Regression [Outside the Empire’s Capital.] Xin Dicus: What I'm searching for is the Arca Song of Heaven. Rao Nyx: The Arca Song of Heaven? Xin Dicus: You're an Echo Master, aren't you? Rao Nyx: That's right. Xin Dicus: Then you can sing an Arca Song. A song used to command Echoes. Rao Nyx: Of course. Xin Dicus: Arca Songs have quality to them. Whether you can pull off a high-quality Arca Song depends on the singer, but... Xin Dicus: High-quality Arca Songs command mighty Echoes. Rao Nyx: Mighty Echoes... I've heard rumors. There are echoes as big as a bear, or so they say. Xin Dicus: Bigger than that. There are accounts of Echoes as large as a wagon, a house... and if you're unlucky, even as large as a mountain. Rao Nyx: That's surely just legend. They’re urban legends even back where I'm from. Rao Nyx: Stories of a serpent-shaped, colossal Echo whose trail became a river as it slithered by. Xin Dicus: It's true, though. Rao Nyx: Surely not... Xin Dicus: I saw one myself, once. Out on a stormy sea, nearly swallowed by thunderclouds and darkness. At that moment, just for an instant... Xin Dicus: I saw a colossal Echo, like an island itself. Rao Nyx: ...It rose up out of the sea? Xin Dicus: That's right. While I was desperately singing an Arca Song to keep the ship from sinking... Xin Dicus: It just sort of drifted up, like it had come to listen to my song. Xin Dicus: And then it vanished again. As if it was saying, "Not really my taste, but not bad." Rao Nyx: ........... Xin Dicus: Anyways, back to the point. The ancient civilizations knew about all this. Xin Dicus: That colossal Echoes exist. That there are special Arca Songs that can command Echoes. Xin Dicus: Those songs got scattered all over the world, some are still sung in various regions, some were left behind on stone monuments. Rao Nyx: Stone monuments…? Xin Dicus: Yeah. Tablets, too. There are some written on paper or parchment, but the condition's usually too poor to decipher. Xin Dicus: The oldest known Arca Song is called the "Epitaph Arca Song." The lyrics go something like this. Xin Dicus: Shine, while you're alive. Xin Dicus: Don't waste your time worrying. Xin Dicus: Life is fleeting. Xin Dicus: For time is a thing that takes. Rao Nyx: Hm... Xin Dicus: So? Rao Nyx: So what…? Xin Dicus: Your thoughts. What did you think? Rao Nyx: Gentle words. And they’re beautiful, too. Xin Dicus: Right?! The ancient Arca Songs have a richness, a beauty, just like that. Xin Dicus: I fell completely under their spell, and that's how I became a Song Seeker. Xin Dicus: And somewhere along the way of being a Song Seeker, I heard rumors of the Arca Song of Heaven. Rao Nyx: What kinda rumors? Xin Dicus: That it's the most beautiful song in this world. No matter what, I've got to hear that song someday. Xin Dicus: Ahh... if I could just hear that song once, I'd be fine dying right after... Rao Nyx: ........... Rao Nyx: You're a bit reckless, aren't you? Xin Dicus: Pretty much all Song Seekers are like this. Xin Dicus: Powerful Arca Songs are sought after by both Empire and Federation alike. Especially the Empire, they'll stop at nothing to get one. Xin Dicus: It's a hobby full of danger. Do you still wanna lend me a hand? Rao Nyx: Yeah. Xin Dicus: Really? Rao Nyx: My interest has been thoroughly piqued. I'd like to hear it too. The Arca Song of Heaven. Xin Dicus: Ahaha! That makes me happy. Rao Nyx: (A powerful Arca Song from the ancient civilizations, capable of commanding mighty Echoes... something to rival an entire elite army.) Rao Nyx: (If I find that song and bring it back, Lord Amiya could surely knock Euro from his seat and become leader.) Rao Nyx: (If Xin refuses to hand the Arca Song over to me, though...) Xin Dicus: Hm? Rao Nyx: ...No. It's nothing. Rao Nyx: (I'll deal with that when the time comes.) Xin Dicus: (This guy's thinking about double-crossing me, isn't he?) Xin Dicus: (Honestly, what an adorable guy.) [Inside the Library] Umarit Imuse: ........... Imperial Scholar: Lord Umarit! Please, forgive me...! Imperial Scholar: I... I have sworn my heartfelt loyalty to the Empire. I would never hide anything from you...! Umarit Imuse: Spare me the excuses. I hear Nuxma frequented your household often, while he was alive. Umarit Imuse: For what purpose did he visit? Imperial Scholar: I don't kn- Umarit Imuse: There's no way you don't know. Shall I cut out that tongue of yours, if it can't manage to speak properly? Imperial Scholar: P-please, forgive me! I truly know nothing! Imperial Scholar: He simply shut himself away in my library, researching something. Imperial Scholar: He told me to absolutely never enter while he was inside...! Umarit Imuse: ........... Umarit Imuse: ...And you have no idea what Nuxma was researching? Imperial Scholar: I don’t know. Umarit Imuse: (Nuxma. Why would you keep secrets from me?) Umarit Imuse: (Why did you visit the Altaria Vetus ruins?) Umarit Imuse: (Why were you devoured by the darkness?) Umarit Imuse: Oh..........This is... Umarit Imuse: This is Nuxma's handwriting...It says "Regression." Imperial Scholar: *GASP* ...........! Umarit Imuse: You know something, don't you? Imperial Scholar: I...I know nothing. Umarit Imuse: Don't lie to me. The moment I said the word "Regression," your face changed completely. Imperial Scholar: With all due respect, I truly do not know. Umarit Imuse: I see. Imperial Scholar: ...ACKK...! Umarit Imuse: One who deals in falsehoods does not deserve to live under His Majesty's reign. Umarit Imuse: First, I'll cut out that deceitful tongue, and feed it to the dogs. Imperial Scholar: ...Blabber all you want! That man died the death he deserved! Imperial Scholar: Nuxma was nothing less than this world's greatest sinner! Umarit Imuse: To speak ill of Nuxma... Don't imagine for a moment you'll die without suffering for that. Imperial Scholar: And don't you imagine everything will go exactly as you please, either! KUH...! Umarit Imuse: Ah...........! Did you take poison... Imperial Scholar: Ugh...... [The scholar drops dead.] Umarit Imuse: Tch... He’s already gone. Umarit Imuse: ........... Umarit Imuse: ...What does "Regression" mean? For what purpose did you leave this world? Umarit Imuse: ...Answer me, Nuxma... To be continued...