<< This is the story of an unprecedented maiden. That she sought what could not be found, she traveled where no one could go. That she longed to meet that special figure, to see with her own eyes the forgotten secrets of the world >>
Airys put her bag back inside Sandy. She was filled with excitement, she had finally made her first purchase as an adventurer. It wasn't a sword —they are very expensive — or armor —they cost even more —, but a suit that would serve her for her travels, personalized in the most childish way possible.
She adjusted her light blue hair inside her clothes and trembled with emotion when she saw herself in the store's mirror. It's just that it had it all. Leather boots with a collar so long they reached a little above her knees, thin black stockings to cover the rest of her legs down to the short brown skirt with white trim. The blouse she chose was white and thick —she thought it would cushion the blows —and she bought a pair of long leather gloves, the kind that cover the arm up to the elbow and asked that they cut off the part from the knuckles to the fingertips on the left glove, if she was lucky the glove would prevent her from unintentionally using her resonance when hitting and with the fingers somewhat uncovered she will keep the ability to use it.
"Don't I look great?" She told Sandy. "I'm sure they would die to see me dressed like this."
She nervously got on Sandy to tour the city, with the idea that she would soon fulfill her dream. The amount of people in the streets increased as well as the noise of the music and artists in the streets, Sandy barked and Airys hummed to the rhythm of that sound made by those rare instruments. A crowd was gathered watching a few guys sitting on small benches, wooden crates in front of them.
The funny thing was how they looked like little walls, with a tube to blow air, and several sticks attached to small gates. A fleeting glance was enough to notice how complicated its use was, constantly blowing and moving the arms quickly to uncover and close those gaps... if it weren't for the beautiful sound that comes out, nobody would do that.
Airys stood still watching the spectacle. Between notes they would scoop sand from the Dingars plane out of the bags next to them to cover their hands or pour it down one of the holes to change the sound.
<< Her age, sixteen years. An impulse took her from the safety of her house in search of adventure. She never imagined that the largest and most splendid of these was so close to her home >>
It was already the second time she had heard that woman's voice. The first time, while she was in the store, it sounded like a murmur, but this time it was loud and clear, overpowering the noise of the city. The people around her reacted with excitement and raised their heads to the sky. Airys did the same and saw a tiny colored flame on one of the city's towers.
Hanging from the tallest tower in the city, Hiko swayed from side to side, using its resonance to broadcast the message to the entire city, from Gregory and his nieces in the cemetery, Seng and Zul'luz in the central park, to Natsume and the poor guards who accompanied her inside the wall. To each of the souls within the walls, they heard within themselves that tender and passionate voice.
<< My dear brothers, visitors and tourists gathered here today. I am Hiko, the Golden guard and it is a pleasure for me to tell you about the origin of the city, the beginning of our tradition, the… >>
The sun reached the top of the tower, marking noon, marking the…
<< Start of our Festival of Mirrors! Start the story of Dingars! >>
Like a mirage, the colors of the air changed slightly. Airys narrowed her eyes in disbelief. The first thing she noticed was how tiny creatures of sand appeared in the air, running and passing through people. Fairies, wolves, squirrels, dragonflies and butterflies. She laughed as one tore through her chest, painless and without any sensation.
"What's this?" she said in wonder, and after a good look around she got no answer. The curious thing was that she saw people running around with sand figures tied to a stick, but those people did avoid others and even less did they pass people.
<< Our story begins hundreds of years ago, right in our central square, when it was a forest inhabited by innocent and magical little creatures... >>
"You heard Sandy" commented Airys and with a bark of emotion they left following the sand animals. Of course, they weren't the only ones with that idea.
———————————————————————————————————
Compared to the atmosphere in the streets, or downtown, the cemetery was subdued. Don't misunderstand subdued with regretful or gloomy, it was rather, calm, lacking the momentum that the rest overflowed; and in any case covered those present with a loving and patient embrace. Yes, it didn't demand anything of them, they could take their time.
The place was the only cemetery, a large circle located in the western area, and it was full of trees. From a foreigner's perspective, it appears to be a forest, not a place to mourn your dead. It is not so wrong. The tradition of the place is to plant a seed or make a graft when a relative died, for that reason the trees have multiple strange branches or are completely attached to others.
Near the center, Gregory, Samantha, and Melody admired the mother tree, immense, with a root or branch connected to all the other shoots.
Gregory wore a simple black ensemble, Samantha a one-piece dress of the same color and the slight exception was Melody, in her dark blue dress like the night sky. They were sitting on the floor, Melody was between her uncle's legs and Samantha was lying next to him.
"Uncle…" Melody's pure voice broke the silence. "Do you miss my mommy?"
