The box had only been opened a crack when a streak of pure silver moonlight seeped out. The powerful Miracle Element even made the cat, which had been lying full-bellied on the back of the sofa behind Shade's head, stand up. Shade instinctively leaned forward to look, and inside the opened box, embedded in its soft lining, was a stud earring.
The metal part of the earring seemed to be made of pure Mithril, while set into it was a piece of silver "jade" about a quarter the size of a pinky fingernail.
"Oh!"
Dorothy let out a soft sigh as her eight-ring Destiny Ring automatically appeared behind her. In an instant, the Miracle—Silver Moon Spirit Rune was inscribed upon it.
Although Iluna and Luvia had not gained any new Spirit Runes, they too heard Another Me's hint concerning the Moon. The silver "jade" was not shining very brightly at the moment, but its dazzling purity made it impossible for anyone to look away.
"What is this?"
Iluna asked. Emilia's emerald-green eyes were also fixed on the earring in the box she held:
"The Longleaf Elves call it Moon Tear. According to legend, it is a tiny fragment that fell into the Material World after the Original Moon collapsed."
"Shade, is this a fragment of the Original Moon?"
Luvia asked instinctively, then found it strange that she had asked Shade such a question. He should not have known either.
But Shade did know. Although he had only briefly come into contact with the remains of the Original Moon in the Silver Moon Library, he was certain that the silver "jade" set into the Moon Tear before him was made of the same material as the moon floating in the library's sky.
After the Original Moon collapsed, its essence split into