【Story】(Underground) Chapter 2: The Hidden Entrance

Ch. 2　The Hidden Entrance

Part 1

“Discordant Colors”

To prevent Pompeii from going berserk again, Zana, Bahamut, and Behemoth stayed behind to guard the hole connecting the Pilgrimage while Enoch, Ingrid, Xilocient, Delta, and Sonata set off for the destination Zana had mentioned.
Delta:  This is where Lady Zana referred to, the star mine garden, which used to be the most magnificent place in Oroz, the Mech City.
Enoch: This is…breathtaking.
Xilocient: It’s beautiful…
Ingrid: Yes, it feels like entering a surreal dimension…
In this boundless arched space, innumerable bronze flowers made of metal covered the entire land. The surrounding walls were inlaid with a myriad of mineral blossoms, pulsating a soft light of azure.
Delta:  …The elves loved this garden very much. They used to sing and dance here, particularly when the flowers bloomed in winter. Everyone would gather to celebrate here…But it’s all history now…
Picking up the good old memories, Delta was sorrowful as she looked at the grim scenery in front of her. Having noticed that everyone was feeling upset, Sonata raised his tone right away.
Sonata: Hey, hey! I know this place is amazing, but we’re not here for sightseeing.
Enoch: Sonata is right. We’d better hurry to find the queen of the elves.
They split up searching as the garden was simply too big, but after a long while, their effort was still in vain. Cluelessly, they assembled again.
Enoch: Delta, will there be any secret passage or something?
Delta:  No, we machinas share everything we have. There is no such thing as secret passages.
Sonata: Is that so…Perhaps that Schrapora has left for ages too.
Xilocient: …Her name is Schrakh.
Delta:  No! I believe in Lady Zana…We must’ve missed something.
Ingrid: Just talking won’t get us anywhere. Let’s search again…Hmm? What’s that?
Countless silver-white rays of light fell slowly from the ceiling, looking like a snow flurry that muffles all sounds. It was so beautiful that everyone was holding their breath.
Xilocient: It’s beautiful…as if time…is frozen.
Delta:  This is mineral snow. The mineral flowers on the wall will regularly discharge the waste in their bodies, and when they do so, the waste will turn into dust and fall down, just like now. But please rest assured that the dust is not harmful to living things.
Enoch: Good to hear that. Alright, we shall continue…Huh? Something is strange over there.
Sonata: Oh, really? Let me see…Right, everywhere is snowing except that area.
Ingrid: Perhaps there is a clue to the queen of elves. Let’s go!
Enoch and his fellows ran to that place where there was no snowfall. However, nothing special was found.
Enoch: Hmm…maybe we’re overthinking?
Xilocient: Not true, the colors are different here…It’s fake. Someone used them as a disguise…
Delta:  Colors…it must be the queen of Arcus!
Sonata: But even if we figured out the truth, we still don’t know how to break that disguise.
Xilocient: Let me try.
Nodding vigorously, Xilocient showed her unwavering determination. Enoch and the others felt her will and stepped back to make room. Xilocient closed her eyes and concentrated, calling for the elements in her body, the trajectory of power turned into colors, intertwining beside her, and finally swung towards the snow-free land.
Sizzle— The scenery in front of her eyes melted and faded slowly, but the reaction force brought beads of sweat onto Xilocient’s forehead. She suppressed it and managed to use her power until the scenery completely disappeared and turned into a pitch-black hole.
Exhausted, Xilocient knelt down on the ground, and Enoch immediately helped her up.
Xilocient: …She…the queen is in this magical barrier…
Sonata: Wow, that seems dangerous…
Ingrid: Isn’t it promising? The more dangerous things are, the more worthwhile the result will be.
Enoch: Urgh…I guess only you would think that way…Anyway, we don’t have any other choice…So let’s go.
So Enoch and his fellows stepped into that black hole together…

Part 2

“Broken Piece of Dream”

