Countless
Standing at the base of the World Tree, the countless branches extending from its trunk cover the sky like giant arms reaching toward the heavens. Its overwhelming scale takes my breath away. Simply by existing, the World Tree radiates a profound stillness and a majestic energy. The leaves glisten silver in the moonlight, and every now and then, as a gentle breeze blows through, a faint sound like the tinkling of bells echoes.
After standing there for a while, I notice a faint light seeping from the bark. As I step closer to look, I see that it consists of minute particles of light, like stardust. When I touch it with my finger, it feels warm, and I sense a mysterious energy. This light must be the very life force of the World Tree.
Perhaps I could use this energy in instrument making. The moment that thought crossed my mind, a certain melody came to me. It was a beautiful, powerful melody that resonated with the World Tree. It was as if the World Tree itself were teaching it to me.
Using that melody as my guide, I set to work crafting an instrument using Star-Shadow Iron, the Wind Spirit’s Shell, and the light seeping from the World Tree as materials. As the Guardian of the Sea had taught me, Star-Shadow Iron possesses a power essential for maintaining the balance of the world. The Wind Spirit’s shell was obtained during my battle with the Wind Demon, and its tone is as delicate and beautiful as the whisper of the wind.
The work proved more difficult than I had imagined. Starlight Iron is extremely hard and difficult to work with. However, as I continued working while resonating with the World Tree’s energy, the shape of the instrument gradually began to take form. After several days of work, the instrument is finally complete. It resembles a stringed instrument, but the strings are made of Star-Shadow Iron, and the bow is crafted from the Wind Spirit’s shell. A soft light emanates from the entire instrument, and it is clear that it is resonating with the energy of the World Tree.
When I pick up the finished instrument, my fingers begin to move of their own accord, playing the melody from earlier. The sound is far more beautiful than I could have imagined, and the entire World Tree begins to resonate. The light emanating from the bark grows even stronger, and a rainbow-colored aurora-like glow spreads across the sky.
At that moment, an old man slowly emerged from the base of the World Tree. His appearance seemed vaguely familiar. As I approached and looked closely, I realized it was the missing librarian.
“Mitamu… is it? “You made it all the way here,” the librarian said in a slightly frail voice. “The World Tree... and this melody... everything was connected, wasn't it?”
“Professor!” I cried out, filled with surprise and joy. “You were alive all along!”
The librarian nodded slowly, then began to speak quietly. “This World Tree, and this melody... are the keys to the Words of Creation...”
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
