In the time before time, there was only chaos and darkness. The Moon Goddess Lunara emerged from the cosmic void, her radiance piercing the eternal black. As she witnessed the emptiness, she wept silver tears for the loneliness of existence. Each tear became a star, and her greatest tear became the world Proxima.
Lunara's light touched the newborn world, creating the first moonflowers and filling pools with sacred water. Her reflection in these pools sparked the first magic, and from this magic came the first beings - the Moonborn. These ancient creatures possessed the ability to harness lunar energy and became the first teachers of mankind.
The goddess, seeing her creation flourish, bestowed upon mortals the gift of dreams. Through these night visions, she could communicate with her children and guide them. The first dreamer was a young woman named Selena, who became the first High Moonweaver and established the initial practices of dream interpretation. A thousand years ago the dark period came when the Void Seekers, beings who despised Lunara's light, attempted to extinguish the moon's power. This began the Shadow Wars, where the first Twilight Guardians emerged to protect the sacred sites and lunar knowledge. Their sacrifice ensured the survival of the Moonlight Scripture.
During the longest lunar eclipse, known as the Night of Endless Stars, Lunara revealed the Seven Sacred Truths to her most devoted followers. These truths became the foundation of the modern Scripture and were recorded in the Silver Codex, the holiest text of the faith.
Following the Great Revelation, the faithful organized themselves into distinct orders:
The Dream Walkers: Interpreters of divine visions
The Silver Archivists: Keepers of lunar knowledge
The Twilight Guardians: Protectors of sacred sites
The Moon Weavers: Practitioners of lunar magic
The origin of this religion was the country name Ripon, located in the north of the continent of Eldoria. The first Grand Lunar Temple was built in the Valley of Silver Mists in Ripon, where Lunara's first tear was said to have fallen. Other temples followed, each built on locations where the moon's power was strongest. The Moon Pools were discovered and became places of pilgrimage.
As the world evolved, the Moonlight Scripture adapted while maintaining its core traditions. The religion spread across lands, incorporating local customs while preserving the ancient wisdom. Currently, it is one of the ten largest religions in the continents of Eldoria and Ostra.
This religion was brought into the Britannia Kingdom by merchants a few hundred years ago. At the time, the Britannia Kingdom suffered from a very high rate of poverty. The merchants donated generously to the poor, and the number of followers of the Moon scriptures within the Britannia Kingdom grew. Many people accepted the Moon religion, and within a few decades, it became the largest religion in the Kingdom of Britannia. Even today, 91% of the people in the Kingdom of Britannia are followers of the Moon religion.
The main temple of the Moon scriptures in the Britannia Kingdom is located on the island of Brut, a seven-thousand-square-kilometer island given to the Moon scriptures by the 37th ruler of the Britannia Kingdom. This island is known to the common people as the Holy Land, as it is governed by the Moon scriptures.
Brut Island
Brut Island, stretched across seven thousand square kilometers of diverse landscapes. The island's heartland was dominated by the Valley of Silver Mists, where the Grand Lunar Temple stood as a beacon of faith. Surrounding this sacred center were rolling hills covered in lush forests of silver birch and moonflower groves. These woods were home to unique fauna, including the elusive moon deer, whose coats shimmered with an otherworldly glow under the full moon.
Dotting the coastline were numerous fishing villages and small port towns. The largest of these, Haveway, served as the primary gateway to the island. Its bustling harbor was always alive with activity, from fishing boats returning with their daily catch to merchant vessels bringing pilgrims and traders from across the Britannia Kingdom.
Brut's population of 70,000 was a mix of devout followers of the Moonlight Scripture, skilled craftsmen, and those who served the needs of the constant stream of visitors. The islanders lived in harmony with the land, their daily lives deeply intertwined with their faith and the rhythms of nature. Scattered across Brut were numerous places of power and pilgrimage. Ancient stone circles, aligned with celestial events, served as sites for major rituals and festivals. The island also boasted a renowned school of astronomy, where scholars studied the night sky and its connection to Lunara's teachings.
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Cardinals Rim finished his evening prayer and stepped out of the sanctuary. In the flickering lamplight, the grand mosaics of the temple seemed to shimmer.
"Huh! Archbishop Martin? What brings you here at this late hour?"
Archbishop Martin, a tall, imposing figure despite his forties, bowed his head respectfully.
"Forgive the intrusion, Cardinals Rim. I come bearing tidings on a most urgent matter."
The Archbishop proffered a small, unassuming pouch. Curiosity piqued, Cardinals Rim accepted it, the soft leather warm in his hand. "What is this?"
