Across the World

Chapter 18: The Judge of Life

Luna was staring at a large, high gate. Her long curly gray hair was loose, and small flowers were hanging. She was wearing a long white gown. If she was looking around, there was a big tree next to the gate. It was colorful. It looked like a magical tree. It was as if in its broad body there was a small door. When Luna's foot stepped, the gate suddenly opened. Luna paused, she thought. Will she enter the gate or not? Then she heard an unfamiliar voice.

"You go inside because that's your home." Luna's lips smiled. She didn't know why she was suddenly happy when she heard that she was home. She no longer hesitated. Luna entered through the large gate. And every place she vacates is deleted.

As soon as she entered from a distance, she could see the big castle. Before she reached that, she needed to first pass through a beautiful garden. She thought she would enjoy the place. She noticed a gazebo with columns of gold. And the roof is sculptured like a dome made of different colored glass. She ran because she was so excited to get to it right away.

When she reached it, just as she had stepped in, the gazebo suddenly rose slightly. She was amazed at her experience. Suddenly, a small-scale river appeared on the side of the shed. The flowers also appeared one after another. They looked like mushrooms when they emerged. Luna feels overjoyed at the fantasy she's seeing. She wanted to stay in that place. A variety of colorful fish also sprang up in the river. They jumped into the water as if they were dancing. She clapped her hands. With the happiness, she felt, all worries were gone from her mind.

Until the shed, she stepped on and flew away. She was shocked. But she was happy again when the birds in the air accompanied her. They were chirping like they were singing. Their sounds are soothing. Luna was only disturbed as the gazebo slowly descended in front of the large castle. The birds are also gone. When she also left the shed, it also disappeared behind her. Just all the places she came from have perished.

She surveyed the castle in front of her. It is very tall and white. Even around her, she saw only white. When she turned her back, all the good things around were gone. The shiver returned to her heart. She was scared. She didn't want to look back at the castle because she might see something else. But, whether she wanted to leave the place where she was, but how? As if she were in a setting of emptiness. She closed her eyes. Maybe she was dreaming. But before she could open her eyes again, she heard a voice.

"My child, come in! Don't be afraid. In this place, no one will hurt you. Trust me! Because I am your mother. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity to visit you and talk to you. The time has come for you to get to know who you really are.”

Luna immediately followed. She seemed to be under hypnotism. The big door of the castle opened. It has a loud sound as if it hasn't been open for a long time. Luna went inside. When the door closed, her act of absence was gone. Her eyes widened because of the large columns she saw. The walls and the floor were shining because it was made of gold. No equipment inside the palace. No people around. Even the voice Luna heard, there was no one. It seems the place is abandoned. Luna could do nothing but walk on her feet. She wanted to explore the interior of the castle until something dazzling seemed to hit her eyes. Luna looked for it and didn't see it around. She glanced up at the ceiling and saw the shape of the moon that was made of crystal.

"Finally, you're home!" She heard a voice again while she stared at the ceiling. "Finally, you're home!" Again, she heard a voice. Until she was dazzled by the shape of the moon, she closed her eyes. It was as if something had popped up in her past.

He saw people. Beautiful women and handsome men. They surrounded her when she was a baby. And what Luna noticed was the place where she was born was the palace. She was even more confused when the moon symbol on the ceiling suddenly opened. A goddess approached her when she was a baby, then lifted her.

"Here is my daughter. As per our agreement, she would be down to earth to fulfill the prophecy destined for her and do her mission at the right time." Two angels fetched Luna when she was a baby. They brought her into the human world. They identified themselves as her parents.

Because of what she saw, she could not understand it. She immediately opened her eyes. She could only see the inside of her room. She rubbed her eyes. When she roamed the place again, she was really in her room. She deeply sighed, then she heard Lucas' voice. Lucas was moaning. He was having a nightmare. Luna ignored her dream, then she woke him up. Lucas was shocked. He was very sweaty, and he was also gasping. Luna would have touched him, but she couldn't do that because she could watch the wounds on Lucas' body heal on their own. She was amazed.

When she decided to caress Lucas' arm, he suddenly grabbed her hand. Lucas thought she was the mortal he had loved. But when he could see Luna's face clearly, he carefully removed the grip on her hand.

"I'm sorry!" Lucas immediately apologized. He was carried away by his dream. He remembered what he had seen in his dream. He wondered what he had dreamed.

Lucas was running away with the mortal woman. They were in the forest. The judge of life chasing them. But no matter how they would hide and escape, the judge of life was like their shadow. He was even more powerful than them. Besides, Lucas could not avoid him.

"That's enough, Lucas! I'm tired of running away. Let's just accept our fate. That we really can't be with each other. I also don’t want to believe you anymore! That you can fight our love for each other. Please, stop!" the mortal woman pleaded. They stopped in the middle of the forest.

"No! You can't just give up. We've come this far, I know HE'LL listen to my plea. HE'LL see my love for you."

"I'm begging you, Lucas. Wake up to your dream. Just think I'm not real. Please..." Once again, the mortal woman pleaded.

"I can't! I want---"

"Don't you see? I do everything for you. I can sacrifice myself as long as they don't punish or hurt you. Don't you understand that?" she said angrily. Lucas suddenly let go of her hand.

Lucas felt differently. He seemed to feel like he had become a terrible person. He suddenly saw the weight of the mortal he was carrying in her heart just because of him. Now he realized what the Almighty had said, that he had become selfish in his feelings. Because he did not immediately think of what experience with a mortal woman might be. His foot suddenly drew back. He didn’t know what he was going to do? Or what was he going to say? He could not think right. Until he thought he would sacrifice himself rather than have something awful happen to the woman he loved most. He pulled her hand away again.

"Hey, stop!" She restrained him. Lucas didn't answer. He just walked straight until his feet ran well. The woman cried aloud. But he didn't care. He was waiting for the arrival of the judge of life. He was just waiting for his judgement.

And that's it! He already felt the aura of the judge of life. He stopped abruptly. The judge of life immediately appeared. He was hiding in a black cloth that was flying in the air. He turned his back to the woman he loved. Then, he smiled. There was no trace of worry on his face. He caresses her cheek.

"No matter what happens, don't forget that I love you so much. I won't allow you to sacrifice," Lucas explained. The woman cried harder. Lucas wiped away her tears.

"Don't be sad! Wherever I go, I'll remember you." Suddenly a whip was wrapped around his body, the judge of life would take him. He gripped the woman's hand tightly.

"No! Please, don't hurt him!" she yelled at the judge of life.

"Please live happily!" Lucas' last word.

"Is there something bothering you?" Luna asked. Everything that had happened in the past vanished from Lucas' mind. He shook his head.

"Are you sure? You don't look okay! You can tell me everything if you want. I'll listen." Luna still convinced him. Lucas took a deep breath. He suddenly stared at Luna and the sadness was obvious in Lucas' eyes.

"Will you be like her too?" Suddenly, Lucas said, which troubled Luna's mind.