### Chapter 2: A Spike in Star Eclipses
“Since you say so, whatever.”
Mo Rabbit didn’t care.
“I forgot to tell you, I’ll be away from the theater for a bit. I should be back before the Grand Performance.”
“Uh, where are you going?” Night Star was somewhat puzzled.
“The capital city.”
Mo Rabbit sighed lightly, looking very reluctant.
It seems she received instructions from the top of the Night Watchers under another identity.
Night Star didn’t question further.
“Just do your best and make sure to be back before the show starts.”
“I’ll try my best.”
“Wait, what?”
Night Star wasn’t satisfied with Mo Rabbit’s uncertain response.
“No, really! If you’re not back by then, I’m bringing the group members to find you.”
“You’d do that? Thanks!”
“Of course, the Rising Sun Theater Group won’t give up on any member!”
Mo Rabbit chuckled and turned to leave.
“Well, I’ll look forward to it. If I can’t come back, remember to save me, okay?”
“Yep~”
In the next second, Mo Rabbit vanished from sight, clearly off somewhere.
Night Star fell silent.
“Hmm…why does it feel like Mo Rabbit is about to do something dangerous? But if it’s her, it should be fine—she’s usually quite reliable.”
She quickly dismissed the thought, focusing instead on another matter.
Since Yelan planned to take her friends to the seaside, there could be such an event at the theater too.
This time, everyone including the group leader would join in.
Team-building activities at the beach were rare indeed.
Night Star didn’t want this chance to pass.
After telling the rest of the troupe about it, she received their immediate approval.
The date was set for tomorrow, the same day as Yelan’s trip.
“Wait…there’s also high potential for fun…”
Night Star suddenly realized something.
Her idea was to maybe all head to the same beach.
This way, everyone could bond and share emotions.
Isn’t that how we gradually build the Night Watchers’ acceptance?
Like rolling a snowball.
At the same time…
At Capital headquarters.
A black-haired youth entered the Leader’s office.
The Leader looked at the familiar figure with a smile.
“Thanks for the hard work lately.”
“It’s nothing.”
The one coming to see the Leader was none other than Mo Tu.
After leaving the theater, he transformed from the announcer back to his usual self, savoring the feeling of change.
If he didn’t change, he might start thinking he had always been a loli.
Even if it wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
But for a certain loli, it was certainly a blessing.
“Time flies; it’s almost that time of year again.”
“Yes, otherwise I wouldn’t have returned so easily.”
“Looks like you really hate the capital.”
“It’s boring with too much unnecessary stuff. I’d rather rot in Yun Chang City or the troupe.”
Mo Tu mercilessly criticized.
The Leader smiled faintly.
“If I listened to you, it really must be depressing being the head.”
“Heck, why don’t you retire and live in peace?”
“No, not yet.”
These two seemed like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in years, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
But appearances are deceiving.
Actually, the Leader was much older, though appearing young. In another life, he could’ve been a father to Mo Tu, but Mo Tu barely respected him as a peer.
Of course, the Leader felt no resentment.
It made him seem younger to chat with these young folks.
Then they got back to business.
The Leader’s expression became serious.
“The Hero Cemetery has become unstable. That’s why I called you back to stabilize the sealing.”
“I know, it happens every year, and it’s not my first time doing this.”
“Good, knowing the process, it shouldn’t take long unless anything goes wrong.”
“That’s great. If it drags on too long, things could get out of hand.”
The Leader thought of something and chuckled.
“You’ve had a hard time; remember, the Grand Performance is this weekend. What if you don’t come back?”
Mo Tu sighed softly.
“She said she’d bring people to take me back.”
“Tsk, tsk.”
The Leader almost pitied Mo Tu, seeing how small and girl-like he had become, losing his masculinity, and stripped of dignity and respect as just a tool.
Mo Tu sacrificed so much for the Night Watchers.
Really, I cry at this sad story.
However, the Leader wouldn’t realize just how content Mo Tu was with it all.
The Leader sighed lightly.
“Don’t worry, it won’t take too long. At most, a few days, and you’ll be back as a tool.”
“Hey, saying ‘tool’ so openly hurts my feelings!”
“Sure it does. Then why don’t you stop talking about it?”
The Leader was well aware of Mo Tu, almost like a mentor himself.
To some extent, he was the reason Mo Tu joined the Night Watchers, even recommending him.
He told young Mo Tu that being a Night Watcher was full of adventures, so that’s why Mo Tu joined.
That’s all there was to it.
Chatting idly with Mo Tu, the Leader returned to his temporary quarters without reminiscing over past friendships.
No matter how much he grew here before moving to Yun Chang City, he didn’t feel like connecting personally with these old guards.
Now lying on the bed, he thought about one thing.
“The Hero Cemetery.”
That’s where fallen Night Watchers rest.
When Night Watchers d*e, official remains are respectfully placed within the cemetery.
Most families agreed with this. Instead of handling burials themselves, remains often came to the capital.
It was so convenient.
Until one day…
An anomaly occurred in the cemetery.
Star Eclipses emerged.
And it wasn’t just one.
Though treated remains reduced the chances of becoming a Star Eclipse, it wasn’t zero.
Those who fell fighting developed intense emotions, making them most vulnerable after d*ath.
Processing their remains brought the probability almost to zero.
But as more souls gathered in the cemetery,
Star Eclipses started sprouting.
No one knew why this spike happened.
At first, they were self-contained, not harming anyone, lingering within the cemetery limits.
Yet their number kept growing.
Avoiding Eclipse pollution wasn’t possible forever.
To protect visitors from harm and prevent spread,
Night Watcher leadership sealed every new Star Eclipse, ensuring endless slumber underground.
The sealing ritual had to repeat yearly to reinforce their confinement.
Otherwise, it would escalate beyond control.
Mo Tu returned to the capital for exactly this reason.
