Episode 5, Chapter 4: Searching for Manwol

Divine Maiden, it's been too long.

It has been a while.

Have you heard what transpired at the alter?

Yes, I have.

There's a barrier around Azure Orchard.

Yes. It was cast by Sangun himself.

Do you suppose he's gone into seclusion for training?

If so...

He would've given me some notice.

Yes, he would've. I trust he has his reasons, but...

I can't help this quiet worry.

Ah, Divine Maiden. You must know of someone, not from the Council of Empyrean Fangs, who might share their wisdom.

Wisdom...? Oh...!

He might have an answer.

Yes. We'll head to Moonglow Mountain right away.

May the guardian of the moonlit mountain guide you to wisdom, Divine Maiden.

What have we decided to do?

We're going to Moonglow Mountain.

Moonglow Mountain...? Are we going to visit Manwol?

Manwol?

A Divine Beast who declined to join the Council of Empyrean Fangs.

And you guys are going?

Yes, we need to ask how to reach Sangun.

Just letting you know, I'm not going.

I can already tell it's gonna to be a trek.

Moonglow Mountain is beyond Moonshadow Cave.

It's not far from Sangun's altar.

I'm going to follow Jiwon's orders.

And what are her orders?

I'm headed someplace far away.

That's all I can say. It's classified.

Bye.

...!

I can't.

Do you have something else to do?

I've got a secret mission from Jiwon.

I see.

Thanks for the offer.

...Yeah.

Goodbye.

Moonglow Mountain isn't easy to climb.

It is said that fools shall never reach the summit.

In truth... I cannot promise your success, either.

Huh? It's already dark?

...It means we've entered Manwol's territory...

We may become ever-lost in this all-consuming night...

Interesting...

Only the enlightened may behold the truth hidden beneath the moonlight.

Fools and fiends, begone, or be doomed to wander the night for all eternity...

...I think it would be best if you turned back.

I'm the Divine Maiden. Manwol won't harm me.

Had I but a little more power worthy of a Divine Maiden.

...Divine Maiden...?

If I possessed just half... no, a quarter... no, even just a fraction of my mother's power...

Divine Maiden Mina!

Divine Maiden. Can you see me?

Ah! Ah...!

Why are you so nervous? We'll be okay. We can take care of ourselves.

And who knows? We might even be a help to you. Hehe.

But... I'm the Divine Maiden... of the Council of Empyrean Fangs...

Alright. What's the big deal about the Empyrean Fangs? What's wrong?

Take deep breaths. Relax. Hoo, huh, hoo, huh!

...Hoo, hoo, huh?

We can't completely understand the pressure you're under, but...

You are... outsiders, and so may not fully comprehend

the significance the Council of Empyrean Fangs holds in Baek-Ah.

They're revered and looked to for guidance... Great elders.

My mother, the previous Divine Maiden, was worthy of such reverence.

To inherit that title... I'm still much too...

You're doing just fine, you know that, right?

Your mother was a great person, but you're you. That's all you have to be.

We haven't known each other for long, but I can already tell by the way you're trying.

You're a good person.

We'll help!

Meow.

...Thank you for saying that. I'm feeling much better now.

The path's blocked.

Solving a riddle will clear the way.

We need to look around closely.

There's an order to wisdom, as it was always meant to be. To those who follows its path, enlightenment will follow.

For wisdom stirs first in still ponds, then breaks through the mud to bloom like a flower. And under the soft glow of the moonlight, the seed of truth shall finally take root.

There are lanterns marked with the words from the stele. Do you think the order in which they are written might also be related?

Wasn't as bad as I thought.

We mustn't lower our guard.

We can do it. Don't get nervous!

Ahaha... It's a habit now.

Follow the words of the one true sage; all others will lead you astray.

The first lantern is the one truth that'll banish darkness.

Sage Phive speaks only the truth.

The third lantern shall, at last, bring forth the light.

Sage Tre speaks only falsehood.

Neither the first nor the third lantern shall drive away darkness.

Think it over again. A truth tainted with falsehood is still a falsehood.

Just like that... We'll make it...

Are you okay, Divine Maiden Mina?

Huh? Oh, yes!

Trace the footsteps of time, and kindle the light of wisdom.

The enmity between the races escalated into war, but the Divine Beasts of the Council of Empyrean Fangs intervened and ended the war... Soon, they were united as one nation, and together they overcame many crises.

In this way, Baek-Ah finally achieved harmony after going through many conflicts.

Long ago, all the species of Baek-Ah were locked in a bitter rivalry.

When tensions could grow no further, war broke out.

Many lives were lost and blood was spilled in great measure.

It was a few divine beasts that brought the endless war to an end.

Here in this drawing is my mother, Miho, and Sangun.

Those who called themselves the Council of Empyrean Fangs met with the leader of each species to negotiate.

Through the efforts of the Council of Empyrean Fangs, the war finally came to an end, and Baek-Ah was united as one nation.

This process required time to understand and accept each other's differences.

Though still some clung to their instincts over harmony...

Baek-Ah faced many crises even after its unification.

Dokkaebi and demonic beasts... But in every crisis, the people of Baek-Ah sent aside their conflicts and joined forces.

And at the very heart of it all... there was always the Council of Empyrean Fangs.

I'll try interpreting the mural. Let's arrange it in chronological order.

We're close to the summit now.

Let's hurry!

Oh! Wait up!