Phase 5 - The Girl Who Sang At The End Of The World

[a_clockwork_melody]

[(OOC: This post contains some Hymmnos font, it can be found here, but it is not necessary as the english writing for it is also provided, but it helps aesthetically. If you choose not to get it, you'll simply see the english writing for it twice. Aurica will be able to use the language from this point on, so expect more of it in the future.)]



♪ BGM: Azure Sky (R)

Wow... this is the tower.

[There was only so much that could be said about it — Aurica recieved two packages in the mail this weekend, and finally decided to make use of their contents after a lot of thought. The tower took up a good chunk of the backyard, stretching as high as her neck could bend. But it was a lot shorter than she was used to. What happened?

She went to the large door and looked over it, puzzled for a moment. Then remembering, she held out a hand to it.]

exec bansh dand ar noes
Exec bansh dand ar noes.
(Command: Open the door for me.)

[Electronic images began to appear in front of Aurica's hand, as if they were holographic images and windows, full of code and text. The tower sounded some noises, and then another hologram appeared, this time of a person.]

FFT Spectrum authorization confirmed. Aurica Nestmile. [The hologram smiled, as if remembering her. Aurica smiled back, glad to see Meimei again.] Code verified. You are authorized to proceed. Good day.

[The holograms all disappeared, while the door shuddered and cracked open, the two halves moving into the sides of the tower. She moved inside and the doors closed behind her. The interior wasn't well-lit aside from the light at the top, and in the place of metal holdings and shuttles, a simple stairway led up. She carefully made her way though, until about halfway there was a crystal platform in the middle of the floor.

..Oh right, the tower is split in half, isn't it?

Aurica tested the platform, and began to shimmer in a light, suddenly whisked away to the next floor. She climbed more stairs after that, before coming to another clearing, this time with two large pods, a telescope, and a ladder. Not thinking much of the other two, she took to the last item and scaled it, finding herself outside.

From the top, the Rinkernator Observatory, she could see out for blocks. It amazed her, never being able to see such a view before. It made her smile, taking a moment to herself.]

It's beautiful. I've been to space itself on this before, but this looks so great even so.

[Still, she had a duty to do. She cleared her throat, and began to focus.

Shurelia-sama, you always wanted a break from being an Administrator, didn't you?

This was the place of rebirth, the changing of the guard that never happened before in Ar tonelico's history. Now its true purpose would be realized. It was time to take the role, herself. Meanwhile, the tower itself awaited her voice, the only one it was going to recognize at this point.

And so, she took upon herself both of their muted requests.]

BOOT SUCCESSFUL
CAUTION: TOWER RESOURCES DAMAGED OR MISSING, RECALIBRATING HARMONICS
MAIN SYSTEMS ONLINE
SUB SYSTEMS INOPERABLE
AR TONELICO SONG SERVER SUSPENDED
COMMAND ORICA/RE=NATION/. EXTRACTING
HYMN CODE: MULE_TEIWAZ_ARTONELICO
WARNING: ADMINISTRATOR EORIA_ANSUL_ARTONELICO SIGNATURE NOT FOUND
REGISTERED REYVATEIL SIGNATURES: 1
CANDIDATE COSMOSPHERE INCOMPATIBLE WITH CURRENT STATE; REFORMATTING...
NEW ADMINISTRATOR HYMN CODE: MULE_TEIWAZ_ARTONELICO
EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION ACCEPTED
EXEC HYMN RE=NATION/.█



[On this Sunday afternoon, a tower will suddenly appear in the backyard of 458 Stone Street. Even if you don't notice or care about the tower, a sound will be heard from it a few minutes later, a song that might have a slight calming effect. It reaches for many, many blocks, the voice amplified by the tower's structure. It is up to you if you can hear it, though, as you could just be way too far away to hear it clearly or properly.]

♫ BGM: RE=NATION (Lyrics)

Negawakuba, kono uta wo, yobikikase, tamae,
      (Please, listen and receive this song,)

yuruku fuku, akatsuki no, kaze to narite;
      (that becomes the lazy wind of the dawn;)

Madoromu inochi, kooreru, yume ni,
      (Please, release the drifting and lost people,)

tadayohite mayoeru hito tokihanachi tamae...
      (whose sleeping lives are still in frozen dreams....)

[There is silence for many seconds, as if whoever is singing it is hesitant to continue. The tower's features then glow alight, its operation beginning and the voice returning just as serenely and vibrant.]

Amatsutahi kuru tori wa, futata ni, tada mukafu.
      (The birds that are flying together with the sky go towards the sunlight.)

Shiro ni azayagu tsubasa, saki ni, kibou no asu, tsutaete.
      (The white and shining wings are announcing a hopeful tomorrow to the future.)

Was yea ra waath near en hymme RE=NATION mea.
Was yea ra waath near, en hymme RE=NATION mea.
      (I'm very happy to sing my song of rebirth for a life.)

