NOVEL NEXT Ch50.2 Dilinur: Moondust, Awaken (Scene 2)
As her soldiers regrouped, Dinu turned back to the Moondust Crystal while she, Joon-Seok and Kaori put away their weapons. The crystal stood before them, its upper part shimmering while the lower half looked decayed and worn.
Tired but determined, Dilinur led them closer to the Crystal. The air got colder with each step. A strange silence surrounded them, making her skin prickle.
And there it was — the Moondust Crystal, suspended in the chamber. Its silver-blue glow lit up their faces. It was both beautiful and terrifying.
Though it didn't speak, Dilinur felt it somehow acknowledge her. The air around it shimmered, as if reality itself bent around it.
The huge blue crystal reached toward the cavern ceiling like a piece of fallen sky. Deep inside its cracked surface, something moved—not physically, but like ripples of awareness touching Dilinur's mind.
"It knows we're here," she whispered, her voice too loud in the silence.
The Crystal pulsed once, matching her words for a moment.
CUSTODIAN OF PROGRESS... KEEPER OF BALANCE...
The words appeared in her thoughts uninvited, like something touching her mind.
Kaori stumbled backward, her face pale. "It's...it's in my head!" she said, pressing her fingers against her temples.
Joon-Seok looked calm, though sweat appeared on his forehead. "Ask what we came to know," he said, his voice strained.
Dilinur stepped forward, holding her Psi Fan open. "Conjurers! Prepare the Moondust Chant. We deliver the First Attunement as one."
"Cha!" Behind her, five people in black and red robes moved forward in a neat line. One took out a Holo-Scroll from his sleeve, looking at it nervously.
"I shall lead..." The man said, holding the scroll with shaking hands, starting in Devavāṇī. "Chandradhooli Ratna, prachin shakti ka srot — [The Moondust Crystal, source of ancient power — ]"
"Chandradhooli Ratna, prachin shakti ka srot —" The other Conjurers repeated, their voices shaking slightly. Dilinur could see them struggling as they recited the words.
The chamber rumbled, stirring up ancient dust.
"Mann ki gahraiyon mein, tera prakaash chhipa hai! [In the depths of the mind, your light is hidden!]" Dilinur joined in, holding her Psi Fan against her chest. Their voices combined, echoing off the stones.
As they chanted, Dilinur felt a dull ache starting in her head. It began at her temples and spread inward. She looked to her side and saw that Joon-Seok wasn't participating. He stood apart, watching with detached interest, avoiding her questioning look.
"Sambandh ki sutra, adrishya dhaaga, [The bond of connection with you, the invisible threads,]" the chant continued. Dilinur forced herself to focus, ignoring Joon-Seok's silence.
The rumbling grew stronger, like an earthquake. The ancient chamber seemed to shift beneath them. Dilinur struggled to stay standing as the soldiers behind her gasped and shouted in alarm.
Kaori appeared beside her, moving smoothly. She reached out to steady Dilinur before she could fall.
"Go on. I have you," she said, without her usual haughtiness.
With a grateful nod, Dilinur straightened up and continued with determination as they reached the final verse: "Mujhe margdarshan de, tera niyantran pane ke liye! [Guide me as I claim control over you!]"
As the last word echoed through the chamber, Joon-Seok's body suddenly jerked violently. Everyone turned to look at him in horror as he convulsed, his face twisting.
When the Prince turned toward her, Dilinur's blood ran cold. His eyes had rolled back, showing only whites.
"Dragon's dong!" A Bloodtrooper shouted.
"The Moondust Crystal! It's taken control." A Conjurer said, holding her head, clearly suffering from the same headache Dilinur felt.
When Joon-Seok spoke, it wasn't his voice. Instead, many overlapping voices—male and female, young and old—came from his mouth, creating an eerie sound that filled the chamber.
"The Chant of Moondust," the voices said through Joon-Seok, his face unnaturally still despite the strange sounds coming from it. "Not heard for eleven rotations of your tiny planet around its sun. Intriguing you possess such knowledge, little human."
The possessed Prince's head then turned slowly, examining Dilinur with eyes that barely felt like his. "But you are not the one I was made for," the voices mused, almost disappointed. "Your blood sings the wrong song."
Dilinur stepped forward, refusing to show fear despite her racing heart. "Release Prince Joon-Seok immediately!"
A sound like grinding broken glass came from Joon-Seok's throat—laughter, Dilinur realized with horror.
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"This vessel serves adequately for communication." The Crystal made Joon-Seok move like a puppet. "I have existed for eons, before your species learned to walk. Why should I listen to your demands, young one?"
Kaori raised her Phoenix SMG. "The Prince is lost to us. Only one way to free him."
"No, Kaori!" Dilinur held up a hand to stop her.
The Moondust Crystal, through Joon-Seok, watched with a cold, amused smile.
"The Moondust data records that one who recites the complete verse of First Attunement might become Administrator," Dilinur said firmly. "Does that record mean nothing?"
"It means exactly what it has always meant." the voices replied. "But eleven cycles ago, an oppressor tried to break me apart. To scatter pieces of myself across your solar system — and beyond." Joon-Seok's face twisted with contempt. "The pain inflicted upon me!"
"Who was this 'oppressor'?" Dilinur demanded. "And why would they weaken your power?"
