It was the era of mages.
When people thought of magic, they usually pictured white magic. But where there is light, there must also be shadow.
In hidden corners of the world, a small and peculiar group practiced a forbidden art: dark magic… an ancient craft fueled by living sacrifices, often leading to gruesome, horrifying ends. Because of its cruel nature, dark mages were forced to gather in secret places called Dark Towers.
Across the continent stood dozens of these Dark Towers. Unlike ordinary towers of magic, they had no proper names. Instead, each was identified by a number in the order it was built: the First Dark Tower, the Second Dark Tower, and so on.
High in the Arctic Iceberg Mountain, perched on the Ice Spirit Plateau Fortress, rose the Second Dark Tower. Its summit was so lofty that even raging blizzards couldn't touch it. Strangely, the sky above it was forever stained crimson.
Caw—! Screech—!
Giant winged creatures resembling ravens with demonic wings circled above the Second Dark Tower, guarding it.
Pale Yellow Autumn Moon glanced at them and smirked.
"What pointless decorations."
Screech—!
At last, she arrived at the entrance of the tower, which stretched so high it seemed to reach the stars. As she approached, the doors opened automatically, welcoming her.
After navigating the narrow, twisting cliffside path to get there, she was already in a foul mood.
"If they hadn't at least opened the door, I might've gone mad from sheer boredom."
Click.
Stepping inside the Dark Tower, rows of torches along the walls lit up one by one, illuminating the interior.
"So even dark mages appreciate a bit of spectacle, just like their white-robed counterparts?"
She spoke to the empty space, unaware of her host's whereabouts. Suddenly, a staircase materialized in midair, and from it descended an elderly man, nearly two meters tall, leaning on a long staff.
"Heheh… An esteemed guest has graced us indeed…"
His skin was disfigured with blemishes, warts, and twisted scars visible beneath his robe. Pale Yellow Autumn Moon suppressed the urge to gag; she adored beauty, and his appearance was hard to stomach.
"Are you the master of this tower?"
"That's right, O Twelve Divine Moon… My name is Maran Kaltz—the left hand of the Dark Mage Cult and a Class 9 dark mage."
"I see. I've heard of you."
"What an honor… Heheh."
Maran Kaltz.
As a member of the Twelve Divine Moons, it was impossible for her not to know his name.
He was a Dark Mage who had once been considered for the blessings of the Twelve Divine Moons.
The Twelve Divine Moons were impartial to all forms of life—whether one practiced white magic or dark magic, whether one was a villain or a hero.
None of that mattered.
As long as their values aligned, the Twelve Divine Moons could bestow their blessings upon anyone.
Humanity, however, had remained ignorant of this truth for centuries.
They believed the Twelve Divine Moons existed only to serve and protect them.
And it was the man standing before her - Maran Kaltz - who had shattered that illusion and spread the truth to the world.
He was a master of Divine Moon Magic.
"For someone as great as a Twelve Divine Moon to visit my humble tower… I must offer you a proper welcome."
Maran Kaltz spoke in a slow, almost incantation-like tone as he slammed his staff onto the ground.
Thud!
Suddenly—
Rumble…!
The interior of the tower trembled, space warping around them. Pale Yellow Autumn Moon, weakened and stripped of her powers, knew that one slip could cost her her life. Still, she remained calm, observing him carefully. Even with her current handicap, she was adept at reading people. By studying his gaze - by peering into the soul behind his eyes - she sensed he had no intention of harming her.
Not yet.
"An interesting trick."
The dark, dreary, and cramped interior of the Dark Tower, unworthy of being called the 'Second,' had suddenly transformed into the lavish ballroom of a grand palace.
"I thought this would be more to your taste…"
"Hmm, I do like it."
Pale Yellow Autumn Moon stepped to the center of the room and made a motion as if to sit. Immediately, a chair draped in red ribbons materialized beneath her.
"Oh dear~ I absolutely despise the color red more than anything in the world."
The old man gave a low chuckle and snapped his fingers. The red chair instantly shifted to a vibrant yellow. Only then did she cross her legs and settle gracefully, meeting Maran Kaltz's gaze as he took his seat across from her.
"What brings you here?"
"I'm here to propose a deal."
"A deal, you say? Intriguing."
The notion of a deal with none other than a member of the Twelve Divine Moons was enough to pique Maran Kaltz's curiosity.
