The Moon Goddess and Her Mate

At the Lugthna Family House,

“Armen, we need to talk.” A middle-aged man said to the tallest young man in his house. The name’s owner, who was walking out, became silent because he heard his father talking to him. Meanwhile, another young guy pretended not to know and chose to walk inside, to the kitchen, to be precise. Agtheo seemed to want to avoid problems, especially those involving himself.

“What do you want to talk about, Dad?” Armen asked. The brave guy used flat intonation to hide the annoyance in his heart. The Moon Goddess’s lover did not want to turn around yet, so Norah Bitnantzh’s husband had to be patient with his eldest son’s behaviour.

“Armen. Look at me. I am talking to you.” The hook-nosed man was already annoyed by the behaviour of the person he was talking to. However, he did not want to start a fight. The young man was forced to obey the order, even though he was reluctant to do so.

“Yes, Dad?” Armen tried to keep speaking politely, even though inside, he was still very angry with Gathemza.

“Did Goddess Atvertha meet you in your dreams or maybe when you were picking firewood or hunting?” The hazel-eyed man dared to ask about personal matters. Armen could not answer yet because, in reality, the goddess had not come at all. This moment made the young guy nervous, but he tried to cover it up so that his parents would not find out about his fear.

“Atvertha has not come to see me yet, Dad. Maybe she will come soon.” Armen answered confidently, even though the brown-haired young man had not received any news from the girl he loved. Lebrazht looked at his son with uncertainty. He seemed to want to get angry, but when he remembered that all the problems they were experiencing were because of Agtheo’s actions, that desire disappeared by itself.

“If the Moon Goddess has given you news, then do not forget to tell me or Mom.” Lebrazht could only leave a message because he did not know what to say to the person he was talking to. Armen nodded. For some reason, he was sure that he would soon get news from Atvertha.

“I will do it, Dad.” The charismatic guy had made a promise and really meant it. The head of the Lugthna family could only remain silent, then reluctantly nodded.

The atmosphere between the father and son became somewhat awkward as their conversation had stopped. Armen felt a gentle breeze hit his body, and in the silence there, he was even reminded of Atvertha, whose whereabouts were not yet known. The brown-haired man wanted to leave the house as soon as possible because he did not like being there.

“Dad, I want to go to the temple. I will be back soon.” Armen said goodbye, looking at the face of his biological father. The man who married at a young age nodded as if reluctant to say anything to the person he was talking to. When he saw Lebrazht’s reaction, the handsome young guy immediately turned around and left the house. The weather was so sunny outside as if nothing strange had ever happened there.

“I must immediately get news from my lady, but how should I do it? If that is the case, I will just come to Lord Athalamaya. He will convey my message to Atvertha, so my goddess will come.” The man, who had a height of one hundred and ninety-two centimetres tall, headed towards his destination without further ado. The anger began to erode because it was filled with the hope of conveying what was in one’s heart to the main god, the protector of the Agbazarth Tribe, which was increasing in size.

***

Thirty minutes later

A burly man had arrived at a building that was very familiar to him. Armen could see stairs going up and down before reaching the main door. Without a doubt, the first son of the couple, Lebrazht Lugthna and Norah Bitnantzh, rode it. After climbing the last steps, the future husband of the Queen of Witches began entering the temple area he wanted to visit.

“Finally, I have arrived, but I have to meet the High Priest first so he can help,” muttered Armen as he continued walking towards the inside temple. A gentle breeze hit the man’s body. He seemed to enjoy the situation, and when he was about to go further, the virgin guy met a man in a white robe.

“Good afternoon, High Priest.” Armen politely greeted the man who lived there.

The white-bearded man smiled. In the hands of the High Priest was a medium-sized bowl filled with fruit. Armen realized this and, as soon as possible, remembered that he had not brought anything as an offering to Lord Athalamaya, even though he wanted to pray in front of the god’s image.

“Good afternoon, Armen. How can I help you?” asked the High Priest kindly. The sun was starting to be covered by a cloud, so the weather there was not too hot.

“I wanted to come to Lord Athalamaya, but I did not bring an offering for him,” answered Armen, who looked embarrassed as he showed his hands empty. However, the other person smiled again as if he understood what the young man was doing.

“It is okay, Armen. I already knew you would come, so this offering is for you.” The High Priest showed the object he was carrying. The guy who had been matched with a girl named Atlanta was immediately stunned. He did not seem to think that he had been waiting for his presence.

