Interlude: The Golden Melody's Requiem
In a quiet fishing village on the outskirts of the empire, rumors swirled of a monster that lured people in with song only to devour them.
"If we catch that song monster, we'll get rich too!"
"In the proud name of House Noxia, I shall purify this beast that harms the innocent!"
Many flocked to the village, chasing fame or fortune, all to subjugate the girl known for bewitching humans.
Yet none achieved their original goals.
"My heart... feels at peace..."
"Ahh, Mother..."
No matter who they were, the moment they heard her voice, all prior greed washed away, replaced by profound emotion.
"The saintess smiled at me!"
"She is the saintess sent by the Heavenly God! She can't be a monster!"
The reactions were always the same. The behavior never changed. Mercenaries hungry for gold and nobles seeking glory alike became meek as lambs before her song.
But Silvia, the older sister watching her little sister Lucia create this wondrous scene, wasn't pleased with any of it.
"Do you have to sing like that?"
"It's my job. Making people feel at ease with my voice. It's my calling."
Born with a voice so beautiful it could move hearts to their core, Lucia was Silvia's utterly lovable little sister—but that very gift filled her with worry.
"Those people who came this time? They brought guillotines, saying they'd take the monster's head. ...You could've died if things went wrong."
"But they understood in the end. That the rumors were false. Don't worry, sis."
Could this life go on forever? Silvia wished her sister would quit this dangerous path as soon as possible.
The precarious existence of the two girls, treading thin ice, drastically changed with the arrival of heresy inquisitors.
"She is the true messenger of the Heavenly God!"
"Ahh, saintess of the Heavenly God!"
"Sing your song for all ten thousand souls!"
The inquisitors, come to verify the absurd rumors of a man-eating monster or saintess, fell under Lucia's spell.
"We will protect you, Saintess. Come with us to the holy land."
"Huh? But I..."
"Even Father would wish for more to hear the Saintess's song. We shall escort you to the Holy Kingdom, heart of the Heavenly God Church."
"See? I told you something like this would happen eventually. Isn't that enough now? Quit singing and..."
"Sis. I want to go to the Holy Kingdom."
"...What?"
"I want to let more people hear my song."
"Are you insane?"
"Uncle Hans used to beat his wife whenever he got drunk. But after hearing my song, he never did it again. Sister Leila shut herself away, mourning her husband lost at sea, but my song helped her overcome it."
"That's just...!"
"Sis. I believe there's a reason I have this special gift."
"Lucia..."
"I want to make more people happy. The world is harsh... but I want to help them endure that harshness."
"...Hah. Who could stop you? Fine, but on one condition."
"Condition?"
"I'm coming with you. Can't trust you alone without causing some disaster."
"Sis!"
She hugged her tight.
"I love you, sis!"
"...Then listen to me for once."
"Has the Saintess arrived?"
Contrary to expectations, life in the Holy Kingdom was remarkably comfortable. The Heavenly God Church welcomed Lucia as a saintess, treating her and her sister Silvia with utmost reverence.
"We prostrate lowly, our hearts ashes of repentance. Aid us, merciful Heavenly God, grant them peace."
"She sings so well..."
Lucia's holy voice filled the air.
"Ahh, the Saintess's voice!"
"This is the true blessing of the Heavenly God!"
"Peace fills my heart!"
All who heard her returned with serene faces. The worried furrowed their brows into smiles; the grief-stricken rose anew. Crime vanished, happiness spread. Lucia was the saintess incarnate.
Maybe I shouldn't have opposed it.
Her once-worrisome little sister brought tranquility to the world with her voice.
"..."
She was already a true saintess. Silvia no longer stood in her way.
"Huh? Sis, what are you doing?"
"Helping you."
From that day, Silvia began playing instruments. Lacking her sister's gift, she toiled relentlessly. Blisters burst, skin cracked, blood flowed—but she persisted. She had to support her proud little sister.
"That person playing beside the Saintess... her tone is so beautiful, right?"
"I heard she's the Saintess's sister?"
"Makes sense! The sisters must both be blessed by the Heavenly God!"
She wouldn't drag her sister down. Before long, Silvia became the continent's premier musician, beyond even the Holy Kingdom.
The saintess with god-given voice and her sister with god-given melody. Their music moved multitudes to tears.
But limits existed.
