Laxus stepped up to the throne and gently turned the moon statue on it. The statue rotated side to side with his movements, letting out a faint click-clack sound.
"There's a mechanism, but just spinning it up and down won't do the trick."
He circled the throne, inspecting it closely. Besides the large central moon statue, there were three smaller ones nearby that could also be moved. After a few tries, though, nothing around him changed. He leaned in, examining every detail of the throne.
[Enhancement Magic: Eagle Eye Vision]
A white glow flashed in Laxus's eyes, and his vision sharpened instantly, everything magnified countless times. His gaze swept the area until he spotted faint, dust-covered writing at the top of the throne.
He stepped forward and carefully wiped away the dust, revealing intricate carvings.
"When the silver wheel sinks into the throat of the horizon, the Goddess of Night shall reign over her domain."
"Align the new moon with her daughters' gaze, follow the trail of the fallen corona's light, until it rests in its final place."
"Only when the eight sisters unite in purpose will the silent gate open for the devout."
"Follow the trail of the fallen corona's light, until it rests in its final place," Laxus muttered. "That must mean looking toward where the sun sets—west."
"The new moon and her daughters? The new moon's that crescent shape, like a sickle, so it probably refers to the moon statue on the throne. But daughters… could those be statues too?"
He scanned the hall and noticed small, crudely carved statues of long-haired women in each corner, about the size of a cat. They were simple, with vague human outlines and blurry facial features.
"These… they're not just decorations, are they?"
He approached one and tried turning it. The statue scraped with a grating sound, not smoothly, but it definitely moved. Laxus went to each corner, turning all the rough statues to face west. Then he returned to the throne and adjusted the four moon markers to point west as well.
As the final statue shifted, a deep rumble echoed from the throne, and the entire hall trembled slightly. The throne sank slowly, and the wall behind it began to rise, dust spilling from the cracks.
A minute later, a dark, shadowy opening appeared, releasing a musty, ancient scent.
Laxus summoned a phantom and sent it into the passage. The moment it stepped inside, the floor glowed faintly white, illuminating the entire tunnel.
A few minutes later, after the phantom scouted ahead: "Oxygen's good, no toxic gas, no traps. It's safe to enter."
He stepped into the tunnel, the ground beneath him glowing softly, lighting up the path. The walls were etched with simple but vivid murals, their rough lines brimming with life.
The murals showed a full moon in the sky, with countless stick-figure people kneeling toward it, offering symbolic tributes. In front of them was a wavy pattern representing a pool, reflecting the moon. Radiating lines depicted the moon's light, and a slightly more detailed female figure descended from it.
The stick figures below opened their mouths, as if shouting, while the woman from the moon raised her arm, casting a beam of light over the kneeling crowd.
"Is this a scene of people worshiping the Moon Goddess?" Laxus murmured, his fingers brushing the carved lines. "Her blessing must be that light."
He continued down the tunnel until he reached a strange, massive room.
The ceiling was a domed semicircle, embedded with softly glowing gems that lit the space like stars in a night sky. At the center stood a towering statue of a woman, carved from pure white marble, wearing a silver crown adorned with delicate moon patterns.
Unlike the crude murals, the statue's features were finely detailed, exuding kindness and warmth. Her faint smile made the stone seem almost alive. She held a silver moon in her hands, and her eyes, inlaid with blue gems, sparkled under the surrounding light.
Behind the statue was a large circular pit, its walls covered in various moon patterns. The floor was scattered with white flowers and silver-leaved trees, all glowing faintly.
"These flowers… they're still alive?!" Laxus's eyes widened in surprise as he cautiously approached.
The flowers were pure white and silver, emitting a soft glow and a sweet fragrance.
Looking at the scene and recalling the murals, Laxus came to a conclusion. "The Moon Goddess doesn't seem like an evil deity, unlike Ankhseram, who cursed Zeref. She must be a benevolent goddess."
"So, the gods in this world don't just spread curses—they can grant blessings too."
"Too bad there's no detailed description of the blessing's effects. The murals don't show it either."
He recalled the inscription from earlier: "On the night of the full moon, the goddess will bestow her blessing." The mural had shown a full moon too. "Does that mean the Moon Goddess only descends during a full moon?"
"Tomorrow night's a full moon," he mused. "If I time it with a sacrificial ritual, could I see the goddess in person?"
After a moment of thought, Laxus turned and left the mysterious chamber.
As he exited, the tunnel sealed shut, the throne reappeared, and the eight statues returned to their original positions, as if nothing had happened.
---
Outside the Moon Goddess Temple, Laxus leaped into the air, hovering briefly as his eyes scanned the island below. He quickly spotted the village.
With a few flaps of his wings, he shot through the sky like an arrow, landing above the village in moments.
As he descended, he noticed Mirajane strolling leisurely through the village. Every time she passed by, the nearby villagers visibly trembled before scattering in a panic, as if they'd seen something terrifying.
"What'd you do to them?" Laxus landed beside her, raising a curious eyebrow.
"Oh, my~" Mirajane pouted, her expression mock-hurt. "I didn't do anything! They just took one look at me and ran off scared."
She let out a playful sigh, her voice lilting. "Doesn't that make me seem super scary? I'm honestly pretty heartbroken about it~"