KEIICHI MIURA
"I am the sovereign of this realm, known as Ketu." The man hovering in the air had a comfortable expression on his face as he assessed me.
Perplexed and brimming with curiosity, I inquired, "Could you unveil the nature of this place to me?"
In response, a thoughtful smile played across Ketu’s lips as he began to explain, "This realm’s conception was an endeavour undertaken by the 9th Overseer, Nelchael. After designing the entire expanse above, Nelchael clandestinely crafted this domain. It was his covert creation, with me being brought into existence to serve as both ruler and guardian. Overseeing its gradual evolution has been my task since then."
Seeking clarification, I inquired, "Is it correct to assume that sol doesn’t exist here?"
Ketu assumed a somewhat surprised expression in reaction to my words. Composing himself, he responded, "You seem to be well-acquainted with the concept of lune, quite possibly owing to the ‘key’ that granted you entry."
The ‘key’ he referred to was likely the spherical artefact left by Nelchael, which facilitated my arrival in this realm.
Ketu’s gaze settled on me, but a hint of concern shadowed his features, as if something seemed amiss.
"My initial anticipation was that upon your arrival, you would lose consciousness almost instantly. The absence of sol within this environment causes the rapid depletion of your sol channels." He started.
"This should have left you teetering on the brink of death, even as a Herald. In the case of ordinary humans, they would meet instant demise. Ordinarily, I’d assist in acclimating to this atmosphere and provide aid, but it appears my expectations have been confounded," he elaborated.
It wasn’t difficult to deduce the reason behind this anomaly.
"My nexus seems to resonate with Lune itself," I declared.
As my words reached Ketu’s ears, his eyes widened and his mouth was slightly agape, as though he had just encountered an unexpected revelation.
"This provides a clear understanding. Among Heralds, you’re truly an exceptional case, which aligns perfectly with this realm’s nature. Your subconscious has already attuned itself to this environment. At this moment, the energy coursing through your channels isn’t the familiar sol; instead, it’s the enigmatic lune. This energy sustains you, much like it does for all the inhabitants here. As your body gradually adapts further, your power will likely rekindle," he expounded.
I nodded, finding his explanation quite plausible. Instead of the customary sol energy circulating within me, it was the arcane energy of death, lune, that enabled my existence here. The return of my eternal Zen state seemed imminent, only now fueled by the reservoir of lune.
However, I was quick to realise that tapping into lune-weaving within this realm would prove futile. The absence of sol energy for transformation was a clear hindrance. And even if I managed it, generating lune would serve no purpose since this place was already drenched in its essence.
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While lune was often referred to as the energy of death, its fundamental essence bore resemblances to sol. In a setting governed solely by lune, it seemed conceivable to harness it as one would with sol. A thought crossed my mind: if Luna had prevailed over Sol during the universe’s early stages, Earth’s inhabitants might have resembled the people of the Citadel of the Undying.
But despite these similarities, the inherent nature of the two energies remained distinct. Here, the realm’s inhabitants were naturally attuned to lune, and its counterpart, sol, was absent.
"Could this explain the peculiar resilience of the residents here, who appear untouched even after suffering severe injuries?" I inquired, eager for clarification.
"Absolutely correct. Owing to lune’s distinctive properties, the conventional concept of life ceases to apply in this realm. Every individual here exists in a perpetual state of ‘Eternal Death,’ rendering them immortal. The populace of this realm has transcended the very notion of death." He started.
Suddenly, his face became solemn and depressed. After a while, he returned to normal and continued his explanation.
"However, this gift comes with a cost—we are unable to procreate or age. The pleasures of taste, scent, and other sensory delights are lost to us. It’s paradoxically both a burden and a blessing. Our state of existence remains impervious, except when exposed to sol, which serves as our nemesis, he offered in intricate detail.
"How about Nelchael, the ninth overseer?" Did he not assist you in this matter?" I was curious.
"He died of old age before completing his research, leaving this place as his final creation." With a sombre gaze, he responded.
It was becoming clear to me that lune wasn’t just a mystical energy; it operated in a manner opposite to sol. While sol enabled the wonders of life, procreation, and continuity, lune presented an alternative: eternal existence without the capacity to fully embrace the pleasures of life or partake in the perpetuation of generations.
In that moment, an idea swiftly took root in my mind.
"The Limbo itself is facing peril. This realm holds the key to my empowerment. Can you guide me in comprehending Lune better? My goal is to attain mastery of the third phase of lune-weaving," I inquired of Ketu.
The air of relaxation surrounding Ketu transformed into one of seriousness as he replied, "How much time have you got?"
"Three months," I responded mechanically.
A contemplative pause followed, as if he were carefully considering his response. Then, with a sombre expression, he continued, "To begin with, even if you were to depart this realm today, the lune within you has likely cleansed your channels of impurities, rendering you inherently stronger. Simply leaving would grant you at least twice your previous power."
He paused again before adding, "Should you desire a deeper understanding of lune and aspire to ascend to the next phase of your abilities, I am prepared to take you under my tutelage. But there is a condition."
Curiosity piqued, I inquired, "What condition?"
Suddenly, a glimmer of hope shone through his eyes, mingling with the formation of tears.
His voice trembled as he continued, "You must promise me one thing. When you ultimately reach the final stage of lune-weaving, you will possess the means to liberate us from the shackles of eternal death. I implore you, bestow the gift of true death upon the Citadel of the Undying!" His words tumbled forth amid tears, as though my mere presence had breathed life into his otherwise lifeless existence.
It took me a bit to figure out what he was saying. When I reached the third phase, I realised I could reverse the process, which meant I could change the lune here into sol. This enabled me to imitate the presence of Sol in the other realms. I could intentionally replicate a person’s death on Earth since my sol would wipe out the lune circulating in the bodies of the locals, enabling them to die naturally.
"I promise. You need not worry. My word is my bond," I assured Ketu.
"If you truly manage to unshackle this city from its curse, then all that I possess shall be yours, for my existence will no longer persist," he pledged.
After a while, his composure returned, and he proclaimed, "Let's get started. I’m not going to leave any stone unturned. These three months will alter your life forever!"