Chapter 70 - 69: A Beacon in the Darkness
The laughter disappeared.
Marcus frowned.
Benjamin’s expression became thoughtful.
Even Henry looked toward the mountain pass in silence.
It was a good question.
Too good.
They had spent hours discussing where future residents would live...
Without asking how those future residents would even discover Velaris.
The valley gradually grew quieter.
The impossible construction had finally ended.
Birds slowly returned to the preserved trees.
Somewhere nearby, Snow barked happily while Dog wandered between the new villas as though inspecting every corner of their new territory.
Before anyone could answer—
A familiar voice echoed inside Iris’s mind.
[Congratulations, Host.]
003’s robotic voice carried a hint of satisfaction.
[Village development requirements fulfilled.]
[Reward successfully unlocked.]
A new notification appeared before her eyes.
[Reward: Solar Floodlight x1]
Iris blinked. ’A floodlight?’
And why did 003 sound almost... smug?.
[Please don’t underestimate it.]
[This is not an ordinary floodlight.]
A long rectangular metal case appeared inside her inventory.
"..."
Well.
That answered Caleb’s question rather nicely.
Without another word, Iris reached into her inventory.
Her arm remained inside slightly longer than usual.
When she finally pulled it back out, she was holding a surprisingly large metallic case nearly as long as her torso.
Caleb stared.
"...I’m done."
Iris looked up.
"Done with what?"
"I’m officially giving up on trying to understand your storage space."
Benjamin glanced between the case and Iris.
"I thought everyone only had one cubic meter."
"They do," Iris replied smoothly.
Caleb narrowed his eyes.
"I thought everyone only had one cubic meter."
Iris didn’t even blink.
"That’s the official size."
"...Official?"
"You’re asking questions I can’t answer."
Caleb stared at her for another few seconds.
"...One day I’m going to figure you out."
Benjamin adjusted his glasses, his gaze lingering on the metal case for a brief second before quietly looking away.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Iris’s lips. "Good luck."
Before Caleb could complain any further, she set the case on the ground.
"Come help me with this."
Immediately, everyone’s attention shifted toward the strange piece of equipment.
"What is it?" Veronica asked.
Iris looked toward the darkening sky above Velaris.
"I think..."
"...it’s exactly what we’ve been missing."
Iris knelt beside the metal case and released the two sturdy latches.
A soft click echoed through the quiet valley.
The lid slowly lifted.
Nestled securely inside rested a sleek black floodlight, its rectangular frame protected beneath a layer of clear tempered glass. Folded neatly beneath it sat an adjustable mounting bracket and a sturdy telescopic stand.
Caleb leaned over her shoulder.
"...That’s just a floodlight."
"It is," Elias agreed after a brief glance. "A high-end one, too."
Marcus frowned slightly.
"So why would the System reward us with one?"
Iris didn’t answer.
Instead, she spoke silently. "003."
[Yes, Host?]
"What exactly did you give me?"
A brief pause followed.
[A Solar Floodlight.]
"...I figured that much."
[Then your observation skills remain satisfactory.]
Iris stared ahead. "...Was that sarcasm?"
[No.] it gave a brief pause. [...Possibly.]
She fought the urge to sigh. "So what makes it special?"
[Host.]
[What concern was your group discussing immediately before this reward was issued?]
Her eyes drifted toward Caleb. "...How people were supposed to find Velaris."
[Correct.]
[This reward exists to address that concern.]
Her brows rose slightly. "So it’s more than a light."
[Correct.]
[Its primary function is illumination.]
[Its secondary function is guidance.]
"Guidance?"
[Once activated, it projects a System Beacon.]
[Intelligent beings searching for shelter, civilization, or safety may naturally perceive its direction.]
Iris frowned thoughtfully. "So it doesn’t force people to come here."
[Correct.]
[The beacon influences neither thought nor free will.]
[It simply gives the lost something to find.]
For a moment, Iris fell silent. "...What about monsters?"
This time, 003 answered immediately.
[The beacon possesses no attraction toward unintelligent creatures.]
The tension in Iris’s shoulders eased. "So another Beast Tide won’t suddenly decide Velaris looks interesting?"
[Correct.]
[Current probability remains negligible.]
"...Negligible isn’t zero."
[Nothing is ever zero, Host.]
She couldn’t argue with that. "...Fair enough." Closing the mental conversation, Iris looked back at the floodlight. "It’ll solve our problem."
Henry raised an eyebrow. "How?"
"It projects a beacon." Iris spoke calmly.
Benjamin’s interest sharpened immediately. "A visual marker?"
