Prologue [Part 01 - The Fading Sky] Lklein Manni: Once, in an age without a sovereign, there existed four sacred forms that tore through the sky and trod upon the earth. Lklein Manni: Called by the names of Flame, Wind, Snow, and Earth, each walked the boundary between gods and humankind. Lklein Manni: A hero named Manni inherited their voices and, in a world where they had long fallen silent, drew forth a single thread of Divine Order. Lklein Manni: In those ancient ages, cities rose into the sky, sank beyond the ends of the sea, and voices traveled past the realm of fire, giving birth to vessels without souls. Lklein Manni: Yet, mourning the pride lost to a forsaken heart, the Divine Order was sealed away. Lklein Manni: Alter shifting the hidden sign into a sharp, piercing form. Only then shall the Gates of Heaven be opened. . Lklein Manni: Hah... Hah... Lklein Manni: ............ Lklein Manni: Soon, the world will come to an end... Lklein Manni: (A darkness devoid of even the faintest glimmer of light was about to swallow the world whole.) Lklein Manni: ...I have to hurry... Lklein Manni: ...Haaahhh... Lklein Manni: (Ever since I was born, the world had been on the brink of ruin.) Lklein Manni: (A black darkness appeared from nowhere, then crept ever onward like a spreading mist.) Lklein Manni: (Any living thing that touched that black darkness vanished from existence.) Lklein Manni: (Should that darkness engulf the world entirely, all life would surely perish.) Lklein Manni: (It is the end of the world. And yet the adults, though they lamented, did not join hands to help one another. They waged war again and again instead.) Lklein Manni: (Driven from their homelands by the engulfing darkness, people had no choice but to flee to neighbouring nations, and what little land remained became fodder for their conflicts.) Lklein Manni: (Meanwhile, the darkness continued to spread...) Lklein Manni: (The world will end soon.) . Lklein Manni: Hah... Lklein Manni: ...There you are... ???: La~la~... Lklein Manni: Airio! ???: Hm? Lklein Manni: Airio! It's me! Airio Sis: ...Who? Airio, is that me? Do you know me? Airio Sis: The truth is, I've lost all my memories... Lklein Manni: So have I. I couldn't remember a thing until yesterday. Airio Sis: Really? So we're in the same boat? Funny how that happens... Airio Sis: I've been looking for a job... I'm hungry, and it looks like the weather's about to get worse… Airio Sis: Look, see? The sky's pitch black... Lklein Manni: Airio. Forget the sky. Look at me. Airio Sis: ............ Lklein Manni: If this continues, this world will be swallowed by darkness and perish. Lklein Manni: Airio. I'll only say this once. Listen carefully. Lklein Manni: To save this world from the darkness, please... Just once more... Lklein Manni: Please sing with me. Airio Sis: ............ Airio Sis: Uh...Maybe not right now. Lklein Manni: Maybe not right now!? Here I am, bowing my head and begging you, you’re always… Lklein Manni: ...No. That's right. You've lost your memories. I apologize for raising my voice. Airio Sis: You seem awfully busy, getting angry and apologizing in the same breath. Lklein Manni: Spare me the sarcasm. This is your fault to begin with. Lklein Manni: Even if you've lost your memories, couldn't you take things a little more seriously after seeing how desperate I am? Lklein Manni: You're every bit as carefree as ever...But...I'm glad you're safe. Airio Sis: ...............Were we friends? Lklein Manni: ...Who can say...? Airio Sis: Ah... Airio Sis: This creature's been following me ever since I met it yesterday. Maybe it was my friend instead. Lklein Manni: That's no animal. It's an Echo. Airio Sis: An Echo? Lklein Manni: A life-form born from darkness. In fact, most of your body is made of Echo as well. Airio Sis: ...What do you mean? Lklein Manni: I'll tell you. About this world, and what happened to your body. Lklein Manni: But first... Lklein Manni: (Lklein's Arca Song) Airio Sis: ............? Why are you suddenly singing...? Airio Sis: ............! Airio Sis: The mane of the creature he called an Echo began to glow with radiant light, as though drawn toward the sound of his voice... Airio Sis: Whoa…! Lklein Manni: This is the power of song... The power of the Arca Song, which commands the Echoes born from darkness. Airio Sis: Arca Song...? Lklein Manni: That's right. Those who command Echoes through the Arca Song are known as Echo Masters. Lklein Manni: The strongest Echo Master in the Ordion Empire. Lklein Manni: That is who you are, Airio. Airio Sis: ............ Lklein Manni: I believe the reason you and I lost our memories is because we encountered the Sacred Beast, the strongest Echo in all recorded history. Lklein Manni: And not only you. Most likely my companions as well... To be continued... [Part 02 - The Herald of Beginning] Xin Dicus: Hup, ho... We made it back. U Lutri: Hey, you're lateee. Gtri Dactyla: My apologies. The town was heavily guarded. U Lutri: Heavily guarded? Xin Dicus: Let's eat first. Here, look at this. A huge round loaf. U Lutri: Oh, that looks delicious. Time to dig iiiin~ Xin Dicus: Looks like there's a war going on after all. Between the Ordion Empire and the Asheria Federation or something. U Lutri: Yikes. Sounds dangerous. Gtri Dactyla: The real problem is determining which side we belong to. Gtri Dactyla: If we carelessly descend into town and reveal ourselves, we may be exposing ourselves to the enemy. U Lutri: The three of us don't remember anything, right? Xin Dicus: Since all three of us have amnesia, I keep thinking maybe we were involved in the same accident. Gtri Dactyla: Doesn’t that mean we're allies since we were together? U Lutri: Who knows? Maybe we're enemies instead. What if we are? Xin Dicus: What do you mean, "what if"? You gonna start attacking us once your memories come back? Give me back my bread, jerk. U Lutri: I wouldn't do that. Gtri Dactyla: Nor do I believe I would... Xin Dicus: Shh! Someone's coming! Guard: Could it be Your Majesty… The Emperor himself!? Xin Dicus: The Emperor? U Lutri: The Emperor? Gtri Dactyla: The Emperor? Xin Dicus: The Emperor's the most important person in the Empire, right? You’re telling me that’s one of us? U Lutri: Ah, I think it's probably me. I have a feeling I'm some important person. Gtri Dactyla: Perhaps it could be me as well... Xin Dicus: You two are getting a little too cocky. What if it's me? Guard: Your Majesty, are you unharmed!? Emperor Gtri! Xin Dicus: Yes! U Lutri: Yes! Gtri Dactyla: Yes! [Empire streets...] Soldier: There he is! Seize him! Soldier: He’s a traitor to the state! Umarit Imuse: Wait! I've lost my memories- Fail Urus: I-I don't remember anything eith- Fail Urus: Waaah…! An arrow just flew at me! Umarit Imuse: ...Impatient fools! Umarit Imuse: Come here...! Fail Urus: Huh!? What!? Umarit Imuse: Listen well! Take one step closer and I'll slit this guy's throat! Fail Urus: W-Wait, my throat's getting slit? Soldier: Lord Umarit! Please do not add further crimes to your name! Soldier: It will stain the reputation of the Wartime Consul! Umarit Imuse: And why should I care? I have no intention of atoning for crimes I don't even remember committing. Fail Urus: I-I get how you feel, but holding a dagger to someone's neck is probably a crime too... Umarit Imuse: You better be quiet, little guy, unless you'd like that cute face of yours scarred. Fail Urus: W-What’s that about my cute face...? Soldier: Enough! There is no other way! We need to do anything for the sake of destroying the evil that threatens the realm… Soldier: Men! Forget the hostage! Shoot the evil Umarit down! Fail Urus: Isn't that awful!? Umarit Imuse: Hmph… My luck truly is dreadful. To have taken along a hostage with no value whatsoever. Fail Urus: Aren't you awful too!? Umarit Imuse: Come! Fail Urus: W-Waaah! W-Wait a second...! [Back to the deserted landscape...] Airio Sis: Companions who lost their memories… You mean there are people like me somewhere in the world? Lklein Manni: Yes. Though whether all of them can truly be called companions, I'm not entirely certain. Airio Sis: ............ Airio Sis: …Um… Singing is fine and all, but I think I need to find a job first. Airio Sis: I haven't eaten anything since this morning. I've been asking around town all day, but nobody's even in a position to work. Airio Sis: Apparently the Empire and the Federation are at war... Lklein Manni: The Ordion Empire and the Asheria Federation. Airio Sis: R-Right. Yeah, those names. Airio Sis: They said the war's gotten worse, and everyone's struggling because there's nowhere left to run. Lklein Manni: The situation is far more complicated than that. But we can resolve it. If we cannot, the world will end. Lklein Manni: I need your song. Sing with me. Airio Sis: ...Okay, but what's your name? Lklein Manni: Lklein Manni. Lklein Manni: Since you have forgotten, I shall forgive you for speaking to the Prince of Manni in that rude tone. Airio Sis: ...The Prince of Manni? Lklein Manni: Airio. We shall turn the wheels of this world’s fate with our song. Airio Sis: ............ Airio Sis: ...I don't really understand any of that. But sure. I have a feeling I don't dislike singing. Airio Sis: Hey, Lklein. Can you tell me…about the memories I’ve lost? Airio Sis: What happened to us? Lklein Manni: Of course. Though it is a long story. Let us search for our scattered companions while I explain. Airio Sis: Got it. Um… Can we find something to eat first? Lklein Manni: I have some travel biscuits. Though they're rather dry and quite hard by now. Airio Sis: Wow, thank you! ...They smell of wheat, it’s wonderful… Let's eat...! Airio Sis: ...Nngh. They're really hard... Lklein Manni: Now then… Where should I begin? Lklein Manni: Let’s see… I suppose it started on the day you and I first met... To be continued...