Chapter 12:

Invitation

As White As Snow

“*******, you’re not really saying anything or participating much. You should totally join!” An older girl excitedly said.

Aion was dreaming. It was a memory from the orientation to the University of *****.

“Hm? What are you reading? A novel?” She peered at his phone, which had walls of text.

“Yeah…” He had said, not wanting to engage much.

“What’s it about?”

“It’s just a fantasy…”

“A fantasy? I’m more of a romance book person myself!”

“I figured…”

“Eh? Really? I guess I’m just that obvious. But you struck me as someone who would read the classics or some mystery fiction~”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, you seem like a smart person, so that fits that image!”

“Hm…”

“So hey, does anyone read here?” The girl asked the other incoming freshmen.

A few girls raised their hands, but none of the guys did.

“How about fantasy?”

Everyone’s hands went down.

“Well…you could always try some new genres, *******,” she said, turning back to Aion.

“I guess…”

The truth was, he reads all sorts of genres. He’s read romance, sci-fi, murder mystery, and so on. But he didn’t feel like engaging with her.

Separate. That’s what he was during the orientation. While all the people around him were joyously participating, he found himself alone. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to connect with others. It was more that he couldn’t.

But this was fine; it was only orientation. Things would change when the first semester started. Yes, most definitely.

He was sure that things would be different for him.

He wouldn’t make the same mistakes again—

—Aion was lying on his bed in the same cold world he’d been in for the past week.

Why did he have to remember that again?

Of course, he already knew the answer; it was because of last night’s events. He snapped at Luna—no, blown up was more accurate.

“Damn it…” Aion mumbled.

He was an idiot. A complete idiot. He let his emotions get the better of him, and he said a bunch of stupid things. He was way too harsh as well.

Feeling his stomach growl, Aion got up and headed downstairs. Aira wasn’t anywhere to be seen, so he was left on his own to make something to eat. Looking in the fridge, he didn’t see anything appealing to him.

He knew he should eat something, but he just shut the fridge and slumped into a chair. Today the Winter Solstice was happening, but Aion wasn’t in the mood to see pseudo miracles.

As Aion was busy considering what to do, a knocking sound echoed from the door.

Aion groaned and rose from his seat to open the door.

“Who is it?” Aion asked as he opened it.

“Good afternoon, Aion,” Sam smiled brightly.

“Afternoon?”

“Huh? You aren’t aware?”

“...Seriously?”

He’d slept through a chunk of the day already. Of course, it wasn’t all too surprising considering the fact he needs an alarm to wake up on time, and without one available, he naturally slept longer. Pair that with the exhaustion of yesterday, and he’d made it all the way until the afternoon.

“It seems no one came to wake you up. I honestly had thought you just abandoned me,” Sam said and laughed.

“No, nothing like that. Sorry that I overslept. I guess you can come and sit around here to make up for the lost time.”

“Actually, that isn’t really too necessary.”

“Hm?”

“You see, there’s a party held on the day of the Winter Solstice every year at the Magnatium Manor. And, well, I’ve been invited. Every invitee is allowed a plus one, so I wanted to invite you!” Sam smiled so brightly it was blinding.

“Me, huh?”

“Of course! I’ve even brought you some clothing you can wear to the event.” Sam brought out a bag that seemed to house dress clothing.

“Will it even fit?” Aion asked.

Sam was taller than him, not by a lot, but still taller.

“Don’t worry, it’s custom-made!”

“...”

Aion didn’t bother questioning it. He wasn’t in the mood.

“I’ll be back by sunset, and we can head there together!” Sam said as he waved goodbye.

“Sure…” Aion mumbled; he wasn’t even sure if Sam had caught what he said.

Aion may have agreed, but he wasn’t particularly looking forward to the party. He presumed the murders would happen there considering the protagonist, Alphonse, was the son of the host. So naturally he would be required to attend.

Aion sighed and shut the door.

* * *

Later that evening Sam had returned. Aion, who was already dressed, was surprised that the outfit did indeed fit him perfectly.

“So how did you get my measurements?” Aion asked.

“Hm? Well, I was able to get them based on observation and memory.”

