Chapter 241: Chapter 240 – Blinding Light Upon the Snow
Winter sunlight pierced through the slit in the curtains, reflecting sharply against the wooden walls of the bedroom. Sylvia slowly opened her eyes, her crimson pupils narrowing against the glare that felt almost unbearable. She drew a long breath, the room still carrying faint warmth from last night’s fireplace.
Outside, faint commotion drifted in: people clearing snow from rooftops, the creak of wooden carts being pulled, the shrieks of children already running about despite the biting cold. Sylvia rose from the large fur-covered bed, brushing the blanket aside lazily.
Her pale feet touched the icy floorboards, drawing out a soft sigh.
"The sun... far too bright for winter," she murmured.
She walked to the window, pulling the curtain open slowly. A white expanse of snow still blanketed nearly the entire city of Anarats. Last night’s storm had left drifts as tall as a man’s waist in places, but what struck her most was how the sunlight shone so intensely reflected off the snow until it was blinding.
Sylvia shielded her eyes with her hand. "Too sharp... ordinary people will struggle to see in this glare."
Her mind raced. In her old world, she had once heard of the term snow blindness: temporary loss of sight caused by sunlight reflecting off snow. Left unchecked, it could injure many, leading to falls or rendering them unable to see for hours, even days.
"This is dangerous."
She reached for her long black gown, slipping it on unhurriedly. Her hair was still tangled from sleep, but she didn’t care. She stepped out of her room, moving down the long wooden hallway toward the great hall of Velthya’s mansion.
The first thing that reached her was the sound of the fireplace, followed by the bitter scent of coffee.
In the main room, Velthya lounged in a long chair by the window. Her silver hair was partly unbound, tail curled lazily at her side. Her large hand held a clay cup, warm steam rising from it. Across from her sat Celes, upright and composed, her usually cold face softened by morning light. She too held the same cup, though her eyes looked faintly weary.
Sylvia paused at the doorway, watching them for a moment before entering. She took an empty seat at the table but reached for no cup.
Velthya turned with a broad smile. "Morning, Sylvia. Did you sleep well after last night’s feast?"
Sylvia gave a faint nod. "Enough. But... there’s something urgent I must discuss."
Celes set her cup on the table, her gaze shifting to Sylvia. "What is it?"
Sylvia looked to the window, then back at them. "The winter sunlight on snowdrifts. It poses a serious problem. I call it snow blindness, temporary blindness caused by too much reflected light entering the eyes. If ignored, many will suffer."
Velthya’s brows rose, her tail going still. "Blindness? From light? Isn’t it just ordinary sunlight?"
Sylvia shook her head. "No. Snow is a mirror. It reflects all the light at once. Human pupils unaccustomed to it will burn. They’ll lose sight for hours, even days if it’s severe."
Celes was silent for a moment. Then she lowered her gaze, her white hair falling to hide part of her face. "I... forgot about that." Her voice was low, almost guilty. "I knew a little about the symptoms, but I never thought to warn Velthya or the citizens. That was my negligence."
Sylvia studied her, then exhaled softly. "No need to apologize. Such things are easily forgotten if you’ve never lived through them. I simply happened to remember."
Celes lifted her head again, her amethyst eyes glinting faintly with relief at those words.
Velthya slapped the table with her large hand. "Then what should we do to prevent it?"
Sylvia answered flatly. "Use cloth or anything to cover the eyes. Not fully, but leave small slits. That way, less light enters, and the pupils won’t burn."
Velthya stood still for a moment, then nodded firmly. "Clothes... that’s simple enough. I’ll arrange it at once."
She turned toward the door, calling loudly. "Servant!"
Soon a young beastkin woman entered, bowing deeply. "Yes, Lady Velthya?"
"Prepare black cloth in large quantities. Distribute it to every household in Anarats. Tell them it’s to protect their eyes from the glare. Explain clearly no misunderstandings."
The servant bowed. "At once, my lady." She hurried off, her footsteps echoing down the hall.
Sylvia added, her voice steady but firm. "Don’t stop with your own household. Spread the knowledge as well. If elders or families have extra clothes, let them share with their neighbors. We must protect everyone, not just a portion."
