While Baek Yu-Seol practiced wielding the energy of the Twelve Divine Moons aboard the airship, Silver Autumn Moon silently disappeared.
Returning to his true form, Silver Autumn Moon began to move, heading toward the westernmost edge of the continent.
'Divine Moon Temple…'
There were nine known temples of the Divine Moon in the world, each managed by different nations.
Although called temples, they were little more than ruins now. After the disappearance of the Divine Moons, these sites lost their significance and were abandoned.
Humans believed there were only nine temples because only nine had been discovered. But this wasn't true.
In reality, there were twelve temples. Two of them had been completely destroyed, leaving no trace.
And the last one…
It was in Dorothy, the final paradise in the west.
Dorothy was now so contaminated that humans could no longer enter, but it was once said to be a paradise where all the pleasure of the world could be found. The last temple was located there.
"…It hasn't changed."
Upon arriving in Dorothy, which was now almost devoid of human life, Silver Autumn Moon clicked his tongue in regret as he set foot on the ground.
One of Dorothy's defining features was its lack of low-rise buildings. Instead, countless thin, tall structures stood like pillars, numbering in the hundreds.
Now, however, they were all broken and crumbled, and the grandeur of the hundreds of pillars was no longer visible. Yet, in Silver Autumn Moon's memory, this place was still a paradise, a utopia.
Once, the people who lived here worshiped the Twelve Divine Moons as gods.
Through their devotion, they inherited divine power from the Divine Moons, becoming a unique race capable of manipulating elements.
Thanks to this power, they developed a mysterious civilization, distinct from the magical societies of humans. But in human society, 'different' often meant 'wrong.'
They were ostracized, condemned for manipulating elements despite being unable to use magic.
Thus, when the dark mages attacked, they received no help from humanity.
Even as they screamed in agony and died amidst the chaos, Silver Autumn Moon could do nothing but watch.
He could only stand by helplessly.
Because he could not interfere with the world.
...It had been hundreds of years, but Silver Autumn Moon's exceptional memory never let him forget that day for even a moment.
After wandering slowly through the streets of Dorothy for some time, he finally arrived at the temple of the Divine Moon.
Unlike the other temples, which had crumbled and turned to ruins due to neglect, this one looked as intact as it had centuries ago.
"…The Great Twelve Divine Moons."
"I kneel before such greatness."
It made sense.
Ever since that day hundreds of years ago, those who had seized control of this temple had continued to protect it.
Dark Mages.
They hadn't attacked this place without reason.
They had envied those who could wield the power of the Divine Moons and sought to learn their ways. But when their requests were denied, they exacted what they believed to be rightful retribution.
To the Dark Mages, it was justified.
They saw themselves as beasts striving to gain reason and intellect. When their plea for enlightenment was refused, they believed the punishment they dealt was warranted.
That was how they justified their actions.
"New faces, I see."
Silver Autumn Moon frowned in distaste, causing the Dark Mages to take a step back and lower their heads.
"You still guard this place?"
"Indeed. Those born on this continent are bound by duty to revere the Twelve Divine Moons."
"We are not beings that require reverence from anyone."
"But to us, you are. By following you... we gain power and intelligence."
That was it… power and intelligence.
For the Dark Mages, it was everything they pursued in life.
Powerful beings naturally became kings, and for Dark Mages, who sacrificed their intelligence for strength, regaining their intellect would make them the ultimate beings.
While many modern-day Dark Mages had learned how to maintain their reason without losing their intelligence, their thirst for power and deeper knowledge remained unchanged.
"Step aside. I have somewhere to be."
Silver Autumn Moon had no intention of entertaining their words.
The Dark Mages obediently stepped to the sides, murmuring as they did:
"Our king is always waiting for your kind."
Silver Autumn Moon ignored them and continued walking.
There was no need to heed the words of the wretched creatures that had once attacked Dorothy.
Descending into the temple's underground, Silver Autumn Moon channeled his energy to unlock the massive stone door that had remained sealed for ages.
The door bore countless scars, evidence of failed attempts to open it with brute force or magic. However, the magic of the Progenitor Mage was not something that could be broken so easily.
Rumble...
As the door creaked open, Silver Autumn Moon stepped confidently into the stone chamber.
Perhaps many mages and Dark Mages alike had tried to open this door, believing some extraordinary artifact lay within.
But in reality, there was nothing grand inside.
This chamber… only contained paintings.
Every wall and ceiling was covered with countless murals.
A thousand years ago, the Progenitor Mage had sought to leave his will for future generations, but at that time, there was no universally established language.
It was an era of chaos, where the extinction of one language-bearing race and the birth of a new one often meant languages were constantly mixing and changing. Even a hundred years later, it was uncertain whether the language they used would still exist.
So, the Progenitor Mage chose to leave behind paintings - imbued with magical power - to preserve his message for eternity.
Even in the nine temples managed by human nations, similar paintings existed. Yet, they remained undeciphered to this day.
