Although he had climbed onto the altar, Shade still did not dare to be so bold as to place both feet on an Ancient God's altar.
After returning to human form from the swarm of Red Butterflies, he placed his left foot on the altar and knelt on one knee with his right leg. Raising his head slightly, Shade faced the blazing sunlight streaming down from the rooftop, narrowed his eyes, held that pose, and spread his arms:
"Ah~ Praise the Sun!"
At that moment, all the ladies in the Temple's cool shade saw sunlight gathering toward Shade as though he were absorbing it. Even the reflections on the walls dimmed.
The black altar emitted a glimmer, yet it was nowhere near as dazzling as the brilliant sunlight on Shade. He seemed to have transformed into a Fireball, even the Sun itself, or like a chosen champion under the ancient Sun God of old myths and legends descending upon the mortal world once more.
The Female Knight, Ms. Knight, lowered her head in silent prayer, while the blue-haired Mermaid Girls, frightened by the light and heat, hid behind Grandma Sianode.
The old elf stared blankly at the sight, gripping her cane. The long years she had lived had shown her many things. Ms. Meister, meanwhile, watched with a smile. Reflected in her golden eyes was not Shade, but a golden humanoid figure.
In a daze, even Shade, unable to keep his eyes open beneath the Sun, seemed to see a vague figure in the light turn back and smile at him.
At last, the sunlight receded from Shade. He turned back into a swarm of Red Butterflies and returned to the ground. Yet quite a few butterflies in that swarm clearly had golden edging on their wings, and when Shade