The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The Mystery Behind the Darkened Sun

The conference chamber of the royal palace had been sealed shortly after the strange phenomenon disappeared.

It was not an ordinary meeting.

The King himself had summoned the kingdom’s highest-ranking officials, and nearly every seat around the enormous table was occupied. The Prime Minister sat at his right, while the Court Magician occupied the seat directly opposite him. Senior military commanders, royal knights, intelligence officers, scholars, noble representatives, and several officials responsible for the kingdom’s magical institutions had all been called in as well.

Everyone in the room had witnessed what had happened.

There was no need to explain that.

Only a few hours earlier, the daylight had suddenly vanished beneath an enormous black disc that had appeared over the sun. A brilliant ring of white-gold light had surrounded the darkness, while an immense pressure had spread across the kingdom.

Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the phenomenon had disappeared.

Now the question was no longer what they had seen.

The question was what it meant.

The King slowly looked around the table.

"I want every theory."

Nobody spoke immediately.

The Prime Minister finally opened the first report.

"At present, we have confirmed that the phenomenon was witnessed throughout nearly the entire kingdom. Reports have already arrived from the capital, the northern territories, the western trade routes, and several eastern cities."

He placed several documents across the table.

"There were no major casualties directly caused by the phenomenon, although there were several accidents during the period of darkness. Some people panicked, several businesses were damaged when crowds attempted to evacuate, and a number of monsters became unusually agitated."

A military commander leaned forward.

"How severe were the monster reactions?"

"Different depending on the region."

The intelligence officer answered.

"Some monsters became aggressive. Others became unusually quiet. Several monster nests also showed abnormal mana fluctuations."

The Court Magician’s expression became more serious.

"That is important."

The commander looked toward him.

"Why?"

"Because it suggests that whatever happened wasn’t merely something people saw in the sky."

The old mage placed a report on the table.

"Our magical instruments recorded fluctuations throughout the event. The mana in the surrounding environment changed."

A noble representative frowned.

"Changed how?"

The Court Magician considered his words carefully.

"That is precisely the problem."

He tapped the report.

"It did not behave like elemental magic. It did not behave like atmospheric magic, spatial magic, or any other recognized magical phenomenon."

One of the younger mages immediately added,

"We checked the readings from several regions. The fluctuations were consistent enough to prove that they originated from the same phenomenon, but we couldn’t identify a recognizable magical structure."

Another scholar leaned forward.

"Could it have been an ancient spell?"

"Possibly."

The Court Magician looked toward him.

"But if it was, it was unlike anything currently recorded."

The scholar frowned.

"There are ancient records describing enormous magical phenomena."

"There are."

The Court Magician nodded.

"But those records are incomplete, and most describe events that occurred hundreds or thousands of years ago. We cannot simply assume that today’s event was one of them."

A noblewoman spoke from across the table.

"Then what are the possibilities?"

The Court Magician folded his hands.

"Several."

The room became more attentive.

"First, it could have been a natural phenomenon unknown to us."

The military commander immediately frowned.

"Natural?"

"I said unknown."

The Court Magician’s expression remained calm.

"We possess incomplete knowledge of the world. There are still unexplored regions, ancient ruins, and magical environments that have never been properly studied."

Another official nodded.

"That is reasonable."

The Court Magician continued.

"Second, it could have been caused by an ancient artifact or magical structure powerful enough to affect the surrounding environment on an enormous scale."

The Prime Minister raised an eyebrow.

"Do we possess any records of such an artifact?"

"Not one that I can confirm."

"But there are legends."

"Yes."

The old mage looked toward the scholars.

"Several civilizations left records of objects capable of influencing the sky, suppressing sunlight, or creating unnatural darkness. However, those accounts are considered unreliable."

A scholar immediately disagreed.

"Unreliable does not mean false."

The Court Magician looked at him.

"Correct."

The scholar opened an old document.

"Several ancient records mention days when the sky became dark despite there being no storm, and in some cases the darkness was accompanied by a powerful magical disturbance."