However, the scenery in front of Enoch was completely different from the deadly, dangerous environment he had expected. It was a lush and vibrant lake forest. Chirps of birds and insects were everywhere, immersing everyone in the beauty of nature.
Xilocient: This is…the habitat of the Arcus!
Sonata: Huh? Just a moment ago, we were still underground. How come we have reached the ground all of a sudden?
Ingrid: All things here are just illusions, of course.
Enoch: But these are too real to be illusions…Don’t you think?
Delta:  Yes, even the temperature, tactility, and sounds are just like reality.
Sonata: Let’s save the compliments for later. Hurry, let’s find Schrapora.
Ingrid: It’s Schrakh for god’s sake! You never pronounce it right! …Well, speak of the devil.
Everyone then followed Ingrid’s eyes and saw an elegant, noble lady coming to the lake from the woods. Her long, fine hair fluttered in the breeze, constituting a beautiful arc. The aura exuded by the lady revealed her extraordinary identity.
???: Mommy! I saw mommy! Mommy!
Suddenly, a childish voice came from afar, which caught the lady’s attention. Then, she knelt down and welcomed that little girl with a bright smile. Behind the girl was a fine elf man. One could tell from his rapid breath that he had been chasing the girl.
Droy: Va-Valanthe, didn’t I tell you to wait for papa?
Young Valanthe: Humph! Papa is too slow. You’re the worst— Humph!
Lady: Papa will be sad to hear that.
Young Valanthe: …Papa, I’m sorry.
Droy: Never mind. Papa loves you forever…Schrakh, is it really okay to let go of your clan business and spend time with us?
Schrakh: Droy, I’m the queen of Arcus, but also your wife, and Valanthe’s mother. Surely I can be with you.
The close bonding of this family was all witnessed by Enoch and his fellows, hidden in the bushes.
Xilocient: So she is Schrakh, the queen of Arcus…Enoch, what do we do next? Shall we do as Zana said?
Enoch: …No, let’s get right into the business.
Enoch came to the family, who gave no response as if they didn’t notice his existence.
Enoch: Schrakh, queen of Arcus, we’re asking for your help.
However, the result was the same. They didn’t respond at all. Enoch eventually came back, feeling dejected.
Delta:  Sigh, Zana is right. Schrakh is escaping from the truth.
Ingrid: Guess we have no choice then. Sonata, it’s your turn.
Sonata: Consider it done!
Sonata played music to let the lively notes jump out. It was the song that Zana taught him earlier, also the favorite song of Zana and Schrakh. It was meant to wake Schrakh up at a critical juncture.
Schrakh: Ahh! My head…hurts… Who is it? Who’s doing this!
Enoch: The environment is changing!
Ingrid: The music is interrupting her illusion. Sonata, keep it on!
Encouraged, Sonata played vigorously, and Schrakh’s face became more and more distorted. All the beautiful lake scenery and the warm family life around had disappeared, and were replaced by a gray grassland. A burly beast took up a weapon to slam towards Droy and penetrated his stomach.
Schrakh: Droy! No…NOOOO!
Beast: The strongest becomes the king. Weak elves shall stop resisting. Bow to us, then I may consider sparing your lives!
Schrakh: Why…born as a weak race doesn’t mean we’re willing to be manipulated…I hate how fate has disfavored our clan!
Xilocient: No…it’s not like that—
Schrakh: Shut your mouth! It’s your fault! Why did you have to wake me up from the dream? Why did you make me recall those painful memories!
Schrakh’s eyes widened. Her ethereal face turned hideous with anger and despair; intense bloodlust and hostility were exuded from her body.
Enoch: Um…this is bad.
Ingrid: Of course, you’ll piss a lady off when you get to the bottom.
Delta:  Be careful. She’s about to attack!
Concentrated, Enoch and Ingrid braced themselves for Schrakh the queen of Arcus…

Part 3

“Failure & Guilt”

Schrakh: Ahhh…No, this is impossible…I can’t lose…
Ingrid: Give up. You can’t defeat us by yourself.
With the concerted efforts of Enoch and his party, Schrakh was finally knocked down. As she fell on the ground feebly, the color illusion she constructed was shattered, turning into iridescent fragments before they vanished. The lies buried under the beautiful colors were gradually revealed.
Schrakh: No, please…Don’t, don’t look at it! AHHH—!
Schrakh begged hysterically, raising her hands to block the secret behind, but her slender body did not help much, and soon the truth was exposed to Enoch and the others.
Delta:  Oh my!
Sonata: This is…horrible…
Enoch: These are all corpses…What-what happened here?
A large number of dead bodies were lying between the mineral flowers in this magnificent star mine garden. A quick glance sufficed for one to identify that the majority of the bodies belonged to the Elves. The strange thing was that their bodies were monochrome, as if the colors were taken away.
Schrakh knew that she could no longer conceal the truth, so she gave up struggling and knelt down, covering her face with both hands and letting out a low cry like a wild beast.
Schrakh: This is my fault…These are all evidence for the crimes that I have committed…the mistake I made after my husband was killed. I shouldn’t have trusted the Eldus…
Ingrid: The Eldus used the Arcus as a decoy to lure the Mussong here. Then they killed both elf clans with spells, right?
Schrakh: Yes, we were tricked by the Eldus and Shamash at the very beginning. I felt sorry for my clan and the Mussong. The only thing I could do is to preserve their bodies from rotting by extracting their colors. However, I can never save those lost lives and atone for my sins—
Xilocient: No! There’s a way to make up for your mistakes!
Schrakh: …So this is why you came for me…Tell me, what’s happening in the world outside?
As Enoch explained the current situation to Schrakh, she exclaimed surprisedly.
Schrakh: Can’t believe this would happen…So you want me and Zana to wake Pompeii up together…But do you think I can really do it as a sinner? What if things get worse because of me—
Ingrid: Ahhh—! How annoying! You’re the queen, aren’t you! Didn’t you ask for an atonement!? Get yourself together to make it right!
Sonata: Whoa! She’s harsh!
Ingrid: What did you just say!
Enoch: Ingrid, calm down…
Ingrid: Humph!
Enoch: Schrakh, sometimes we might be weak, lose our way, make mistakes, lose important things, and blame ourselves for it, but we can’t escape from them. We have to grit our teeth to move on, or we will only lose more…That’s what I think.
Schrakh: You’re Enoch, right?…I can see why you’re chosen. You have an unbending will, but not everyone can be as tough as you are…I’m afraid…afraid of choosing the wrong path or failure——Hmm?
Xilocient suddenly rushed forward and hugged Schrakh, covering her delicate body with her own, giving Schrakh warmth.
Xilocient: I used to regret and blame myself for the past, just like you. But don’t give up, because you’re not the only one. Zana… She has been waiting for you.
Schrakh: Really…Zana…she still believes in me…I…
As if some kind of shackles were loosened, Schrakh finally shed her tears. The enormous guilt haunting her in the past made her feel that she did not deserve to cry. But now that she was forgiven by Zana, a heavy burden was put down. Enoch and the others all remained silent and guarded right beside Schrakh.
Regret, sorrow, and despair were relieved with tears, and finally, Schrakh stopped crying. Her eyes might be red and swollen, but they were filled with rekindled hope. She looked at Enoch.
Schrakh: I’m not sure if I can help, but I’ll try my best…for the future of this land!