"Just a little bit. If she were here, she would surely scold me again for nonsense" he laughed. "Ah~, but if your father was here, it would be so much fun to see him help me avoid being scolded."
They both laughed. Samantha snuggled into her uncle's shoulder, not saying a word, not being angry, just… melancholic. Gregory moved his arm, shaking Samantha, but soon enough he had it around her and gently stroked her head.
<< ...She never imagined that the largest and most splendid of these was so close to her home... >>
"Oh wow," Gregory said after the three of them heard Hiko's words. "It's about time, how about we have some fun? You know, in memory of them."
Her uncle's sincere smile warmed Samantha's heart a little. She wiped away a couple of tears. They got up to leave, leaving that enormous tree that, high up, beyond the reach of any common person, had the following message carved on it over a list of names:
<< In memory of Dingars and his family… >>
Being the last two names, Mell and Sammy.
<< Our sweet foundress, Dingars, walked among the trees, amazed at how tiny they were. They barely reached her waist, and she never considered herself very tall… >>
The sand creatures, the actors carrying the figures and a crowd of people crowded around the plaza, the same one that consisted of steps —perfect for sitting down —that led to a huge hole in the center; with different elevations around to be able to stand and observe better. Most of the people looked for a place to sit, another part went to the high points, some even climbed on nearby towers and roofs. With fluidity, the creatures guided the attention to the stage in that background, to a sweet girl, dressed in a one-piece dress and with a white cloth covering her face.
<< On her first day, she witnessed the first synchrony between dimensions. When the sun was at its highest point, the ground was dyed a warm golden color, she could see a horizon hidden between the trees and hills that were not really there, but the most surprising of all, was that she saw another person >>
The audience made a sound of admiration when out of nowhere a blurry male figure appeared, in a one-piece dress and a black cloth covering his face. And that was not all, around the people, dozens of people appeared in the same way. The synchrony had been completed, the same thing happened as in the story.
They could see the sand, without feeling it. Greet those who were on the other plane, greet each other and occupy the same space, without touching, without listening to each other. It was fun to see other people's people walking in the air or underground because of the difference in level in the grounds.
<< Immediately curiosity struck Dingars's mind and also that of that individual's... "Who are you?" >>
"This way" the guard indicated to Natsume by the walls. She walked a little confused, but quickly noticed the protruding bulge.
Layd was literally inside the wall, the only part she could see was his face.
"What's wrong with your face?" she questioned noticing the zombie expression he had, with fish eyes upturned and an inverted smile showing the teeth.
"N-natsume?!"
<< It seemed to Dingars that she was the first time that that being, that man, saw another person. She was not afraid, on the contrary, she was fascinated. She tried to communicate; but it was useless, the words didn't cross, the images on the ground didn't either. They couldn't introduce themselves properly... >>
"It already started!" Melody yelled riding on her uncle's shoulders. "Quick, we have to cross to the other side, I want to see the other version!"
"Haha, calm down." Gregory closed his eyes from the hair tugs his niece gave him.
"Can you even cross the mirrors?" Samantha scoffed.
Melody pouted.
"S-sure." She hid her insecurity poorly. "And where is Airys?"
"Why do you ask?" Smantha said with a smug grin.
"N-nothing, I'd just like to tell you about my favorite part…"
"Don't worry, if we see her on the road I'll ask her to help you" said Gregory and received pats from his niece.
<< She had never stopped to think how difficult it was to communicate without words, however, she didn't allow that to stop her. She began to exaggerate her expressions and reactions as much as possible, that man understood her intentions immediately. She accompanied the man wherever he went, he did the same. Without speaking, without contact, they laughed, shouted, danced and shared precious moments. It was easy to show him that she loved the fruits, it was also easy to realize he didn't know what those things were... >>
"Isn't it funny? It turns out that the woman who made the walls centuries ago had a resonance like mine, and since I'm not cut out to be a guard/"
"Did you get fired from the guard?" Natsume interrupted him, somewhat annoyed. "Couldn't you tell me?"
"T-they didn't fire me, they relocated me" he corrected. "They pay me more for maintaining the walls. In a couple of months, It'll be done."
"We don't have that much time Layd, what happened to your friend?" Natsume leaned against the wall next to him.
"No news yet, though I'm told he might come in a month."
"One month?" she sighed. "Better give me the money to pay the toll, I'll go back to the orphanage first…"
"W-wait, why the rush?" He sweated nervously.
Natsume took off from the wall, sad, meditative.
"I don't want to keep the others waiting, I don't want to break the news to them in a letter either…" Layd swore that his stepsister was going to shed tears. "If it's so important that you wait for your friend, I'll come back first, no problem."
