# Ep 27. Questioning the Heavens
The history of the Astronomy Faction dates back to mythical times. Even before the Milestone existed, the Astronomy Faction served as advisors to kings.
They read celestial patterns to divine fortune and misfortune. They determined navigation routes by observing constellations. These two roles broadly translated to governance and diplomacy.
In ancient times, the Astronomy Faction held the authority of prime ministers. They were the king's advisors, the rudder of state affairs, the compass of diplomacy. They were the captains steering the great flagship called Kalion.
And then the Milestone appeared.
A powerful artifact that bent all celestial fortunes in favor of elves. The turning point marking the end of the mythical age and the beginning of the age of civilization. Elves no longer needed the whims of gods.
For they had created their own god with their hands. A powerful artificial deity that unconditionally loved them in all circumstances, without any capriciousness.
There was no need to worship gods by relying on divine power. Within Kalion, elves could be perfect.
Therefore, elves no longer expanded their influence beyond Kalion.
Outside the Milestone's influence was dangerous. Beyond Kalion, without the Milestone's protection, the whims of gods would once again begin to constrain elves.
Magic perfectly tailored for elves, luck arranged solely for elves, climate and vegetation most comfortable for elves. Why would they need to expand outward, abandoning endless resources and eternal prosperity?
Therefore, the Astronomy Faction was no longer necessary.
The king had delegated all power to the Privy Council.
The skies of Kalion no longer foretold fortune and misfortune.
And elves did not expand their territory beyond Kalion.
Those who were once captains of all civilization grew old and faded away, studying ancient knowledge and reflecting on past glory.
After enough time had passed that none of the elven high authorities even considered the Astronomy Faction anymore.
Beolgrin Grikenkos joined the Hero Party.
With the title of the most powerful mage in the civilized world.
"You're not in your right mind either."
Alexandr said with a smirk.
On the calm night sea, the Milky Way was splendidly arrayed over the open ocean without any light source.
The ship's rail gently undulated. Feeling the gentle breeze, the High Astronomer was looking down at the sea.
"What do you see down there?"
"Stars."
Alexandr turned his gaze at the man's answer. The night sea was like a mirror, appearing to perfectly mimic the night sky.
He soon raised his eyes to look at the sky and laughed.
"Does an astronomer read star fortunes while looking at the sea? The sky is visible if you just lift your head a little."
"Do those things up there look like stars to you?"
Beolgrin turned with a slight smile and began walking toward the cabin. As he moved, something could be heard being muttered softly.
It was too quiet for Alexandr to hear. He turned his head and asked.
"What did you say?"
"I tried praying."
"An elf praying? Haha, right. What did you pray for?"
"For an answer."
Beolgrin finished speaking in the corridor leading to the cabin.
"As always, there was no response."
He playfully reached his hand toward the sky. After groping as if to grab something, he suddenly clenched his fist and lowered it—
-Bang.
The cabin door closed.
The Privy Council consists of 21 seats: 12 island lords (島主) who rule the islands of Kalion, 6 castle lords (城主) who oversee the naval ports, one person each from the two shipyards that build airships, and finally the Astronomy Faction, the queen's advisor.
Each council member bears responsibilities equivalent to a monarch of a nation. Kalion is essentially no different from a federation. These people have no unified patriotism.
Therefore, they can never gather in one place. Not only do they never trust each other, they don't even trust the queen.
Consequently, their "assembly" does not take place in physical space.
"Is everyone here?"
Pale afterimages scattered in the darkness. Aislif Rustfitz, the head of the Privy Council of the Kalion Grand Assembly, scanned the afterimages with tired eyes.
Eighteen afterimages glowed white in the darkness.
"Who is it? Who's started playing an amusing game with our Queen?"
One of the afterimages shouted in a husky voice. Aislif frowned and replied.
"Maintain your dignity, Lord Herwelder."
"What dignity? You're making a mistake now. I'm not dying alone. If you wanted to bury me—"
"Silence, Simon Herwelder!! Considering what you did 120 years ago, you're the most suspicious one!"
"Why bring up something from a century ago—!!"
The assembly hall instantly became chaotic. The meeting of Kalion's rulers, taking place dozens of kilometers apart, was always like this.