“Is that so?”

What kind of bullshit is that? Aion thought.

“Yeah, I guess I’m pretty observant.”

Aion nodded, and the two began their walk toward Magnatium Manor. The town of Magna had numerous lights to keep the festivities going even into the night. Several people were laughing and speaking loudly. In the town square a performance was being put on.

Soon, Aion and Sam walked to the northern part of Magna, and the manor was before them. The building was massive. The building was up on a hill, meaning a long staircase was required to reach the building. Strangely enough, unlike the other noble’s houses, the Magnatium Manor reminded Aion of a gothic-style manor that would be in a murder mystery novel. Of course, that would add up.

“Samuel Astra, and he’s your plus one, correct?” A servant at the front of the door asked.

“Yes,” Sam nodded, and the two were allowed to enter.

Immediately upon entry, Aion’s breath was taken away by the massive entry hall. Two staircases ascended to the second floor. On the left and right were two halls that led deeper into the first floor.

However, there was one thing that caught his attention more than anything else. A portrait of a beautiful woman hung between the two large staircases. She sat upright in a fancy chair, although “throne” might be the more apt word. The woman wore an 18th-century-style dress like one’s he’d seen in various works. Her long hair was white, and she had piercing blue eyes.

If Luna had been the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen, the woman in the portrait was that and beyond. Actually, the woman almost looks like a grown-up Luna, a woman in her late twenties or early thirties. The only difference aside from that being the color of each of their eyes.

“That’s Lunalis,” Sam started. “The painting was made when Lunalis was alive several hundred years ago.”

“Several hundred years ago?” Aion asked. “Her dress is from the 18th century.”

“Hm? I guess fashion must be different out there where you come from.”

Aion just nodded since he didn’t feel like arguing. Walking over to the painting, he found a pedestal with letters engraved in gold on top of it. The largest of the letters read: “Elegy to Lunalis.”

“What is this?” Aion asked.

“Ah, that’s the elegy written by Adam Dolion.”

“Dolion?”

“Right, yeah, Adam Dolion is a long-distant ancestor of Alexander.”

“Is that so?”

Aion decided to read the elegy.

Dost thou seek salvation?

Within thyself, shadows grow and lurk.

Oh, those shadows of solitude lead thee to thy salvation.

If thou wishest for salvation, plunge into thyself.

Only within shadows is salvation found.

In light, salvation is sought.

And in twilight salvation is obtained.

Oh sinner of man, thou who hast lived within life and death, thy salvation is tenuous.

To obtain thy salvation, traverse the eight heavens.

In the first heaven, extinguish the throes of Lust, burning away thy genitals.

In the second heaven, abstain from the Garden of Gluttony, tearing thy guts apart.

In the third heaven, extirpate the seeds of Wrath, freeing thee from the burden of eyesight.

In the fourth heaven, chop away the temptress of Greed, nullifying thy workmanship.

In the fifth heaven, pierce through the sweetness of Sloth, destroying thy exhausted mind.

In the sixth heaven, plunge into the depths of Envy, crushing thy sinful heart.

In the seventh heaven, annihilate the heart of Pride, removing thy head.

In the eighth heaven, thou shalt find the door to salvation.

Lunalis shall save thy soul, gifting thee true salvation.

First, a cleansed body.

Second, a pure mind.

Third, a satisfied heart.

And finally, eternal happiness.

We thank thee, oh Lunalis, for our salvation.

May thou rest peacefully as we praise thy name.

“What the…?” Aion mumbled.

He wasn’t sure what the purpose in this was. This elegy felt more like a prayer. Or maybe he just didn’t know what elegies were actually like. It wasn’t as if he went out of his way to read them.

“People have tried to decipher what Adam Dolion was trying to say for a long time, but at this point mostly everyone agrees that it is a condensed version of how to reach salvation.”

“...”

“Is something wrong?”

“No…it’s just, Lunalis, she bears a striking resemblance to Luna…”

Sam hushed Aion forcefully and whispered, “You can’t say that here!”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“It’s a taboo to compare the two of them.”

“A taboo?”

Perhaps it had something to do with why Luna was so hated in Magna.

