Half unsure, Seiyad posed the question like he was testing the waters—and received a confirmation. He stared intently at the being who claimed to be one of the heavens, choosing to maintain his guard. Even if it were a god, he had no desire to revere or worship it. Though this being claimed to have protected the world, it had never once made Seiyad’s life any easier. What he had received from the divine was nothing but endless duty, death, and sacrifice.
“What a ridiculous thing to say. I’m nothing like you. If I had the power of a god, I would have ensured that humans never had to get involved in divine matters. Countless humans have died—Tithers who spent centuries protecting this forest, and others slain by the Nir’a.”
The moon only smiled in silence. Yet from its quiet smile and shimmering silver eyes, a deep sorrow spilled forth. The contrast between the expression it wore and the emotions hidden beneath it made Seiyad momentarily falter. It was the same sorrow he had felt earlier, flowing beneath the presence of the Nir’a.
‘You’re right. If only I had been stronger… then I could’ve protected my sun, and this beautiful land, long ago. But I wasn’t. I failed. Still, I had my reasons—reasons that I’d like you to hear. You’ve been dragged into this mess without knowing anything. I owe you an explanation.’
The grief and pain layered in that soft resonance were so powerful that Seiyad couldn’t bring himself to hurl further accusations. Especially because the face speaking those words was Cecilia’s. When he silently gave his assent, the moon slowly walked toward the center of the clearing. As it moved toward the sword, a voice echoed in his mind.
‘Long, long ago—when land was born and the sky first stretched above—it was a time when the night sky had no moon. Each night, everything on the surface would lose its way, and life would perish. The fear of the dying gathered and tainted the night sky. The being you now face—the one you call the Devil—is night itself. The primordial night. A vast sky so ancient and overwhelming that neither I nor Solias could defeat it outright.’
“Solias?”
‘Yes, both the name of this kingdom and the name of my sun. It’s the name for the time when life blossoms. Isn’t it beautiful?’
There was joy in the moon’s voice as it said that. Simply speaking the name brought it happiness, and somehow, that feeling didn’t seem distant or unrelated to Seiyad. He now understood how just remembering someone could stir up so many emotions. No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, he could see just how much the moon loved the sun.
“…It is beautiful.”
And it was—because it was also Ressas’s name. Seiyad couldn’t deny the moon’s gentle appeal. From beginning to end, Ressas’s name was beautiful, just like its bearer. The moon’s name for the time when life blooms—it was the perfect name for him.
It was Ressas who had bloomed love in the barren, lightless soil of Seiyad’s heart. Who had soaked the parched, crumbling land with affection, giving birth to the person he was now.
‘So kind.’
The moon smiled softly and stopped before the sword. The blade, gleaming far more brilliantly than usual, let out a low hum as the moon approached. Staring at it tenderly, the moon placed its hand on the hilt.
‘I was born from the hopes and desperate wishes of people. Their yearning for a guide to lead them through the night gave rise to a god, and I took my place in the night sky among countless stars. Nox didn’t originally intend to kill everything. It was corrupted thoughts, misguided decisions—that’s what fueled his darkness.’
Nox—likely the name of the Devil. But Seiyad didn’t want to remember it. The more you spoke a name, the more power it gained.
“I don’t care what the Devil’s story is. No matter what he was or how it started, the path he chose was cruel. That alone doesn’t change.”
‘You’re right. When the night devoured my sun, I knew I couldn’t escape its fate either. But as I said—our strength wasn’t enough to kill it outright. It was an ancient god, older than the sun and moon. So, I chose a different path: to shatter it and bind it to this land.’
The moon drew the sword and extended it to Seiyad. Since it was the object he had been looking for, he didn’t refuse. Reaching out slowly, he took the hilt—and in doing so, Cecilia’s hand overlapped with his. The moon smiled, as if pleased.
‘I shattered the night sky that held me and Nox, and we buried ourselves across the land. The fragments of the once vast sky where I used to dance became the Nir’a, who now guard this place and repel humans. The great stars who once followed me descended to this land and, one by one, began to erase the power of the night, weakening him. The Tithers, called so for ages, have spent their lives eliminating the forest’s cores—and thanks to them, the Devil is now this weak.’
