【Story】Underground (Sonata) Chapter 1

Ch. 1　Understanding of Fellows

Part 1

“Song of Mussong Elf”

Sonata: So, Glauox already…It must be tough for you.
Enoch, Xilocient, and Sonata took the path on the right. Along the way, Enoch told Sonata what had happened since they were lost, including Glauox’s death.
Enoch: But I can’t bury myself in sorrow. I have to move on and live up to Glauox’s trust.
Sonata: You’re right! Just tell me if there’s anything I can help.
Enoch: Thank you…So what happened between you and Delta? Why were you in a quarrel?
Sonata put on a long face as he heard the name “Delta”.
Sonata: That stubborn piece of metal! She has been blaming herself since we lost you.
Enoch: Huh? That was just an accident.
Sonata: Exactly. I said so, but she refused to listen. Just a moment ago, she went so far as to drive me away, saying that waking up Pompeii is her own business mission. It has nothing to do with me. Aargh, I’m so angry!
Enoch: Delta is just being responsible…She has felt guilty about the fact that only she could escape from the Mech City…
Sonata: See? How stubborn she is…By the way, what’s up with your fellow? She’s been staring at me from behind. It chills my blood…
Xilocient had been keeping Sonata at a distance for the whole time. All she did was stare at him with her beady eyes on full alert.
Enoch: Relax, Xilocient. Sonata is no enemy. You have my word.
Having Enoch’s reassurance, Xilocient dropped her guard and walked toward Sonata. But then she rushed backward to hide behind Enoch with only her head sticking out.
Xilocient: …Your power is horrible to us.
Sonata: Oh, you’re an Arcus who controls colors…Don’t worry. I’ve never wanted to use my power to control someone. I just love singing. That’s all.
As Sonata started playing his instrument, Enoch and Xilocient felt like dancing with the melody and their hearts beating to the rhythm.
Sonata: How’s the tune? Pretty good, isn’t it?
Xilocient: …Yes, I like it.
Sonata: Haha, sure you do. Let me show you my beautiful voice on this happy day.
Dwelling on their compliments, Sonata began singing. As the saying goes, “a closed mouth catches no flies”. Unfortunately, the exact opposite happened to Sonata when he belted out the climax of the song, a fly shot into his mouth like a flash.
Sonata: Mmmm! Urghhh!
Enoch: Sonata! Spit it out!
Enoch slapped the elf’s back hard to help him. It took a great deal of effort for Sonata to finally force the fly out. The fly bounced up and down actively; a glowing sphere was sandwiched between its long antennae.
Sonata got so mad that he wanted to shout in anger. But no matter how hard he tried, not a sound could he utter.
Xilocient: It must be the fly! It’s a muted moth that lives underground and feeds on voices. That shining sphere contains Sonata’s voice!
Enoch: What! Darn it! Give his voice back!
Enoch attempted to catch the moth, but it was agile enough to dodge him and headed to the end of the path.
Enoch: Hurry up! We must take the voice back!
The two elves nodded and followed Enoch to start chasing the moth.
Enoch: Stop right there!
Enoch’s words prompted the moth to speed up instead of slowing down as it sensed his hostility.
Enoch: Tut! We’re gonna lose it sooner or later…Is there any way——Hmm!
Xilocient: Leave it to me.
Streams of iridescent lights gathered at Xilocient’s fingertips. She waved her hands gracefully as if dancing in the snow. At her every gentle touch of air, a vague mist of illusory clouds swiftly formed.
The moth got lost in the mist and slowed down a little. Sonata took this perfect chance to catch it. He tried to snatch the light sphere, but the moth was holding it tight.
Enoch: Let’s do it by force—
Xilocient: Don’t! Sonata will lose his voice forever if the sphere shatters.
Enoch: But the moth won’t let go.
Sonata: Hmm! Hmmm!
Sonata moved his mouth wildly with a hideous face, trying to show Enoch what he was saying.
Enoch: What…? Return your voice or get ready to be barbecued… Well, I guess an insect can never understand your threat…Hmm? It lets go…
It seemed that Sonata’s intimidation worked. The moth released the light sphere and escaped right away. Sonata swallowed the sphere immediately.
Sonata: My, my voice…is back! Jeez, it scared the hell out of me. I thought I couldn’t sing anymore…Boohoo…Luckily we…
Xilocient: Sonata, it’s alright now. Don’t cry.
Enoch: Okay, now you have your voice back. Let’s continue our journey…Hmm?
As Enoch took a step forward, the legs of an insect reached out from the dark and lifted him to mid-air.

