The Dark Moon's Guidance

"Captain, is it that one?" "The ginkgo leaves are red?" "Dark Moon Island is a bit unusual. Many things we have preconceived notions about look different here." "True enough. Let's get closer and take a look." Neo and Karen strolled past the front of the villa, pretending to take a casual walk. The villa possessed an expansive garden filled with ginkgo trees. Dark-red leaves carpeted the ground, creating a picturesque ambiance. Two armored warriors stood guard at the courtyard gate. Karen noticed five crescent moon emblems on their armor. This was the insignia of the Dark Moon clan. Retainers and staff serving the clan wore emblems ranging from one to seven crescent moons in ascending order based on bloodline tier and closeness to the family, while only the clan leader was permitted to wear the full moon. That two mere gatekeepers could wear five crescents spoke volumes about the exalted status of the villa's master. Even Ophelia's entourage didn't enjoy such an extravagant standard. Clearly, the captain had noticed this as well. Once they turned a corner out of sight, still looking like casual passersby, Neo licked his lips and murmured, "This complicates things. Whoever lives here definitely holds no small status on Dark Moon Island. Besides, I caught a briny tang on those two warriors. They must have just returned from the sea." "Captain, you can even smell that?" "I'll never forget the stench of being soaked in seawater for the rest of my life. And did you notice the blue bricks on the roof? That's a simple spell array; when activated, it dehumidifies the interior. Even though it's running now, there's a layer of dust over it, which clearly means it hasn't been active for long. Karen, our luck isn't looking great. If we'd come a day earlier, this villa might still have been empty. But now, its master is back." "Captain, I have a piece of intelligence to report." "Go ahead." "It's possible that the master of this villa is General Tafman, the commander of Dark Moon Island's outer sea fleet. He is Miss Ophelia's uncle." "General Tafman... I know of him. I gathered some materials on Dark Moon Island before we came. He originally had a shot at competing for the position of clan leader, and his prestige was once even higher than Miss Ophelia's father's. But he had no interest in being clan leader; he preferred commanding his fleet across the open seas, so he essentially yielded the position of his own accord. Some records also indicate he's a very refined and quite twisted man." "Refined and twisted?" "Yes. His living standards have always been exceptionally high. Most of the time, he goes out of his way to ensure he eats and sleeps well. Even in the middle of a battle against pirates, he'd execute a servant on the spot just because a glass of red wine hadn't breathed long enough. On that point, he's very much like you." "How am I anything like that?" "The other point is, he loves inventing gruesome tortures to torment his captives. Thanks to him, the scourge of outer sea pirates that plagued Dark Moon Island for ages has been drastically curtailed." "Captain, are we heading back to the hotel now?" "No, no, no. We can't let a late-night outing go to waste." "You still want to go inside?" "Of course. That's what makes it thrilling, isn't it?" "Captain, if you ever feel life is meaningless and find yourself harboring suicidal thoughts, please tell me beforehand." "No. If you can't see it coming on your own, then you can just die with me." "..." Karen was speechless. Neo turned slightly, glancing toward the villa. "If this really is the general's villa, tonight might actually be a great opportunity. If he weren't back, some potent defensive array would likely have been active around the estate non-stop. Triggering it would inevitably alert the nearby Dark Moon clan. Now that he's returned, many of those arrays have probably been switched off." "Captain, you were just lamenting that we didn't arrive a day earlier." "Doesn't matter. Sometimes reasons exist purely to serve one's preferences—you can pick and choose them as you like." Neo pulled a strip of black gauze from his cuff, handed a length to Karen, and tied his own around his face, leaving only his eyes exposed. Karen noticed that the captain's movements were exceedingly practiced. "We can't wear masks, so this will have to do in a pinch. Oh, right—remember, if anything goes wrong once we sneak in and we have to fight, whatever you do, do not use Order spells. Use the power of Light." "Understood." "Good. We'll sneak in from the flank. By the way, do you know many Light spells?" "A fair amount." "What's 'a fair amount' supposed to mean?" "I flip through them over breakfast." "Damn it." "The conch can't be used inside. It should be fine in the courtyard, but once we're inside the villa, don't use spells unless absolutely necessary." "Understood." Neo led Karen to the side of the villa. Before advancing any further, Neo spread his arms and chanted: "Light—Shadow Cloak." In an instant, Neo's figure became translucent, using the refraction of light to render himself invisible. Neo tapped Karen on the shoulder, transferring the spell's effect to him as well. The two "invisible men" crept toward the edge of the estate. Through the fence, warriors could be seen patrolling, but they were few in number. After all, this was Dark Moon Island, the stronghold of the Dark Moon clan; it was inherently secure here. Naturally, it also reflected General Tafman's confidence. When one possessed sufficient personal strength, surrounding guards often served merely as attendants and an honor guard. Waiting until two patrolling warriors passed, Neo climbed an adjacent tree, darted lightly along a branch, and leaped over the perimeter wall into the estate grounds. Karen looked up at the nearby tree and then at its branches. The Sea God's Armor materialized around him, combining with Ancestor Allen's water-attribute power gained