From Lune To The Galaxy: Starla Series, #1

By Alchemyona

Once upon a time,

 

a shy boy and a grumpy girl met.

 

Lune reluctantly joined the mentor-mentee program, hoping to improve her failing grades. Little did she know that fate had other plans for her. She ended up getting a boy in desperate need of assistance with public speaking as a mentor.

 

"Am I the mentor here? Geez! Don't look down when you're talking, look at me boy!"

 

"B-but that's making me more nervous!"

 

"Huh?"

 

 

In the Kingdom of Starla, may you find your happily ever after!

• Language: English
• Publisher: ALchemyona
• Release date: Apr 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224696369

Alchemyona

Alchemyona is a combination of "Alchemilla" with this author's real name. She values mystery, keeping her real name in secret. Fun fact, Achemilla Mollis; also known as the Lady's Mantle, their flower language signify comforting love, at a time when you want to let someone know you are there for them. Yona wants her beloved people, her beloved readers to know that her books can be used as their escapism. All her books will be written in the same universe, an alternate universe from the real one. She targets those daydreamers to able continueing their dreamers.

Book preview

Prologue

If Lune’s stare could cause fire, the sheet in her hand would be on fire already. It was her second time failing microbiology class. The first time was because the lecturer despised her. Mr. Allen, the lecturer, kept asking her questions during classes and harshly criticizing her when she didn't get them right. Not to mention her quick temper, which leads to frequent verbal arguments with him. She wasn't surprised that she failed his class.

Her second attempt, however, was with a different lecturer, yet she still failed. The lecturer she had this time was fine, but perhaps because of her previous bad experiences with that subject, she had difficulty digesting everything related to it. She also tried asking friends to tutor her, but none of them were particularly good at teaching. In the midst of the chaos of the rest of her assignments from other classes, she felt overwhelmed to even ask from her current lecturer. Thus, she decided to just memorize all the facts she could in order to pass, but she overestimated herself, resulting in her failure.

Lune, I hate to say this, but you're one of the two students who failed my class.

Lune widened her eyes in surprise. One out of two students? Great! It feels good to know I'm the only one who messed up this stupid subject. She quickly put on her poker face before recalling her intention to appear regretful. Be sorry that you failed dummy! You're wasting time to retake this class... urgh stupid!

So, I’d like to know what's the issue. Is it because of the way I teach? Is my instruction ineffective for you? or is the subject too difficult for you?

Ms. Jules, first and foremost, I apologize for disappointing you, but microbiology is really not my thing. I tried everything to learn this foolish subject bu–

Calm down, my dear, she said composedly, leaning back in her seat.

Lune took a deep breath.

I’m sorry. It’s just that this subject irritates me. It’s difficult for me to understand. It’s not your fault, please understand. I tried having others to teach me, but I feel like punching people. It brings back bad memories. I’m not making up reasons. This is a subject that I truly dislike. She explained in an awkward tone.

Well... I'm aware of your previous experience with Allen, but I had no idea it could affect you up until this point.

She paused for a few seconds before continuing, Have you ever heard of our mentoring program?

That was it, that was the beginning of our story.

Chapter 1

Main Hall in East Campus, 2 pm.

Lune Huang... second year from Biotech major right? A black short-haired, young female dressed in a white-collar shirt paired with blue jeans politely asked her.

Yes, that’s me. Lune’s gaze darted around. Hmm. Curious. She could see tons of familiar faces. Wow, that’s a lot. I never thought students from our faculty are interested in this mentoring thingy except they’ve also messed up their grades like mine. She turned her attention back to the female student working at the registration desk. I feel like I’ve seen her before.

Oh, your mentor is on leave today so you're only going to meet him this weekend. Here’s the folder he asked to pass on to you and don’t forget to enter our Discord group chat. Her lips curved into a smile. I’m Julianne, one of the students in charge of this program, so if you have any problems, such as you don’t like your own mentor and would like to switch to a different one... just let me know, okay?

You heard about me from Ms. Jules, didn't you? Lune chuckled, taking the folder from her hand. Woah, this folder is quite thick. Hmm, will read it later on. She shamelessly planned to procrastinate her work.

Actually, we were both under Sir Allen last semester for your favourite subject, Julianne responded cheekily as she continued arranging the piles of folders on the desk.

