Southeastern main island of Pritt, Glamorne.
It was broad daylight on the outskirts of Glamorne. Along the shores of Lake Starbind, on a wide expanse of lakeside grass, many figures had gathered.
In the soft breeze, countless citizens from across Glamorne had come to the scenic lakeside. Guided by city guards, they lined up in orderly rows, observing a glass display case at the center of the crowd. Beside it stood a white-robed nun—Vania—smiling as she explained the origins of the relic housed within the case and patiently answered a myriad of questions from ordinary believers.
According to the scheduled itinerary, Vania had begun her domestic relic tour across Pritt. Over the past ten days, she had already traveled through several cities, and now she had arrived in Glamorne. After receiving a warm welcome, she promptly began the local exhibition.
Because the city church was too small, the chosen venue for the relic tour was the iconic lakeside grass of Lake Starbind. Amid the beautiful scenery and refreshing breeze, Vania skillfully delivered sermons while presenting the relics to the visiting public.
From a practical standpoint, the sermon would have had the same effect with or without the relics—the attendees’ attention was still overwhelmingly focused on Vania herself. She spent most of her time speaking with believers, shaking hands, and answering questions. Discussions about the relics themselves were rare. While this made the event more exhausting for Vania, she had grown accustomed to it over the past few months of touring and was now quite adept at managing it all.
The lakeside exhibition lasted several hours. As the sun began to set and the guards maintaining order started to tire, the day’s sermon came to an end. After Vania made an official closing announcement to the still-gathered crowd, a wave of disappointed sighs spread through the people before they began to disperse. Still, many did not leave right away—some chose to stroll by the lake, others lingered at a distance, hoping to catch a few more glimpses of Vania.
“Ah, Sister Vania, you’ve really worked hard today. I didn’t expect your tour to attract such a large crowd. Not even New Year’s Day sermons draw this many people. No wonder Holy Mount holds you in such high regard.”
Shortly after the event concluded, while Vania was resting by the lake, a smiling middle-aged man in clerical robes approached her. He was the local bishop of Glamorne, and alongside him stood the city’s mayor and the regional director of the Serenity Bureau.
“All the glory today belongs to the martyrs who created the relics. I’m merely basking in their light.”
The group continued to exchange some brief pleasantries, with Vania responding gracefully to the various flattery they offered. After finally seeing off all the local dignitaries, Vania was at last able to rest properly. As she sent the last of the city’s elite off, she let out a quiet sigh of relief, stood up from her chair, and slowly walked to the lakeside. Gazing at the broad, tranquil waters before her, she couldn’t help but feel refreshed in spirit.
“Sister Vania.”
Just then, a familiar voice called her name. She turned and saw Gaspard, the captain of her escort squad, walking toward her clad in half-plate clerical armor. Upon seeing him, Vania’s expression softened.
“Brother Gaspard, how’s the packing coming along?”
“Just about finished. Everything’s sorted. We’ll be ready to depart first thing tomorrow.”
Gaspard said as he approached. After glancing at the lingering crowd in the distance, he continued.
“You’ve worked hard, Sister Vania. I thought that in a city this far from the capital, the crowd might be smaller—but it turned out no different. You always meet so many people. It’s exhausting. Maybe next time you could simplify things—stand on a stage, give a short speech, let people view the relics themselves. No need to greet everyone one by one.”
Gaspard made his suggestion, and Vania responded with a calm, composed voice.
“If I did that, it would feel too lofty, too detached. I’m but a humble servant of the Lord—not a lord or queen who issues commands. If the people desire closer contact with me, then I must do my utmost to be among them. As a servant of the Lord, I have a duty to be the bridge that connects the faithful with Them.”
Speaking with devout sincerity, Vania explained her reasoning. Gaspard, moved by her words, could not help but admire the nun’s dedication.
“Sister Vania, your devotion is truly an inspiration to us all. The more we follow you, the more we feel your inner strength and purity. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if those rumors about you receiving the Holy Mother’s divine oracle are true…”
Gaspare spoke with admiration, but Vania quickly interrupted, her tone slightly urgent.
“Please don’t say things like that, Brother Gaspard. In the Church, only the Holy See may receive divine revelations. I’ve never heard the Holy Mother’s voice. If She is guiding me, it must be through subtle, unseen ways. As for all those rumors—that I’m some chosen one or bearer of divine favor—please don’t take them too seriously.”
She said this with an edge of urgency, and Gaspard responded with a chuckle.
“Haha… I was just joking, Sister Vania. No need to be so tense. Still, with all you’ve gone through these past six months—and to emerge unharmed, continuing to spread the Lord’s grace—it’s understandable that some people have their own ideas.”
“Well then, it’s getting late. I’ve got some other tasks to take care of. The city has prepared a banquet—we just need to attend. After dinner, you should rest well. We’ve got another journey ahead tomorrow.”
With that, Gaspard turned to leave. Vania nodded in response.
“Yes, I’ll come over once I’ve rested a bit. While I have the chance, I’d like to enjoy the scenery a little. To be honest… this lake leaves quite a nice impression.”
She looked out at the vast expanse of Lake Starbind and spoke with genuine feeling. Hearing this, Gaspard also turned his gaze to the lake. Watching the reflection of the sky and mountains ripple across the surface under a gentle breeze, he too sighed with appreciation.
“Yeah… this lake really is something. Big, clean, and calming. You wouldn’t expect to find a place like this in a remote region. Just getting to visit here feels like a reward.”
