Chapter 91: The treasury
As dusk settled over the Moongold, a golden glow spread over the cobblestone streets and old buildings. Excitement buzzed as people gathered around the grand library looked up at the dark– or now gold sky.
The library's ceiling, once made of colorful stained glass holding the stories of a forgotten era, began to turn transparent.
"Wow…"
"So, this is it?"
"Look over there. How beautiful…"
The ones who had just finished the event, the ones who were watching from inside the library, as well as those watching from the plaza outside all looked up at the sky…
"There is a story about this phenomenon."
With the sun setting, the sky above the library became visible. Slowly, a golden moon emerged, its light filling the night after years of absence. The moon's glow bathed the town in a mystical, golden light.
"[Lamentation of crimson flames] was not only about a mythical creature destroying the valley. It happened because the child of the creature was taken away from her."
Children pointed at the bright gold in wonder, while the elders watched in quiet reverence a sight they had witnessed before as well.
The library, now open to the sky, connected the town's history, history of the books stored within the old wooden shelves, with the celestial magic above.
"She destroyed all the valley because she could not find the child, and only stopped when a [Hero] brought her child back to her."
The townspeople, the players, Alex and Elio, Miss Rin and Misha, Az and Miu stood with their friends and family, faces lit by the moon's golden light.
They had seen the bright white and yellow of the moon, sometimes crimson and a milky moon. But, to witness a celestial body covered in bright golden light was a breathtaking experience for many of them.
"The mother calmed down when she was reunited with her child, and then she thanked the hero."
The grand library, a proud symbol of Moongold, seemed to open up to the universe.
The return of the golden moon filled everyone with a sense of hope and renewal. Moongold felt more enchanted than ever, with the night promising endless possibilities, it's unique warmth appreciating the efforts of everyone present, its mystical presence somewhat appreciating all the efforts made by all the natives and players.
"A [Phoenix] is a creature that reborns from its ashes."
Alex looked up at the sky, at a scene that she once was fortunate to witness from up close.
"And in their last moments, they release all the energy left in their unique bodies."
What one saw as a natural phenomenon was much more unique than one could imagine.
The moon of this world, just like the moon of the real world, did not have a light of its own.
The sun of this world was a completely different entity than the sun that they have in the real world as well, since it did not merely convert hydrogen into helium.
The sun of this world burned a primordial energy of stars and converted it into various natural energies that are present in the nature around them.
It holds a very special place in the [{(Prakriti)}]. And though not as significant as the sun, the celestial moon also holds a special position in both nature and human lives.
"I was not sure before, but I can tell the story of the golden moon being a reflection of the death of a [Phoenix] is true.
Death of a young one, at that."
Just like Dragons, Phoenix were also creatures of myths.
There were not many ways to confirm their hidden existence, but events like these, the events that one sees as a natural phenomenon or a natural disaster gave an undeniable proof of their existence.
She was fortunate enough to meet a few of these mythical creatures in her lifetime in this world, and she was looking forward to meeting more of them as she goes to various new and old places along with her partner… who was currently lost in the beauty of the moment.
"Death of an older one is even more beautiful, especially from up close."
If she could, she could have recorded it and showed it to him, but she was not able to. She had experienced a lot of things in her life in this world, but she wanted to experience a lot more along with her darling.
{ "Congratulates on finishing the event and experiencing something new." }
On the ground floor, a void was materializing on the floor beneath their feet. But they couldn't feel it.
{ "The two people who had obtained the extraordinary results will be given the chance to obtain one item from the library." }
There were rare books, there were records, there were skill stores and precious things, and there were things that everyone, even the high ranking players desired in this place.
But, Alex already knew what she wanted and Elio had no idea what he should get out of all the things present in this place.
{ "The [Treasury] contains all that I have gathered over the years. Treasures, items, knowledge, and things that cannot simply be defined as a tool." }
The leaderboard appeared before everyone and the top achievement holders, people who had managed to get two or more golden stars were highlighted in the grand list that had appeared before everyone present here.
-Oooooooooooong!
The list was long, but their own ranks were the first thing that they saw when it appeared before them.
The stars were listed beside their names, and before the rest of them, high up in the air, before the special guests that were at the top floor, as well as before the biggest magical screens outside of the library, the performance highlights of the ones with the most stars were displayed openly.
{ "The contribution you have made and according to your needs… may you get what helps you with your journey ahead." }
The darkness beneath their feet exploded and covered the rest of them inside the library.
Their eyes got momentarily blinded…
[Ding.]
[Rewards from the achievements made during the library event will now be granted.]
[Additional rewards will be granted individually upon claiming of rewards.]
And in the next moment, they saw a unique pouch in their hands.
A colorful pouch that was of a different color for all of them.
There was a unique shine and glitter to these pouches, and though they were light, everyone could tell there was something hidden inside of these unique pouches with an expanded inside space.
This was their reward from the treasury…
Obtaining it was not as eventful as they might have thought, but now that they had obtained this object, they all wanted nothing more than to open these pouches in their houses or inns or in safe spaces outside somewhere, and check what they had obtained.
{ "Let us all admire the wonder of gold as we welcome a new tomorrow…" }
Phoenix.
The symbol of Life, Glory, and a new beginning born from the brightest flames and ashes.
"Beautiful…"
As the people of Moongold and players who had obtained their rightful rewards watched the moon covered in the golden light, some shed tears of sorrow.
After the catastrophe that had hit the town, the town covered in the golden light had lost a lot, suffered even more, and had parted ways with many.
They had been through darkness…
"So beautiful…"
But, with the new golden moonlight wrath of the new tomorrow, with shedding tears and joyful smiles, the players and natives alike, greeted a new tomorrow.
The festivals would go on and the seasons would change.
They had suffered a great loss, but life goes on… and the ones who are left behind, still had to contribute their verse.