The silver leaves of the Elven capital shimmered softly under the night sky. Reconstruction efforts continued below, but peace had returned — fragile, yet steady.
On the upper terrace of the palace, two figures stood beneath a crescent moon.
Sylvarielle rested her hands gently along the balcony rail.
Beside her stood Elira, eyes filled with curiosity she had been holding back since the war ended.
Elira began quietly, "about Luna and Lin."
Sylvarielle did not look surprised.
A pause.
The night wind carried faint traces of mana through the air.
"You called them people who survived the end of something," Elira continued. "And you said centuries before… what did you mean?"
Sylvarielle closed her eyes briefly.
Then she spoke.
"They are not from a normal realm."
"There exists a place," Sylvarielle began, her voice calm yet distant, "at the convergence point of dimensions."
"Not a world."
"Not a universe."
"A junction."
She turned slowly to face Elina.
"It is called **Taeyang Cheonmu Academy — The Heavenly Martial Academy of the Sun."
Elina's breath hitched slightly.
"An academy?"
"Yes."
"But not the kind you imagine."
Sylvarielle's eyes reflected moonlight like silver glass.
"It stands at the center where countless realms intersect. Every dimensional flow, every fractured timeline, every unstable portal… they all echo near that place."
"The academy was built there intentionally."
"To monitor."
"To regulate."
"To prevent disasters like what happened beneath our World Tree."
Elina's eyes widened slowly.
"So they don't just train warriors…"
Sylvarielle nodded.
"They train guardians of reality."
"There is something else," Sylvarielle continued.
"The dimension where the academy resides does not follow ordinary time."
Elina leaned closer.
"How different?"
Sylvarielle answered calmly.
"One century there…"
"…is equal to one month here."
Silence fell between them.
Elira stared at her.
"That's impossible."
"It is controlled distortion," Sylvarielle corrected gently. "The dimensional convergence creates accelerated temporal compression."
"Time moves faster in the Academy's realm so students can cultivate, train, research, and evolve beyond what a normal lifespan would allow."
Elira's lips parted slowly.
"So when you said 'centuries before'…"
Understanding dawned.
"That's what you meant."
Sylvarielle nodded.
"Yes."
"In our world, only months may pass."
"But in the Academy…"
"Generations can rise."
Elina steadied herself.
"And Luna and Lin…?"
Sylvarielle's expression shifted — respectful.
"Taeyang Cheonmu Academy is divided into two primary divisions."
"The Black Moon Sanctum."
"And the Gold Moon Sanctum."
Her gaze grew sharper.
"The Gold Moon Sanctum represents radiant martial dominance. Direct combat. Supreme aura refinement. Celestial flame arts. Solar blade mastery."
"I belong to the Gold Moon Sanctum."
Elira blinked.
"You?"
Sylvarielle allowed a faint smile.
"I was not always a princess observing from balconies."
Elira blinked slightly, impressed — though not surprised.
"And Black Moon?" she asked.
Sylvarielle's gaze grew deeper.
"Black Moon is not lesser."
"It is not hidden behind strategy alone."
"They are warriors who embrace the depth of power rather than its brilliance."
"Void arts. Dimensional severance. Absolute close combat. Assassination-level precision combined with overwhelming force."
Elira's brows lifted.
"So it's power versus power."
Sylvarielle nodded.
"Always."
"Black Moon fighters are not fragile tacticians."
Sylvarielle's tone deepened slightly.
"The Black Moon Sanctum is different."
"They specialize in silent suppression."
"Dimensional research."
"Strategic warfare."
"They fight wars before wars begin."
Elina's heart skipped.
"Lin…"
"Yes."
"Lin and Luna both belong to the Black Moon Sanctum."
Elira shook her head slowly.
"But Luna fights so directly…"
Sylvarielle's smile faded into something more complex.
"She fights directly because she chooses to."
"But her true training…"
"…is far darker."
Elira's voice softened.
For the first time, Sylvarielle's expression shifted — not to concern, but to respect.
"In those days…"
"She was untouchable."
"Before the dimensional backlash."
"Before her limits."
"She stood at the absolute peak of her physical and spiritual form."
Elira's breath slowed.
"How strong was she?"
Sylvarielle answered without hesitation.
"In pure combat… she rivaled the top of both sanctums."
Elira's eyes widened.
"Both?"
"Yes."
"She did not rely on suppressed power."
"She did not hold back."
"She moved like a storm contained within a blade."
"Every strike carried decisive intent."
"She did not hesitate."
"And she did not lose easily."
"They are monsters in their own right."
"And when they clash with Gold Moon…"
She allowed a faint smile.
"The arena shakes."
The night deepened.
Below them, torches flickered across the recovering city.
"There is one tradition," Sylvarielle continued quietly.
Elina tilted her head.
"What tradition?"
"Every year, the Academy holds a grand inter-sanctum tournament."
Elina's eyes brightened despite everything.
"A tournament?"
"Yes."
"Not merely for display."
"But to evaluate growth."
"To challenge philosophy."
"To determine leadership potential."
"To test those who claim supremacy."
Elina smiled faintly.
"That sounds… incredible."
"It is ruthless," Sylvarielle corrected softly.
"Black Moon versus Gold Moon."
"Strategy versus power."
"Sun versus shadow."
"And they fight for glory?" Elina asked.
Sylvarielle's gaze drifted toward the stars.
"For honor."
"For recognition."
"For internal rank."
"And sometimes…"
She paused.
"For something personal."
Elina studied her expression carefully.
"You've fought there."
"Yes."
"You won?"
Sylvarielle allowed herself a soft exhale.
"Several times."
"But that is not what I remember most."
Elina stepped closer.
"Then what?"
Sylvarielle's eyes shifted — not toward the city.
But toward the distant silhouette of Lin standing alone beneath a silver tree.
"There is one match I will never forget."
Elina followed her gaze.
"Him?"
Sylvarielle nodded gently.
"Yes."
"It was during the Grand Solar Eclipse Round."
During that era, the Black Moon Sanctum stood undefeated — an unstoppable force that crushed every challenger…
Until a single warrior stepped forward.
A mind as precise as Lin's.
A blade as overwhelming as Luna's.
She was the only one who could stand in their path.
She was our big sister.