Green Yew Wither Moon, 3rd day.
Despite Lady Sonia's frenzy and protests, Colin's wedding was held as scheduled.
Theodore seemed to be preparing to use this event as a celebration to unify the Green Forest, making it very grand. Anyone with some status in the Green Forest came to Sothos Fort.
The large castle was decorated with lights and festive decorations everywhere, and in the kitchen, numerous cooks were busy presenting a variety of exquisite dishes.
Roast chicken, roast lamb chops, steak, roast suckling pig, vegetable salad, raisin pudding, cheese, honey wine...
Various delicious foods filled the long table, and the hall was full of laughter and cheerful voices.
However, the main venue of the wedding was not here.
According to the customs of the Green Forest people, the wedding had to be held under a banyan tree, to establish a sacred bond.
And the most famous banyan tree within the Sothos Territory was the 'Sacred Tree' located behind Sothos Fort.
"Today, I am honored by everyone's presence, witnessing the wedding of my son Colin Sothos and Silvia Davis!"
Theodore wore a priestly robe, his expression solemn.
Alan glanced at the bride, noticing that Silvia did not resist, and immediately understood that this woman probably accepted her fate.
After all, what else could she do?
Moreover, although the direct line of the Davis Family was all gone, there were still collateral lines; she had to consider them.
Lady Sonia and Sean were also present, but their faces bore polite smiles that even outsiders could see were fake.
The vassals below showed varied expressions.
The original knights of the Sothos Territory were naturally jubilant and proud, while the new adherents from the Davis Territory had more complex, intriguing expressions.
"Huh?"
Alan's eyes swept around and noticed a stranger.
It was a peculiar nobleman, dressed in a silk robe as smooth as milk, with meticulously groomed hair and a trace of arrogance in his eyes, as if a city dweller examining these nobles of the Green Forest.
"Who is that?"
His curiosity piqued, Alan pulled the knight Turner Shorien beside him and asked in a whisper.
"An envoy from the Kagash Kingdom, the king's jester—Ferris Grato. He brought the king's conferment, intending to confer some title on the lord, maybe an earl or something…"
It was clear that Turner was quite disdainful of this.
After all, the conflict between the Kagash Kingdom and the Green Forest had been ongoing since ancient times.
In the distant past, those forest savages who couldn't survive often raided the warm southern lands of the lords, forging a deep 'relationship'!
It wasn't until the Kagash Kingdom was established that this situation improved somewhat, as the Green Forest people were not fools.
Raiding the weak southerners was easy, but it was more challenging once those weaklings united.
Later, the kingdom couldn't conquer the Green Forest and could only confer titles to its strong, nominally bringing the Green Forest under their rule.
'Isn't this just expanding the map?'
Alan thought of his own and the Davis Family's titles, probably conferred by the king as barons or something.
But these held no real significance; neither side took it seriously.
Now, with the unification of the Green Forest, the king was likely provoked and made some moves.
This conferment was probably an olive branch?
'In truth, apart from its pleasant name, it's practically useless. Even if called a baron, Sothos remains the ruler of the Green Forest!'
Understanding this, Alan lost interest in the envoy and turned his attention back to the sumptuous banquet.
Instead of thinking about such matters, it was better to enjoy a good meal tonight.
...
Nighttime.
The castle remained boisterous.
But Alan had no interest in the wedding festivities. He returned to his room, dismissed Tia, and lay down on the big bed.
Darkness, falling.
In the dream world.
It was still daytime, and the crimson sun hung in the sky.
"Come on, hope to see land!"
Ever since the war ended, Alan immediately devoted all the mysterious energy generated daily to exploration.
At this moment, he moved in a fixed direction every time he entered the dream, hoping to see land.
"Today is another dull day of travel."
Confirming his direction, Alan continued his journey.
He didn't know how long had passed when suddenly, his [Danger Sense] was triggered, making his consciousness sharp as if pricked by a needle.
"The sun!"
Alan suddenly looked up and saw the crimson sun he had polluted, turning even deeper red, almost black!
Black spots emerged from the sun, appearing like sunspots or coagulated blood clots!
The entire world seemed to fall silent. Even the most savage creatures stopped their predatory actions to watch the sun's change!
Alan's eyes almost shed tears, and at that moment, he saw those black spots condensing and 'separating' from the crimson sun.
The separated sunspots condensed and solidified into a smaller black sun, hanging beside the crimson sun.
Zzz!
Alan's consciousness felt a sharp sting, and he heard a fuzzy sound in his ears.
It sounded like thousands of people shouting or some indescribable entity whispering or murmuring…
This babble seemed to carry some information, yet it was intertwined with intense madness!
"...Sun...Creation...Darkness..."
The strange information appeared in a supernatural language, understandable even to the illiterate.
Alan felt some quality within himself being triggered, and he suddenly had an epiphany. Gazing at the red and black suns, he couldn't help but sigh, "The sun...went mad!"
He already had some speculations about what was happening.
Originally, the star had no consciousness.
However, his transformation gave the sun a consciousness.
Though it was one of madness and chaos, it was still a consciousness!
For a stone, having emotions is progress; even if it's madness, it's a crucial step toward becoming a living being!
And that black sun, just looking at it filled him with a sense of corruption, decay, and darkness… Was it the manifestation of the crimson sun's madness, its personified form?"
Alan couldn't help but smile bitterly. "What exactly did I create?"
The crimson sun previously served as the source of madness and pollution in this world!
And now, from that source emerged something terrifyingly powerful!
He had no doubt that the energy of the black sun could easily obliterate all creatures in this red sea!
Even the largest and most bizarre sea monsters he had seen before would be like ants before it!
'If we consider the Crimson Sun as the Creator, then this Black Sun is at least the Creator's son... or an avatar of the Creator... God?'
Alan's expression was very subtle: 'Then what am I? The Creator of the Creator?'
(End of Chapter)