The murals were filled with enigmatic patterns and symbols:
- A sun and a colossal dragon.
- Humans engulfed in flames and a giant sleeping within an iceberg.
- An elf overturning the land with a spear and a massive mountain slumbering with its eyes closed.
A series of images which were impossible to comprehend.
Even the Twelve Divine Moons couldn't grasp the meaning behind these paintings.
Silver Autumn Moon, too, had never understood what the Progenitor Mage intended to convey with such images.
The murals in this temple, however, were particularly unique and special.
On the ceiling of this last temple left by the Divine Moons was the final painting created by the Progenitor Mage before he disappeared.
"…Looking at it now, I think I might understand its meaning."
While the ceilings of other temples were filled with countless intricate murals, this temple was different.
Only a single, massive painting adorned its ceiling.
- A lone human reaching out with one hand.
- Two dragons, one white and one black.
- A swirling vortex of twelve radiant colors merging into a rainbow.
- At the center of the vortex was a swirling yin-yang pattern of black and white.
"I see… I finally understand."
Why hadn't they realized this before?
What happens when all the colors of the Twelve Divine Moons mix together?
When colors mix, they darken, becoming muddy and eventually turning black. This had always been taken as a symbol of destruction.
But what about light?
When colors of light mix, they don't grow dim or dark. Instead, they shine brighter and more radiant than ever.
And that was the key.
'When all colors are mixed, will they become black, or will they become white?'
Silver Autumn Moon floated up and gently traced the yin-yang pattern on the ceiling with his hand.
Perhaps Fawn Prevernal Moon had already known this truth all along.
That's why he wasn't in a hurry.
It didn't matter who the Twelve Divine Moons gathered around; there was no need to forcefully seize control.
In the end, the outcome of all the colors coming together would determine everything.
Silver Autumn Moon clenched his fist tightly and frowned.
"Baek Yu-Seol… I hope that child becomes white."
***
Waning Moon Plains, Lotus Inn
Early in the morning, Jeliel, dressed in a simple gown for her business trip, was about to board an airship when she received unpleasant news.
"Multiple traces of Dark Mages have been detected on the plains?"
"Yes. The tribal people are unable to handle it and have requested support from our company."
The employee who reported this looked utterly baffled.
"We're not a mage tower; why are they asking us for reinforcements…?"
"Do it."
"Pardon?"
"Send reinforcements. Use company funds to hire mages from the towers and gather mercenaries to deploy immediately."
"Are you perhaps, serious?"
Jeliel turned sharply, her expression icy, and glared at the employee. The sheer intensity of her gaze made the employee squeak and stumble back a step, as if encountering a ghost.
"Listen carefully. If the Waning Moon Plains fall, Starcloud falls with them. If the plains survive, so does Starcloud."
That was the truth.
Although no one had ever said it out loud, Starcloud functioned as the de facto monarchy ruling over the Waning Moon Plains.
For hundreds of years, the Waning Moon Plains had been ravaged by war, but Starcloud brought peace for the first time by buying off all the warring factions. They established a financial system and completely protected the plains from external invasions. If not a monarchy, what else could this be called?
The only reason they didn't officially call it a monarchy was because they operated under the guise of being a trading company.
In essence, Jeliel was akin to the daughter of the king who ruled the vast expanse of the Waning Moon Plains, and she had a duty to protect its people.
"I don't know why the Dark Mages are stirring up trouble again, but if we leave them alone, they'll grow bold and crawl all the way here."
That was something she absolutely couldn't tolerate.
"Round them all up and kill them."
"Understood."
Having made her stance clear, Jeliel leaned back in her chair. There were about ten minutes left before the airship's departure.
'...What's gotten into the Dark Mages lately?'
Ever since the attack on the factory, she'd felt an unsettling sense of unease, but she hadn't been able to uncover anything concrete.
The Dark Mages she had captured and interrogated were all low-ranking members, too ignorant to provide meaningful information.
But there was no doubt they had a purpose.
When Dark Mages acted with such organization, it meant there was a larger, commanding force behind them… a force intelligent enough to rival even the greatest human grand mages. They were not a threat to be taken lightly.
If they're causing chaos on the plains, they must have a specific goal…
But what could it be? Would it justify losing so many Dark Mage lives in the process? Was there something they absolutely needed to achieve, even at the cost of countless casualties?
What was their objective?
As she closed her eyes, organizing her thoughts, the employee who had left earlier burst into the room in a panic, forcing her to open her eyes again.
"Y-Young Lady!"
"...What is it now?"
If someone came running in such a panic, it was unlikely to be anything ordinary. Jeliel's expression hardened as she asked, and the employee stammered nervously.
"Th-the plains... Across the entire plains, P-Persona Gates have started opening simultaneously!"
"... What did you just say?"
Jeliel's face turned pale at the mention of something she had never encountered before.
This was a massive event, something far beyond her knowledge or ability to handle.