Part 2

“Fantasy Dream Woven by Elves”

Sonata: Enoch! What…what the hell is this!
Enoch was captured by a gigantic moth, so large that its wings alone were bigger than Sonata. It kept hovering around with its huge compound eyes flashing hostile red lights. Right beside it was that little muted moth. They seemed very close.
Sonata: Darn! That little one has called for backup.
Xilocient: I must save Enoch!
Seeing Enoch in hostage, Xilocient rushed towards the moths. The gigantic moth flapped its wings, causing a strong wind to make her stumble; Sonata ran to help her up at once.
Sonata: “It’s too big. We need a special way to deal with it…Ha, ironic isn’t it? I just said I didn’t want to control somebody with my singing…But no rule matters more than a friend’s life!”
Sonata: Xilocient, do you trust me?
Xilocient: …Yes, completely. You can have control of my body.
Sonata: How reassuring…Let’s begin then! A symphony of colors!
The two elves started sprinting at the same time. The gigantic moth flapped its wings once again. This time, with Sonata’s singing, Xilocient became way more agile than anyone could expect. She leapt to dodge the strong wind and bounced off the wall to jump higher, turning her supple body to release vibrant colors.
The colors intertwined to form countless ribbons and wrapped around the tentacles of the gigantic moth. Hissing, the moth struggled hard and tried in vain to break loose. 
Adagio.
Vivace.
The moth failed to sense the tempo change. By the time Sonata reached right in front of the moth, there was no way it could escape his final blow.
Gigantic Moth: Urhhh…
Sonata: Phew…We did it. I was worried I would fail for being out of practice. Can’t believe I did it almost perfectly.
Xilocient: Enoch!
Enoch: Thank you for saving me…You two are amazing.
Sonata: Hahaha, my true power can make everything possible…How I wish that stubborn metal could witness my performance…so she would know I’m no weakling who needs her protection!
Xilocient: Tell Delta your thoughts. I’m sure she’ll get it…
Sonata: Sigh, I’ve tried many times already. She just doesn’t listen—
Xilocient: Then keep expressing yourself time after time until she understands.
Enoch: Xilocient…
Xilocient: I had a friend. Owing to her weak body, she had to stay in bed since childhood. Every time I brought her a badge with local characteristics, she would feel very happy. For this reason, I always try my best to find as many badges as possible when I go travelling.
Enoch: “So this is why she has been collecting badges…”
Xilocient: But eventually, badges couldn’t satisfy her curiosity. One day, she asked me to take her out. Of course, I refused. Then we had a fight, our one and only fight…
Xilocient: I set off for work the next day. During that trip, I collected many badges in hopes of making up with her when I came back…But it was too late. She died of a disease before I returned…leaving me only regret and sadness. If I had known it’d be our last conversation, I wouldn’t have let it end in a quarrel…Sonata, I don’t want you to repeat my mistake.
Sonata: Xilocient…I understand now. I’ll try my best to convince that stubborn machina!
Xilocient: I’ll help you too!
Enoch: Alright then. Let’s get going!
The group of three continued their journey with Sonata taking the lead in high spirits. They soon arrived at the end of the path. There was a door, and Sonata opened it without any hesitation—
Sonata: Huh? WHOOOA—!
Enoch: Sonata! WOOOW—!
Xilocient: Weee—!
Behind the door was a steep slide. The hasty Sonata lost his footing, followed by Enoch and Xilocient. They slid a long way before they finally came to an exit.
Bang! Sonata crashed into a shadow right at the moment he landed and fell. Clutching his head in pain, he squinted his eyes to see—
Sonata: It’s you…Delta!
——Delta, who hit the ground like him, and Ingrid, landing safely down another slide…