episode_0009

The Dark Side of the Moon.

That name signified the hidden truth, a place where the world’s light didn’t reach, emerging only after everyone was asleep.

The first time that name was whispered was in the year 127 of the Imperial Calendar, immediately after the ‘Shadow Experiment’ conducted at the Magic Research Institute in the capital, Hyperion.

That experiment was officially concluded as a failure, but in reality, it was a secret project aimed at manipulating human consciousness to turn them into controllable weapons, and countless test subjects lost their lives without even their memories erased.

Young mages and scholars disgusted by this horrific truth, fallen heirs of noble families, and military personnel who began to question the Empire’s ideology secretly started to gather.

They were the beginning of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’.

The organization had no official name or public activities.

They were those who didn’t exist. Only the bond forged by trust connected them.

No one commanded, and no one stood above another.

The goal was singular.

‘To reveal the truth of the Empire and dismantle the structure of oppression hidden in this land.’

The Dark Side of the Moon was not a mere anti-government group.

Instead of wielding weapons, they wielded records, collecting truth instead of hatred.

Human rights violations that occurred during the Empire’s development of magical weapons, the exploitation of the lower class by nobles, and the misuse of hidden ancient legacies.

They collected, restored, sometimes stole, and sometimes infiltrated all of it.

But they became truly dangerous when they attempted a ‘different interpretation of magic’, rather than just collecting information.

The magic system the Empire had built was a hierarchical and feudal order itself.

The fixed notion that one must have noble birth, lineage, and qualifications to handle the flow of magic.

However, The Dark Side of the Moon denied that.

They began to prove that anyone could understand the flow of magic, and that inner will, experience, and even pain could become fuel for magic.

This immediately shook the very foundation of the Empire.

Because the Empire maintained its power through the ‘possession’ of magic.

‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ soon became a political threat as well.

Although it was a small, secretive organization, it included descendants of Imperial noble families, high-ranking scholars, top graduates of magic schools, and even public officials who secretly leaked internal Imperial information.

There were even rumors that some members of the Imperial Family were connected with them.

However, as the organization expanded, cracks began to appear from within.

Some pursued ideals,

Some desired revenge,

And yet others… coveted power.

Eventually, the Empire sensed the true nature of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ and launched a large-scale purge operation.

That incident was later called the ‘Silver Moon Incident’ in history and was packaged as a simple suppression of a riot.

Since that day, the name ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ vanished.

The survivors went into hiding, and the traitors kept their mouths shut.

But some of them were still watching the embers.

And a few, quietly began to gather again.

No new name was needed, nor old beliefs.

They just knew.

‘The Empire is rotten, and it must crumble again from its core.’

And, the moon began to rise again over the dark sky.

On the opposite side of the light, in the deepest and quietest darkness.

————————————–

It was long after the sun had set when they left the city center.

In the biting cold night air that seemed to freeze even one’s breath, Leo pulled the hood of his cloak down low.

The Empire was particularly vigilant these days.

The incident ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ had caused a few days ago—the bombing of the Southern Weapon Depot.

In the aftermath, surveillance magic was deployed in major cities, and movement restrictions were placed even on children of nobles.

But he absolutely had to go there today.

The location of the new branch, and the comrades who would join them.

He could only feel reassured by confirming everything himself.

[Approximately 4 seconds until the activation of the Thornweb Detection Magic.]

Leo took out a thin crystal ball from his pocket.

A blue light flickered slightly, then turned red after 1 second.

“…Now.”

He darted into an alley.

It was a path calculated to be a blind spot for the magic sensors.

A secret passage leading to the outskirts of the city—he had heard of this route from a ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ spy once before.

Polluted sewage flowing along the ground,

A collapsed wastewater treatment plant,

And an old tunnel long forgotten in people’s memories.

Inside that was the meeting place for ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’.

When he arrived at the tunnel entrance, he held his breath.

A small ripple brushed past his feet.

A magic detection network.

“Dispel charm… ‘Seal of the Beastkin, Sixth Gate Shattered – Rat of the Circle.’”

As he placed his hand on the ground, the subtly vibrating wavelength disappeared.

It wasn’t a simple dispel magic, but an advanced technique that broke down the very structure of the magic.

It was the kind that Leo had, daringly, ‘never learned’.

But he knew it.

In the corner of the note she had left behind, that magic structure was written very small.

