"Similar legends?" Hao Ren looked at Big Beard in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"Some ancient texts of the Radiant Church record ancient knowledge absorbed from other religions. These records aren't part of the church canon, but senior clergy study them to learn about events from ancient times—including stories that exist only as legends." Big Beard spoke at an unhurried pace. "I read in those texts that a small sect in southern Horleta once told a story about the 'Manula Nova.'"
Hao Ren perked up. "Tell me more."
"The 'Manula Nova' was also called the 'Manula Disaster Star.' It was a folk legend in southern Horleta several hundred years ago, and later became a tool used by a cult to deceive people. According to the legend, an ancient disaster star lay hidden in the eastern night sky, in a state of suspended animation. It was called 'Manula,' and was one of the eyes the Creation Goddess had left behind to watch over the universe after destroying the world. The disaster star was bloodred, its surface burning with flames that would never die out, and within it lay a dark fissure leading to an endless hell. More than ten thousand years ago, the Goddess began destroying the world when a nova like this suddenly appeared in the night sky. The earth only burst into flames when 'Manula' began to shine. After the world's destruction, the Goddess temporarily closed her eyes, and the 'disaster star' returned to the darkness as if it had died. But after a certain cycle, the 'Manula Nova' would reappear and light up the night sky just as it had ten thousand years ago—and then the world would end."
Hao Ren stroked his chin. "That sounds a lot like the astronomical phenomenon recorded on Tanagrus... A supernova?"
"The