Ch.414Clarity Under the Moonlight. Lake Ariel (1)

The Moon is Beautiful.

That is an undeniable fact.

Even if its essence is a miserable woman trapped in a cold ball of ice, for the mortal beings struggling on this earth, a night illuminated by moonlight is incredibly beautiful, peaceful, and provides the rest they desire.

The heat of the day slowly cools in the night’s chill, awaiting the time to burn again, and those who fought under the light rest their weary bodies in the darkness. For some, dreams last but a moment. For others, dreams longer than eternity. Night spreads its darkness as they wait for the time to rise again.

It embroiders the achievements of great spirits like the sea, tempting children with the promise “you too can become like this,” and instills courage in those who move forward. Thus, night symbolizes rest.

Unlike day and sun, which represent progress, development, and struggle, night and moon signify stagnation, stability, and rest. Both are necessary for humans, but humans cannot survive with only one.

If the world had only day, all things would burn, and humans would descend into madness and barbarism from endless struggle. If the world had only night, everything would sink into lethargy and slowly suffocate, and people would wander eternally in endless dreams, cursing a world that never brightens.

That is why half the day is day and half the day is night. To let humans know that rest follows struggle. To announce to the world that light follows darkness.

This was the will of Nariakira Saburo and the determination of Maria Taylor.

How absurd are humans? They think of rest while struggling, and yearn for struggle while resting. Despite being oppressed by the night for hundreds of thousands of years, countless people still love the night streets.

Those who plot war during peace, those who desire peace during war. Those who have everything yet are unhappy. Those who have nothing yet are happy. Such contradictions cannot be excluded from human society.

Then for what purpose was the empire of humanity founded, and toward what should it advance? Humanity has already discovered all knowledge; what remains is excavation. Humanity has already conquered every place in the world; what remains is exploration.

Is there no world beyond the 13 continents? If not on this world line, should we send expeditions somewhere toward unknown worlds intersected by the thin membrane of dimensions? After the newly born empire cools the sun, melts the moon, and erects 13 lighthouses to illuminate the world, then what? On what battlefield should the empire named after victory claim its next triumph?

“I don’t know either.”

The sun answered.

The moon was bright, clouds spread like cotton candy, and the wind roughly scratched the armor plates. In this world that had become winter, snow was falling gently from the sky like mold.

Snow.

Viktor always hated snow. It was cold, slippery when frozen, and dirty when melted. In his childhood, which had no leisure for building snowmen, snow was always his enemy.

He preferred rain instead. Though noisy and damp, at least rain was a grateful entity that washed away the world’s filth all at once. What about snow? It merely covers the world’s filth with its pristine whiteness. It only hides the corruption and pollution beneath. When trampled and mixed, it eventually blends with pollution, turning black and freezing in unseen places… nothing more than an obstacle.

Looking at the moon, she still shines brightly, watching over this world. That much is undeniable. At least, she grants rest to humanity.

However, considering the curse she placed on the Walker couple, the sun could not view the moon favorably. How could one positively evaluate someone who transfers their pain to others?

At least, he hoped his wife and the moon would reach an amicable agreement at the lake they would soon visit. Isn’t bearing and raising children the ultimate goal of all beings? While he sympathized with her pain of miscarriage and stillbirth, placing a curse on others to transfer that pain was a cruel act unworthy of a benevolent deity.

Moreover, it even went against the sun’s will; Maria was the weakest yet strongest goddess.

*

“My lord. We will arrive at Lake Ariel in a few hours.”

“Will the Sky Warden be able to land this time?”

“Judging from the satellite images, it seems entirely possible.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Although Lake Ariel is the moon’s domain, the moon’s divinity is established under the concept of being the sun’s companion. The sun could struggle on without the moon, but without the sun, the moon would be nothing but a ball of ice.

Therefore, technically, the sun cannot be held accountable for whatever it does at Lake Ariel. Though I’m not sure if mortals can even judge a god’s sins.

“This time, you must do it alone.”

“Yes. I know.”

Since their marriage, Raisha had followed her husband like a shadow. Just as the cosmic moon does.

But now, at least here, she must proceed alone. She must meet the moon who cursed her as an equal.

She must make the lunar radiance contained within that lake her own.

-Bridge announcement: Descending altitude. Landing in 1 hour.-

Gradually, the Sky Warden descends, and the clouds and moon grow distant. The timing is perfect—just as the sun sets and the moon rises. It was time for the earthly moon and the cosmic moon to meet at this lake.

Shuuuush….

The sound of air pressure releasing is heard as the Sky Warden lands.

The massive landing gear settles heavily, and the hatch opens with stairs. The believers of the moon, dressed in pure white robes, await the earthly moon—O descended moonlight, do not keep them waiting.

*

Click. Click.

Raisha, wearing high heels, slowly descends the stairs.

Originally a spear-wielder, she wasn’t accustomed to wearing high heels as everyday attire, but she wouldn’t need her spear at this lake. She had worn high heels a few times for various formal occasions, so it wasn’t entirely unfamiliar.

“Goddess of the Moon.”

Seeing the moon’s descent, the moon’s devotees, their faces filled with ecstasy, carefully covered themselves with thin cloth and knelt.

“Welcome to your land.”

This Lake Ariel, dedicated to the moon, is ruled by the Queen of Night. They struggled to their feet, making every effort to avoid letting their gaze touch the goddess’s skin as they guided Raisha to where she needed to go.

“The universe awaits you. To the place you must go, to the place from which you originated.”

Raisha looked up at the sky.

The moon, having seized the twilight sky, wrapped in clouds like a nightgown, was watching her.

“Tsk!”

Raisha stroked her belly and turned her eyes back to the ground. The woman who had cursed her with infertility. The hateful being who had prevented her from receiving her beloved man’s seed was waiting for her.

Her hatred permeated the surroundings, silently killing the devotees who had no resistance to divinity.

“Keuruk… keureureuruk…”

“Keoeoeoeoek….”

Choking, eyes rolling back. Viktor, watching from the ship, was horrified and shared his power to preserve their lives, but she continued to spread the moon’s deadly power, indiscriminately killing the surrounding devotees.

They say when a woman harbors resentment, snow falls even in midsummer—truly fitting. Whether because she was a goddess or because she was the moon, unlike the sun’s heat that could burn even souls, the moon’s cold was gradually freezing the lake, cold enough to freeze souls.

Finally, the lake froze solid, but Raisha continued forward, breaking the ice with her high heel tips. Her frost-covered body slowly began to enter the great waves of the lake.

When she had completely entered the lake, thin ice filled it entirely, and soon the lake was completely surrounded by ice, as if sealed, allowing nothing to enter and nothing to leave.

“Now it’s time for the two women to meet.”

Raisha’s consciousness sinks into the depths.

And finally awakens. In a room where there exists a being similar to her, yet different.

The earthly moon and the cosmic moon have met at this Ariel through ice and water. Until their meeting ends, no one will be able to melt this cold.