As he admired the lake, Gaspare spoke thoughtfully. Vania, however, did not reply. She too stared quietly into the distance—at a particular spot on the lake—her expression carrying a subtle and unreadable emotion.
…
By the edge of Lake Starbind, at the summit of Mount Lakeview, Dorothy now stood alone atop an observation platform. She gazed down at the vast lake below and, after glancing briefly at the sun on the horizon, slowly spoke.
“It’s time...”
Murmuring softly, Dorothy raised her right hand slightly. A silver glow shimmered from the ring on her finger.
At this moment, Dorothy was using the ring she had inherited from the mother she had never met to access the immense secret hidden beneath Lake Starbind. Ever since she had entered the Mirror Moon Cathedral in the hidden realm, the ring had become partially activated. With it, she could now link directly from the real-world perimeter of Lake Starbind to the hidden cathedral and carry out all operations within her current level of authority.
“Come now... invert.”
With Dorothy’s whisper, the previously peaceful lake surface suddenly changed. The rippling water, once stirred by the breeze, was suddenly stilled by some strange force. All waves and movement were wiped away from that section of the lake, which transformed into a perfectly smooth mirror—flawlessly reflecting the sky above.
Then, the mirror-like surface began to distort. Though nothing hovered above it, the water’s reflection rippled with strange temporal fluctuations, and amidst this illusionary shift, an image slowly formed—a silhouette of a massive building.
Gradually, a massive cathedral emerged as a reflection on the water. It had no corresponding physical structure above, yet it existed independently within the mirrored surface, defying natural law.
Once the full outline of the cathedral was formed, the giant mirror began to turn. As if it were an ordinary round mirror being flipped over, the vast lake surface twisted in a swirl of soft incantations and radiant distortion. The great domed structure, which had only existed in reflection, crossed into reality without a sound—appearing silently atop the surface of Lake Starbind, almost as if it floated.
In mere seconds of silent transition, the grand cathedral had reappeared on the surface of the lake. The once colorless stone regained its hues under the daylight of the real world: ash-yellow pillars, multicolored stained-glass windows, and a shadowy vaulted dome. The previously distorted structure now took on a sense of "realness."
For the first time in who knows how many years, the Mirror Moon Cathedral returned to the real world’s lake. However, from the mountaintop platform where Dorothy stood, she could not see its figure—because a concealment barrier had automatically formed around the cathedral to block it from ordinary view. But she had no need for that barrier. With a simple wave of her hand, she dismissed it.
The moment the concealment vanished, the colossal structure was suddenly visible to anyone looking out at Lake Starbind. Countless citizens strolling by the lakeside stared in stunned silence at the unfamiliar sight now hovering atop the familiar lake.
“Look! What is that?!”
Exclamations of astonishment rang out. Many citizens who had come for the relic tour and hadn’t yet gone home rushed toward the lake, staring in disbelief at the massive building. Even longtime locals had never seen anything like it, and soon the lakeside was buzzing with shock and speculation.
“Sister Vania! Do you see that? That building… the cathedral on the lake—it suddenly appeared! That’s not an illusion, right?!”
At the lakeside where the exhibition had been held, Gaspard, who had just been gazing at the lake, now exclaimed in alarm, rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. Beside him, Vania’s irises were ringed with a faint orange glow as she stared intently at the distant structure and muttered in surprise.
“I don’t think it’s an illusion, Brother Gaspard. That’s real… A real cathedral just suddenly emerged without any warning. How could something like this happen?”
Just as Gaspard was about to respond, urgent footsteps approached from behind. Turning around, they saw Bishop Hogg of Glamorne running toward them in a panic.
“Sister Vania! Sister Vania! That cathedral on the lake—what is it?! Did you do something? Is this some kind of mystical power? Everyone at the lake saw it!”
“That’s what I was about to ask you, Bishop Hogg…” Vania replied sternly.
“You’re the local bishop. Don’t you know of any secrets beneath the lake?”
“I—no, no! While there have always been strange legends about the lake, we and the Serenity Bureau have investigated it several times and never found anything unusual! This thing… this thing on the lake—we’re seeing it for the first time just like everyone else!”
Bishop Hogg’s flustered response and demeanor suggested genuine ignorance. Seeing this, Vania furrowed her brows slightly, then spoke decisively after a moment of thought.
“Bishop Hogg, contact the local Serenity Bureau and the city authorities immediately. Have all civilians along the lakeshore evacuated back into the city. Don’t let anyone approach the lake.”
“Understood—I’ll go right away.”
Bishop Hogg quickly turned and left. Vania then shifted her gaze to Gaspard beside her and continued.
“Brother Gaspard… please gather the escort squad. We’re going out onto the lake to investigate and assess the situation.”
“Sister Vania, that cathedral appeared far too suddenly. Approaching it without knowing anything might be dangerous.”
Gaspard expressed his concern, but Vania, her expression calm and resolute, responded.
“It’s because that cathedral is so strange that we must uncover the truth behind it. We need to make a preliminary assessment of whether it poses any danger to the public.
“We’re the most experienced Beyonders present. It’s our responsibility to act. At the very least, we need a basic understanding of the site so we can report back to Tivian. As long as we proceed cautiously, it should be fine.”
Vania’s tone was serious and resolute. Hearing her words, Gaspard paused briefly—then nodded without hesitation.
“…Understood.”