The Prime Minister glanced toward the document.

"Do any of those records describe what caused it?"

"No."

The scholar shook his head.

"That’s the problem. The descriptions end with the phenomenon itself."

The King remained silent, listening carefully.

Another noble finally spoke.

"What about an ancient creature?"

Several people turned toward him.

He continued.

"We already know there are monsters whose abilities exceed anything modern kingdoms can properly understand. Could one of them have caused this?"

The military commander frowned.

"Something capable of affecting the entire kingdom?"

"We have no evidence that such creatures don’t exist."

The Court Magician nodded slowly.

"That possibility cannot be dismissed completely."

The room became noticeably more serious.

"If an ancient creature possesses an ability capable of influencing light, weather, or the surrounding mana environment, then it is theoretically possible."

The Prime Minister immediately asked,

"And if that’s the case?"

The Court Magician looked toward the King.

"Then we should determine whether the creature is still present."

The military commander immediately straightened.

"That means increasing monster surveillance."

"Yes."

The Prime Minister made a note.

"Send additional patrols to the northern and eastern territories. Contact the Adventurers’ Guilds as well. I want reports on any unusual monster activity, particularly creatures that appeared suddenly or demonstrated abilities outside their known classifications."

"Understood."

Another official spoke.

"There is still the possibility that this was caused by a person."

The room fell silent.

The military commander looked toward him.

"A person?"

"An extremely powerful mage."

Several officials exchanged glances.

The official continued.

"We have seen the effect of powerful magic before. If someone possessed an ability far beyond our current understanding, perhaps they could have created the phenomenon."

The Court Magician shook his head.

"That is theoretically possible."

"But?"

"But I have never encountered a mage capable of producing anything remotely similar."

He paused.

"That does not mean such a person cannot exist."

The King finally spoke.

"And if such a person does exist?"

The Court Magician looked directly at him.

"Then we have a problem."

Nobody laughed.

The Prime Minister slowly closed the report in front of him.

"We should also consider whether the event was intentional."

Several nobles immediately reacted.

"Intentional?"

"You mean a demonstration?"

"Or a warning?"

The Prime Minister raised his hand.

"Not necessarily a threat."

He looked around the room.

"Consider what happened. The phenomenon appeared without any apparent attack, no city was destroyed, no royal facility was damaged, and no demand was issued afterward."

He paused.

"Whatever caused it did not appear to be attempting to conquer the kingdom."

The military commander frowned.

"Or they were simply demonstrating that they could."

"That is also possible."

The Prime Minister nodded.

"Which is why we shouldn’t assume either intention."

A noble representative leaned forward.

"Then perhaps the safest approach is to treat it as a potential threat until proven otherwise."

The older knight shook his head.

"That could create unnecessary panic."

"But ignoring something capable of producing that phenomenon would be irresponsible."

"I’m not suggesting we ignore it."

The knight looked toward the King.

"I’m suggesting we don’t mobilize the army against something we haven’t even identified."

Several officials nodded.

The King remained silent for a moment before looking toward the intelligence officers.

"What have you found?"

The senior intelligence officer stood.

"Very little so far."

The military commander frowned.

"Very little?"

"We began gathering reports immediately after the phenomenon disappeared."

He placed several documents on the table.

"There are no confirmed attacks, no unusual military movements, and no known foreign forces entering the kingdom immediately before the event."

"Any suspicious individuals?"

"None that we can confirm."

The officer hesitated.

"However, there is something else."

The King looked toward him.

"What?"

"The timing."

He pointed toward several reports.

"The phenomenon occurred shortly after several unrelated incidents that we’ve already been investigating."

The Prime Minister’s expression changed slightly.

"The criminal organizations?"

"Among other things."

The intelligence officer continued.

"Over the past few months, several bandit groups, smugglers, illegal traders, and other criminal organizations have been eliminated by an unidentified faction. We’ve also been investigating disappearances and reports of illegal laboratories."

A nobleman frowned.