The way the moon spoke so calmly of its own grave made it impossible for Seiyad to blame it anymore. Just as Asella had said—the moon had truly sacrificed itself to bind the Devil. He gripped the sword’s hilt more tightly. The moon smiled again, as if telling him it was alright.
‘The Nir’a were once dying stars, asleep in the night sky. They weren’t beings that harmed humans or tormented animals. But Nox’s power polluted their minds, stripped them of selfhood. Now they are only husks of sadness and fear. Even so, they remember what they must do—they still wander the forest, protecting it. So unlike what you believed, they weren’t meant to attack humans at all.’
Only now did Seiyad understand the reason behind the sorrow that radiated from them. The way they had lost their will and moved like puppets—it felt eerily similar to his own past. Even the final trace of resentment he had toward them faded. He no longer wanted to condemn beings who had done their best. The moon had truly done everything it could, sacrificing itself.
‘We were slowly killing Nox that way, little by little. But as time passed, he realized he was going to be erased completely—and so he began to stir. The lives of the humans who were sacrificed to him weigh heavily on me… but now, you can end this. Take this sword—and send him to his final peace.’
Seiyad had no intention of granting the Devil a peaceful end. But without a word, he accepted the sword. The moon, as if making sure he’d remember, gave him one final reminder.
‘Only you can wield this sword properly. It has to be you.’
Remembering how Ressas had split open his own heart to purify the Devil’s power, Seiyad frowned and asked:
“So the sword doesn’t have the power to purify the Devil on its own? If it did, anyone could use it, right?”
‘This sword is my will, forged from my flesh and tears. Only one among my blood—one who carries my fragments and possesses the right qualifications—can wield it. And the only person left who can draw out the last of my power… is you.’
Seiyad looked down at the sword, surprised by a truth he hadn’t even considered. It was strange to realize that this holy relic, kept in the royal palace and believed to be reserved for royalty, had never actually been used properly.
“Why wasn’t this ever passed down to my family?”
‘The sword had to remain in the castle to protect the bloodline of Solias. If the Devil were to wipe out the descendants of Solias, then your line would fall with them. We were planning to intervene when the time was right. But the world is curious, isn’t it? Nothing ever goes according to plan. Even we, as gods, can’t fully comprehend humanity. Because of that, we encountered several crises.’
Seiyad silently acknowledged that—perhaps the reference was to his past life. Feeling that everything he needed to know had now been revealed, he moved to the core of it all.
“So this sword—was that what you meant to give me?”
‘No. I intended to grant you my title. You’ll need it before long.’
“Your… title?”
Seiyad frowned at the sudden shift in subject. The moon gave a wistful smile.
‘You’ll understand when the time comes. Take my hand.’
Though the moon’s cryptic words made it difficult to grasp its true intent, Seiyad realized the being before him wasn’t lying. There was no trace of deceit or malice—only genuine concern and sorrow. Hesitant, he finally reached out, and the moon clasped his hand between both of its own. The touch was warm and tender, like a mother brushing her child’s hair—filled with love and worry.
‘Child who carries a piece of my soul… I now entrust you with all of my authority and right. Be the bearer of my will, and extend your hand to those who’ve lost their way. With your resolve and my yearning, light the night, so that no soul shall grieve again.’
The gentle, serene voice faded—and a presence both awe-inspiring and chilling surged through his mind. A cool, soft power traveled down through their joined hands, reaching into his very soul. The silver light in Cecilia’s eyes gradually dimmed. As the glow scattered into the air, a sudden, inexplicable sadness welled up within him. Watching the silver dissolve, the moon smiled.
‘Even the wisest sometimes lose their way in daylight. Be the signpost for your sun.’
That final whisper, overflowing with affection, marked the end of the silver light. Time, which had been frozen, began to move again. The air twisted around them in a swirl. Like waking from a dream, a haze lifted from his mind—then sharp clarity snapped him back to reality.
Oh…
It aches
l understand now nox obsessive moon cuz he is night and seiyad has a piece on moon in his soul