Many elves might have fantasies about this gathering. Fantasies of noble rulers smiling and operating the political situation with political implications.
Reality was not just harsh but vulgar. This meeting room, filled with respected academic chairs and entrepreneurs, would typically devolve into chaos within 10 minutes of starting.
Perhaps it's because the duties they each bear are too heavy. The lives of tens of thousands of people are in their hands.
"Everyone quiet!!"
One afterimage flickered and shouted. Aislif looked at the wavering afterimage with tired eyes. It was the seat of the Black Horn.
"I wish to speak."
"Go ahead, Lord Koenwulf."
"Let those council members who have tampered with the Milestone raise their hands. To be clear first, I found that we had a group on our side too while I was absent."
At Edelflat Koenwulf's statement, the other afterimages shook roughly. Soon noise erupted.
"What false accusation—"
"Are you cutting off the tail now? Are you pinning your deeds on your subordinates?"
"You should be ashamed!"
As the commotion reached its peak, Edel's voice resonated softly.
"I killed them all."
"...What?"
"I rooted out and killed all those who tried to overthrow the Black Horn in my absence. About half of the Black Horn was executed, and I was barely able to normalize the Milestone. What those bastards were trying to do, presumably—"
The manipulation of relative time through the Milestone.
In other words, technology to forcibly make those within the Milestone's influence enter the "Domain of the Transcendent."
A kind of consideration for those who haven't reached the Domain of the Transcendent, one might say.
"The intention is commendable, but law is law. So I dealt with it. Now, tell me. What were you trying to do with the Milestone, how, and to what extent?"
The assembly fell silent. After a moment of silence, Edelflat spoke again.
"The Alchemy Faction stopped the Milestone and collected magical beasts by restoring the magical power in the sea."
"Ahem."
The Milestone is an artifact that sucks in magical power from the seas around Kalion, purifies it, and disperses it into the atmosphere. There is no magical power in seas where the Milestone is operating.
Consequently, the seeds of magical beasts dry up. As a result, the sea becomes clean. Without threatening creatures, even a small boat can operate without problems.
They stopped it and collected magical beasts with the recovered magical power in the sea. That was the purpose of the Alchemy Faction.
"I hear the Life Faction was researching the production of divine power by compressing souls?"
"H-how did you— No, to reveal this so publicly—!!"
"Is that true? Is that possible?!"
"My goodness!!"
The meeting room became chaotic again. Edel calmed the assembly with a sharp voice.
"So tell me. How many are shut down now, and how many are operating normally? Can any of us answer? What is the minimum number of Milestones needed for Kalion's blessing? I'm curious because I'm a warrior all my life and weak in magic."
Not all Milestones are necessary. In fact, when the Alchemy Faction stopped the Milestone, this massive magic covering Kalion didn't break.
So how many are safe? And are there any side effects from stopping the Milestone?
And decisively.
Why were 'all academic societies simultaneously' attempting to manipulate the Milestone, which no one had dared to touch for centuries and was strictly prohibited by law?
As if someone had persuaded them.
There are no coincidences. Since it wasn't just one or two people's problem. There must be a mastermind behind this—
"Her Majesty the Queen..."
Half an answer.
"Lord Grikenkos's advice..."
The other half of the answer finally emerged.
All attending members of the Privy Council simultaneously realized with a sigh.
Beolgrin and the Queen had joined hands and were stopping the Milestones one by one.
For at least 30 years. Steadily preparing.
"Why, exactly?"
Now all council members will start managing the Milestone. Whatever the plan was, it's too late now. The attempt to stop the Milestone's spell must be considered frustrated.
So the question here is this.
The fact that it was the Queen who awakened vigilance about the Milestone. The fact that the Queen's inspectors are going around the islands checking the Milestones.
Where is there a strategist who destroys with their own hands the plan they have achieved?
While moving to the next island after visiting the Black Horn, Ivan suddenly looked up at the night sky.
The dim sky was slightly cloudy.
He had just delivered the information obtained from the Life Faction to Edel and immediately turned the bow. Assuming he would visit each island once, it would obviously take at least a month, so he needed to hurry.
In any case, he had to return to Pritzenkaya before the next semester began.
"Oh my?"
Elfihera, standing beside him and admiring the night sky, suddenly turned her head.
"Is it snowing?"
