The Sun is but a Morning Star

“Have you heard? Chief Justice Puvifis has issued a new decree. It seems they’re increasing the number of seats for lower-class citizen representatives in the Cabinet meetings.” A laborer holding a piece of dry bread and wearing denim overalls chatted with a slightly portly mechanic who was drinking coffee and sporting a handlebar mustache. The laborer took a sip of hot coffee, his expression filled with excitement.

“Those things are just talk. The so-called citizen representatives they choose will definitely be predetermined spokespeople, just like before.” The mechanic didn’t even look up, his eyes fixed on a machinery manual as he studied its operating principles and rules. On the corner of the book was a faint metallic signature: “Reinhardt.”

“How can you say that? The Divine Lord’s magic is omnipotent; she is everywhere...” The laborer lowered his voice, shoving a newspaper in front of the fat man’s face and blocking his view of the book.

“Hah, listen to yourself. The one pushing this bill is that woman of unknown origin—the one from the south. Can she really be trusted?” He poked a finger at the light blue name on the page, a look of disdain crossing his face. “It’s not that I look down on her, but the old nobles of the Royal Court have been around for thousands of years. No one can touch their interests. In a year or two, it’ll be their world again.”

“I heard the nobles have split into two factions. Things that used to be done in the shadows have been legalized. They say that from now on, people will be chosen to manage the country.” The man pulled up his slipping overall strap and gestured with his hands, trying to pique the mechanic’s interest.

“And how are these people chosen?”

“By our votes, of course!”

“For real?” The man took the newspaper, his finger repeatedly tapping the bolded text. He looked incredibly excited. “In the future, the Divine Lord will be the Divine Lord, and the Prime Minister will be the Prime Minister.”

“Aren’t you afraid of dying? Didn’t you say that Divine Lord is omnipotent?”

“Well... the Divine Lord must have agreed to it...” The laborer’s excitement suddenly dampened. The newspaper in his hand was crumpled and worn, likely a second-hand copy he’d picked up for cheap, though he was clearly someone who enjoyed staying informed.

“Here, let me see.” A voice suddenly spoke up beside them.

“I spent a few copper scraps on this, but I can let you look for free...” The man stopped mid-sentence, his voice catching in his throat. He stared at the fair hand resting on the newspaper. On the dark fingers were fine patterns of scales. He tremblingly let go, not daring to look directly at the shadowy figure.

“Shh...” The dark figure placed a finger before her bright red lips. “I like small scenes.”

The two men collapsed to their knees with a thud, their faces filled with terror. It was a level of fear that bordered on absolute reverence.

“Hmm... the power of the nation’s representatives is granted by God, and they should contribute to the people, striving to improve livelihoods and national prosperity...” A small smile played at the corners of Li Yue’s mouth. She felt as if she were in a dream, as if that beautiful other world was right before her eyes. “It’s still written too conservatively. Their power is granted by the people. As for the gods, they should return to the astral realm...”

“I gave her a few directions and suggestions, telling her to be more bold, but she was still too conservative. Perhaps they simply haven’t seen that world... Humans cannot imagine things they have never seen.” Li Yue thought carefully. “Those philosophers, revolutionaries, and politicians among the commoners and the nobles... I hope Clo can find them.”

Li Yue smiled with satisfaction and took the newspaper. With a simple flick of magic, the crumpled paper instantly became as smooth and pristine as if it were brand new.

“Exciting news, isn’t it?” Li Yue placed the newspaper on top of the kneeling man’s head. “Communicating while kneeling is too much trouble. In the future, if you have the chance to see me, just draw an inverted cross on your chest.”

“Be loyal to the leaders who guide you, not to the gods,” Li Yue said calmly. “If possible, I truly hope they can be one and the same.”

Li Yue left with a soft laugh. A few minutes later, after hearing no further movement, the two men cautiously raised their heads. Seeing nothing but empty space before them, they let out a long breath of relief. They picked up the pristine newspaper but didn’t dare to unfold it again.

“Go back and enshrine this newspaper... Enshrine it!” The thin man was so excited his voice cracked. “This is something bathed in a divine miracle!”

“My God...”

“Did you hear? The Divine Lord said it herself—this is exciting news! There’s hope for our children’s lives!”

“From now on, there will be white bread and leg of lamb every day!”

The two men embraced, their joy heartfelt.

...

“Lady Clo, are you still thinking about how to implement those decrees?”

“It’s a headache...” Clo rubbed her temples. Beside her were several letters from Academy professors. One contained a photograph of a meeting with Li Yue standing in the center, surrounded by colleagues Clo knew well. All of them were Calamity class mages, standing closer to godhood than anyone else, yet beside Li Yue, they looked like tiny chicks.

However, looking at their expressions, there was no fear—only a sense of relief, comfort, and a shared resolve against a common enemy. Clo quietly signed her name on the final document titled “We United.” She knew that the truth of the world beyond had been revealed to them, and Li Yue had shown them the path to salvation.

“What about those high nobles with the most prestige? They are great families with vampire lineages.”

“These decrees will definitely unsettle them. I imagine they’re badmouthing me plenty behind my back.” Clo smiled faintly, sharing a wry look with the official assisting her. He was the temporary Vice Prime Minister, chosen by Li Yue simply by peering into his heart.

“I’m afraid the implementation process will be a bit troublesome.”

“My Lady!” A servant came stumbling in, whispering urgently into the official’s ear.

“What?!”

“What happened?” Clo stood up, her eyes flashing with surprise.

“The head of that vampire family... he cut out his own tongue... with that cursed blade.” The official swallowed hard. “The Divine Lord ordered it herself... The dagger symbolizing ‘Decay’ has been taken by the Divine Lord, and his wound will never heal until she allows it...”

“A Yue...”

“The Divine Lord also said... she is everywhere...”

“Everywhere, is she...” Clo smiled softly. What would be a terrifying form of surveillance to anyone else was, to her, the most profound form of companionship.

...

“This is all I can do for you, Clo.” The wind howled in gusts. At an obscure port of the Royal Court, Li Yue stood upon a small wooden boat. Holding a lantern, she drifted quietly into the pitch-black sea that seemed not to belong to this world, a sea tinged with the color of blood.

This was a port where no one had ever set foot, hidden behind the snowy mountain peaks in the far north of the Royal Court. Today, Li Yue set sail once again.

“The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us. Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star.”