408

AD 1826

Antarctica, Hearth Valley.

As the headquarters of the Silver Hand Knights, the most prominent feature here was the ancient guardian tree, Tedis, standing majestically in the center of the valley.

For centuries, Tedis had ceased growing, its towering form reaching a height of about 300 meters with a diameter of nearly 100 meters, making it the largest structure in all of Hearth Valley.

"Boom..." Thunder rumbled and holy light emanated from Tedis, occasional flashes adding to its grandeur.

Surrounded by mountains, its sudden appearance in the vast snowy landscape would have been visible from afar if not for the natural shield.

Beneath Tedis' colossal presence, young paladins practiced diligently in formation, while a few elders supervised their training.

"... You share similar experiences and qualities. You are all noble and steadfast warriors. That's why you've been chosen to join the Silver Hand and uphold the creed of the Holy Light."

A weathered elder with short, white hair paced before the young knights, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, speaking with solemnity.

"Five centuries ago, the Sun God established the Silver Hand in the realm of the gods, later relocating it to Midgard. Today, it stands as Earth's oldest knightly order."

"Following ancient teachings, Paladins never seek fame or pleasure but steadfastly uphold justice. By joining the Silver Hand, you embody these virtues and more..."

During a break, two young knights conversed quietly. One, a blond youth, asked, "Do you believe the order was truly founded by the Sun God?"

"I believe so. After all, we've seen the divine knights ourselves," replied another with black hair.

"But they aren't the Sun God himself, just his emissaries. It's been centuries since the Sun God walked among us," the blond youth remarked.

"The sun endures from ancient times to the present," the black-haired knight gestured skyward, indicating the sun at its zenith. "For gods, a few centuries are but a fleeting moment. Sadly, our mortal lives are shorter than that."

The blond knight followed his gaze skyward, eyes widening in awe.

"Boom—"

A deafening roar filled the air.

A radiant rainbow beam descended from the heavens with astonishing speed, marking its arrival in Hearth Valley with a brilliant display.

As the light dissipated, a blond man holding a flaming sword appeared at its epicenter.

"Is that..." Most young knights were bewildered. They had never seen Forseti in person, relying solely on descriptions.

The elder knights recognized Forseti after a moment of stunned silence, rushing forward to greet him with reverence, kneeling in homage.

"Lord Forseti!"

"The Sun God returns after nearly four centuries!"

Surveying the kneeling knights, Forseti's eyes betrayed surprise and emotion.

He couldn't help but lament that upon returning from Sakar, the human paladins he once knew had long passed away, replaced by generations of new faces.

Equally surprising was being addressed as the Sun God upon his return to Hearth Valley. Over the centuries, cultural shifts within the Silver Hand on Earth had apparently occurred, possibly even hinting at future religious developments worshipping the Sun God—an idea that troubled Forseti.

In a loose sense, he was an atheist, a belief unchanged even after ascending as Asgard's Sun God.

Forseti knew that, fundamentally, all living beings were mortal, differing only in strength and endurance.

Activating the Eye of Reckoning, he scrutinized the group of Paladins before him.

Thankfully, unlike times past, the Silver Hand's knights had endured, maintaining their integrity, illuminated in hues of holy light—some even purer and brighter than Forseti himself, causing him to feel a twinge of humility.

"Knights of the Silver Hand, you have done admirably," Forseti commended them, and soon after, Ander emerged from the Temple of Light.

"Lord Forseti, you've returned at last!" Ander exclaimed eagerly. "Why have we heard nothing from you for centuries?"

"I journeyed afar," Forseti smiled, evading specifics. "Ander, let us retire to the temple. Update me on recent Earthly events."

"Of course."

The two entered the Temple of Holy Light and, after a brief discussion, delved into the main topic.

Forseti inquired, "According to Earth's AD calendar, what year is it now? What major events have occurred recently?"

"It's AD 1826," Ander replied. "In the centuries since your departure, Earth has undergone significant changes. Technological civilization has burgeoned, particularly in the last century."

"Even the common folk have begun grasping real astronomical knowledge—the shape of the Earth, the sun's rotation, and that of the planets."

Forseti nodded thoughtfully.

Ander continued, "Earlier this year, humans captured their first photograph. Compared to most civilizations in the universe, Earth's technological advancement has been swift."

Listening intently to Ander's narrative, Forseti gained a clearer understanding of the past few centuries of Earth's history.

Evidently, the timeline exhibited a robust capacity for self-correction, and Forseti's involvement in Earth's history paled in comparison to that of Asgard.

Thus, Earth's trajectory appeared largely unchanged. From what Forseti remembered of his previous life's history, events such as the Age of Discovery, the Industrial Revolution, figures like North America's Washington—all pointed towards the familiar world he knew, a comforting realization.

It was noteworthy that just recently, the second and third Presidents of the United States had passed away on the same day—a significant political event. Forseti found himself pondering whether this rare occurrence aligned with the original historical course.

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"What is it?"

The young knight who entered wore an expression of concern. "There are... people outside."

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