The knights' salute, their swords held high as they shouted "Long live!" three times, suddenly came to a halt.
Because everyone felt an inexplicable tremor in their hearts.
One after another, they turned around. Before their eyes was a frozen world. The wind had stopped, every leaf drooped, and there was neither the sound of wind nor insects. Moonlight poured down between the branches, filling the world with silver radiance.
Still and silent.
Everything beneath the heavens had fallen into silence. The world seemed to have calmed, crawling docilely and soundlessly upon the ground.
Over the Sea of Magic, the Twelve Lunar Cycles had dimmed. Not a ripple disturbed the surface, which reflected the color of the sky like a mirror.
Brando opened his eyes. His pupils were utterly clear.
Yet at that moment, everyone felt the Laws beginning to deviate, leaving them in fear. Something seemed to be descending, its overwhelming power taking control of everything and seizing command of all things.
The knights instinctively lowered their heads and discovered that the ground beneath their feet was covered with colorful snakes and insects. Countless creatures fled from the grass in all directions. Pebbles began spinning strangely across the ground, trembling, while some fine grains of sand even rose into the air and flew skyward.
Among the five Extremes, Bradley, the sword bearer, finally noticed the anomaly as well. The air was filled with a holiness he knew well. It was as though he were standing in the Sanctuary of the Temple of Flames, with the holy image of an ancient sage standing above it, gazing deeply at every person.
And at him as well.
What was this...?
Behind the Crystal Ball, the Silver Queen could not notice these subtle changes. She only watched Brando, waiting for the young man's