Chapter XXVI: The Great War

"Did you miss my class?" Professor Hipolito jokingly asked us.


Everyone is sitting in their proper seats and acting like there is no commotion before our professor came.


Ashton answered him, "Just a little, sir." He then laughed afterwards.


I also heard the awkward laughter from the others. Seems like they are forced to say that they are happy.


"Where’s the King? He won’t attend class today?” Professor looked around when he didn’t see the King of the Elites.



And speaking of… Caden entered the room with too much regality and authority followed by Xerxes and Vulcan.


“I apologized for being late. I had a business meeting early this morning outside the university,” he said that without any pinch of expression in his face. Then he went straight to the seat next to Amalia. I looked away when I saw the woman kiss him on the cheek.


"I understand, King…" Professor Hipolito bowed his head to him before looking at us again.


"So, can I start now?" Everyone agreed before silence prevailed again. "Let me discuss to all of you the Great War that happened twenty years ago."



His warm smile never left his lips.


“Our world consists of different creatures. I know all of you already knew that because you are one of them.” He laughed at his own remark.



“The Moon Goddess, the creator of our races, was once socializing with all the creatures in our world. She poured all her love to all the creatures she created. She did not set a limit on setting other’s better half. She gave everyone the freedom to choose who they want to love. She befriended everyone, and often gives prizes to any creature who has a pleasing personality. You won't find any creatures doing bad back then because they all want to get the Moon Goddess' attention, and of course to be rewarded as well. In short, our world was once full of tranquility and serenity.”


I wonder what the world looks like back then. The world would even be better if it stays like that.



“One day, she held a competition where everyone could participate. Whoever gets and can give her favorite flower will be presented the winner. There are four hundred thousand species of flowers and you are the luckiest if you got her favorite. Almost all the creatures participated in that contest and were given two weeks to get it.



The Moon Goddess didn't tell what would be the prize, but everyone expected that it would be the luxuriest prize that she will ever give. It seems that everyone who participated there only wanted to get the prize, but not to make the goddess happy. But there was one creature who only wanted to see the beautiful goddess, that was Max. Max is a hybrid, he is a half-wolf and half-vampire.


Everyone is all ears while listening to Mr. Hipolito. I am also captivated by this since this is my first time hearing this story. Mamita didn’t tell me about this.


“Max crossed the high mountains, swam the vast ocean in search of a flower that he thought was the Moon Goddess’s favorite. Until one day, a kind of flower caught his attention. The day came when they would offer to the goddess the flowers they had obtained. Max was so nervous at that time. But first, he kept in mind that even if it wasn't the goddess' favorite, it was okay with him. He will still be happy for the creature who will win. All he wants is to see the happy face of the Moon Goddess.”



Mr. Max seems a nice guy. I hope his selflessness leads him to a good place.



“Camellia japonica. That's the favorite flower of the Moon Goddess and that's the flower Max was holding at that time…”



I clapped my hands when I heard that.



Sanya poke me. “Hey, why are you clapping?”



I giggled and just shook my head. How can I tell her that I am just happy for Max even I don’t know him personally? I am rooting for him for the Moon Goddess.



“The goddess accepted the flower and thanked him. She then, asked what the prize he wants, but Max asked nothing in return. He just confessed his feelings. And that’s how they started their friendship, and eventually led to a romantic relationship.”


Wow! My eyes widened in delight! What a wonderful love story!


“The goddess was so busy building a family with Max, that she didn’t notice that there were creatures who had just turned their backs on her. The Moon Goddess got pregnant. That made her and Max the happiest at that time. On the other hand, that meager number of creatures who had forsaken her increased exponentially. Those were the creatures who have resentment when Max won the competition. Others say that the two have been friends for a long time so he got the favor or the goddess, while others are angry with the Moon goddess because they feel they have forgotten them since the man came.”


Oh my god! My excitement suddenly turned into worry.


“The day came where the Moon Goddess gave birth to a baby girl who possesses a heavenly beauty. The baby has an incomparable beauty, which may one day bring chaos to the world. And on the same day, the creatures decided to make the revolt against the goddess. A Great Witch who knows how to cast black spells was the one who led the revolt against the Moon Goddess.


Due to the fatigue of childbirth, the goddess will not be able to fight, so she was the one who was left with their newborn child. Max along with the creatures who have not yet turned their backs on him fought for their safety. That battle turned bloody for everyone had beliefs to fight for.” Professor Hipolito paused, sadness is visible in his face.


As I listen, I could feel a pang in my heart. Even I weren’t there, I feel sad for them. I’m not hearing yet the continuation, but I am sensing that this doesn’t ended good.


“That battle happened a few years ago, and in that battle Max and several hundred thousand creatures were killed. The goddess felt the great grief at those times when she found out what had happened to her husband, especially when she woke up without their child by her side.”


I covered my mouth to suppress the gasp I was about to let out. I remained silent, but my heart is aching as if I am feeling the grievance that the goddess felt that time.


“Of course, it would be painful for a woman to lost her husband and her daughter at the same time. She held grudges to the creatures who brought her pain. He punished all the creatures that survived and after that, she was never seen by anyone again.”


The story ended with heavy sighs from us.


My heart hurts for the Moon Goddess and for the family she lost during that war. I feel like I’m included in the story because I can really feel their pains of losing someone. Can't we just be happy? Why does something have to be lost?


“Sir, how about the Great Witch? What happened to her? Did she die too?” Abigail, one of my classmates, asked curiously.


She is the reason why the Moon Goddess didn’t have her happy ending together with Mr. Max and their daughter.


“No one knows. Some say she died as well, because she never showed up.”


“But how about their daughter? Where is she now?” Amalia seems curious as well.


"The baby was never seen and it is suspected that she also died on the day of the war," the professor said sadly.


There is a long silence after that, as if everyone were absorbing in their minds what they heard.


"Do you have any more questions?" When no one spoke, he bid goodbye to us.


“I hope you learned something from the story I shared. Thank you very much for listening. Let's meet again next time,” Professor Hipolito said before exiting the room.


Professor has left but until now I still think about what I have heard.



That Great Witch has no heart. She didn’t even feel sorry for the family that had been killed because of her. The Moon Goddess gave them everything, but they took her only happiness.



There are really creatures that you have shown nothing but good deeds, but still not been satisfied and would stab you from behind in return.