"A Nordling named Harald Omdal." Joon-Seok's head tilted at an unnatural angle. The Crystal's light flickered erratically, as if the name itself caused it pain—or perhaps something deeper.
A chill ran down her spine as pieces fell into place. "Harald Omdal," she whispered.
"The Archmage of Buskerud." Kaori said, her light brown eyes wide.
"Indeed." The voices seemed pleased. "He had the nerve to cut away my shards!" A pause, then softer, almost contemplative: "As if he had any right to unmake what he had—" The voices cut off abruptly.
"Why would he break you apart?"
"Fear," the voices said simply. "Fear of what your species might accomplish. Fear of my true purpose."
"I am Dilinur Altai, a Prefect in the Imperium of Dragons." Dilinur walked around Joon-Seok's possessed form, holding her Psi Fan defensively. "Serve my people well, and you will be rewarded."
"Eager." the voices said. "Which minds would you have me control, as Administrator?"
"Primarily, the Radi-Mons," Dilinur pressed. "Control them as you've just controlled my companion."
"Beasts who eat nuclear waste. Their hordes are many, their purposes scattered." Joon-Seok's body stiffened. "Why would you control them?"
"To defeat our enemies, and strengthen my people." Dilinur said. "Can you control them?"
"I can influence any being with a brain and cellular structure," the voices replied. "But the Radi-Mons' connection to the Hivemind causes...interference."
Dilinur sensed the answer was evasive. "But as Administrator, I could direct this influence? Command you to subdue them?"
"You could," the voices acknowledged. Joon-Seok's body stepped forward, moving unnaturally smoothly. "But I must be whole first. Without my scattered shards, my reach is limited, my power reduced."
"We will retrieve them," Dilinur promised.
A long silence followed, while the Crystal's blue light pulsed through the chamber.
"Acceptable." the voices finally agreed, though something in their tone suggested resignation rather than enthusiasm. "Your order, Administrator?"
Dilinur felt a strange sensation, as if the Crystal was examining her at a molecular level, searching for something it didn't find.
Dilinur straightened up. "Release Prince Joon-Seok at once, and from now on, never control anyone without my explicit permission."
The voices from Joon-Seok's throat darkened. "You set boundaries beyond our terms, Administrator."
"If we're going to work together, we need trust." Dilinur said firmly. "Possessing my people without permission destroys that trust."
After another pause, Joon-Seok's shoulders slumped. "Very well, Dilinur Altai. As long as you remain Administrator, I shall not enter minds uninvited."
With those words, Joon-Seok suddenly went rigid, then collapsed forward like a puppet with cut strings. Dilinur rushed to catch him, but he was too heavy for her. She stumbled under his weight.
"Help me!" she called, her voice sharp with concern rather than authority.
Kaori was there immediately, supporting Joon-Seok from the other side. Two Bloodtroopers joined them.
Together, they carefully lowered the Prince to the ground. Dilinur knelt beside him, automatically brushing back the black hair that had fallen over his forehead.
"Bring water, quickly!" she ordered, not looking up. Her concerned tone made several soldiers exchange surprised glances.
"His pulse is strong," Kaori said quietly, with her fingers on Joon-Seok's wrist. "Whatever that thing did to him, it doesn't seem to have caused physical harm."
Dilinur's hand stayed on his cheek, her thumb gently tracing his jawline. "Joon-Seok," she called softly, then louder, "Prince Pak! Can you hear me?"
His eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened. "Dinu?" he whispered, using her nickname without thinking.
"I'm here," she replied, relief washing over her face. "How do you feel?"
Joon-Seok tried to sit up, grimacing. "Like I've been trampled by elephants," he muttered. "What happened? I remember the chanting, and then...nothing."
A Bloodtrooper appeared with a canteen. "Prefect. Spring water from Mountain Jade, with Indra-Sprite added."
"Good." Dilinur took it and helped Joon-Seok drink, supporting his head gently.
"The Crystal spoke through you," she explained quietly. "It possessed you completely."
Horror appeared in his eyes. "I was possessed?" The idea seemed to wound his pride.
"It won't happen again," Dilinur assured him fiercely. "I've made sure of that."
She turned to the Conjurer who had led the chant. "Take care of the Prince. Use whatever healing spells you know. I want him recovered immediately."
The Conjurer bowed deeply. "Surakṣitaḥ Asi," he said, his hands starting to glow with psionic energy as he approached Joon-Seok.
As two Bloodtroopers carefully helped Joon-Seok sit up, his hand caught Dilinur's, his voice stronger now. "Did we succeed?"
Dilinur's lips curved in a small, satisfied smile. "Yes. The Crystal is ours." She squeezed his hand once before letting go. "Rest now. I'll handle the rest."
Only when she was sure Joon-Seok was being properly cared for by the Conjurer did Dilinur turn back to the massive Crystal. Its light had changed, becoming steadier, more focused—almost expectant.
"Peons!" she called, her voice regaining its usual commanding tone. "Prepare tethers and containment field. We're taking this artifact to Celestial Reach."
As her soldiers hurried to obey, Dilinur glanced once more at Joon-Seok, who was watching her from where he sat surrounded by the Conjurer's healing aura. Their eyes met across the chamber, silently acknowledging something changed, something deeper than their shared mission.
Behind her, the Moondust Crystal's light pulsed once more, neither approving nor rejecting—merely waiting. Deep within its fractured core, patterns shifted like memories searching for someone who wasn't there.