Celes nodded, her eyes now alight with resolve. "Correct. I’ll also tell the zombie sentries. They can spread the word faster to every corner of the city."
Velthya grinned broadly, downing the rest of her coffee. "Good. This is the difference when we have a queen who thinks ahead."
Sylvia didn’t react to the praise. She only gazed out the window again, watching children run through the snow-covered streets. Some covered their eyes with their hands, trying to block the blinding glare.
"Hm." Sylvia murmured. "Good thing I spoke up. Otherwise, many would be weeping tonight, blind for a time."
Celes watched her with a look hovering between admiration and guilt. "You always recall the small details that save so many lives, Sylvia. I... must learn from you."
Sylvia glanced at her briefly, then turned her gaze outward again. "Don’t learn from me. Learn from the world itself. I only happened to see its darkness sooner."
Silence filled the room, broken only by the crackling of the fireplace and the muffled noise from outside.
At last Velthya rose, her frame straight and strong. "Then I’ll see to it that the cloth is distributed quickly. No one will suffer from mere sunlight." She strode out with long steps, her tail swaying briskly with determination.
Celes remained seated, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her cup. She glanced at Sylvia, her voice soft. "You... don’t like coffee, do you?"
Sylvia shook her head. "Bitter. I don’t need more bitterness."
Celes smiled faintly, sipping again. "As always, your answers are simple yet precise."
Sylvia only gave a small huff, leaning back in her chair.
Outside, news of snow blindness spread quickly. Velthya’s servants carried rolls of black and gray cloth to every household, explaining its use.
"Wrap it around the eyes like this, leave small slits to see through. The light won’t harm your sight."
Mothers nodded as they tried it on their children. Men hurried to neighbors’ houses, sharing spare clothes. Craftsmen began cutting their own fabric, copying the method shown.
On the streets, the scene shifted. Where people once squinted painfully, now children ran without stumbling. Merchants arranged their goods without constantly bowing against the glare.
Anarats, though buried deep in snow, began to move more smoothly beneath the blinding winter sun.
From the mansion window, Sylvia watched it all with her usual calm, though a faint ease settled in her chest.
"At least... they won’t go blind from the light today," she murmured.
But her thoughts quickly turned elsewhere. Still seated, her gaze sharpened on the snowy world outside.
"There’s something else we must discuss," she said suddenly.
Her tone made Celes turn serious.
Celes set her cup down slowly. "I can feel the change in your voice. What do you know, Sylvia?"
Sylvia laced her fingers atop the table, her crimson eyes gleaming faintly. "The Church will send forces. In great numbers. By now, they’ve surely heard of the fall of every branch temple last night. We can no longer assume they’ll remain idle."
Celes fell silent, her face tightening. Velthya, just returning after checking on the servants, froze at the doorway, her brow furrowed. "How large do you mean?"
Sylvia turned, her gaze icy. "Large enough to try reclaiming the entire Dark Isle. Large enough to see us as a threat that must be crushed before it grows."
Velthya growled low, the sound rough in her throat. "Hmph. Let them come. I’ll tear their ships apart one by one."
Sylvia shook her head slightly. "It won’t be that simple. We can’t just wait at the shore. We need to know when they’ll come, how many, and from where. More than that, we must strike from afar before they even set foot here."
Celes leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "You’ve already prepared something, haven’t you?"
Sylvia closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, a faint glimmer burned within her crimson gaze.
"Yes. I’ve already given the command through telepathy. The shadow zombies and the mage corps are moving as we speak."
Velthya remained still, waiting for an explanation.
Sylvia raised her hand, pressing her fingers against her temple. A faint aura seeped from her body cold and trembling like a thin black mist creeping into the air. Her eyes shut, lips moving softly though no sound escaped.
In the distance, far beyond the snow-covered city, hundreds of zombies knelt at once on the frozen ground. From them, black shadows oozed out, reshaping into soundless creatures that darted across the surface Shadow Zombies. Their bodies were thin, almost imperceptible, moving swiftly through snowy forests, crossing ravines, heading toward the shores that ringed the island.
On the other side, several undead in tattered robes stood with dark wooden staves in hand Zombie Mages. Small purple flames flickered at the tips of their staves, and then they began walking slowly toward the high cliffs that overlooked the sea.