Moon of the Withered Green Rong, 3rd day.
No matter how much Lady Sonia raged and protested, Colin's wedding was held as scheduled.
Theodore seemed to be using this as a celebration of the unification of Green Forest, making it a grand event. Anyone of status in Green Forest had come to Sotos Castle.
The enormous castle was bedecked with lanterns and banners, while a multitude of cooks bustled about the kitchen, serving up a feast of delectable dishes.
Roasted chicken, grilled lamb chops, steak, roasted suckling pig, vegetable salad, raisin pudding, cheese, honey mead...
All manner of delicacies filled the long table, and the hall was filled with laughter and joyous conversation.
However, the main event of the wedding was not happening here.
According to the customs of the Green Forest People, marriage must take place under a banyan tree, where sacred bonds are formed.
The most famous banyan tree in Sotos Domain is the 'Divine Tree' located at the back of Sotos Castle.
"Today, I am honored to have you all here to witness the wedding of my son, Colin Sotos, and Hilver Davis!"
Theodore was dressed in a priest's robe, his expression solemn.
Aaron glanced at the bride and realized that Hilver wasn't resisting. He suddenly understood that this woman had probably resigned to her fate.
What else could she do, after all?
More importantly, even though all direct members of the Davis family had died, there were still collateral relatives; she had to consider their welfare.
Lady Sonia and Sean were also present, although their polite smiles were evidently forced.
The reactions of the vassals below were even more varied.
The original knights of Sotos Domain were naturally jubilant, sharing in the glory. The newly sworn allies from Davis Domain had more complicated expressions, which were intriguing.
"Huh?"
Aaron spotted a stranger amongst them.
It was a peculiar noble, dressed in a silky robe as smooth as milk, his hair impeccably combed. His eyes held a trace of arrogance, as if he were a city fellow who had come to the countryside, observing these Green Forest Nobles.
"Who is that person?"
He gave it some thought, turned to the Knight Turner Shourienne at his side, and asked him in a whisper.
"The envoy of Kagash Kingdom, the king's courtier—Feili Greta. He has brought a royal mandate to confer some kind of earldom title on our lord..."
It was obvious that Turner sneered at this.
After all, the conflicts between Kagash Kingdom and Green Forest had been there since ancient times.
A long time ago, those forest barbarians who could not survive in the north had often raided the warm lands of the lords in the south, engendering substantial 'animosity' between them!
It wasn't until the establishment of the Kagash Kingdom that the situation somewhat eased. After all, the Green Forest People weren't fools.
Invading the south was easy, but if those weaklings united, they posed a considerable threat.
Later, the kingdom itself could not conquer Green Forest, they could only bestow titles to the strong men of the Green Forest, nominally bringing Green Forest under their rule.
'Isn't this just expanding the map?'
Aaron also realized that their own noble title, as well as that of the Davis family, might have been won in this manner. It seems they had previously been conferred some sort of baron by the king?
However, this was of no use; neither side took it seriously.
Now, with Green Forest unified, it was natural for the king to feel provoked and take some action.
This edict, was it a kind of peace offering?
'Actually, apart from sounding nice, it's of no practical use. Even if named a baron, Sotos would still be the ruler of Green Forest!'
Once he understood this, Aaron lost interest in the envoy and turned his attention back to the lavish dinner.
Rather than pondering these issues, it was better to think about how to enjoy the evening meal.
...
Nightfall.
Commotion still filled the castle.
However, Aaron had no interest in the wedding night festivities. He returned to his room and, after sending Tia away, lay down on the large bed.
Darkness, falling.
In the dream world.
It was still daytime, with a bloody sun hanging in the sky.
"Keep going, I hope to see land!"
Ever since the war ended, Aaron had been dedicating all the mysterious energy he produced daily to exploration.
During each of his dreams now, he moved in a certain direction, hoping to see land.
"Another boring day on the road."
After confirming his direction, Aaron continued on his journey.
Time passed and suddenly, his [Danger Perception] was triggered, his consciousness becoming as sharp as a needle.
"The sun!"
Aaron looked up abruptly to see the sun he had tainted, turned into a bloody red.
At that moment, the sun was emitting terrifying light and heat. It had turned even redder, verging on black!
Spot after spot of black emerged from the sun. They looked like sunspots, but also like coagulated blood clots!
The entire world seemed to quiet down at that moment. Even the wildest creatures ceased their hunting and looked up at the transforming sun!
Aaron fought back tears welling up in his eyes as he saw those black spots coalesce and 'detach' from the bloody sun.
The detached sunspots condensed and coalesced... forming a smaller black sun that hung next to the bloody sun.
Hissss!
His consciousness was sharp as if pricked by a needle, and a vague noise suddenly reached his ears.
It sounded like the shouts of thousands, or perhaps the whispers and murmurs of something indescribable...
The ramblings seemed to contain some information but were also mixed with intense elements of madness!
"...Sun...Creator...Darkness..."
Indecipherable information surfaced in a strange supernatural language that anyone, literate or not, could understand.
Aaron had an epiphany, a certain trait within him was stirred. Looking at the two suns, one red and one black, he sighed, "The sun... has gone mad!"
He had some guesses as to what was happening.
The original star had no consciousness.
But his alterations had given the sun consciousness.
Though it was a consciousness of madness and chaos, it was still consciousness!
To a stone, having feelings is progress, even if those feelings are madness. It was a crucial step toward becoming a living being!
"And that black sun, just one glance made me feel decay, corruption, darkness... is it the physical manifestation of the red sun's madness, its personification?"
Aaron couldn't help but smile bitterly, "What... what exactly have I created?"
The previous bloody sun was the source of madness and corruption in this world!
Now, from that source, something terrifying had been born!
Without a doubt, the energy of that black sun could easily annihilate every creature in this sea of red!
It was safe to say that even the most massive and strange sea creature he'd ever seen would look like an ant before that black sun!
"If the red sun is seen as the Creator, then this black sun is, at the very least, the son of the Creator... or maybe an incarnation... a god?"
Aaron's expression was complicated, "So what am I? The creator's creator?"