Stop! Don’t say his name and I can’t relate to those who survived his class. What nonsense you’re talking about here? My favourite subject? Lune grunted, feeling slightly offended. Is she joking? Julianne met her eyes with a teasing smile. Oh. She’s really joking.

For your info, I was there during your famous debut fight.

Famous debut fight? Oh. So, you were there during my famous debut fight. Wait, she attended that hell class with me? No wonder she seems familiar. Moments during that incident started to play in her mind. She remembered how she yelled back at him when he started calling her names. Indeed, it wasn’t a pleasant memory to recall, and it also caused her to have a bad reputation among the students. If wasn’t for knowing that punching him would get her into a big trouble, she would have done it already. I wish I could punch him! Atleast for once.

Yeah, I was. It’s okay I would do something similar if I were in your situation. Who would be stayed calm if someone started to cuss our family isn’t? Julianne reassured that it didn’t matter for her. She was aware of the bad rumours about her but because she was actually there, witnessing the actual incident, she knew people were simply twisting the stories around. Lune wasn’t the one at fault.

Though you had your debut successfully, please don’t get into another fight. She tried to advise her using humour. Even if they never really interact, she knew that she can’t easily judge a person. She’s okay but she really has a bad temper. Wondering who’s the unlucky guy who’s going to handle that temper of hers.

I’m trying here. Anyways, thank you...  so, I can go now, right? She had purposefully informed her friends that she would be late for their hangout due to this program, but since her mentor wasn't around, she could simply join them as usual.

Sure, go ahead.

—-

Cafe Luminous, 4 pm.

A bunch of students who finished their classes were hanging out there. Some of them were busying themselves with their homework, some indulged in food, and some were just there gossiping. Accompanying them in the café was a fancy jazz that was blasting from the speakers gracefully.

Your mentor is Eden James? Urm... don’t mind me asking, who’s that?

Mia... that's what I'm about to ask! Who’s him? Lune responded. Here I thought our mentors are supposedly from our famous seniors. Though I know famous ones are not always reliable but if they’re well-known then it’s easy for me to ask around.

Eh, you also don’t  know your own mentor? Is this, okay? I’m afraid you will beat your own mentor. Mia melancholy commented. She knew her friend well. You might not punch that lecturer... still it doesn’t mean you won’t punch a fellow student. Slurping her chocolate ice blended drink a few times before saying, I’m telling you if you don’t like him, change a new mentor. Don’t use violence to speak.

Nonsense! If my mentor behaves properly, I won’t punch him for sure. Who on earth punches someone for no reason? Well, unless something’s wrong in the mind.

By the way, you requested for someone who’s good in both microbiology and microeconomics so I’m curious... are you perhaps allergic to the word ‘micro’?  Mia’s face while saying those words was so serious as if she wasn’t joking about it at all.

Bam!

Mia rushed to protect her head using a book from getting attacked by a roll of newspaper from Lune’s hand. Her eyes widened. This girl! Where did she get a newspaper roll?!

Uh-oh, why are you hitting me? I’m just joking! she complained, purposely raising her voice.

Tsk. Don’t raise your voice in public and I know you’re fast enough to cover your head anyway. Lune took a sip of her glass of lemonade. Where’s Natty? Why is she the one that’s late right now?

Then, a strange creepy musical tone came to be heard by the two of them.

Natty is calling? They said almost in unison.

Mia gave her ringing phone to Lune while saying, You answer this. I have a bad feeling about this.

Sure, she replied before answering the call. Natty where–

Arhh! Finally, the call got through! Natalie shrieked before continuing, You two please come help me! I accidentally hit someone!

I told you I have a bad feeling about this! Mia was in disbelief. If the problem doesn’t come from Lune, it comes from Natty. Why these two always attract troubles? They should be grateful that, I, this kind and beautiful Mia is always there for help.

Calm down first! Natty share your current location.

—-

Street Lighting 1, 4.25pm.

Natty! Are you all right? Lune stepped forward and carefully examined her friend. She had a few light bruises here and there, but nothing major. The road was far from the usual routes that people took. It was a new route to their hangout cafe. Therefore, few people used this road. This explained why at the moment there were no people at all.

I’m fine I’m fine but he’s not fine! Natalie panickily dragged the two of them to the poor male victim. He was about to cross the road earlier but my brakes–they suddenly didn’t function–

Natty you broke his arm! Mia shrieked. I don’t want to be kind and beautiful anymore! Her knees went weak. The guy looked horribly pale with his right arm looking funny, twisted in the opposite way, obviously broken due to the accident. Even so, he sat quietly on the ground without making a fuss.

