When growth is sudden, attention sharpens like a blade.

Some eyes gleam with respect, while others darken with envy. And between the two, a single truth remains prevail.

Who falls first…? The one who shines, or the one blinded by it?

…

Leon's brows rose slightly as High Priest Luthan's gaze lingered on him longer than expected.

There was nothing casual in the way the priest observed him. Those eyes had recognized something in him.

But Leon did not react. He knew exactly who stood before him.

Luthan Lin Schrödinger.

A noble born in a quiet countryside, orphaned when an Arch Demon erased his entire house. Adopted by the Silvermoon Cathedral. A man who devoted every breath of his life to the Lady.

At sixty one, the Silvermoon's blessing descended upon him and his name spread across the entire kingdom.

Yet now he stood here with the manners of an educated prince.

"Oh, you have heard of me? I am delighted to hear it," Luthan said, bowing politely. His voice was calm, refined, and almost graceful.

Leon returned the gesture without hesitation.

"Your deeds are known throughout the kingdom. I know no one who has not heard the name Luthan. If anything, I am the one honored to meet you today."

Luthan's smile softened. "You flatter me, Master Leon."

Leon, however, kept a silent thought to himself.

Behind that gentle tone and perfect posture, Luthan was far from a normal priest.

He was Silvermoon's blade in the dark.

A man Veronica used whenever she needed something handled outside the light of day. At day, he was an ordinary high priest of Silvermoon Cathedral, but at night, he worked for Veronica, to execute every order given to him.

To Luthan. Veronica's words were the words of Silvermoon.

'Not a waste, I suppose,' Leon thought. His smirk was faint as he met Luthan's eyes. 'This is some real progress.'

Leon met him this soon. He was supposed to come near the third year of Eclipse.

"High Priest Luthan." A voice called from behind.

Luthan turned and saw Duchess Ezra approaching with Orion at her side.

"I assume everything has been prepared?" Orion asked.

Luthan bowed to them as well. "Working under Duchess Ezra has always been delightful. The preparations were completed just as she instructed. Now, if you would allow us to begin…"

His gaze shifted toward Layla and Ren.

"Young masters of House Valentine, be honored. Today you are graced by our beloved Lady."

Layla and Ren exchanged confused glances.

Leon silently pinched his forehead.

As much as he respected the man, he always forgot one thing.

'Right. This guy is a complete maniac obsessed with Silvermoon.'

It could be called extreme faith.

But the way Luthan followed every instruction, the way he executed them with almost frightening devotion…

Leon would not be surprised if someone called him a fanatic.

And judging by the way Luthan's eyes glowed at every mention of Silvermoon, Leon felt a chill run down his spine.

'Creepy,' Leon thought.

"..."

'Very creepy.'

Luthan led them inside the Cathedral.

From the outside, the structure resembled a grand cathedral from Earth, built from crimson stone bricks that had darkened into a muted black over centuries. But once they stepped through the entrance, the atmosphere changed entirely.

The interior glowed with a pale red hue blended with faint blue, it was creating a quiet, mysterious mood.

Layla's eyes widened the moment she looked around.

Attendants and priests in long yellow robes moved across the hall. Each of them carried scrolls, drums, and ceremonial tools.

Tall floor to ceiling windows lined both sides of the passage. The warm sunlight poured through them and painted the marble floor in shifting colors of yellow, blue and red scattered glass.

The layout guided them forward, straight toward a wide open space beneath a towering sculpture.

A statue of a woman, carved from black and white stone, stood as if watching over the entire hall. She held a book in one hand, a staff in the other, and her expression was quiet and calm.

Her eyes were dull and lifeless in stone, yet anyone looking at her could easily imagine them opening.

A cloak of sculpted stone draped behind her shoulders, flowing down her body. Around her feet, several small statues of children were carved playing joyfully, reaching up toward her with smiles full of devotion.

Leon stared for a moment.

He had seen that face before.

Veronica's steps came to a halt.