A faint magic flowed along the walls, and despite being ruins, the aura was remarkably clear.

‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ was breathing in such a place.

About 10 minutes later, a darkly engraved pattern on the front wall greeted him.

The symbol of The Dark Side of the Moon, an upside-down Imperial emblem beneath a crescent moon.

Below it, figures wearing hoods and cloaks were waiting for him.

“You’re late, Leo.”

“Imperial checkpoints have been reinforced. I came carefully.”

Leo smiled quietly. And turned his gaze.

The meeting place was deeper and wider than he expected. Ancient magic circles were engraved on the walls, and some of them were still glowing.

“Is everyone gathered now?”

In the pitch-black night, the wind from the northern plateau howled like a living beast.

There were cracks in the walls, and the floor was covered in dust neglected for ages—but this was the place where the first meeting of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ had taken place.

The semi-basement meeting room.

The sound of water drops dripping from the ceiling created the only rhythm.

A chill permeated between the collapsed walls and rusted iron structures.

And in the center stood Leo.

In his hands were several old documents and a single worn map,

And around him, young people in black cloaks were gathered in a circle.

They were all core members of the anti-Imperial resistance group, ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’.

“It’s been a long time, Leo.”

The first to appear was a middle-aged man with half a mask on his face.

It was ‘Baze’, who was originally part of the Imperial Magic Research Institute.

He had defected after experiencing ethical conflicts during the Empire’s magical weapon development process, and was a person who had joined ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ inspired by Leo’s ideals.

“Took you longer than I thought.”

Leo said coldly. But his eyes held a mix of relief and determination.

“I thought everyone had disappeared.”

“Not disappeared… just hidden. Like you.”

Following him was a young woman in a purple robe, ‘Rania’. She was an Imperial noble but was abandoned by her family because of her poor magical aptitude. Fueled by that anger and sorrow, she developed her own unique magic control technique. She was the core mage of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’.

“What about the others?”

The number of people gathered now exceeded 100, but it was less than a tenth of the previous assembly.

To Leo’s question, Rania shrugged.

“We made contact… but only we showed up. I don’t know if they still trust you.”

Leo sighed. He understood.

‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ was a group that secretly worked against the Empire, protesting its unethical experiments, shows of force, and noble-centric rule. However, after graduating from the Imperial Academy, he had cut off all contact and disappeared, effectively disbanding the organization.

But now was different.

“The Empire is preparing something again.”

Leo quietly took out a sealed scroll and unfolded it on the table. It was an analysis document on the ‘Magic Crystal Structure of the Moon’. It was one of the magical weapon technologies the Empire had discarded long ago.

“Bringing this out again means…”

“Yes. It’s proof that the Empire is preparing for war again.”

Baze and Rania gasped.

The ‘Magic Crystal of the Moon’ was a technology that completely disregarded the existing magic system, amplifying energy even without a magic wielder. If it were realized, an era where mages were no longer needed would arrive.

“We have to fight again. This time… we must see it to the end.”

Leo’s eyes were resolute. In them, a cold realization was complexly intertwined with the warm ideals he had held in his youth.

“But the method is the problem. Just us…”

“We are not the ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ of the past.”

Leo got up and took out a sealed magic orb. As he placed his finger on it, the orb glowed with a soft blue light and floated up.

“This is… a magic regression device?”

“Yes. A technique to reverse magic. Like magic time reversal. It’s also the only way to shut down the Empire’s magic supply network.”

At his words, Rania smiled quietly.

“That sounds interesting. I might just join that experiment.”

Leo nodded.

“Baze, Rania. We don’t have much time. Before the Empire completes that technology… we must move first.”

And his gaze turned to a wall on one side of the underground sanctuary. There was an old mural painted there, where all members of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ had stood hand in hand long ago.

“Now is the time to prove it with action, not words.”

“This is… the route to the Southern Magic Base.”

Leo said in a low voice.

“We’ve cut off the supply lines and planted informants. If this route is breached, 20% of their strength will be neutralized.”

Baze raised his hand.

“But that place is guarded by high-level magic soldiers. It’s hard for ordinary warriors to break through.”

Leo silently spread his hand.

A dark blue magical power flashed at his fingertips.

The air rippled for a moment, and the surrounding torches swayed without wind.

“…That’s why I’m going.”

People gasped.