You two be quiet! I will bring him and Natty to the hospital first and Mia you call someone in charge to tow that broken bike. Lune sternly gave her order.

—-

Hospital Saint’s Arrow, 4.40pm.

Have you paid everything? Lune asked.

Natalie nodded. I also called his brother to come and pick him up.

His brother is our senior? Same year? Or perhaps our junior? Lune asked, sitting at one of the seats provided there. I can’t believe you really hit someone from our campus. She crossed her arms before casually leaning her back to the wall. This couldn’t be worse, isn’t? she softly muttered to herself. What a day we have.

Yes, I believe his brother is our senior because... his way of talking is very mature and also his name is quite familiar, Natalie paused her words awhile before continuing to say, It’s Earl James.

You’re done Natalie! Of course, his name is familiar. That’s because he’s the president of the student council and his father is our dean! Earl gives us speeches almost every month and you still don’t recognise his name? Lune continued her speech, You never met our dean, but I did! He’s so strict with rules! Gosh, you might get suspended!

Eh, why?! It’s outside of the campus area though! It’s not like I purposely hit his son, Natalie complained. Don’t tell me that old man was the one who asked you to apologize to Allen and suspended you for a week?

Yes, it’s all his freaking fault! He literally said that I as a student should always be polite and respectful to the elders especially our lecturers and bla bla bla more nonsense... so freaking annoying! Lune felt her blood pressure increase just the thoughts of that awful incident. All witnesses were on her side, telling the truth of what actually had happened, but he still decided it was her fault. It was her first time seeing how awfully biased someone can be.

Not to mention... she went on to say, Earl James is also another freak who adheres to strict rules. Ronnie was denied driving his own car for a month and was only permitted to use the student bus because he accidentally hit a lamp post by that guy.

Wait, isn’t that an abuse of power? Natalie couldn't believe what she was just heard.  She even complimented that guy as a someone who talked very mature. Come on, it couldn't be that bad, could it?. What mature? If it’s like this, I don’t want to meet this guy at all!

Let’s just hope for the best, buddy. By the way, what’s the name of the guy you hit? It’s also another James, right? It’s odd that we never see him. Lune was curious to know the name of Eden’s sibling. The James family was the name that everyone in the campus knew. After all, they were a part of shareholders of their campus. Hence, it was rare someone with that family name to be unknown. This guy seriously chose to be lowkey.

Oh yes, it’s Eden James!

You meant– My mentor?!

Lune could feel her heart dropped, as if it was truly dropped onto the floor. It really gotten to the worst situation.

Chapter 2

Hospital Saint’s Arrow, 5pm.

Tick tock tick tock.

The clock hanging on the wall seemed the only one who was able to make noises because the other two were being silent for about five minutes, one was peacefully lying on the bed with his right arm being cast and one was stiffly sitting with both her hands on knees. This continued for a few more moments until Lune found the awkwardness in the air was too suffocating.

Ehem... hi, I’m Lune Huang, your mentee. She felt she needed to properly introduce herself after all her friend was the one who hit him. Sorry about my friend... What else I should say? This is too awkward! She mentally screamed for help. Previously, she didn't want to accompany Natalie to meet that one annoying student council president, so she was left alone to explain things with him.

Urm, I’m Eden... he softly said. He didn’t know where to look. The hairgirl in front of him seemed intimidating but she was the one he needed to mentor on, so he had to brave himself to speak a bit more. Sorry I couldn’t go to our first meeting earlier. I had a bit of errands to do. Though now I regret that I missed it or else I won’t get myself into this hospital.

It’s okay. It wasn’t exactly an important kind of first meeting. Everyone there was just chilling around. So, when are we going to start? If moving around is hard for you, I don’t mind going to your place to study. Lune immediately threw all the uneasy feelings she felt as he touched the mentoring topic. She was determined to fix her grades. Her eyes were in fire of determination. I believe this James guy is also a genius like his brother.

Library is fine for me, he said with eyes still not matching with hers, luckily resulting him to miss the way she looked at him with passion, if not he’d scared himself. Are you okay with that?

Sure, library at which campus? The east one? Main? Actually, I haven’t gone to all the libraries. Only the east one since our faculty is there– wait you’re my senior right? Third year?

He was taken back on how talkative she was.  Feeling nervous, he wanted to rub both of