Luna And The Dire Wolf's
Chapter 53. Last Painting

The day changed, not to feel tomorrow is the night of the full moon. Luna asks Diego for permission to stay at Valko's residence. Today all Canis are busy preparing some trinkets for the ritual.

The offering table began at tata. On it were some fruits, candles, and bottles filled with oil that Valko would use when cleaning himself.

In addition, there is a white dress and also a wolf mask. Luna smiled wryly as she stared at the two objects. Alarick approached the girl while staring at the super busy scene in front of her.

"Are you sure you're gonna do this?" alarick asked with a straight forward look.

"Yes, Uncle. I'm sure."

A rough sigh now came out of Alarick's lips. He turned his eyes to Luna. Alarick looked at the girl who was willing to sacrifice for her son.

Alarick had tried to block Luna repeatedly. However, the girl had such a strong stance. He wants the ritual to happen.

"Uncle, can I paint the show table? I got the job of drawing an offering table. Last job I haven't done." Luna stared at the table that had been laid out in the middle of the Canis settlement.

"Of course I can. Do whatever you want."

Luna smiled broadly. The girl began to prepare her painting tools. As usual, Luna drew a sketch before starting to move the brush onto the canvas.

The blue sky has now turned orange. Valko who had just finished helping with the preparation of the ritual approached Luna who began to paint objects made of wood.

"Darling, rest first. Tomorrow will be a very tiring day. You need a lot of energy to perform tomorrow's sacrificial ritual." Valko hugged Luna from behind.

The man did not care anymore that his actions could disturb Luna when she was inserting a brush onto the canvas. Valko just wants to be close to Luna. Enjoy every last second together, before Luna returns to Flor City for college.

"Val, maybe this will be my last painting. After this, I hope you live well. Keep Canis from all threats." Luna put down her brush, then twisted her body, so that now she faced Valko.

"Val, do you already know what will happen after this ritual?" ask Luna.

"I will become a whole human being, without any drama of transformation into the form of Dire Wolf or a small wolf like the others."

"Not only that, Val. You still have the power that Dire Wolf has. For this reason, your ancestors still asked you to guard the La Eterno forest."

Valko rattled at the message from Luna. The corner of the man's eyes was slowly wet with tears. Valko sat down in front of the lover, then summed up Luna's beautiful face.

"You are, why is your speaking style like a granny?"

Luna pressed her lips. He bent his face while folding his arms in front of his chest. Valko who is getting anxious with the fashion sulking the lover was immediately landed a pinch on Luna's cheek.

"Let go, Val! It hurts!" Luna.

Valko also let go of the pinch. He re-encapsulated the lover's face, then showered her with a kiss. In closing, Valko carried Luna's body into an embrace.

"After this you will also focus on completing education. I will wait for you until you are fully prepared to live a married life with me. Spending the rest of your life together." Valko released a hug then looked at Luna's hazel bead of eyes.

"Hunting deer, forest rabbits, and some other wild animals together. Painting the scenery around together. And do whatever both."

Luna smiled gently, then landed a kiss on the lips of the lover. Valko also returned Luna's kiss full of love. After that, the two embraced again.

I hope we meet again, Val.

Luna let go of her embrace, and refocused on finishing her painting. Valko faithfully accompanied the lover until the painting was finished.

Valko was asked to clean up before performing the midnight ritual. The aroma of roses, lavender, sandalwood, and peppermint come together to create a strong and unique aroma. The scent was now lingering in Valko's body.

Besides Valko, Luna was also preparing while waiting for the sky to turn night. The girl was dressed like a bride. Luna was wearing a white dress that had been prepared since yesterday. His head was given a series of lavender flowers that were shaped like a tiara.

Just when the full moon was shining brightly, Luna came out towards the square. There was already crowded by Canis people who circled the burning area. Luna stood in the middle of the wood that had been arranged in such a way as to light a bonfire.

"Luna, are you sure?" ask Alarick again.

Luna nodded steadily. However, this time his eyes were wet from tears. The shadow of a painful farewell with Valko is clearly visible in the eye patch.

"Valko will be out soon. I'm not sure he wants to continue this ritual. Moreover, when you know that you will sacrifice yourself to be bait and release the spirit of Dire Wolf who lives on Valko's body."

"Uncle, that's the function of this mask!" Luna started putting a wolf mask on her face.

"Uncle, don't forget to give Valko the letter I wrote." Luna's tears now flowed profusely soaking down her cheeks.

Shortly after, Valko walked closer to the offering table. He chanted the mantra that the elders had taught him. After that, Valko circled the wooden pile of sandalwood while pouring the same essential oil used for bathing.

When he finished, the man grabbed the torch that Alarick had already thrust. He closed the ritual by throwing the torch on a pile of wood. After the fire broke out, Valko realized that there was an awkwardness.

He must face the fact that it turns out that Luna is the one who was burned to get Dire Wolf's spirit out of her body. Not the white wolf he knew. Valko was wide at once.

"Luna! That's you, right?"

Luna was silent and did not answer. Her tears broke under the mask that covered her face. Her tears washed her face. The girl's chest felt so tight as if there was water filling up to the base of the throat.

Sobs began to escape her lips. It turned out that parting with Valko was more painful, than having to face the fact that his death was in sight. In the last second before the fire touched her white skin, Luna uttered a request.

The girl hoped God would give her one more chance to meet Valko in the next life. As soon as Luna finished saying the request inwardly, flames began to grab the dress that wrapped her body.

The cloth melted, making the fire even bigger. Luna screamed in pain from the fire that started to touch her skin. Her last cry sounded like a heart-wrenching night song.

Along with the burning of the girl's body, a bright white light shot out from Valko's body. The light shot into the necklace worn by Luna. Valko continued to rebel, trying to get into the sea of fire.

"You must sacrifice Luna! You savages! The luna! Didn't I tell you!" Valko continued to scream with tears.

All his life, only this time did he feel such excruciating pain. The pain of seeing his loved ones had to be a victim for his sake.

"I'm willing to be Dire Wolf for the rest of my life as long as I stay with you! I'll stay in seclusion when the full moon comes, so as not to scare you or hurt your body!" yelled Valko in the middle of sobs.

But it's all too late. Now the Luna body has melted mixed with ash from the burning of sandalwood stems. The sky is also mourning. It rained right after Luna's body burned out.

Canis who witnessed the incident also cried. Throughout history, only this time they sacrificed a girl for the Dire Wolf ritual. A roaring cry now echoed in the skies of La Eterno Forest as well as the residence of Diego.

The middle-aged man was crying as much as he wanted to let go of his nephew. He was unable to prevent the stubborn Luna. Moreover, he had just learned that Luna was about to go to the settlement of the Canis tribe to be an offering for the forest ruler.

[Uncle, at least now my spirit is still with you all the time, as long as you stay in La Eterno forest.]

Luna wrote in the letter she left to her uncle.