Part 4

“Her Voice and Colors”

Enoch: Thank you. Let’s set off then…
Schrakh: Wait.
Schrakh cut in and came to Sonata gracefully, lifting the hems of her dress to make a bow. Sonata lost his bearings all of a sudden.
Sonata: What, what are you doing?
Schrakh: Mussong elf, as the Queen of Arcus, I implore you to sing the requiem for the dead. Before leaving, I hope to mourn them one last time.
Sonata: Oh, sure. I was just wondering what I could do for you…No problem, I can handle it.
Sonata jumped to the highest copper flower, plucked the strings, and played a beautiful, melancholic song. Following the music, Schrakh stretched out her hands and brought back the colors to her dead companions.
Time unfroze. The unbearable bodies turned into dust, eventually blending with nature. Observing everything in front of her eyes, Schrakh couldn’t hold back her grief, and tears streamed down her face again. Her raised hands couldn’t help but tremble.
Schrakh: I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…Hmm?
A translucent figure walked to Schrakh, wiped her tears, and lifted her tear-stained face. Numerous translucent souls were floating in the air. Their faces showed no hint of hatred or despair; rather, they looked at Schrakh with gentle smiles.
The Undead: “Schrakh, you’ve done more than enough for us. This time, let’s pay you back for your help…”
The undead turned into bright colors and fell everywhere in the garden, painting each copper flower with incredible vividness. Alongside the singing of Sonata, the colored copper flowers were in full blossom and filled the air with its intoxicating aroma, constituting the most iridescent and flourishing scenery.
The Undead: “My queen, may the colors be with you forever and ever…”
Schrakh: Thank you…everyone…And thank you, Mussong elf.
Sonata: Not at all. It’s my pleasure to help them. Let’s go, shall we?
Enoch and the others went forward to the entrance of Pilgrimage. By that time, only Zana was waiting.
Enoch: Where are Bahamut and Behemoth?
Zana: Bahamut took Behemoth away first, just in case it would do something silly…There you are, Schrakh.
Schrakh: Yes, Zana.
Despite the complicated relationship between them, the reunion did not stir up any quarrels at all. Instead, they acted unusually calm, like any other ordinary reunion of old friends in which no words are needed. It was proof of their intimate friendship.
Schrakh: Same old song, right?
Zana: Yes, let’s begin.
So they performed together. Although Xilocient and Sonata had done something similar before, their performance was no match for Schrakh’s and Zana’s.
The gestures of Schrakh and the colors she splattered echoed Zana’s singing. Each pause and stop of the strings hit a new height in art. They brought the worldly love and hatred to the audience in the form of a splendid symphony.
The brightness, abundance, and brilliance of the previous second, and the lingering sorrow and affection of the next, made Enoch and Ingrid hold their breath, and also reminded Schrakh of her forgotten past…
The young Schrakh and Zana reached the summit of a mountain, looking at the habitats of two clans shoulder to shoulder in the golden hour of the sunset.
Young Schrakh: Zana, do you have any dreams?
Young Zana: Um…I don’t know. I’m good as long as I can sing. What about you?
Young Schrakh: I want to create colors that can bring hope to the world, colors that make everyone feel warm and positive.
Young Zana: But…We elves are weak by nature. Are we really able to do it?
Young Schrakh: Sure, we can if we don’t give up. Even if I’m fragile and disadvantaged, as all elves have to go through oestrus, I won’t yield, and I’ll face everything head-on. I won’t deny nor bow down to fate.
Young Zana: Schrakh…I’ll sing for you, and for your respectable dream.
The song reminded Schrakh of her past memories, and she picked up the dream that she had been pursuing at the beginning.
Schrakh: “Right, the dream that I’ve been upholding, isn’t it Pompeii’s dream too? Couldn’t believe I’ve forgotten such an important thing…I’m glad to remember it now…Thank you…Zana…”