Shadowless Night

At the time of the incident, Ricardis had also witnessed all the priests of the Great Temple interrogating Laheansi. Laheansi had been rolling on the floor with tears and a runny nose, weeping bitterly like a child, as the gray-haired priests watched.

[Oh, I don’t know, I didn’t know she was that kind of person!]

‘I don’t know! What do you mean I was learning from a crazy woman who slandered Illavenia?!’ He cried and cried, and of course, everyone thought he had nothing to do with Windit. But now he was saying there was something his master had taught him?

“You said you didn’t receive Windit’s teachings.”

“I’ve been with Master for several years. Big Brother, you’re more innocent than I thought to believe that…”

‘You punk.’ Ricardis glanced at him. Laheansi giggled as he rolled around in his chair.

“Brother, Windit has never really founded a religion or preached a doctrine. It’s absurd to call it religious heresy.”

“She must’ve been executed unjustly.”

“She cursed at Illavenia and His Majesty the Emperor.”

“… as she shouted injustice?”

“Certainly… Even to me, it sounded a bit harsh…” said Laheansi as he looked into the air, recalling the past. ‘What curses have you spat, former High Priest Windit…’

“If you get a hint about the ‘Blessed Night’ in Balta, not anywhere else, does that mean you can’t just summon the White Night and the Black Moon with just your power…”

“I know. We need two powers from two people. One with holy power and one with magic. And judging from what is written in the literature, the date and time are also important. That leads me to a question… When’s the next full moon?”

Laheansi silently applauded. Ricardis had been sure that his guess was roughly correct. He’d noticed it at the temple of Balta, and now he was relieved when the high priest, who was closest to the ‘Blessed Night’ after the emperor, confirmed it.

“Nevertheless, Brother. The current Illavenian people are unaware of that fact. Illavenia intentionally erased the need for mage and magic. Windit was caught because she knew about it and tried to spread it.”

Ricardis hated temples, so he wasn’t friendly with priests. He’d only seen Windit at glances, too. He hadn’t even known she’d been such a smart person.

“It must have been difficult for the Emperor.”

“Well, everything else aside. Then why do you think we don’t have a White Night in Illavenia?”

“Because the Emperor’s lack of competence and the mages are hiding?”

“Those are right, yes, but then there’s this too. If someone with a certain level of holy power is the condition for ‘Blessed Night’, then a certain level of magic power is also required, right?”

As Laheansi was recounting the unfamiliar words, Ricardis nodded his head without saying anything.

“The bloodlines of the laurels of the snowfield have been perfect for that role because they have strong holy power from generation to generation. So from generation to generation, they were able to call the White Night.”

“I guess so.”

“Then, which bloodline is born with strong magic? Where are they now?”

Ricardis was seized by a tingling sensation as if he had been hit in the head. That was correct. The laurels of the snowfield. Most of those bearing that name were born with holy power regardless of the amount. They had all the legitimacy and rights in their hands as they were given the right to bring about the White Night and the Blessed Night.

Then, as Laheansi had said, there was a possibility that there was a bloodline that was born with magic power. However, it was not found in any records or any history books. Due to the nature of the Illavenian imperial family, who desperately erased the existence of demons and the role of magic, it was unknown whether they had also hidden that part. None was certain.

“… Maybe there wasn’t any in the first place?”

So he had no choice but to give this silly answer. Laheansi loosened his half-closed eyes even more. Ricardis wondered if he was sleeping now. He was looking far away, lost in thought.

“There was.”

His short words confirming their existence pointed to the past, not the present.

Ricardis patted his chin, clearing his thoughts. Laheansi wouldn’t say this based on guts. Whether it was from Windit or through the library that only the High Priest could access… This was very likely to be true.

A bloodline with strong magic power had certainly existed. So where were they now? Had they left without being able to withstand the tyranny of Illavenia? Were they hiding? But was it possible to hold one’s breath without showing signs over the centuries?

Even if they weren’t of the laurels of the snowfield, those with holy powers were born all over the continent. Sometimes, some people had the power to surpass the imperial family, and in normal cases, they were brought to the temple and raised as priests. There were often cases of coercive procedures, but parents would simply hand over the child because there was a big reward.

