(Principality Chapter)
In the 256th year of the Alchemy Era of the Duchy of Valentino, the continent ushered in the "Dark Moon," the month with the least sunlight of the year.
The principality was still in the pleasant autumn season. In reality, the actual alternation of day and night continued as before, with day and night being equal in length.
The main cause of the lack of sunlight is not an ordinary natural phenomenon, but a special spectacle called the "Magic Tide".
At this time of year, a vast quantity of elemental particles—something everyone knows and commonly refers to as magic particles—appears.
It travels from outer space through the atmosphere and into this planet inhabited by humans. Every day, two hours before day turns into night, this vast expanse of elemental particles covers the entire sky, merging with it to create a color resembling night.
They also disappear two hours later than the time when night gives way to dawn.
This is why the daylight hours are a full four hours shorter than the darkness hours.
It is neither visible at dusk nor at dawn—hence the name "the dark moon".
There is a brief, almost imperceptible moment each day when one can witness a strange phenomenon that resembles an apocalyptic omen—a golden sun rising from the dense darkness of the east.
Children whose minds are not yet fully developed are more sensitive to colors with large contrasts and unconventional combinations, and often feel inexplicable fear because of this spectacle.
This is an instinctive fear that even curiosity cannot suppress.
One can imagine that, in stark contrast to the soft moonlight, the golden glow in the darkness was quite dazzling.
The Duchy also adjusted the school hours for all academies—they would only open during the day, after the dark particles had completely dispersed.
The phenomenon of "Demon Sea Tides" has appeared since the Age of the Holy Stones and has greatly affected the lives of the people of the Principality.
Fortunately, this phenomenon only lasts for a month. People are not too bothered by it.
On the last day of the Dark Moon, these elemental particles, like an army obeying an emergency order, withdrew completely in a short time and disappeared without a trace.
Perhaps the reason why the universe is described by magic scholars as an endless dark realm is that the universe is also filled with dark elemental particles in the form of pitch-black particles.
Among the hypotheses about the tides of the Demon Sea in the domestic academic community, this is the only one that can be considered convincing.
After the Dark Moon, the continent enters a true winter season where the days are shorter than the nights.
The first month of this season was named "Frozen Month" by the founder of the Duchy's calendar.
Of course, it will be quite some time before the Frozen Moon arrives.
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The daytime sky was unusually clear, making it a perfect day for hiking and traveling.
Starting from the north gate of Santo Gransis, we passed through a beautiful, lush green countryside.
The dirt road worn by travelers, along with road signs, guides people to the neighboring town.
It was quiet all around, with no noise to disturb the peace, only the soothing rustling of the grass in the breeze.
The white-haired youth pointed to the road sign in front of him, smiled, and said to the girl following behind him, "It will take about twenty more minutes to reach the neighboring town of Lefrem."
This small town was a stop on their way to their next destination.
The two were currently in the wilderness of the Holy Capital, an area spanning several thousand meters in radius.
There was no other reliable place to stay besides Lefrem.
To make thorough preparations, the two parted ways and went their separate ways before the agreed time.
We'll meet at the east gate of town in an hour. Sherry will be in charge of replenishing our food and water supplies for the trip. After handing over all the miscellaneous tasks to her assistant, Philsa, as usual, prepares to sign in at the Knights' Guild.
He had been wandering the streets before that.
The peaceful town—seemingly untouched by the recent surge of monster armies—offered a sense of tranquility that reassured Philsa, the demon-slaying knight.
The town remained calm and undisturbed. The lives of its residents proceeded smoothly and methodically, much like the ordinary and successful transaction before him.
By handing over a silver coin, Firsa bought a local specialty from an honest-looking street vendor.
A felt hat. Almost the same color as his coat, with a white feather embedded on the top.
This hat perfectly complements Firsa's outfit.
If you tell outsiders that the hat is actually part of the Silverwing suit, many people would believe it without a doubt.
Philsa was astonished to run into an acquaintance at the town's Knights Guild.
Marquis Alex, dressed in an emerald green swallowtail coat, spoke expressionlessly with the local guild members.
After giving Philsa a brief greeting, he didn't say much to him and continued talking to the guild members.
Firsa was curious. While signing his name at the counter, he thought about the Marquis's strange expression at that time. He picked up the quill pen that was placed aside and casually dipped it a few times in the empty ink bottle before writing.
He thought that rather than saying the Marquis was expressionless, it was more accurate to say that he was trying his best to hide his seriousness from his face.
What could possibly make him so nervous?
Could it be because his Obsidian Knight was seriously injured by the enemy?
Philsa wrote for a long time before realizing that his pen hadn't gotten any ink. He exclaimed "Oops!" and slapped his forehead.
The kind guild members smiled and exchanged a bottle of ink for Philsa.
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