do, but for sure he was grateful that he had escaped the clutches of the Demon Queen Madeira. 

"I'm just doing my job," said Luanvin in his usual tone, calm and elegant. 

The young woman smiled weakly, she held Luanvin's hand and said. "If that's true, then help us, Headmaster. Free some of my friends who have been held captive by the King of Madeira. There's only one day left before the full moon tomorrow night. I beg you, Headmaster...."

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