The moon slammed into the ground.
It was not falling freely. As though guided by an invisible hand, it plunged straight toward a spot in northeastern Liurnia at a terrifyingly precise angle.
No sound reached them-or rather, some immense power had swallowed even the sound. All they saw was a blue pillar of light shooting into the sky along the distant horizon, followed by violent tremors. Even from this far away, they could feel the shock wave beneath their feet.
The shaking lasted about ten seconds before everything fell still.
Daylight returned to the sky, and the Dark Moon vanished, as though everything that had just happened were an illusion.
But everyone knew it was not.
Half an hour later, Adula returned with Ranni on her back. The witch leaped down, carrying something in one hand-a helmet made of translucent crystal, its surface smooth as a mirror. It refracted the sunlight into rainbow halos, beautiful enough to seem otherworldly.
Ranni casually tossed the helmet to Blaidd.
"I checked it. It does offer mental protection." Her voice was flat, as though she had merely gone for a stroll. "Wear it, and it should block most forms of mind control."
Blaidd scrambled to catch the helmet, his eyes reddening again. "Ranni, you..."
"Don't misunderstand." Ranni immediately turned her face away. "I simply don't want my state of mind compromised during my ascension to godhood. Having you turn into a Baleful Shadow and attack me would be troublesome. That is all."
Her explanation only made her true feelings more obvious, prompting Bernahl to roll his eyes. Millicent covered her mouth and chuckled.
Blaidd did not care about any of that. He nodded emphatically, cradling the helmet as though it were the most precious treasure in the world. "I understand! Thank you, Ranni!"
"Thank