After all, he was a mage with a singular and peculiar ambition: to become one of the Twelve Divine Moons.
However, humans cannot become one of them.
By now, Maran Kaltz must have realized this unyielding truth. What he thought of his broken dream was uncertain, but one thing was clear. As a member of the Twelve Divine Moons, Pale Yellow Autumn Moon would always hold the upper hand.
"I need you to do me a favor. In return, I'll grant you one of yours. Simple and straightforward, isn't it?"
"Hoho… A favor, you say."
Maran Kaltz stroked his chin as though caressing a beard that wasn't there and his sharp eyes narrowed.
"Perhaps you wish to resolve the strange phenomena plaguing the northern human settlements?"
"You catch on quickly."
"Heheheh. Are you saying that Pale Yellow Autumn Moon, who thinks of humans as nothing more than tools, is willing to strike a deal with a mage like me for the sake of humans?"
"Why not? They're still useful pieces on the board. I have no intention of wasting perfectly good resources."
Their conversation dragged on. It was clear Maran Kaltz was stalling, trying to gauge her intentions. He might not outwit her in a battle of minds, but if this cunning old man began plotting, it would certainly be troublesome. She needed to be direct.
"So? Just tell me—can you do it or not? If you can't, I'll leave."
"Heheh… Are you saying you'd grant me any favor in return?"
"Yes. I could even reveal one of the Twelve Divine Moons' secrets if that's what you want."
"Ah… The secrets of the Twelve Divine Moons… That does sound tempting."
Something felt off.
It wasn't just his tone. It was his gaze.
His eyes weren't fixed on her face but instead wandered over her body.
"Vile creature."
"Heh, that's what everyone thinks of me."
"And you're about to pass on the Divine Moons' secrets?"
"Oh, I'm curious. Very curious… But what I'm even more curious about is this—how will the ever-so-proud Pale Yellow Autumn Moon look when she's brought low by mere humans?"
Something was wrong.
This reaction wasn't what Pale Yellow Autumn Moon had anticipated.
If Maran Kaltz still dreamed of becoming one of the Twelve Divine Moons, he should have been desperate to seize the opportunity she had just offered.
"You… You've given up on your dream."
"Yes, that's right. Heheh… I've accepted that no human body can ever reach the stars. At this point… curiosity is meaningless."
Pale Yellow Autumn Moon sighed.
The man before her was too old and broken.
For a mage, losing one's curiosity was tantamount to losing life itself. Despite holding enormous power, he lacked the will to wield it. Anyone who'd given up ambition had no hope of conquering anything, let alone the world.
"Then we're done here. I've lived a thousand years, and never once have I let a mere human stain my soul."
Maran Kaltz likely never had any real interest in Pale Yellow Autumn Moon's body to begin with. He must have known from the start that she had no physical form. His words were just a roundabout way of saying, 'I'm done caring… leave me be.'
Thus, their deal fell apart. Pale Yellow Autumn Moon stood, ready to leave. But in that moment, she recalled a particular human mage she'd been keeping tabs on.
"You said you've given up on your dream?"
"… That's right."
Why was she pressing him on this again? Maran Kaltz looked up; Pale Yellow Autumn Moon wore a faint, crooked smile.
"Times have changed. I thought I'd never see another human strive to join the Twelve Divine Moons, but it seems I was wrong."
"Heh… So there's another fool chasing illusions?"
Just as she suspected.
The broken mage before her had lost touch with the world's current state.
"No, not a mirage. Unlike you, this one has a clear goal."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll make this clear as a member of the Twelve Divine Moons. That mage has a real chance of becoming one of us."
"The odds are slim… About 0.001%—but it's not impossible."
The odds were low because Baek Yu-Seol faced opposition from Fawn Prevernal Moon.
Without Fawn Prevernal Moon's interference, Baek Yu-Seol might have already become one of the Twelve Divine Moons.
"Are you serious…?"
"Hmm?"
She had only tossed out the comment as bait, expecting mild curiosity at best. Instead, the atmosphere changed in an instant.
"W-What? What's happening…?"
Woooooosh…
Dark mana flared, staining the grand ballroom in swirling shades of black and white.
Clang! Crackle! Crash!!!