She nodded. "A very powerful one."
Marcus folded his arms. "How powerful?"
Iris looked toward the mountains surrounding Velaris. "...Far enough."
Nobody asked another question.
If the System had rewarded it, then there was little point doubting its capabilities.
"Let’s put it somewhere high," Henry decided.
"The Village Center," Benjamin suggested almost immediately.
Everyone looked toward the stone building standing proudly at the heart of Velaris.
"Highest central point." Henry gave a small nod. "It’s best for visibility."
Marcus and Daniel lifted the folded stand while Victor carried the floodlight itself.
Even without instructions, the bodyguards worked together with practiced efficiency.
Within minutes, they had secured the telescopic stand beside the Village Center, extending it until the floodlight overlooked the entire valley.
Benjamin circled it once. " It looks stable."
Marcus gave the stand a firm shove.
It didn’t move.
Snow wandered over, sniffing curiously at one of the metal legs before losing interest and trotting away toward the nearest garden path.
Dog merely watched from a distance, lying calmly beneath the shade of a preserved oak.
Iris stepped toward the control panel built into the base. "This should do it."
Caleb rubbed his hands together excitedly "Now this is the dramatic part."
She rested her hand against the activation switch. Nothing happened.
Caleb blinked. "...That’s slightly less dramatic than I expected."
Then... a soft mechanical hum filled the valley. Thin blue lines raced across the floodlight’s housing before fading almost as quickly as they had appeared. The glass panel brightened and the light eliminating from it became brighter and brighter.
Henry instinctively narrowed his eyes. "Iris..." Before he could finish—
A blinding pillar of pure white light erupted upward.
It shot straight into the heavens with such overwhelming intensity that everyone instinctively shielded their eyes.
The beam climbed higher. Past the cliffs surrounding Velaris. Past the drifting evening clouds. Until it became a brilliant white spear piercing the darkening sky itself.
Silence swallowed the valley.
Even Caleb forgot to speak.
The floodlight emitted no roar.
No explosion.
Only a steady, unwavering brilliance that transformed the gathering night into something almost sacred.
Benjamin slowly lowered his arm. "...Incredible."
"It looks..." Veronica stared upward, her face illuminated by the pale glow. "...beautiful."
Henry looked beyond the valley walls toward the endless wilderness stretching into the distance.
His voice was barely above a whisper. "They’ll see it."
The beam remained unwavering.
Its brilliance washed over the valley like gentle moonlight, yet far brighter than any natural light could ever be.
The white stone roads reflected a soft silver glow.
The preserved trees cast long shadows that stretched across the garden paths, their leaves shimmering as though dusted with countless tiny stars.
For the first time since arriving in Eldilon...
Night no longer felt oppressive.
Snow barked once before racing beneath the beam in excited circles, occasionally stopping to stare upward as though trying to understand where the endless pillar of light disappeared to.
Dog merely watched from beneath the old oak tree, ears flicking once before lowering his head back onto his paws, strangely unconcerned.
Benjamin slowly walked around the floodlight, studying every visible angle "There aren’t any power cables."
Marcus looked over. "No battery compartment either."
Benjamin crouched beside the stand, adjusting his glasses. "The frame is warm... but not hot.... There isn’t even the slightest vibration." He stood again, unable to hide the fascination in his voice. "It shouldn’t be possible."
Caleb folded his arms dramatically. "So... We’ve officially reached the point where I stop pretending to understand anything the System does."
Nobody argued.
Even Marcus simply continued watching the endless pillar of light disappear into the heavens.
After several quiet seconds, Henry finally spoke. "If someone is wandering this world tonight..." His eyes never left the beacon. "...they’re no longer wandering in complete darkness."
The words settled over everyone, no grand speeches followed none were needed.
"It’s getting late." Veronica smiled softly before glancing toward the darkening horizon. "The food won’t cook itself."
That finally broke the spell.
Caleb let out an exaggerated sigh. "My greatest enemy has returned."
Veronica raised an eyebrow. "Hunger?"
"No." He looked toward Marcus. "Helping Marcus gather firewood."
Marcus stared at him. "You complained the entire time."
"I was motivating myself."
"You called every branch in the forest your personal enemy."
"They were difficult branches."
Even Henry chuckled quietly.
The group slowly began walking back toward the tents, their laughter drifting across the illuminated streets of Velaris.
Behind them...
The brilliant white beacon continued standing silently against the night sky. Like a lighthouse. Waiting for those who had nowhere else to go.
Far beyond Velaris...
The first eyes were already turning toward the impossible light.
*~*
A/N: Thanks for reading! ❤️
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