“Yes, you could be tried and executed as a heretic.”

“That’s harsh…”

“Look, I’m just trying to look out for you. Luna…she’s…”

“She’s hated by Magna, no?”

“...Did she tell you?”

“Something like that…” Aion answered vaguely.

Sam sighed and said, “Let’s go somewhere private.”

Sam started going down the hall on the left, and Aion followed. Along the hall were several doors and various decorative decor and plants.

Soon, he reached a turn and took it. The same similar structure was present. This place struck Aion as more a hotel than a manor as he saw lines and lines of doors.

Then, reaching a door at the end of the hallway on the left side, he opened it and entered. Aion followed, and he found himself in some sort of storage room.

“This place doesn’t seem like much of a manor…” Aion commented as he looked around.

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“It’s just hallways with lines of doors. That’s not much of a manor.”

“Oh, that. I’m not sure why it's designed that way. But the upper floors are different.

“So it’s just the first floor that’s like this?”

“Yeah, each of the rooms is used for different purposes, with most of them being rooms for the servants. This place is storage for the male servants' outfits.”

“I see…”

“Anyway, Luna,” Sam returned to the earlier topic, his demeanor growing much more grave. “Luna, she’s treated as evil here in Magna. Her red eyes and white hair make her discriminated against.”

“Over that…” Aion said.

“I don’t know, maybe that isn’t explaining it properly. I just don’t feel like I have the right to talk about it. You should ask Luna, and she should share the story…”

“...”

“Is something wrong?”

“Luna and I…had a fight last night…”

Sam looked surprised and said, “Really? I wouldn’t have ever guessed. Is that why you slept in today?”

“Something like that…”

“...” Sam didn’t seem to know what to say. But then, as if he received an epiphany, he started speaking again. “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened?”

“There was a misunderstanding between us, and the two of us expected different things from one another. And…I lashed out…”

Aion’s voice was much weaker than usual. A look of guilt had formed on his face.

“Look, I don’t think having a fight is a big deal. People sometimes mess up, and that’s fine. What’s important is what happens after. I know you’re leaving soon, but that should be plenty of time to make up with Luna.”

“...”

“You look guilt-ridden about what happened, so please, just follow your heart in this case.”

“I know I should. But…”

Aion couldn’t finish the thought. It wasn’t something that would make sense to Sam.

“No buts! You are going to apologize tomorrow, and I will drag you to Luna’s myself if necessary!”

“That’s…”

Sam smiled and said, “That’s what friends are for. I know we’ve only talked a few times, but Aion, I can tell you’re a good guy. The fact that you can be so genuine with Luna proves that.”

“...” Aion felt a little sick.

“So, just enjoy tonight, lighten up, and when tomorrow comes, make up with her. I can even be there if you want.”

“What are you? A dad worried about his kid?”

Sam laughed and said, “No, but I’m glad you can make a joke like that.”

“It’s not that impressive.”

Sam smiled and said, “Maybe, although it wasn’t even that funny.”

“But you laughed.”

“Eh…sometimes you just have to laugh regardless of what’s said. No matter how unfunny, how devastating, or how rage-inducing, you have to laugh eventually. Maybe it's immediate, like an unfunny joke, but sometimes that laugh will come later. I hope that you are able to laugh over the fight you and Luna had in the future, because that will mean you’ve finally moved on.”

“Sam, I—”

“I don’t want to hear anything from you, not a thank you or you complaining, until you’ve apologized to Luna. All I want to see from you tonight is having fun, okay?”

“...”

Sam continued staring at Aion, basically telling him he needed to say something.

“Why?” Aion asked.

“Hm?”

“Shouldn’t you hate Luna like the rest of the town?”

“Oh, that? Perhaps I should by social norms, but for me, I just don’t see the reason to hate her.”

“You still don’t talk to her, though.”

Sam smiled bitterly and said, “Yeah…I don’t. I wish I did. However, Luna and I just aren’t really compatible.”

“Compatibility, huh?”

“I know it’s just an excuse, but every time I’ve tried in the past, I can never get something going.”

“Conversations are a two-party-system, one person can’t carry one alone.”

“I…”