Chapter 2364: The Bright Night

“Are you always like this?”

Miss Eles, who went out today to search for that Silver Dragon Scale and successfully brought it back, asked Miss Aphrola. The latter was playing with a cherry as an appetizer, contemplating whether to add it to champagne or red wine;

“What do you mean by ‘always like this’? Do you mean the atmosphere?”

Miss Aphrola asked curiously, glancing at the harmonious scene by the table:

“If you’re asking about the atmosphere, do you mean the ambiance of the Hamilton family’s dining, or the Witch Council’s dining atmosphere?”

The Blue Dragon Girl blinked:

“The Witch Council. From my impression, every meeting and dinner of those Fifth Era council members is like… well, can you imagine? In the Ice and Snow Castle atop a blizzard-covered peak, where the sides of the table are not walls but floor-to-ceiling windows, snowflakes densely fall outside, and rows of ice-sculpted chairs are placed along the long table inside. Seated on those chairs are noble ladies holding ice-made goblets with wine that even has ice added.”

“Just from hearing you, I can feel how cold it must be.”

Luviya commented from the side upon hearing this dialogue, while Miss Aphrola replied with a smile, covering her mouth:

“Miss Eles, are you surprised that the Sixth Era witches have such good relationships?”

She glanced at Shard, who was discussing little Mia’s ‘seating arrangement’ issue with Miss Matilda, whose mood seemed off:

“Before Shard appeared, our relations were just ordinary friends. Galina was quite aloof, I was busy with family business and seldom interacted with others outside the council, Megan and Audrey kept themselves mysteriously away from everyone except the Speaker, Bella mostly stayed in her Moon Bay, Granny Cassandra was too old to leave Midshire Fort often, though Emma and Vanessa always had a good relationship.”

Miss Aphrola explained and gave a smiling glance towards Shard who was looking over:

“But ever since Shard appeared, that cunning man has enabled everyone to sit down and dine together like a family. Otherwise, even if we were all sent to Moon Bay to fight back enemies, we’d probably still not sit together like this. Luviya, during the times you all have dinner together at Shard’s house, was it also like this?”

The purple-eyed Miss Diviner recalled for a moment:

“Also like this, but the Shard family’s dining room table couldn’t accommodate this many… Although there is a long table at home, the house is quite spacious.”

During the meal, no one talked about business; the manor’s host lifted his glass voluntarily, signaling everyone to have a drink together to celebrate their gathering at this moment:

“Except Sister Delphine, everyone involved in this action has arrived at Moon Bay, wishing our operation success.”

Including Emilia, everyone clinked glasses lightly on the table, and then the sumptuous dinner officially began.

Shard, although not doing anything serious today, was indeed tired from the day’s activities. During the banquet, Megan seemed worried that Shard hadn’t eaten enough and kept asking if he wanted seconds.

Everyone was in high spirits, discussing interesting topics with their neighbors while dining. In the middle of the dinner, while listening to Megan talk about her and Audrey’s troubles with Paradise Island Pharmaceuticals over the past two months and plans for the “Green Lake Island” revitalization work, Shard was suddenly startled and then looked out the window.

Almost instantly, the Grand Witches, Luviya, and the Little Unicorn also paused their laughter and looked out the window. Angelina and Emilia were the slowest to react, only noticing everyone had stopped talking and nervously joined them in looking outside:

“Hmm, isn’t it almost eight o’clock now? Isn’t it a bit too bright outside?”

The Red-haired Little Princess softly inquired.

Outside was the night of Moon Bay, and at this moment, looking out, though the night sky wasn’t “bright as day,” it certainly lacked the darkness it should have had.

“I remember the outside was normal before dinner.”

Emilia remarked. However, no one was in a hurry to gather by the window, as facing unknown events rashly is the most foolish behavior.

Shard stood up, followed by Miss Aphrola, Vanessa, and Megan—all Twelfth Rank Grand Witches.

When they arrived at the window to look out, the entire earth, though silent, was lit by abnormal starlight and moonlight. The mysterious veil of night seemed roughly torn off, exposing all secrets before people’s eyes.

The extraordinarily bright moon and stars even allowed Shard to see details on the distant streets. Glancing at the moon and stars for too long incited an odd fear, as if familiar sights no longer existed as they once were.

“Looks like Moon Bay City’s City Hall can save some gas lamp expenses.”

Megan continued to joke on the side, while Vanessa asked Shard and Miss Aphrola:

“Do you feel anything?”

“The light has become abnormal, not specifically the moonlight and starlight, but all the lights outside.”

