The soldier's instinct, honed through countless years on the battlefield, served him well.
Ivan glanced at Elfihera, who was staring in shock at the snow falling from the sky, while instinctively assessing the situation.
First point.
Snow is falling from the sky. While this might be an ordinary natural phenomenon in midwinter, this is Kalion. Therefore, this clearly qualifies as an abnormal climate event.
The power that manipulates Kalion's climate comes from the Milestones.
Another point.
Milestones are embedded in each of Kalion's islands, and all Milestones are organically connected to form some kind of large-scale magic formation.
Final point.
The purpose of the Milestones is to "create an environment favorable to elves." This means they affect climate and vegetation on a small scale, and are said to influence magical power and destiny on a larger scale.
In other words, if something goes wrong with the Milestones, it could also cause problems with elven magic.
Up to this point, 0.23 seconds had passed.
Before the first snowflake touched the sea, Ivan's thoughts accelerated in fragmented time.
His eyes grew cold and calm. The world seemed to stand still. The distant horizon appeared almost like a still life painting.
The puzzle pieces were coming together. Fragmented information was connecting into solid lines.
In the dark night, on a monochrome surface divided into black and white, Ivan slowly calmed his acceleration. The wind blew. Time began to flow again.
'There's no problem with my magic power.'
The Domain of the Transcendent, as this relative time acceleration was called, was closer to a side effect that occurred when strengthening the nervous system with magic power. In other words, the magic flowing through his body was no different than usual.
"Elfihera."
"Yes? Yes?"
"Try using magic."
"What? Magic?"
"Anything. As quickly as possible."
At Ivan's words, Elfihera quickly waved her hand. Purple magic power lingered at her fingertips before suddenly bursting with a "pop."
"Huh...? Huh?!"
"Any problems besides magic?"
"I'm having a bit of trouble breathing... I'm not sure yet. What, what's happening?"
Ivan looked up at the sky without answering. Snow was falling. Magic power was being cut off. Magic was scattering.
The Milestones,
Or rather, the blessing of the Milestones was being lifted.
The mythical artifact symbolizing the age of elves was fading away.
Up to here, confirmed information.
"The Privy Council members have been personally exploiting the Milestones."
"Pardon?"
"And the Queen requested that we provoke the Privy Council members with Beolgrin Grikenkos's whereabouts as a bargaining chip."
"...So Her Majesty knew that the Privy Council members were tampering with the Milestones."
"And Beolgrin, your father, never leaks his plans to enemies."
"If Her Majesty hadn't joined hands with my father, she wouldn't have been able to locate him in the first place."
Elfihera's response was immediate. Her eyes were blazing. A mage in the Hero Party must become more composed in moments of crisis.
"The one who taught the Privy Council members about the 'other uses' of the Milestones—"
"My father. Beolgrin Grikenkos."
"The Queen and Beolgrin joined hands and provoked the Privy Council members. And when we arrived, they diverted the Council's attention to me."
"So that even for just a moment, attention would be focused on the Queen and the 'human causing trouble'..."
"Elfihera."
At Ivan's words, Elfihera nodded with a stern face.
"Let's change course to Idranil."
"It's not that there's a lack of magic power in the atmosphere. What's the reason we can't use magic?"
At Ivan's question, Elfihera furrowed her brow for a moment, seeming to calculate something. She soon bit her lip and answered.
"The concentration has changed. In a subtle way that's difficult for us to adapt to. If I had to describe it... it's like releasing tropical saltwater fish into cold freshwater. The basics of magic power... that is, the assembly process has been distorted."
"Is there a solution?"
"Time. I don't know how long it will take. But I will, absolutely will figure it out."
Ivan nodded without answering and headed to the wheelhouse. It was an unspoken trust. She was the mage of the Hero Party, after all.
When encountering incidents caused by magic, there was no one else to trust but her.
Here in Kalion.
"Have the Milestones stopped working?"
"That's... not certain. We need to check, but something feels strange."
Elfihera hesitated for a moment. She scanned the magic power in the air and shook her head.
"It's more like the direction has changed. The concentration of magic power remains the same, but the quality has changed. Yes, that's about it."
At Elfihera's words, Ivan closed his eyes tightly.
"This could be the worst-case scenario."
"Maybe it's just a simple malfunction...?"
"That's unlikely."
If the blessing of the Milestones was still in effect, but only the atmospheric environment had changed.
If in the premise of this ancient artifact that provides "the most perfect conditions for elves," only the object had changed.
'This isn't exactly a pleasant environment for me.'
Not particularly hostile, but neither the magic circulation nor the climate could be considered perfect for humans.
Just who would benefit from these "optimal conditions"?
The projections conducting the meeting suddenly went dark.
Aislif frowned as he looked around the empty round table.
"Is anyone there? It seems the power system for the projection device is malfunctioning!"