from his symbiotic bond with Purr to grant Karen an immense boost in agility. Climbing the tree, he stepped off the branch and leaped through the air, even executing a mid-air rotation-and-a-half before landing softly. Neo signaled Karen to follow. Instead of immediately approaching the villa, he headed deep into the ginkgo grove. Sweeping aside the fallen leaves on the ground, an iron cover was revealed. Neo twisted it, pulled it open, and hopped inside. Karen slipped down sideways, grabbed a handful of leaves, tossed them lightly upward, and pulled the iron lid shut, concealing the opening as best as he could. Below was a cellar, though because the owner was rarely home, not much food was stored there. Neo navigated through the cellar, turning in a practiced direction and leading Karen into a wine cellar. Karen understood that being in this environment was beginning to trigger "its" memories in the captain. The wine cellar was richly stocked. Red wine from Dark Moon Island was a coveted commodity; in Wien, one couldn't even buy it with riels—only point coupons would do. At the end of the wine cellar was a flight of steps. Ascending them brought them to a door. Barring any surprises, the villa's interior lay just beyond it. Neo closed his eyes to sense what was happening outside, while Karen waited beside him. A moment later, Neo made a rapid series of hand signals to Karen, indicating that once through the door, he should turn left and head up the stairs. Karen nodded to show he understood. Neo slipped the door open swiftly. Karen darted out immediately, turned left, and went straight up the stairs. The entrance to the cellar happened to be right next to the staircase, making the route seamless. Reaching the second floor, Karen saw an open washroom door and ducked inside without hesitation. Moments later, Karen caught a figure in the corner of his eye reaching the second floor and heading straight up to the third. *Captain, why didn't you explain that part clearly!* Yet just as Karen prepared to step out of the washroom and head for the third floor, footsteps sounded outside. Left with no choice, Karen retreated into the washroom. To be safe, he slipped behind the bathtub curtain, perching with his boots balanced on the rim of the tub. Two maids walked in. One began washing her hands while the other rolled her neck to relieve tension. "Let's go. We still need to serve the general and Her Highness downstairs." "Mm." Fortunately, neither of them needed to use the toilet. After they left, Karen returned to the washroom doorway, confirmed the coast was clear, slipped out, and hurried up to the third floor. Every door on the third floor was shut tight. Karen had no idea which room the captain was in. *The study... the study. Yes, secrets are usually kept in a study.* *And a study is typically located at the end of a corridor, but which side?* Although the villa was kept impeccably clean, the owner lived here infrequently, returning perhaps once every few months or even half a year, leaving few obvious signs of daily life. Karen could only take a gamble. He moved quickly toward the sun-facing room on the left, opened the door, and slipped inside. It was indeed a study, but completely deserted. Evidently, the captain wasn't here. Karen had to ease the door open again cautiously, hoping that the captain would do the same right about now, beckoning him from the crack of an open door. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Just then, footsteps sounded from the stairs once more—and they were heading straight toward the study where he was. Karen had no choice but to duck behind the window curtain again. Fortunately, there was a small ledge by the window behind the drapery, where he could sit. A maid walked in, placed tea and refreshments on the desk, switched on the desk lamp, and walked out. Just as Karen prepared to slip out and try his luck with another room, footsteps sounded once again as he reached the doorway—this time belonging to two people. Karen had no choice but to retreat to his perch on the windowsill. The study door was pushed open. "How was dinner?" "Thank you for specially preparing the sea turtle eggs for me, Uncle. They were delicious." "Because I know you've loved them since you were little. Do you know, whenever I spot those sea turtles out at sea, I mark them in advance, waiting until just before I make landfall to send a warship to harvest them. Only that way can I guarantee the eggs are fresh enough. To be frank, the best flavor comes from eating them straight out at sea right after gathering them, scooping them with a spoon without even boiling them while they're still warm, sprinkled with a touch of salt at most. Now that is true delicacy." "Ever since I was little, I kept begging you to take me out to sea, but you never agreed." "Because you were too young then. I didn't want you to witness the ugliness of the sea too early." "And now?" "Now you are grown. You can endure its ugliness while embracing the beauty that belongs to it." Behind the curtain, Karen recognized Ophelia's voice. The other man had to be General Tafman. Tafman's voice was refined and cultured, not at all like a brutal fleet commander. Then again, from another perspective, it fit the captain's description perfectly: fastidious and twisted. But Karen couldn't draw back the curtain to see his face; right now, all he could do was sit there and listen. He was well aware of his own uniqueness—outsiders could not sense his presence or aura. In theory, as long as he sat motionless and made no sound, no one in the study could detect him through spiritual senses. "The negotiations between the two churches must have kept your father running ragged, haven't they?" "Yes. Because the preparation time was so short, the Church of Order was easy enough to accommodate, but the Church of Samsara has been very difficult." "Naturally. The Church of Order won the war; they're here to draft the