"Hmm."
"I guess we're seeing the first snow of the year together!"
It's midwinter now. Although it was difficult to recognize due to Kalion's mild temperature, Pritzenkaya would certainly be terribly cold by now.
So there's nothing strange about snow falling, but—
"Why is it snowing?"
As Elfihera approached with a gentle smile, Ivan stepped back with a serious face and asked again.
"Does it snow in Kalion too?"
"What? Well, when water meets cold air—"
Rain falls in Kalion too. Of course.
One of the Milestone's blessings was maintaining the "most suitable climate." Since crops need rain to grow and humidity needs to be maintained, you can occasionally encounter rain in Kalion.
But snow is different. Snow means the air temperature has dropped below freezing, and elves dislike cold weather.
Through the Milestone's blessing, Kalion always maintains "the most suitable climate for elves."
That climate did not include winter.
"Huh?"
Elfihera, understanding his meaning, hurriedly looked up at the sky.
High Astronomer Hermon left work leisurely as usual, doing nothing in particular.
The night streets were dreary. A cool breeze brushed his ear. He reflexively tightened his coat and began walking, then suddenly looked up at the sky.
Thick clouds were covering it.
It's going to rain.
Though he didn't seem to have heard about it, had he failed to check?
Well, it's been a while since it last rained, so it's about time.
With just that thought, he continued walking, when suddenly he saw the clouds parting in the wind.
Through the gap, a cluster of stars shone.
"—What?"
Hermon's footsteps stopped. He rubbed his eyes for a moment and looked at the sky again. By now, thick dark clouds were hiding all traces of the sky.
He hurriedly ran back to the astronomy tower. He nearly fell several times. As he climbed the stairs, the cries of confused secretaries echoed behind him.
Barely calming his panting breath, he finally returned to his office and flung open the terrace doors.
-Whoosh, the wind blew. His hair fluttered long. The humid smell of the sea stung his nostrils.
He picked up the telescope. The massive telescope, neglected long enough to be covered in dust, was raised in his hands.
Swallowing dryly, he examined beyond the horizon. He tightened the aperture beyond the range of dark clouds and focused.
The sky became visible.
"What is this—"
Gripping the telescope tightly, he moved again. He ran hurriedly in the opposite direction. He kicked open the secretarial office door, ignored the startled secretary, and opened the terrace.
Again, he focused on the distant horizon and peered for a long time.
"What on earth—"
He sprang from his seat and headed for the tower's roof. This time, he was in such a hurry that he even fell a couple of times.
Bang! He roughly kicked open the roof door and looked up at the sky.
The clouds parted again, and for a moment, a cluster of stars was visible.
Hermon sat down on the spot and stared blankly at the scene.
"What is happening...?"
All the skies showed ill omens.
As if the long years where only good omens were observed in the elves' future under the Milestone's blessing were coming to an end.
In the darkness, beyond the clouds, faintly between them. Magical power brushing past the star clusters was flowing with ominous signs.
In the dark cabin interior, Beolgrin sat cross-legged, interlacing his hands and exhaling a long breath.
With a faint smile, he closed his eyes deeply. Though he was present here, his mind was floating in a higher place.
That place looked like a deep, dark abyss, or perhaps the distant celestial universe. They can be seen as having the same meaning in terms of being quiet and empty darkness.
Beolgrin reached out his hand there.
"All the pieces have gathered."
From far beyond that darkness, hands could be seen. The vision of a chess piece appearing on a chessboard with a click flowed abundantly.
"I ask my sky."
A chess piece was placed in Beolgrin's hand. He reached out once more and click, a pawn moved.
"To whom do gods pray?"
His question echoed without answer in the empty darkness.
Beolgrin laughed deeply.
The Astronomy Faction listens to the will of the heavens (天聞).
The astronomer observes the sky and interprets its meaning (天文).
Beolgrin questioned the sky about his own will (天問).
God does not answer the questions of believers. He only extends his hand according to his whims.
If he extends his hand, couldn't one grab it? Thinking this, Beolgrin looked at the piece in his hand and smiled.
At that moment, Ivan was looking at the snowy sky. Between the gaps, he felt a familiar gaze.
Click, as the pawn moved.
Click, the queen on the other side of the chessboard stirred.