"Y-Your Excellency! You should come out for a moment!"
Hearing the voice from outside the sealed room, he sighed deeply and rose to his feet. It seemed none of the young elves these days were competent. If the Grand Council of the Privy Council had been interrupted for such a trivial matter, what would become of his authority in future assemblies?
He frowned as he opened the door. And then he froze.
"What is all this commotion...?"
"The magic... The magic isn't flowing!"
Aislif didn't panic. He was an elf who had lived too long to be surprised by such things. He calmly looked around.
The lights in his castle had gone out. The entire castle, including all corridors and rooms, was shrouded in darkness.
All the magic lamps had gone out. He could see panicked servants running around lighting candles. Even basic spells for creating light couldn't be formed.
"Terrorism...? Who would dare attack my castle?"
Everyone in this country who could pull off something like this had been in the meeting room. Assuming it wasn't them, there was no one in Kalion who would dare terrorize the Privy Council Chairman's castle.
He hurriedly ran out to the terrace.
"Ah...."
Built by carving into the middle of a high mountain range, his castle offered a panoramic view of his domain from any terrace.
A harsh wind blew with a whoosh. The biting cold forced him to unconsciously pull his collar tighter.
His domain was shrouded in darkness.
The massive naval port that controlled the eastern waters of Kalion seemed to be submerged beneath the night sea. Under thick clouds that obscured even the stars, only occasional glimpses of workers running with dim lanterns could be seen.
The magic lamps that had illuminated the streets, government offices, naval port, docks, and warehouses—all facilities—had gone dark.
"The Milestones...?"
He couldn't help but instinctively recall the topic the council had been discussing last.
Hermon barely controlled his rough breathing that had risen to his chin as he ran toward the palace.
The city was engulfed in chaos. Everyone, including elves and laborers, was causing a commotion, pouring into the streets with lanterns and candlesticks.
Magic had been cut off. Terrorism had occurred.
Such words were heard intermittently. But Hermon paid no attention.
If this was truly someone's act of terrorism, that "someone" might as well be considered a god.
Unlike other elves, he could read the heavens. As the High Astronomer of the Eternal Palace, hadn't he directly witnessed the ominous signs covering the sky?
What terrorist in the world could bring down an ominous sign on an entire race? While shattering the mighty blessing of the Milestones—
"...Milestones...?"
When his thoughts finally reached this point, Hermon turned pale and tumbled to the ground.
The Milestones had stopped?
He crawled on the ground and then resumed walking. At any moment, the High Astronomer had the authority to report directly to the monarch, bypassing procedures.
It was an ancient law that no one cared about anymore, but at least in this moment, he had to be grateful that astronomers were once advisors to the king.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty—!!"
When Hermon finally arrived at the royal presence, shouting down the guards, he found the Queen drinking tea.
"Your Majesty!! The Milestones— huff, gasp!! We must inspect the Milestones!!"
"Catch your breath."
"The situation is urgent...! Now, right now—!"
"Oh my."
The Queen was smiling benevolently. In the throne room shrouded in darkness, under the small candle held by a trembling servant.
With a face no different than usual, enjoying refreshments as usual.
"Your Majesty...?"
"Did you say there's a problem with the Milestones?"
"Yes...? Yes!! I can't think of any other reason. The sky is full of ill omens! Snow is falling and winter has arrived! Magic has stopped, and magical power is scattering!"
"How is that possible?"
"Pardon?? But Your Majesty, the current situation—"
"I'll ask again. How is that possible?"
The Queen quietly put down her teacup and continued.
"The Great Blessing of the Milestones clearly creates the most favorable environment for us at all times. Correct?"
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
"And even twisting the flow of this world, it always bestows a beneficial destiny to all elves within Kalion. Is that right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The skies of Kalion should always be auspicious for elves. But now the sky is full of—"
"Enough. Think about it. Isn't it strange?"
"Yes...?"
The Queen answered with a gentle smile.
"If it weren't more advantageous for our race for the Milestones to stop, they couldn't possibly shut down."
"Pardon??"
"Throughout our long history, why do you think no one has dared to turn off or manipulate the Milestones? Because we're frugal?"
The Queen smiled mischievously.
"Of course not! Do you think those greedy nobles neglected an ancient artifact that provides unlimited magical power just because of personal ethics?"
"B-because of the laws—"
"Since when have those people been so law-abiding? Haha."
Hermon felt a chill run down his spine.
The Queen was smiling calmly. In that expression, Hermon could not find the familiar old woman who grumbled about wanting to know when she would die.
It felt as if a completely alien creature in elven form was speaking to him.
"The warm temperature, clear skies, and abundant magic brought by the Milestones' blessing are all merely secondary effects. The Milestones were created with only one purpose."
Something wearing the Queen's skin said cheerfully.
"May we prosper forever."