"You think they’re connected?"

"I don’t know."

The intelligence officer shook his head.

"That’s precisely the problem."

He pointed toward the reports.

"We have no evidence that the same people were responsible for today’s phenomenon. The connection is based entirely on timing."

The Court Magician spoke quietly.

"And we should not confuse coincidence with evidence."

"Agreed."

The intelligence officer nodded.

"However, I recommend that we compare the locations of those incidents with the areas where the strongest magical fluctuations were recorded today."

The King looked toward the Prime Minister.

"Do it."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Another noble raised his voice.

"What about the possibility that the event was some kind of omen?"

The room became quieter.

The noblewoman continued.

"Several religious institutions are already interpreting the phenomenon as a sign. If the royal court refuses to acknowledge that possibility, rumors may spread."

The Prime Minister sighed.

"Rumors will spread regardless."

A few people nodded.

The Court Magician looked toward the King.

"Whether it was an omen or not is impossible to determine."

"Then we will not declare it one."

The King spoke calmly.

"Nor will we declare it a disaster."

He looked around the chamber.

"Until we understand what happened, the kingdom will maintain its ordinary operations."

The military commander nodded.

"But our forces?"

"Remain ready."

The King’s gaze hardened.

"Increase readiness quietly. Strengthen the defenses of the major cities, but do not mobilize troops publicly."

"Understood."

The Prime Minister turned toward the officials responsible for regional administration.

"Coordinate with the local authorities. If another phenomenon occurs, I want reports immediately."

The King then looked toward the Court Magician.

"You will lead the magical investigation."

The old mage bowed.

"Understood, Your Majesty."

"I want the ancient records reviewed again. Search for every historical account involving unnatural darkness, changes in the sky, large-scale magical fluctuations, or phenomena that affected multiple territories simultaneously."

"Yes."

"And if you find something?"

The Court Magician looked toward him.

"Then I will report it immediately."

The King nodded.

He then turned toward the scholars.

"You will assist the Court Magician. Compare the historical records with what happened today, but do not alter the evidence simply because you want an explanation."

The scholars lowered their heads.

"Understood."

Finally, the King looked toward the intelligence division.

"Continue investigating the recent incidents, but keep today’s phenomenon as a separate investigation unless evidence proves otherwise."

The intelligence officer bowed.

"Understood."

The Prime Minister looked around the room.

"Then we have our priorities."

He began counting them.

"First, determine the nature of the phenomenon. Second, determine whether it can happen again. Third, identify whether there was a source within the kingdom. Fourth, determine whether today’s event is connected to any existing threat."

He paused.

"And most importantly, prevent unnecessary panic."

The room became quiet.

Everyone understood the seriousness of what had happened.

The kingdom had witnessed something that none of its most knowledgeable people could properly explain.

They had seen the daylight disappear.

They had felt the strange pressure in the air.

They had watched the sky transform before their eyes.

Yet they had no enemy to confront, no army to mobilize against, and no location to investigate.

For the first time in many years, the kingdom’s strongest officials were forced to admit something they rarely had to admit.

They did not know.

The King slowly stood.

"Then investigate."

His voice carried across the chamber.

"Find out what happened today."

He looked toward the gathered officials.

"But until we know the truth, the kingdom will continue as normal."

The officials rose one after another.

The meeting began to disperse, although several groups remained behind to discuss their individual assignments.

The Court Magician remained near the table for a moment, staring at the reports describing the strange darkness.

He had spent his entire life studying magic.

Yet today’s phenomenon had left him with more questions than answers.

He looked toward the window.

The sun was shining normally again.

Nothing remained in the sky to explain what had happened.

He quietly whispered to himself.

"What exactly were we looking at?"

Outside the palace, the kingdom continued moving as though nothing had happened.

But behind the walls of the royal palace, an investigation had already begun.

And somewhere far beyond their understanding, the person responsible for the phenomenon had already returned to his ordinary life.

The kingdom simply didn’t know that yet.

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