The Seven-Colored Light
The melody reached its climax, and a seven-colored light swirled in the sky of paradise. It seemed as though my harp were playing the language of the cosmos—a sound no longer audible to human ears. The dissonant notes emanating from the crystal sphere were overwhelmed by my melody, gradually fading away, and the shadow’s form began to grow faint. Yet this was not an end, but the beginning of a transformation.
The shadow began to transform from an indistinct mass of light into the form of a bird with enormous yet beautiful wings. Its feathers shone like cosmic nebulae, and countless galaxies peered out from its eyes. The cold, oppressive aura was gone; instead, a deep sorrow and despair emanated from its presence.
“...Was I... wrong...?” The shadow—no, the being in the form of a bird—asked, its voice weak yet powerful. The sound resonated deeply, evoking the vastness of the cosmos.
I stopped playing. I took my hands off the harp and gazed at the bird. Its form seemed to symbolize everything: the utopia once sought by the Atlantis civilization, and the very cause of that civilization’s downfall. It appeared to embody the tragedy of defying the laws of the universe, and the anguish of accepting them.
The Librarian and the Historian watched the scene, holding their breath. The Librarian slowly set his staff down on the ground. The historian closed his notebook and looked at me. His eyes held understanding and empathy.
Was this bird—the shadow of the ancient Atlantis civilization—not merely an enemy, but a tragic being fighting against the laws of the universe? I felt I had to understand him—no, her. Rather than fighting against that which disrupts the harmony of the universe, I must understand its cause, its sorrow, and resolve it.
Silence spread throughout the paradise. The bird-like being seemed to be waiting for my reaction. Its large eyes were filled with complex emotions—a mixture of hope and despair. And I realized I was about to ask the bird a question. But I still didn’t know what words to choose. Only silence spread throughout the paradise, waiting for the next words to be born.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
