Shadowless Night

While it was certain that something would happen, Ricardis couldn’t grasp the what, the direction, or the manner in which it would occur. As a result, his steps naturally led me to this place. Regardless of what others may say, was Katelyn not someone who had risen through the ranks of the Black Moon?

Diech and her were entirely different beings, except for the commonality of magic, yet their actions bore many similarities. Endured as they confronted Illavenie with their blades. It took time, and it required patience.

“Katelyn.”

“Don’t call me so affectionately.”

“As a magic user… what feelings do you harbor toward Illavenia?”

Katelyn abruptly sat up. She made a strange expression as she looked at him. “… You’re not really asking because you don’t know, right? You were smart when you were young…”

Ricardis genuinely spoke with concern, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “I know it’s not good feelings, but I wanted to hear it from your own mouth.”

Katelyn’s expression grew even more serious. “Are you the kind of person who’s pleased to hear insults? … I think your flaws make you seem more humane, but they come with some side effects. Sorry, but keep your distance from me.”

This woman, really… Ricardis frowned. “Give me an answer, and I’ll pay the price and leave.”

Katelyn “stared” at him with her blind eyes. It was a foolish question, but it piqued her interest in its own way. During the years she had been trapped in this place, no one had asked her about her feelings or why she had committed the acts she had.

Of course, who would ask the executive of the Black Moon, “Why did you attempt assassination? What were your emotions at the time?” They only wanted to obtain the necessary information—her colleagues, secondary plans, power structure of the Black Moon, the leader’s name, the scale.

The standoff between the Black Moon and Illavenia wasn’t something that had sprung up overnight. It was natural for the Black Moon to dislike Illavenia and vice versa. No one sought reasons for the obvious. That’s why Ricardis was a surprise. That she answered so compliantly was near capriciousness.

“Do you understand the implications of being an executive of a secretive group in a foreign country?”

Ricardis, feeling that Katelyn’s question did not require an answer, remained silent, simply gazing at her.

“Have you been imprisoned in an underground cell?” Her hollow, white eyes scanned the narrow cell. “Imagine being trapped in a horrific space for years, knowing that your body and the future you aim for will only be shattered, and yet, your rage never wavers. Can you estimate the magnitude of that malice?”

“Is your anger directed solely at the imperial family?”

“Ricardis. You know it’s not that simple.”

He knew. The Black Moon didn’t hesitate to massacre not only the royalty but also the lands and villages near the border.

“There are undoubtedly innocent ones.”

“What crimes have we committed? Did we ever obscure Idelavhim’s light and cast ominous shadows? Spare me the nonsense. You know it’s not true. I merely seek to restore things to what they were. Why can’t that be allowed? Do I feel the need to forgive because I committed the same sin? Ah, how compassionate Idelavheim is. ‘Forgive everything,’ they say. No matter how agonizing, how difficult it was, enduring the pain of skin searing in flames and suffocating in the dark smoke, forgive. Whatever I attempt, I only end up becoming as bad as the evil ones. Forgiveness supposedly brings true peace of the heart. Forgive. Yes, forgive.” Her laughter, restrained, turned cold as she continued, “All under my light are my children. That’s what Idelavhim said. It was written so. Yes, I, too, am a child of Idelavhim. Then forgive. Forgive everything. No matter how much I suffer! Even if I feel the pain of my skin melting away in a fire! Even if my children see my corpse being mocked! Forgive! I must forgive! Because it was written so!”

She grew furious and slammed against the bars. She reached out to grab Ricardis, but he had stepped back. Soldiers who had been standing afar rushed in. The woman, pushed by the end of the spear, fell.

Ricardis dissuaded the soldiers. And they retreated with a last glance at him. Katelyn, on the other hand, coughed on the ground, saliva streaming from her mouth. She muttered, her eyes strangely bright, “I will kill men, I will kill women. I will kill newborns and even the elderly. I will stab and tear them to death with a sword. Starve them and make them writhe in agony, tearing off each finger one by one until they die. I will bury them while alive, drown them, burn them. I will make sure the pain they’ve forgotten for so many years be engraved in their bones, one by one.” The woman crawled and grasped the bars, struggling to rise. “Even in death, may their eyes stay open.”