"Sis, war's broken out in the northern regions again."
"Those lands have always been rife with conflict."
"Can't my song stop the war?"
"...You're not saying you want to go there yourself, are you?"
"Is that... not okay? ...Hehe."
No matter how powerful the song, it meant nothing unheard. Lucia yearned to touch the entire continent.
"Sis! Let's make our own song!"
"Make a song?"
"Yeah! A song so everyone on the continent can live in peace!"
Perhaps it could bring world peace. The sisters composed together. Their pinnacle creation, humble yet extraordinary, captured their hometown's golden light—and whoever sang or heard it felt Lucia's live song.
Hug!
"We did it, sis!"
"We really did... You worked hard, Lucia."
"You worked harder, sis! Now we just spread this song!"
But things didn't go as planned.
"Just let people hear this song, that's all!"
"I'm sorry, Saintess. If you sing a song unrelated to the Heavenly God, it will undermine His authority. This is His Holiness's command. A saintess cannot sing anything but hymns."
Their plan hit a wall. Chants only, no other songs from a saintess.
"Let's eradicate those foolish heretics!"
"O Eternal Earth Mother God!"
To make matters worse, a massive war engulfed the continent in flames.
"I'll just sing once!"
"No, Saintess! It's too dangerous ahead! We'll escort you to safety!"
"One song, and everyone stops fighting!"
A saintess under maximum protection amid war couldn't roam freely. Silvia agonized, then decided. She raced toward the defensive line blocking heretics at the Holy Kingdom's gates.
"Huh? The Saintess's sister?"
She knew this music's power best. A force to halt even war.
"Don't fall back! Hold the line!"
"Our Mother is great! I offer my life!"
The blood-soaked battlefield reeked of death. Reaching the front gasping, she steadied her breath and opened her mouth.
Beautiful melody echoed across the field.
"This sound...?"
"...Huh, why am I crying?"
Just the melody halted everyone. Even rage-blinded warriors wept in calmed hearts.
Sunset-gilded sea like gold. Peaceful hometown scents and sounds filled all minds.
"Sis!"
Lucia, shoving past holy knights to chase her.
Silvia smiled brightly at her.
See, Lucia? You did it. We can erase this continent's pain now. We can make everyone happy.
"Lu...ci..."
Crunch!
As she opened her mouth—
An arrow from afar, beyond her song's reach, pierced her chest.
Ah... Too careless. Maybe rushed it. But I can't watch more loved ones die.
"Sis! No!"
Sorry, Lucia. Promised to stay together, but... I can't keep it. You'll manage, though. Because you're... my proud little sister. I love you, Lucia.
Even alone, she'd fulfill the dream. Silvia closed her eyes in peace.
"That won't do."
And the world ended.
Awakening, she was a constellation, part of the Tower.
The constellation of music that halted war and guided all to peace.
"...Where's Lucia?"
But her sister wasn't in the Tower. Did Lucia succeed? What was that last moment? The world didn't really end, right?
Many questions, but as a Tower-trapped constellation, she could only gaze down endlessly.
Lost in daze, she resolved: I'll fulfill Lucia's wish, our shared dream. Leave her legacy on Earth.
But Silvia hit obstacles. Her songs and music wouldn't reach Earth.
"You can make the whole world hear a song file. Upload it to YouTube or something..."
A girl on Earth reminding her of Lucia. The apostle Silvia took said.
"Huh? You want me to sing it? ...How's that sound? Plausible?"
Sadly, even teaching the girl the music, she couldn't perform it. Nor could Silvia's voice transmit directly.
In the end, only one way: Go to Earth myself.
Something no constellation had done. Can I even reach Earth?
A miracle happened.
Meeting him. A true miracle of souls overlapping.
Finally. Lucia's song, Silvia's melody reached Earth.
Peace for Earth, rest for all. Lucia's will on this land.
The song to make everyone happy... should have spread.
"I told you no."
"Keep interfering."
"Perfect timing. A special disaster monster on Earth sounds fun."
"Sorry. Everyone."
"Why didn't you tell me? I had to search so hard."
...This voice.
"Min-su?"
"You again!!! Human!!!!"
"What the hell is this creepy thing? ...From back then?"
"I'll erase you here!!!!"
"Try it. If you can."
Ahh. Why do you go this far for me?
The long, long interlude ended, and true miracle descended.