Capítulo 10: Chapter 10: Drops of the Moon
"So that's the truth about the purple moon?"
"Kira, you're incredible," Gray said, his voice tinged with awe. "You're truly worthy of being an S-class wizard. You figured out the reason so quickly."
Hearing the praise from his companions, Kira couldn't hide the pride swelling in his chest. "Of course! That's what being an S-class wizard is all about. Learn well from me!"
Gray tilted his head, pondering aloud, "Then why don't we just explain this to the village chief and the others?"
Kira shot him a mocking glance. "Are you an idiot? Their memories have been affected, so there's no way they'd listen to reason. They've spent years believing they're cursed, going so far as to kill their own loved ones. If I were to tell them they were demons all along, they'd lose it. They'd call us liars, insist we're useless, and then kick us out."
Gray scratched the back of his head, realizing the truth in Kira's words. "That does make sense... Oh, wait. If they were demons all along, does that mean the chief's son died for nothing?"
"Don't worry about that," Kira said, shrugging. "Demons are notoriously hard to kill. The chief mentioned that his son had 'lost himself.' That likely means he recovered and left the island to avoid causing more harm."
Without waiting for a response, Kira began striding deeper into the forest.
"Every phenomenon has a cause," he explained. "This island wouldn't be experiencing these strange occurrences without a trigger. Whether it's a virus or magic, something must've changed here a few years ago to set this all in motion."
Rocky chimed in, "So, where are we heading now?"
"We're going to search for anything resembling a magic circle. If this magic is affecting the entire island, it must've required extensive preparations. That means the caster would need a large space to set it up."
"A large space?" Kana asked, scanning their surroundings. "We haven't come across anything like that so far."
Kira smirked. "According to some old texts, Karna Island has ancient ruins that can gather moonlight. The moon's power is of a holy attribute, so demons can't get near it. It's the perfect place to cast a large-scale magic like this."
Kana's eyes widened in realization. "That makes sense. Since the villagers can't approach it, they'd have no reason to destroy it. It's an ideal location."
"Exactly!" Kira said, puffing out his chest. "This is why you should prepare thoroughly before a mission. Gather intelligence, read books, eat healthily, sleep on time, and cut back on drinking, fighting, and flirting!"
Ten minutes later, the group arrived at the ancient ruins.
Kira, leading the way, stopped abruptly and gestured ahead. "We're here."
Before them stood a sprawling relic, its weathered stones covered in moss and intricate carvings resembling phases of the moon. Broken columns and crumbled walls hinted at the site's former grandeur.
"So this is it," Gray muttered, his eyes darting around. "Why didn't the villagers mention these ruins? They're not far from the village."
Kana examined a nearby pathway. "There's even a direct road leading here from the village. It's strange they wouldn't tell us about this place."
Kira offered an explanation. "Since they can't approach it, they probably think it's taboo. Even if they told us, they'd assume we wouldn't believe them, so they didn't bother."
The group began ascending toward the central structure, which sat at the highest point of the island.
"This is definitely the ideal spot for a magic circle," Kira said. "Let's take a closer look."
As they explored, Rocky noticed something peculiar. "Hey, there's a cave here."
The others followed him to investigate. Rocky pointed to the cave's entrance and then to several similar openings above it. "It's not a coincidence. Look at how evenly spaced they are. These openings weren't formed naturally—they were carved out deliberately."
Kana nodded in agreement. "But why would someone go to such lengths?"
Before anyone could respond, Kira's voice rang out from behind them, feigning a sudden epiphany. "Ah! I get it now! It's this magic!"
He turned to face them, his expression smug. "Everything fits perfectly. This place was designed to harness enormous amounts of moonlight. It's the most logical location for such a magic to be cast."
Kira adopted a dramatic pose, raising a finger as if declaring a grand truth. "There is only one explanation!"
"What magic are you talking about?" the others asked in unison, curiosity piqued.
"Legend has it," Kira began, "that the 'Moon Drops' are formed by condensing moonlight into a concentrated beam. This beam carries the immense power of the moon and can eliminate all forms of magic. It's a legendary spell capable of dispelling even the most powerful enchantments."
Gray and Kana's jaws dropped.
"Magic that can eliminate all magic?" Gray echoed. "Does something like that really exist?"
Kira nodded solemnly. "It does. I've read about it in ancient texts. But the conditions for casting the Moon Drops are incredibly demanding. You need a massive amount of moonlight, a large ritual site, and significant manpower. The spell itself is obscure and has been lost to time."
Kana frowned. "But wouldn't that much magic cause side effects?"
"Exactly," Kira replied. "This magic pollutes its surroundings, releasing a special type of gas. That's likely what's been affecting the villagers."
Kana gasped. "You mean air pollution is making them sick?"
"Possibly," Kira said. "But we won't know for sure until nightfall."
Gray clenched his fists, anger flashing in his eyes. "Who would do something like this? Shouldn't we destroy the magic circle now and stop it from causing more harm?"
Kana nodded. "Yeah, even if we can't reverse the damage, at least we can cut it off at the source."
Kira shook his head. "The Moon Drops can only be activated at night. If we destroy the circle now, we won't find the caster or uncover their purpose. Besides, if this magic has been active for three years, it's unlikely to have succeeded yet. Casting the Moon Drops takes time."
Kana crossed her arms, thinking. "Is there anything we can do to protect the villagers in the meantime?"
Kira smirked. "Let's not be hasty. The air here doesn't seem polluted to me. We'll wait until night to investigate further. For now..."
He gestured toward a staircase leading deeper into the ruins. "Let's see what secrets these caves hold. Aren't you curious about the kind of magic these people are trying to dispel with the Moon Drops?"
Gray's eyes sparkled with excitement. "You're right. S-class missions are full of surprises. I've learned so much already. Natsu will be so jealous when I tell him about this!"
Kira's smirk widened. Laugh all you want, Gray. Let's see how long that enthusiasm lasts.
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