treaty and claim their spoils as victors. They're in high spirits, so of course they won't complain about the hospitality. The Church of Samsara is the defeated party, already brooding and sullen. Under such circumstances, the slightest perceived slight would breed resentment." "Yes, Uncle is right. Father said the same to me." "Your father is far too fond of being a peacemaker. If it were me, I wouldn't waste so much effort. Having already partnered with the Church of Order, we could simply cling tightly to that one great thigh and let Samsara do as they please. Of course, your father naturally prefers to keep everything immaculate and offend no one, which is why he is suited to be clan leader." "From my perspective, though, I don't believe betting entirely on the Church of Order is wise. After all, the Church of Order is an outside faith, and we are merely a dog at its feet. If we are ever bullied, whether the master steps in on behalf of a dog depends entirely on the master's mood at that moment. It is better to keep our destiny in our own hands. The Church of Samsara will not be destroyed, and even in defeat, Samsara remains vastly larger than us." "Troublesome, far too troublesome. Too many worries leave no room to live a refined life." "Father has always envied your lifestyle as well, Uncle." "Heh, don't say that. I could never stomach his lifestyle, and he would hardly adapt to mine. Your father and I have had completely different personalities since childhood. Anyway, let's talk about you. When you went to the hotel this afternoon, did you see Karen?" "I did." "So you specifically visited the hotel just to see him." "Yes." "I've seen his portrait. He is indeed handsome, but good looks alone shouldn't be enough to enchant my lovely niece to such an extent." "Being with him and talking to him makes one feel very comfortable." "Oh? Sounds like someone very skilled at pleasing women." "At first... it was like that." "Not anymore?" "No. He has a fiancée." "What does a fiancée matter? Could my niece possibly be inferior to his fiancée?" "Uncle, making such comparisons is pointless." "Yes, yes, Uncle spoke out of turn. In truth, the reason I came back wanting to meet him isn't because he carries the blood of Ancestor Bernard, nor because he awakened the Dark Moon bloodline while out on his own. It's because from the letters you sent me, I sensed that your feelings toward that boy were out of the ordinary. I have no children of my own. Long ago, I told your father that this daughter of his would be as good as mine. With me backing you, none of your older brothers could ever beat you in the race for clan leader. Because your father owes me, heheh. That's why I grew even more curious about him: what sort of young man could stir your heart in such a short time? You are wonderful in every way, save for one issue—you are too young. That is your strength, but also your weakness. Some things simply take time to settle." "Uncle, I have already settled it." "Oh? How so?" "His heart belongs only to his fiancée; there is no possibility between us. In reality, nothing ever truly happened between us to begin with. We spent very little time together, nor did we share anything heart-stirring. I suspect my fondness for him was simply because I had never encountered a boy like him on this island before." "Tsk... So that means I made this trip back for nothing?" "If that was Uncle's sole purpose for returning, then it may truly have been for nothing." "Ophelia." "Yes, Uncle." "If not for the numerous reforms Ancestor Bernard introduced to Dark Moon Island, the many spells he improved, and the tremendous contributions he made, he would never be remembered today solely for a love story. Without the former as a foundation, a pure love story would not be praised—it would be a target of criticism and blame. Still, it's fine. Relationships between young people are like that: a timely flutter of the heart, and one takes it for granted that it will last for eternity under the witness of the Dark Moon. But once you see through it and understand it, it really is just an ordinary, simple matter. In the future, choose someone better." "Yes, Uncle." "Trust me, the Dark Moon will not fail you. It will not fail the pearl of our island." "The Dark Moon above." Ophelia crossed her hands and prayed to the Dark Moon. General Tafman stood up, walked over to the bookcase, and with his back turned to Ophelia, said, "Right, you are of age now, so there is something I must share with you. It concerns the Church of Light." "The Church of Light? Does our island have ties to the Church of Light?" "In truth, the very first to make contact and establish relations with our island was not the Church of Order, but the Church of Light. It was secretly introduced and forged by Ancestor Bernard himself during his reign. Much of the credit for the great transformations that took place on our island during that era belongs to that faction of Light remnants." Tafman tore the covers off one book after another from the bookcase, revealing scriptures and notes of Light concealed within. "Ophelia, draw open the curtains." "Yes, Uncle." "Remember: whenever you handle scriptures and notes of this kind in the future, you must have the radiance of the Dark Moon blessing you. Only then will you remain unaffected, for the Dark Moon's brilliance will steady the true course of your heart, keeping you from straying in a fleeting moment of distraction and losing yourself down a path of regret. You must firmly believe that the Dark Moon always watches over you. You are its devout believer, and it is the guardian you can rely upon above all else." Walking over to the curtains, Ophelia crossed her hands, following her uncle's advice, and began to pray: "Dark Moon above, guide the true direction of my heart so that I may not stray, and let me ever bathe in your radiance." Then, Ophelia reached out and drew open the curtains. Karen: "..." Ophelia: "..."