His magic was different from others’.

Not brilliant or flashy, but a power that slowly, deeply permeated like thick fog.

When he awakened to magic as a child, people said.

‘He has talent, but it’s too dangerous.’

‘This is closer to destruction than attack.’

He remembered all those words.

He was ready to use it.

“Three days from now. The operation begins at dawn.”

He pointed to the war map set up in the center of the meeting room.

“And this is the only chance left for all of us. There will be no mistakes.”

People nodded.

Everyone’s eyes sharpened.

And at that moment—

Leo took a short breath.

Because in a corner of his consciousness, she came to mind.

Siera.

The words she had thrown at him.

That strangely sweet yet sharp gaze.

The quiet threat flowing from her fingertips.

Her actions… now felt like a prophecy.

“Hmm…”

Leo briefly closed his eyes.

He composed himself again.

This was not the time to get lost in emotions.

He had to set aside his relationship with her for now and prepare for this war.

“…This is the only place I have to return to.”

He murmured quietly to himself.

“For now.”

But in a corner of his heart, in the gap of that secretive and cold emotion,

Her words and gaze lingered.

He organized the documents and muttered as he left the meeting room.

“…Siera, I don’t know what you want from me… but at least until this war is over, don’t touch me.”

And into the darkness, his shadow disappeared.

Heading back to the battlefield.

And… onto the path where she might be waiting.

[…How far do you plan to go alone, Master?]

Around the time the clock tower bell struck midnight twelve times, Siera checked the dagger firmly secured at her waist and quietly moved her steps.

She didn’t know how many times this was. Following him. But today felt particularly suffocating. A night when something… a very old premonition rose from her toes.

Leo left the mansion without a word. He told the maids it was a ‘simple outing’, but Siera pieced together all the puzzles with that one sentence.

Today was ‘that organization’s’ meeting day.

She remembered the direction and time he disappeared.

Dark and deserted alleys, old stone walls stained with the smell of oil, and occasional detection-proof zones where magic crossed paths.

This was a route that an untrained person would never notice… but she didn’t make a single wrong step.

As if confirming how well she knew this person, how long she had watched him.

Following him quietly like a shadow, she thought as she watched Leo’s back.

[Today… who are you going to meet?]

His footsteps led deeper and deeper underground.

The entrance to the closed sewage system, his silhouette opening the old door and entering.

Beyond that door, one of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’s’ small bases must be located.

A structure designed not to be caught by the surveillance network. A barrier to avoid magic interference.

And now, Leo had entered it.

Siera flicked her fingers in the air.

A faint sensing magic spread from her fingertips, tracing his presence along the spatial afterglow.

What reached her ears was the sound of voices.

“…Is the support from that noble family confirmed?”

“We will secure more records by the next meeting. We’ve also obtained the draft of the Empire’s magic mobilization plan.”

[As expected…]

She quietly leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.

Her heart beat slowly, and distinctly.

In it, anger, affection, and… an inexplicable emptiness were mixed.

[Why do you insist on coming to such a dangerous place… alone.]

[If the Empire were to target you, then I…]

Her lips parted involuntarily, then stopped.

He didn’t know her. No, even if he knew, he wouldn’t believe her.

The self he saw was still just a maid who took care of her master’s meal times and tidied the bedroom sheets.

But the person who resembled Leo’s shadow more than anyone… was herself.

A little later, the meeting ended and Leo appeared.

Matching the sound of someone opening a door, Siera instinctively hid herself behind it.

And quietly, very quietly, she followed behind him.

Leo seemed lost in thought.

His appearance was so familiar that Siera suddenly recalled an old memory.

In the Imperial Academy, in the corner of the library… the image of that boy flipping through books with dark eyes.

Upon reaching the entrance of an alley, Leo stopped walking.

Siera instinctively halted her movement.

As he turned his head slightly, the wind brushed her hair.

At that moment, their gazes almost crossed.

But Leo turned his head back and just walked away.

As if he hadn’t noticed anything, or… as if he had noticed but pretended not to.

Siera, left alone in the darkness, whispered to herself.

[I’m glad you’re safe… today too, Master.]

Magical power gently bloomed at her fingertips.

Protection, observation, and camouflage magic instantly scattered her form like air.

And again, she vanished into the night.

She was a shadow.

The only shadow Leo didn’t know, but was always by his side.