"Cardinal, it's called...paracetamol. It can improve your pain relief. For example: moderate pain such as headaches, toothaches, menstrual cramps, muscle aches, and osteoarthritis pain. It also helps reduce body temperature associated with illnesses like fever and cold. "
Cardinals Rim raised an eyebrow, skepticism etching lines on his weathered face. He had served the temple for over four decades, his hands calloused from a lifetime of brewing potions and tending to the sick. This "paracetamol" held no familiar hum of magic, no tingling energy that marked even the simplest of healing elixirs.
"Such potent effects, you claim? Yet I sense no enchantment. Where did you acquire this…?"
Archbishop Martin drew himself up, a troubled frown furrowing his brow. "My Lord, have you heard news about a distant land called The Empire? It is said they have navigated the treacherous Monsters Sea and forged a trade alliance with the Britannia Kingdom."
"Ah, yes. The Empire. A land shrouded in rumors." Cardinals Rim stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I Heard that its people possess strange customs and wield technologies unseen in our land."
"This potion is from The Empire." Archbishop Martin said, his voice tight with apprehension
"What!? You say these people have such great medicine. Although they were separated from the world." The Cardinals were surprised.
"Yes. But we think it is a threat to us. Because if more medicine like paracetamol enter the market of Britannia Kingdom then our Potion's demand will decrease. People may also reduce their visits to our temple for treatment. "
"It's encouraging. But something like that would surely be expensive. Also the ingredients to make this medicine must be very rare. Like our High level Potions. So I don't think this drug will affect people that much. Also, Our High Potions, blessed by the divine, offer far greater healing." Cardinals Rim said confidently.
However, Archbishop Martin remained unconvinced, his expression grave "Actually, my lord . . The Empire has already sent a shipment of Paracetamol to the market of Britannia Kingdom and 12 such tablets are being sold in the market at only 32 Waves. Meanwhile, our most basic pain-relieving potion costs 20 Waves a piece. "
Cardinal's eyes widened "What!?"
The Kingdom of Britannia has three types of currency. Wave, Drake and Sovereign.
Wave is a currency of the Britannia Kingdom. Hammered copper coins. It is commonly used for daily transactions (buying food, basic goods etc.) Drake is a silver coin. It has a giant octopus on one side and a ship symbol and the name of Britannia Kingdom on the other side. A Drake is equivalent to 12 Waves. It is used for more substantial purchases (equipment, clothing, housing). And last is Sovereign. A large, heavy gold coin. Reserved for significant transactions (land, horses, luxury goods, taxes). This is equivalent to twenty Drakes (240 Waves). It depicts the crown on one side and the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Britannia on the other.
And the average monthly income of a typical household in Britannia Kingdom is almost 120-150 Wave. So in this case this medicine was not so expensive.
"Are you kidding me!?How could this be!?"
Cardinals Rim froze, his blood turning to ice. 32 Waves? That was less than a day's wage for a skilled laborer, a pittance compared to the price of even the most common temple potion.
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The ferry, laden with pilgrims, merchants, and the scents of faraway lands, groaned against the wooden piles and finally met its berth.
Dizzy, hiding her black hair under a headscarf, stood on deck. Beside her, Felix, in religious dress, flashed a charming smile at a passing group of women, earning a chorus of giggles.
"Are you ready?" Dizzy asked, her voice steady despite the flutter of anticipation in her chest.
Felix nodded, adjusting the pouch slung over his shoulder. "I'm as ready as I need to be. Let's mingle and see what we can uncover."
They made their way through the throngs of pilgrims, their simple attire identifying them as humble seekers of the moon goddess's knowledge. Felix maintained his charming smile as he looked down at the people around him, so that no one would suspect them.
Their cover story, meticulously crafted, was that they were a group of scholars on a pilgrimage to study the island's unique flora and ancient rituals.
The inn they found was modest, frequented by pilgrims and traders. Its common room is buzzed with conversations in various dialects, offering a rich tapestry of information for keen ears. While Felix charmed the innkeeper's daughter, gleaning details about the upcoming Moon Festival and other events, Dizzy focused on a group of off-duty Twilight Guardians, their armor stacked neatly by their table.
Their leader, a grizzled veteran with eyes as sharp as his sword, spoke of heightened security. Apparently, recent raids on coastal villages, attributed to pirates, had put the island on edge. Dizzy noted every word, every gesture, committing details to memory. Increased patrols maintained a tight net, but also presented a potential pattern to exploit.