Homecoming and the Mark of Armonia
Finally back home. To our family estate in the capital, no less. After crossing the entire continent, I figured I'd shake off the travel fatigue...
"Y-You're here and already... not resting..."
...but instead, I headed straight down to the workshop in the basement. That explained Dale's expression—a mix of awkwardness and worry. I'd barely greeted the family, unpacked, and rushed down here.
But I had no choice. There was something I absolutely had to tell Dale.
"I've taken on a commission."
"Pardon? A commission, sir?"
"Yeah."
I dropped the bombshell on the puzzled Dale.
"I have to make a violin for Lady Selenie."
"...?"
Dale's face went blank.
"Lady Selenie... You mean the one I know?"
"Yeah, that's her."
"Th-the Music Saint Selenie?"
"That's right."
Music Saint—it was like Beethoven's nickname, though not exactly the same in this world's language. I was just fitting it into Earth terms. The meaning was identical: saint of music. Selenie. In a world where gods were so close, she could've been called a goddess of music without batting an eye.
"S-so, the Music Saint Selenie commissioned a violin?"
"Yep."
"What in the world happened?!"
I calmly explained everything that went down in Ramisel to Dale, who looked like his soul might flee his body. Of course, I skipped the part about my mind-blowing performance. No need to gild the lily.
"So, Lady Selenie heard the violin's beautiful sound and requested one for herself."
"Exactly."
"Ahh."
Dale's expression shifted a dozen times in seconds. Now it was pure awe. And rightly so. The design came from my head, but Dale had played a huge role in bringing it to life.
So I smiled at him and said, "The violin we made moved the Music Saint herself."
"W-we? It was mostly you, young master!"
"Come on, don't sell yourself short. We made it together. You forgetting those months we spent heads together, agonizing over it?"
"Even so..."
"Anyway, we'll split the profits from this commission. You deserve a share."
Dale jumped up again, insisting he didn't qualify, but I shut that down easily.
"Fine, then I'll make it alone."
How could anyone pass up the honor of contributing to Selenie's instrument? Dale wasn't a specialist instrument maker by trade, but that didn't matter.
"Urk, alright."
"Haha! Knew you'd come around!"
In the end, Dale had no choice but to accept. Why do I feel like the bad guy? Nah, must be my imagination.
"No rush. She said timing doesn't matter."
"Still, we can't drag our feet too long, right?"
"Selenie's an elf."
"Ah."
Right. Selenie was an elf—a long-lived race. Even if it took me years to finish one violin, she wouldn't blink. Not that I planned to dawdle. I just wanted perfection over some half-baked rush job.
"We'll stick to the original design. Let's stock up on materials first. I have some in mind..."
I listed off the materials I'd planned ahead for. No worries about costs—we'd gotten a hefty advance.
But as I finished, something else popped into my head. Oh yeah, one more thing.
"Oh, and I got some gifted materials this time. One—no, two of them."
"Pardon? What are they?"
He's gonna flip. But we'd use them on the next instrument anyway, so no helping it.
"Brace yourself. Might be a shock."
"Heh heh. I've got no surprises left in me today. Just show me."
"Alright, then..."
The materials were in the room upstairs, so I just told him.
"First, Black Spirit Wood. Grew under the eternal snows of the northern mountains."
"Oho! Black Spirit Wood's tricky stuff. But worth it. And from under eternal snow? Top-grade! How'd you snag it?"
"Won it in a bet. Details later—there's more."
"Y-yes, sir."
I grinned at Dale. "The other one's a World Tree Branch."
"Pardon. A World Tree Branch..."
Dale blinked. Then faster. His mouth opened and closed, opened and closed...
"What did you say?"
His voice trembled hard.
"World Tree Branch."
"..."
Huh. Dale's glitching. I gave him time—I'd been just as shocked at first.
It took a while, but he finally processed it.
"Wh-what happened out there?"
Or maybe not. I had to explain in more detail. Dale muttered to himself for ages before snapping out of it.
"Heavens. A World Tree Branch... That's way beyond my league."
"Don't be weak. I know your skills."
"No, really. Handling a World Tree Branch properly needs a true master craftsman. I can't do it alone."
"Hmm, maybe?"
"Yes! If I botch it... Just thinking about it makes my hands shake."
Fair enough. World Tree Branches were insanely rare. Dale and I matched perfectly—he'd put up with my instrument obsessions since we were kids, and we'd built tons together. But he'd always nagged that his skills weren't top-tier and we needed a real pro, drilling it into my head.
"Hmm. No one comes to mind right now."
The Ramisel craftsmen flashed in my thoughts, but I shook my head. They were Ramisel locals, on the opposite side of the continent. They ran an ancient workshop there.
"I'll look into it."
Anyway, no rush on the World Tree Branch. Selenie's violin came first, plus prepping for the Armonia Church performance.
"Yes, sir."
Wrapping up, I asked Dale—as promised—to gather materials for Selenie's violin. He'd have them ready in a month, tops.
"Now go rest upstairs. You need to recover from the trip."
"Not really tired."
"That's what the young say—till they pay later."
"Fine, fine."
Dale practically shoved me out of the workshop.
"Hmmm."
Back in my room, I considered playing an instrument but remembered Mother's order to rest. One session would've eaten hours. Better to lie down and plan.
I hit the bed. Five minutes later, I was out.
My eyes stung with brightness. I twisted away from the light, but it followed no matter which way I turned. Had I left the room light on?
I had to open my eyes.
"...?"
The sight before me left me stunned. What the hell was this?
An endless sky stretched out first. Fine. But the ground? Clouds blanketed everything. I was lying on clouds.
I sat up and looked around. Clouds everywhere, infinite sky above. Nothing else.
What is this?
Confused, I just rolled my eyes around. Then—
Paat—!
A white light burst in front of me. And a voice emanated from it?
O chosen one.
You are doing well.
It was soft, warm. Like music, like a melody.
I shall look forward to the path you walk ahead.
The voice rang out again. Overwhelmed, I stood frozen.
Paat!
Light flashed once more, and my body plummeted downward. I hit something solid—
"Gasp!"
I jolted awake on my bed. Blinking blankly, it took a while to register I was in my room.
"What... A d-dream?"
Seemed like it. I'd dozed off and had a weird one. A really bizarre dream.
But as I lowered my head, something caught my eye. A pattern etched on the back of my hand.
A pattern I'd seen before... The one on the violin. Armonia's mark.
"...?"
What the hell is going on now?