Subtle
A faint sense of unease. It was a subtle dissonance lurking within the perfect harmony. It was a strange sensation, as if another melody were overlapping—no, intertwining—with the symphony of the universe. The librarian, too, seemed to sense something as he looked at my expression. “Have you noticed something?” he asked quietly.
“Yes,” I nodded slowly. “I sense another melody blending into the symphony of the universe. It’s subtle and easy to miss… but there’s definitely something hidden there.”
The Librarian points the tip of his staff at the crystal ball and stares at it for a moment. “…I see. That’s interesting. Perhaps this marks the beginning of a new trial.”
I pick up the lyre of the Atlantis civilization. This lyre has saved us from crisis time and time again. It possesses the power to manipulate the energy of the universe, quell chaos, and maintain the balance of the world. And now, this lyre will likely be the key to this new trial.
“Let’s try to unravel this melody,” I declare, and begin to pluck the strings of the lyre.
At first, my playing mimicked the cosmic symphony emanating from the crystal ball, but gradually, it shifted into a hidden melody resembling dissonance. It was a delicate, complex tone, like a whisper reaching us from the cosmos.
As the performance continued, the light emitted by the crystal ball began to change. What had been a gentle light began to flicker erratically, and eventually began to shine in vivid rainbow colors. Then, a swirling energy emerged around the crystal ball, enveloping me.
That energy felt as if it were trying to open a door leading to another dimension. I surrendered myself to that energy and moved closer to the crystal ball. Then, suddenly, a strange sight appeared before my eyes.
It was the infinitely vast expanse of outer space. Countless stars shone, and nebulae of various shapes drifted among them. And at the center of that cosmic space, a massive entity resembling a black hole loomed. Tremendous energy radiated from that black hole, threatening to swallow the surrounding stars.
Though overwhelmed by the sight, I continued to play the harp. Then, my playing begins to affect the black hole. The energy emitted by the black hole gradually weakens, transforming into a gentle light.
And from the center of the black hole, a faint voice can be heard. “…Please… help us…”
It sounded like a desperate plea from a soul that had fallen into the depths of despair. As if guided by that voice, I reach out toward the black hole. In that instant, my consciousness is drawn into the far reaches of the universe.
Does the next trial lie in the far reaches of the universe? And how can I overcome it? I do not yet know the answer. But I will continue my quest. To unravel the mysteries of this world and the universe. And to save the soul of the universe.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