“How did you know I was coming?” Armen asked, frowning. The middle-aged man smiled as if he knew the concerns of the eldest of the two brothers.

“I am a High Priest, so I definitely know if someone wants to come here. Do you want to go straight to the worship room?”

Armen nodded because he could not wait to get there soon. When he looked at the bowl brought by the religious leader, the young man felt embarrassed and uncomfortable. “Yes, High Priest. Sorry if I have troubled you that you had to prepare this offering for me.”

“There is no need to hesitate, Armen. That has been my assignment as a High Priest, especially if ordered directly by Lord Athalamaya, so I can’t refuse. Come on, let’s go inside!” The green-eyed young man was about to say something, but he immediately thought it was better to hide it. The two men continued walking. Together, they headed in a direction that was their destination, especially Armen.

Could it be that Lord Athalamaya told the High Priest? Ah, it seemed too excessive if I thought that. I am just an ordinary human being who happens to have an immortal goddess as a lover. To be honest, I have no idea who he could know about my arrival. Armen thought as he continued to walk side by side with the white-robed man.

***

Inside the worship room

Before entering the front, the High Preist looked to the left, surprising the man with thick eyebrows. “Armen, take this and put it under the foot of Lord Athalamaya’s statue. When you have finished praying, you can tell me,” he said, handing a bowl filled with fruit to the Moon Goddess’ future husband.

Armen accepted the bowl well, and his heart filled with joy. The anger had disappeared one hundred per cent from within, and the young man was ready to pour out his complaints to Lord Athalamaya. “Thank you, High Priest.”

“I will not bother you. You can walk first.” The High Priest gave Armen permission to proceed, and the man nodded with a big smile.

“Once again, many thanks for your help, High Priest.” The young guy, who received his good looks from his biological father, as soon as possible left with a strong feeling. Meanwhile, the white-robed man just watched Armen’s back without saying anything. The religious leader exhaled heavily as if something was weighing on his heart, but he could not express it to anyone and could only keep it to himself.

Not long after, Armen arrived in front of the statue of Lord Athalamaya and his wife, Goddess Tathatea. The brown-skinned man bowed his head once as if paying respect to them. He was still carrying a bowl, which was an offering for the immortal husband and wife. He placed the bowl on the floor, on the right side, then began to kneel.

“Good afternoon, Lord Athalamaya and Goddess Tathatea. I come here to pray and make a wish,” said Armen softly. The handsome guy started to pick up the bowl he had put on the floor, then raised the object high above his head. “Please accept my offering, O God and Goddess. I know the High Priest has prepared this, but I beg you to accept it as a sign of my devotion and gratitude.”

Without that mortal guy knowing, two golden lights emerged from within the statue, and they stood floating in front of the thirty-five-year-old man. Armen placed the bowl at the foot of a god’s image, and then he began to prostrate himself with his face kissing the floor.

O Lord Athalamaya, I really miss Atvertha. Sorry if it is rude just to call my immortal lady names, but that is what I usually do when we are still together. Armen said a prayer with closed lips. Without realizing it, the man’s tears fell because he could not stand the longing he had harboured for a long time.

I do not know what happened to Atvertha. She has not come to see me, even though she promised she would. I hope that Lord Athalamaya and Goddess Tathatea will help with this message so that my lady knows that I am apprehensive about her. Armen tried to hold back his tears, but it was in vain.

Whatever happens to my lovely girl, I will not leave her. If Atvertha experiences difficulties or there are things she cannot convey, please tell her that I have been waiting for her and never abandon her. I do not want to just be forgotten, even though we have both agreed to get married. I will not just back down.

I ask for your help, O Lord Athalamaya and Goddess Tathatea. Do not let my relationship with my special lady be destroyed. I really love Atvertha, even though we come from different worlds. I will do anything to make her my wife and try to help her with any obstacles. I am not the type of man who likes playing with women for personal pleasure. I just needed a woman, and that was Atvertha.

Armen stopped praying because he was crying. Feelings of sadness dominate the young man’s heart and mind. The guy who always looked fresh could not resist releasing his pent-up feelings. The immortal husband and wife who had been listening to the prayers of Lebrazht’s eldest son became pitiful, especially the god’s wife. “We have to tell Atvertha that her mortal mate misses her, Hubby.”Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

The god worshipped by the Agbazarth Tribe replied, “I agree with you. You can tell Gatzht that we will be going out for a while. If someone prays in front of our statue, then their prayers will still be heard, even if the reaction is a little longer.”

The blonde woman nodded. “I will tell Gatzht now.”

***