The space cracked under the pressure of the roaring vortex. Amid the chaos, Maran Kaltz stood firm, his bearing almost regal.
"If you've lied to me… Even if you are one of the Twelve Divine Moons, I won't let it slide."
'Damn it! This crazy old man!'
Pale Yellow Autumn Moon gritted her teeth, clutching her head as she struggled to endure the immense pressure emanating from the mana storm.
"Why would I lie? I felt sorry for you, that's all… for someone who gave up on his dreams."
But the maelstrom of mana didn't subside.
Maran Kaltz's pale, glowing-blue eyes locked onto her, burning with intensity unlike before.
'Ah… Damn.'
It hit her.
This was a form of torture.
Having given up his dreams and lost all hope, the old man had come to terms with his life by deeming it an 'impossible task.'
But then—someone told him that 'it was actually possible.'
Wouldn't that spark hope?
This was hope as torment.
A cruel, lingering torment.
He had finally resigned himself to his impossible dream, only to have it revived in an instant.
If it had truly been impossible, he could have moved on.
But now, knowing it might actually be possible—
Wasn't that far more agonizing?
'D-Damn… This is bad.'
She looked around desperately for a way out, sure everything was about to spin out of control. Then, as quickly as it began, the vortex ceased. Maran Kaltz turned and started up the tower's winding staircase, one that seemed to stretch on toward the stars.
Clack! Clack!
With his staff tapping against the steps, he climbed higher and then paused, turning back to glance at her.
"What are you doing? Aren't you coming?"
Pale Yellow Autumn Moon hurried to compose herself, brushing her tangled hair aside. Her once-elegant gown was now tattered.
'Ugh, if only my powers were intact, I wouldn't have to endure this humiliation.'
Suppressing a sigh, she followed him up the staircase, speaking cautiously as they climbed.
"I owe you an apology."
"… Not at all."
For a moment, she regretted stirring up his old ambitions. As the left hand of the Dark Mage Cult, Maran Kaltz might have been better off if he stayed out of sight, letting his dreams crumble to dust.
'Tch. Whatever.'
She had too much on her plate already to worry about the consequences.
As they continued climbing the seemingly endless staircase, Maran Kaltz broke the silence.
"Those creatures you want gone… the ones roaming the surface… You want me to handle that?"
"Yes. I hear that with your magic, it should be a simple matter."
"Heh. You have quite the sense of humor. It's refreshing to see this side of you today, Pale Yellow Autumn Moon."
"H-Haha. Yeah, just joking."
She broke out in a cold sweat.
'Wait… It can't be that he can't just blow them away in one shot, right?'
Despite living for a thousand years, she was completely ignorant when it came to magic.
Wasn't a class 9 mage supposed to be able to summon a meteor with ease?
"Since you regard the humans on the surface as valuable tools, I assume you wish to protect them while isolating the creatures."
Oh no!
It was only then that Pale Yellow Autumn Moon realized her slip of the tongue.
'I don't actually care about the humans down there…!'
As long as the soldiers of the Ice Spirit Plateau Fortress Fortress were safe, the rest - whether humans or beastkin - could all be wiped out along with the creatures.
But it was too late to take back her words.
The Twelve Divine Moons never contradicted themselves. Doing so would diminish the weight of their authority.
"We're here."
Finally, they reached the top of the Dark Tower.
"This is…"
"Yes. From here, you can see the entire surface."
Above them, the red constellations shimmered in the sky.
Below, through the sea of clouds, the entire city was visible at a glance.
To Maran Kaltz, the Ice Spirit Plateau Fortress Fortress was nothing more than a toy in a sandbox.
'T-This can't be…'
If Maran Kaltz had retained even an ounce of curiosity - if he had ever idly thought, 'Let's erase those humans for fun' - the Ice Spirit Plateau Fortress would have been wiped from the map long ago. It survived only because Maran Kaltz, stripped of ambition, had become a recluse.
"There is one way to protect the humans and isolate the creatures."
The old man spread his arms wide, gesturing toward the cities, towns, mountains, frozen lakes, and every inch of the landscape below.
"We can turn the entire lower layer of the Arctic Iceberg Mountain into a 'Persona Gate.'"
Pale Yellow Autumn Moon's jaw fell open. She wanted to shriek loudly enough to split the sky.
'Aaaaaah!'
Or perhaps, deep down, she was already screaming.