A Single Star
When I regained consciousness, I found myself drifting through a pitch-black void. An infinite darkness where not a single star was visible. An overwhelming silence, completely different from the outer space I had just been in, enveloped me. Yet, within the darkness, I could make out a faint light. It was slowly approaching, like a beacon of hope. As the light drew nearer, I could see what it was. It was a being with enormous, beautiful wings. Its jet-black feathers seemed to blend into the darkness, occasionally emitting a rainbow-colored glow.
“…Who are you…?” The voice felt as though it were resonating directly within my heart. I understood it not as words, but as a sensation.
“I am one of the guardians of this universe. I came here, guided by the music you play.”
A guardian… a guardian of the universe? Did my harp playing summon this being? I couldn’t hide my surprise.
“The melody you played detected a distortion in the universe. And I have appeared to repair this dark rift, which is the cause of that distortion.” The guardian slowly spread its massive wings and pointed at the dark rift. There, indeed, was an unnatural fissure that gave off a distinct sense of spatial distortion.
“Repair… How?”
“I need the power of the Words of Creation that you possess. You must use that power to seal this fissure.”
The Words of Creation… I take the harp of the Atlantis civilization in my hands. Up until now, I have overcome countless trials. By understanding the power of the Words of Creation, wielding the harp of the Atlantis civilization, and playing the symphony of the universe, I have saved the world time and time again. But this time is different. This dark rift is immense and terrifying—far beyond anything I have faced before.
“…I understand. I will banish this darkness.”
The Guardian nods quietly. “But you must not let your guard down. This darkness possesses power far beyond imagination. You will likely have to pour all your strength into this.”
I take a deep breath. As one with an immortal body, I know no fear of death. Yet, standing before this darkness, I feel a sense of intense tension for the first time. To heal this dark rift—this wound in the universe—I am prepared to give everything I have.
As my fingers touch the harp’s strings, the energy of the universe flows into my fingertips. With a more serious expression than ever before, I begin to play the harp. The words of creation… the laws of the universe… I play a melody to banish this darkness, pouring everything I have into it. And that melody echoes throughout this infinite darkness.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