She chuckled, trembling. Ricardis reached out to the bars. A white light hovered over her injured hand. Sensing the warmth, Katelyn jerked back, startled. It was a rough gesture as if wiping something dirty off her hand. It didn’t hurt, but it left an uneasy sensation.

“I mentioned paying the price for answers. If we leave your hand alone, we might have to amputate up to your arm,” Ricardis said.

Katelyn laughed like a madwoman. Then she turned toward the soldiers and spoke, “You lot, tell your master. There’s a fool in the imperial palace! Can’t even kill one person—seems like you’re all on the same level!” She laughed mockingly and then turned her head toward Ricardis. “Regardless of what happens, thank you, Ricardis. Prison life gets boring, and I occasionally need some stimulation. I consider that the payment.”

Ricardis couldn’t respond in any significant way. He acknowledged the fact that he truly didn’t know much about them.

The fight between Black Moon and Illavenia was thought to be simply a difference in ideology. However, as a separate matter, everything that had befallen mages was a matter tied to Illavenia. Unknowingly, everyone had equated Black Moon and mages on the same level.

It was a foolish notion. Illavenia had shaped it all. Some would call it destiny, while others might term it fate. The onslaught of malevolence was fierce, just as Illavenia had been to them in the past.

Ricardis turned and led his men into the distance while he spoke, “Do your duty. Kill those responsible for your resentment. Stab them with a blade, burn them alive.”

“Interesting. Especially today, it sounds oddly apt. Not something you’d expect from Illavenia’s prince, but… well, I quite like it, for whatever reason.”

“I’m glad to hear that you like it. But I will protect everything that that resentment should not touch. That’s what Illavenia’s prince should do.” Ricardis envisioned the unseen night sky from this prison. The round moon; another light illuminating the world. “May god aid me.”

As he walked away, Katelyn thumped on the bars from behind. “As expected of you, damn pompous Holy Empire folk! Preaching about your false god!”

Ricardis, still moving forward, spoke loudly, “I didn’t mention Idelavhim. I pray and seek help from anyone; whether it’s my god or yours!”

“You’re putting on a show, straddling both sides!”

“I don’t care! I believe in none!”

Katelyn heard his footsteps ascending the stairs. It faded away. She remained, looking stunned. The pretty man seemed unusually different today.

As Ricardis emerged from the prison, Lewon, who had been waiting at the entrance, quickly followed. “What did she say?” he started. “Did she compliment your looks again? She’s got quite an eye.”

“Lewon, I will give you a sword. The opponents are just children. In a month, how many can you kill?”

“Well… If it’s one person per minute, that’s sixty in an hour, isn’t it? The schedule is harsh, so if we halve it to thirty in an hour, then roughly three thousand in a week? Taking it slow, in a month… about ten thousand? Quite a substantial number, I suppose.”

Ricardis stopped abruptly and turned, locking eyes with him. “Ten thousand in a month… In that case, how long does it take for ten thousand casualties to occur on the battlefield?”

Lewon raised an eyebrow. “A day should be sufficient.”

“That makes sense.”

Ricardis continued toward the Moonstone Castle.

That’s right. Diech would be much stronger than a mere human. However, individually, there were limitations. His malevolence targeted not only the imperial family but everything under the light of Idelavhim, and relying solely on his own power would be insufficient.

Diech must have considered what caused the most deaths among people. History had proven it: the rampant spread of plagues and wars. But as long as there was holy power, plagues couldn’t exert significant force and subsided. Thus, what remained was the aspect of war. The larger the scale, the more casualties there would be.

The muscles in Ricardis’ jaw twitched. War would inevitably occur. If it didn’t happen while Haqab was in Illavenia, it would happen eventually after he left. War would not only be a means to open the path to Illavenia’s throne, but it would also serve the purpose of the bodies laid beneath that path.

The wind blew, sharp against his ears like the voice of the woman spreading curses deep within the underground prison.

[Even in death, may their eyes stay open!]