Miss Aphrola remarked seriously, turning her head again as the Countess instructed:

“Bella, go tell your maids to draw all the window curtains tightly.”

Miss Matilda and Tifa immediately stood up and left the dining room, and Shard didn’t bother to wonder how Miss Matilda accepted Tifa and the others to participate in the management of the manor again:

“All the light from outside is harmful… I feel malice coming from the light, somewhat like the situation in the Gravel Golden Desert. It’s fine for Circle Sorcerers, but ordinary people staying outside for long might suffer permanent irreversible skin damage.”

“It’s not just that.”

The Grand Witch of “Light” placed her hand on the glass:

“There are also mental hazards. I’m just not sure if this situation is occurring only around Moon Bay, or if the entire Material World is affected tonight.”

Clatter~

A few dice were playfully tossed by Luviya:

“It’s highly likely the entire world, but indeed Moon Bay is most severely affected. Shard, how does the current moon feel to you?”

Shard blankly looked at the moon through the window:

“The moon is still that same moon, but it feels somewhat unfamiliar now.”

He tried to reach out to touch the bright, even dazzling three-phase moon, but as expected, he only touched the glass. The moon itself hadn’t changed; it was the light emanating from the moon that had become abnormal.

Shard was able to sense the strangeness outside before anyone else, precisely due to his unique perception of the moon. He was a bit angry in his heart, but he didn’t know why.

At this moment, Miss Belindel at the table asked:

“If it’s brighter at night, that’s not too impactful. But what about the sunlight after sunrise, will it be the same?”

Miss Aphrola, frowning as she looked outside, thought for a moment:

“I’m not sure, I’ve never seen this kind of phenomenon either… Let’s eat first. After dinner, we’ll gather at the council. I think His Excellency the Speaker will be convening an emergency meeting.”

The witches all returned to their seats, and Miss Belindel instructed the maids to arrange for someone to send messages to Cassandra Auction House, Margaret’s Manor, the Golden Dawn Opera Troupe at the Goethe Grand Hotel, and the Aphrola family’s fleet, advising them to close the curtains and not look outside.

Only Shard remained standing by the window, watching the bright moon outside. It was only at Luviya’s call that he drew the curtains and returned to his seat.

Since the abnormal phenomenon had already enveloped the entire Material World, the final showdown seemed inevitable. The world was urging the Chosen One of Light to emerge quickly. Based on past experience, only The Chosen One could temporarily suppress such world-distorting chaos.

The sudden situation worsened everyone’s mood, but fortunately, the meal still ended in laughter. Afterwards, the witches headed to the council, and the witch apprentices went off in different directions to handle the issues arising from tonight’s anomalies.

Luviya called upon Miss Eles, planning to go to the courtyard to observe and try to interact with those shimmering moonbeams and starlights. Meanwhile, Shard called Emilia aside for a further conversation in the dining room.

Seeing Angelina standing by with pursed lips, unsure whether to leave or stay, Shard also asked her to remain:

“Emilia, I remember you mentioned the Angel-Level Relic [Time Flute].”

The pointy-eared girl’s eyes lit up:

“Yes, does it need to be sent to Moon Bay now? If I post it, it can arrive by tomorrow night or the morning after.”

Shard asked again:

“I wanted to ask, does that sword have the ability to enhance time-based rituals or incantations? If it’s a secret, you don’t have to say.”

Emilia quickly shook her head:

“It’s alright. Information about the [Time Flute] is available in the library of Saint Byrons, and Miss Danester knows as well. When that sword is swung, it sometimes emits a flute-like sound, and it’s indeed related to the power of Time, which is why it’s called the ‘Time Flute’.”

She glanced at the First Ring Sorcerer Angelina beside her, and seeing no reaction from Angelina, she continued:

“The function of this Holy Sword is relatively simple. When held, it grants immunity to most temporal powers affecting oneself, and can selectively trigger the following effects: accelerate one’s flow of time, thereby slowing down the speed of other objects or beings within a certain range. It’s said that the sword can pause time in a certain area, but I don’t know how to use it. I’ve only just reached the Inner Ring and haven’t yet accessed all the secrets of the sword.”

As she spoke, she looked worriedly at Angelina:

“Angelina, you’re nosebleeding.”

The red-haired Little Princess, who had been listening intently, hurriedly went to touch her nose upon realizing she had a nosebleed. Having confirmed it, she had to be temporarily taken away by a maid for treatment. Although Angelina didn’t say much, Shard could sense she wasn’t in a good mood.

Thus, only Shard and the Elf Girl remained in the dining room. The full and content Mia lay across Shard’s lap, wagging her tail, while the Little Unicorn was still enjoying the post-meal fruit.