[The singing continues like this for a few minutes longer. If you're near enough or have decided to come check it out, the tower will look much like this, but not nearly so big and the greenery at the base is missing. The top half is denser than shown here, with it resembling more like a castle tower, as well as an observatory at the top floor where Aurica will be. The height looks to be about 10-20 floors tall, roughly. A long antenna at the top of the observatory marks the structure much taller, however.

In the greenery's place on the bottom, A large door with carved markings much like a Sumerian script or structure looked can be found, but no useful way to access it will be apparent at first. The only ways to interact at this point would be to either:

A.) Try to get her attention at the top of the tower, or
B.) Wait for her to come back down after the song finishes. We can handwave the interim if you prefer!
C.) Alternatively, you can try your hand at the door anyway, or just observe the tower if you're inclined to technology you haven't seen before.]

Comments

[splitthebaby]

Have you, now? I wonder how you came to that conclusion.

[a_clockwork_melody]

[She looks over to the birds.]

If it's like that for you and them, with animals, then maybe you're a nice person after all.

[splitthebaby]

Being nice or mean all comes from a certain point of view. Not whom you converse with.

[a_clockwork_melody]

[Confused, she looks back to the boy.] Point of view?

[splitthebaby]

Having trouble understanding that?

[a_clockwork_melody]

[Well, that sure feels like he's questioning her intelligence. Still, she has her own answer.]

People can act and seem nice to give people that impression, but if they mean only bad things, or harm others intentionally, they aren't all that nice to begin with... [On that note, Kyle Clancy, you aren't missed. At all.] It should be the other way too, shouldn't it?

[splitthebaby]

Not exactly what I mean. From your point of view, I probably am a bad person, representing everything you most likely hate.

But to these animals, we're best friends. I've always gotten along with animals better than humans. Always.

[a_clockwork_melody]

Hate..? N-no, I never thought that way about you. Ciel told me back then that you tricked me before, so I wasn't sure how I felt about that... mad at you, maybe, but not that. [Way to open your mouth, girl.]

Ne, um, I do think it's really kind of you that you can be friends with animals like that. It's a bit like that with me and cats actually, but I don't think it's nearly as well as how it is for you.

[splitthebaby]

I tricked you, hm? I certainly don't recall...

[Mostly because remembering individual humans is, well, when one lives a long life, they'll understand.]

But you may go ahead and think that. I doubt such things actually matter when it comes to morality alignment.

[a_clockwork_melody]

That's what I mean though, it doesn't matter to me anymore, I'm trying to tell you that.

[She thinks over some things the boy said before, unaware of his immortality.] Did you have a hard time growing up?

[splitthebaby]

A hard time? Do you really wish to hear that story?

[a_clockwork_melody]

Please, I want to know. I want to start things over with you, honest.

In fact, I'm Aurica, it's nice to meet you. [She bows as if apologizing, bent low for a moment.]

[splitthebaby]

[He's not interested in faux intros so he skips it.]

Hm, hm.

Well, when I was just a child, it was discovered that I could grant wishes along side of being able to speak with animals. The people of my tribe treated me as if I were a god. But they didn't want me to leave them and run to another tribe. So they cut off my arms and legs and made me grant their wishes all day, every day.

[a_clockwork_melody]

[Faux? Well, possibly. It isn't the charity of a 'truly pure of heart' sort of person that could offer a similar sympathy, more someone trying to break out of their own social stigmas and seeing if she can touch others' being like they touched her's.

The lack of returning the gesture in any form generates some mild annoyance, but she tries her best to hide it as she listens to what the boy has to say. However, as the story progresses, it begins to apprehend her with a sense of horror, if what he's saying is really true.]

W-wait, they did that to you? But you still have those.. [She stares at the boy's arms and legs in disbelief.]

[splitthebaby]

These? [He waggles his fingers.]

These come in the next part of the story. You see, the Crimson Moon came to the tribe and despite disliking what the people there wished for, he said my wishes were works of art. So he gave them an ultimatum. If they could wish up something that could defeat him in battle, he would go. If they couldn't, he would kill them all.

He ended up winning that but the people, in their need to save their own life, killed me by making too many wishes. The Crimson Moon brought me back to life and commanded me to make four demons, and each one would be used as a limb. After that, I felt indebted to him and followed him a couple thousand years.

[a_clockwork_melody]

[Somehow, the movement of his fingers draws a queasy feeling. Still, she tries to pay more attention to the story and less to that.]

That.. sounds really inconsiderate, what they did to you. But, just what is the Crimson Moon, anyway? I've never heard of someone living so long like that.

[splitthebaby]

The Crimson Moon currently takes the form of Arcueid Brunestud, Princess of the True Ancestors. Who is currently in Mayfield, yes.

[a_clockwork_melody]

[She blinks at that last statement.] She is? I've never met her.

...Wait, but you said "him" just now. What?

[splitthebaby]

That would be another long story.

[a_clockwork_melody]

[One step at a time, she still has no idea what to think of what he's said already.]

So those arms, they really are...? [She trails off, trying hard not to stare at his limbs any further.]

[splitthebaby]

These arms and these legs are both demons, yes.

[a_clockwork_melody]

[But she can't help herself, the seeming normalcy of them showing otherwise.]

They sure don't look any different...