If people with strong holy powers were born all over the continent for hundreds of years like this, shouldn’t there also be people born with a significant level of magic power? Even if they weren’t of that lineage, there were mages. Nevertheless, the story of the imperial family of Illavenia not being able to call upon the White Night for hundreds of years… was perhaps because there had been no mages that met the condition.

At the same time that the lineage disappeared from the world, the seeds of strong mages dried up. In the unfathomable distant past, something must’ve happened. And due to that, the continent gradually began to go down the road, and the starting point was probably the Illavenian imperial family.

Ricardis laughed. ‘This is it. You guys just had to do something so stupid.’ It was like turning a table upside down while trying to monopolize. It was embarrassing to wear the name laurels of the snowfield. ‘I never dreamed that the day would come when I thought it was fortunate that our blood was not connected.’

“There’s something to note here…”

Laheansi continued. When he’d stopped rolling around in his chair, he sat upright and rummaged through the scripture stained in cookie oil.

“Right now, there is a strong mage with a great reputation on the continent.”

Ricardis’ eyebrows twitched. He bent his upper body forward and gave a sharp look.

“The more you have access to the secret, the more you will feel the need for Sir Rosaline.”

The fresh spring breeze seemed to leave his skin cold, causing goosebumps and tense nerves. It was a sentence that foreshadowed the difficulties of the future. Ricardis had also felt it, but hearing it from his half-brother, who sat in the position of High Priest, gave another feeling. In the old days, some of the prestigious High Priests didn’t even make prophecies often.

The bell rang three times from the spire to signal prayer time. Ricardis’ eyes were directed out the door, drawing Rosaline in the distance. Recalling her nervousness, Ricardis stood up.

Laheansi also took off his light pajamas and changed into a robe lying on the floor.

“You’re more diligent than I thought.”

“By all means, I’m still the High Priest… See you next time.”

“Lahe.”

Laheansi grinned as he put on the white high-ranking official’s hat.

“Why are you so sweet, Brother? You always call me that if you want to ask me or need something.”

“And you always avoided answering. What change your mind today?”

Ricardis looked at the still busy figure of Laheansi. Lahe. It was the nickname Setistia used to call him.

Laheansi seemed to be especially friendly with Ricardis among his brothers, but never once ruled in favour of Ricardis. The Blessed Night. The White Night. Any clues, information, and truths about things like those that Ricardis had hoped to know as he rolled on the battlefield, avoiding the blade of the assassin. Laheansi knew some of it and had never taught it to Ricardis.

But why today? The question Ricardis had was natural. Laheansi whined and pulled his necklace out from under the bed.

“Honestly, I thought you would die soon. In my expectation, you should’ve died about six years ago. You’re amazing, Bro.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Ricardis rubbed his chin sullenly. Laheansi was looking in the mirror and tidying up his outfit, but it wasn’t organized at all, so Ricardis had to help.

“But that alone wasn’t enough. You can’t go around divulging secrets to anyone, can you? It may threaten my life.”

“But…?”

Ricardis combed his hair by hand and tied it together. He had to tie it back loosely to avoid pulling it too hard and causing Laheansi pain. After tying up his messy hair, he looked much more alive. Laheansi answered only after one wink and one arrow of love at himself in the mirror.

“Now I’m going to risk my life.”

Ricardis looked at Laheansi’s fase in the mirror. He didn’t grin or slouch as usual. His gaze, staring at one place, was drawing a faraway place. Laheansi soon turned around and grinned. It was a smile Ricardis had always seen.

Through the gap in the slightly opened door, the priest who had guided Ricardis before was seen waiting for Laheansi with an anxious face. He was the High Priest, but there must be a few times that he’d forgotten to attend.

Laheansi went like, “I’m late, I’m late, I’m late” pretending to be busy with only his mouth.

“See you later, Bro.”

“Hurry up and go.”

“The blessing of Idelavhim-”

“Go away.”

Laheansi muttered to the end and then moved on in strides.