She stood directly before the statue and looked up in silent acknowledgment. Then she raised her hand, crossed her hand and made 'X' cross, bowed her head, and whispered something too soft for Leon to hear.

Everyone followed her after that.

Every Valentine, every guard, even the maids lowered their heads.

Leon bowed as well.

When he lifted his head, his eyes lingered on the statue's features once more.

'This looks so accurate to her.'

He remembered the moment he met Silvermoon inside the Library of Astral Tale.

'Whoever carved this must have seen her up close.'

Luthan then stepped forward and began the ceremony.

He called Veronica to guide Layla and Ren toward the center. The priests moved along and played their part. After a brief sequence of chants and symbolic gestures, two maids walked forward carrying a sealed black box lined with pale silver threads.

Veronica opened it without hesitation. She lifted the lid and stepped aside slightly so Luthan could proceed.

Layla stepped up first. Luthan took the emblem from the box, pressed it lightly against her coat, and whispered the invocation.

Then came Ren.

Leon's eyes did not leave Ren for even a moment.

When the emblem touched Ren's chest, the white Elven mana core embedded in it shone due to light refracting from it.

Leon felt something stir inside him, or more precisely it was his spirit ring. The spirit ring tightened around his finger, it started drinking mana at a faster rate than normal, as if it was reacting to the Elven core's presence.

He endured the drain, keeping his expression steady all this time, though deep inside, his thoughts were restless.

The Elven core glimmered again, and Leon looked away only to calm the rising impulse in him.

He wanted it.

And just like his spirit ring, his instincts wanted to claim it.

Time passed, and the sun finally dipped beyond the horizon.

The moment darkness settled, the cathedral lights brightened as the hall transformed for the evening celebration.

A grand ballroom stretched across the same area where the ceremony had taken place.

Long tables filled with dishes from different continents lined the sides. The scent of spices, roasted meat, and sweet wines lingered in the air. Even the musicians gathered near the front, playing a soft melody that echoed against the cold walls.

When the ceremony was done, everyone except the guards was allowed to relax. The atmosphere turned warm and lively again.

Leon, however, stood alone at the far corner. He held a glass of purple wine in one hand and stared ahead without any particular interest in his eyes.

'A grand party right after the Tiara incident and a dungeon breakdown.'

He sneered quietly as he took a long sip.

From his left, he heard faint murmurs.

"He is really here."

"Ah, he looks so good."

"I heard the second princess had her eyes on him, is that true?"

Leon shifted his gaze and saw a small group of cathedral maids and young priests stealing glances toward him.

He gave them a calm, polite smile.

"Ahhhh!!"

A few of them squealed and panicked as if his smile had struck them physically.

Leon sighed softly.

'I wonder what an S rank charm reaction will be like.'

He paused.

'It will not cause a disaster? Probably.' He took another sip.

'Or maybe it will.'

"Someone is popular."

Leon turned toward the voice.

It was Luthan, walking toward him with a wine glass of his own. His expression was pleasant.

Leon straightened instinctively, as Luthan stopped beside him.

"May I have a moment of your time?" He requested Leon.

Leon sipped, and asked, "what for?"

Luthan replied after a soft chuckle, "Oh nothing. Just a small talk."

Leon tilted his head slightly.

"Hmm? No one of your status ever tried making small talk with me before, when I was here a couple of years back."

He did not actually remember being here back then, but he said it anyway.

Luthan's expression twitched for a brief second, then that calm and unnervingly gentle smile returned to his face.

"That is because you are important now," Luthan said, without a filter, without hesitation, and without shame.

Leon stared at him for a moment.

"How honest," Leon muttered.

Luthan shrugged lightly, taking a sip of his wine. "This is how the world works. People notice worth only when you prove yourself worthy."

Leon placed his empty glass onto a nearby table. "Alright then. What do you want to discuss in this small talk?"

Luthan's eyes gleamed with something sharp beneath the politeness.

"Nothing huge," he said quietly. "In this small talk, I will just slip out a few noble house names that want you dead by tonight."

Leon blinked once, then smirked.

"You got my attention."

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