【Story】(Underground) Chapter 1: Whisper of Monesis

Ch. 1　Whisper of Monesis

Part 1

“Whisper of Monesis”

Reuniting with their companions after the steep slide, Delta and Sonata were still embarrassed about their quarrel. Both of them turned their faces away but could not help looking back at each other from time to time, which filled the atmosphere with utter awkwardness.
Right before Ingrid’s anger went out of control, the obtuse two finally plucked up their courage to confess to each other seriously.
Delta:  I’m sorry!
Sonata: I’m sorry!
Delta:  Huh? No…It’s not your fault. I was too stubborn…We’re a team. We gotta help each other out.
Sonata: Right, you metal head. Do rely on others. We’re no weaklings after all…Forgive my bad temper back then. It was my bad.
Delta:  No, it’s my—
Ingrid: Stop it, both of you. In short, one of you is always overthinking; the other one is playing down the whole thing…Ha, you two are a perfect match to a certain extent.
Enoch: You’re being harsh again…
Xilocient: Problem solved…Hmm, this is great.
Xilocient’s smile carried a hint of sorrow, which stemmed from the sadness and regret of failing to apologize to her old friend. Delta and Sonata, gazing at each other, put on a smile at the same time. Both of them hugged Xilocient tight so as to comfort her.
Delta:  All thanks to you, Xilocient.
Sonata: Yes, thanks for your advice.
Enoch: Ah hello…I did help you, too by the way…
Ingrid: Don’t be so petty. Let’s hurry to the Pilgrimage—
Delta:  We’ve arrived, actually.
Enoch: What! But there’s nothing here…
Looking around, Enoch could only find a vast, round space surrounded by tall metal walls. There were two big holes behind the wall, and the connections that led to the steep slides had just come down before. Apart from that, there was nothing else here.
Ingrid: Down there…I can feel something moving in the middle…
Delta:  Yes, this is where Monesis lives, also the place where Pompeii slumbers.
Sonata: Hahaha, it’s my show time again. Let’s play the “Whisper of Monesis”, shall we— Wait! There’s nothing here, no flute, no organ, nothing! How am I supposed to perform!?
Delta:  Yes, there are. Hidden inside.
Enoch: Do you mean the instruments are hidden in the walls?
Delta:  Right…It should be the terminal connecting the altar instruments. Just perform here to activate that huge library of instruments on the altar. Those instruments can adjust the wavelength of the elements, thereby reactivating the machinas through the resonance with our kinetic cores.
Xilocient: Hmm…It looks complicated.
Ingrid: Anyway, let’s find the terminal first.
Delta came to the wall covered with various types of tubes and parts; some were already broken due to the war. She took a deep breath, clinging to the wall with her kinetic core. 
Light and sharp sounds arose, which were so ear-piercing that Enoch and the others had to cover their ears. Luckily, the noise did not last long; it was followed by the sound of functioning machines over the entire space. The towering walls spread out to the left and right, and the musical instrument library made of various metals moved out.
Xilocient: Wow, this is amazing!
Ingrid: But…does it still work? It has been ages…
Delta:  Sure it does! Lady Zana promised us!
Sonata: No worries. Let’s try.
Excited, Sonata came to the instrument library and put his fingers on the keys——Oh——Melodious chords passed from above, layering on top of each other, lossless, loud and clear.
After just a few rhymes, the beautiful timbre had already captivated Enoch and the others, until they heard the loud laughter of Sonata.
Sonata: Zana is really something! Can’t believe she could fix it in such a short time. As her descendant, I can’t put a stain on her name. Everyone, come to enjoy my best performance!
To put it short, Sonata’s performance was “utterly phenomenal”. His voice brought power to the audience. Enoch was energized and felt brand new when the notes travelled through every single cell of his body.
Indulging in the music, Enoch was alerted by a slight earthquake. He looked over the middle and saw that the ground was open.
Enoch: The floor is moving in the middle!
Delta:  It must be Pompeii who opened it! Let me welcome him!
While Delta was running to the middle excitedly, Enoch saw a wisp of ominous, purple mist spilling out from the crack.
Enoch: “I have a premonition about that mist…Delta is in danger…”

Part 2

“Half Awakened”

Enoch: “She really cares about me…hoho…”
Sonata: AHHHH! Are you done flirting with each other yet? Please behave yourself.
Ingrid: I, I didn’t! I was just worried about the principal. That’s all!
Enoch: Alright, alright, I understand…As everyone is fine, now we should get back to our business.
Putting the carefree look away, Enoch looked at Zana, Bahamut, and Behemoth seriously.
Enoch: Can you tell me what was going on? Why did Pompeii attack us?
Zana: …Back when I was fixing the instruments, I sensed something off about the rhymes in the air: madness and despair…
Bahamut: It must be related to the consciousness of the destructive origin. Even Pompeii was inevitably affected.
Behemoth: Zana was afraid you’d be in danger. So she came to ask for our help. I’m glad we made it.
Zana: The voice of Mussong elf alone cannot help Pompeii get rid of that deep, colossal being…I can’t do this all by myself…
Behemoth: You’re not gonna ask for her help, are you? She’s a bastard who betrayed you to join the Eldus—
Bahamut: Behemoth!
Behemoth: …Sorry, Zana, forgive my rudeness.
Zana: It’s alright. I understand how you feel. But she…is my best friend. And this will always be the truth. Besides, only she is able to clean up the mess for now.
Sonata: Who’s she exactly? I don’t get it.
Zana: She was the queen of Arcus.
Enoch: Arcus, Arcus…Why does it sound familiar— Ah! It hurts. Why did you hit me again?
Ingrid: It’s because I can’t put up with your dumbness anymore! Arcus is the name of Xilocient’s clan!
Enoch: Oh, right! So we can leave this thing to Xilocient instead, yes?
Zana: You’re Xilocient, right? How many colors can you control?
Xilocient: …Three.
Zana: Right…sorry, Enoch, three is not enough.
Ingrid: So we can only find that queen out.
Sonata: Huh!? How can we possibly find her in this huge Mech City?
Zana: …I know where she is.