Layd squeezed his eyes shut in anguish. Why does he allow himself the luxury of lying to her? That is being a coward.
"Natsume…" He slowly stepped out of the wall, restoring the space his body was in. "Sorry, I'm not going to lie to you anymore…"
<< As everyone will know, nothing is eternal. In the case of our beloved protagonist, as night fell, the synchronicity was losing strength. The image of her mysterious new friend was fading, just like the golden sand at her feet >>
"So? What happens?"
Melody was pressing her cheeks against one of the mirrors on the other plane, with anger and frustration. They were in an almost deserted area, since most people were watching the work, crossing, visiting places of similar tourist value or using mirrors from busier areas. The only soul present was a man reclining in his porch chair, sleeping with a straw hat covering his face.
"That's what you get for not training properly" Samantha stressed.
"Don't be like that Samantha," Gregory approached Melody. "You know how difficult this is." He patted his little niece and whispered fondly: "Come on, you can. We still have time."
<< The unwanted dismissal arrived sooner than later, unable to say a word or perceive what would be the last second they would share, both were evicted when they stopped seeing each other, at the end of the synchrony. But our Dingars was patient, "For sure tomorrow I will be able to see it again" she said hopefully, curious to know what that other unknown world was and how her friend lived. Even so, the next day it didn't happen, nor the next, nor the next week... she had time to explore several kilometers to the north and east of the forest, after so much time had passed. >>
Airys was enthralled with the acting and narration. Best of all, in several segments, more actors came out and danced and acted like nearby towns, with a sun and a moon crossing over the stage, thrown by actors hidden in the crowd on the other plane.
"Do you like the play?" Zul'luz she whispered in her ear.
"Eh?!" Airys moved away from her in reaction. "Um… yeah?"
Airys was astonished by the beauty of Zul'luz, I mean, it was incredibly obvious how magnificent her bearing was, or how expensive her dress was; but that friendly smile of hers gave her a feeling of deja vu she didn't understand. To top it off the girl she had one eye closed, revealing and highlighting the silvery gleam of her eye.
<< She asked in each nearby town, about the man from another dimension. Nobody was able to answer her, they thought it was some kind of hallucination, that she ate a strange mushroom, that she was imagining things... >>
"Hm, I take back what I said, we don't have time anymore" Gregory said between laughs.
Melody from so much effort was sweating.
"Uncle, help her once and for all" Samantha spat, tired of waiting.
"You are right."
"No!" Before Gregory could put a hand on the mirror, Melody screamed with all her might. "I can make it!"
Samantha shook her head and motioned for Greory to ignore her, but in Gregory's eyes, that was the attitude he would love to see from her often. Is okay to be a little stubborn, is okay to want to achieve goals on her own. She can, he knows it.
"Come on Melody!" He began to act as a cheerleader, and after a few laughs Samantha decided to imitate him.
<< After almost two months without signs of synchrony, Dingars began to think about leaving, continue looking for more adventures and new places. There was nothing left for her to do there, there was no certainty that this mystical event would happen again... What if the townspeople were right? >>
"You can't, you mustn't go back to the orphanage, Natsume."
"What nonsense are you saying?"
"Do you know the reason Echsos ran away?!" Layd stepped forward steadily, making the difference in height between them visible.
"Because of being capricious?! Because he wanted to go on adventures?!"
"Do you know the reason Echsos ran away?!"
"I dont know!"
"Because he found out the truth!" Layd couldn't keep up the tough guy act. "Because… because that orphanage works with the guys who killed his parents, your family…" His voice cracked.
"Huh?" The sparkle in Natsume's eyes faded.
"Yes! Think about it! Isn't it strange? Most orphans are victims similar to you."
"No, it cannot be."
"They teach us to use our soul, and then they send us to fulfill dangerous orders" Layd took Natsume by her shoulders, she tried to get away, shaking her head, unable to understand. "Echsos told me, he found out about it with his resonance… and he opened his mouth in front of the old man."
"No… that doesn't make sense… Arthurion is a father to me! To you! To Echsos!" She broke free of his grasp, with heavy breathing and a huge drop of blood running down her nose. "If he…if he is my enemy…I have no one to trust…"
Natsume fell to the ground, her head ached and her heart trembled with pain.
"You can trust me… you can trust Echsos…"
<< NO! She wasn't crazy, she wasn't wrong, that other dimension, that man, everything was real. She was going to prove it, she wouldn't be satisfied until she could see that dimension again, know that it exists beyond, not until she could introduce herself properly and know his name... but how would she do it? >>
"Oh, how are you Gregory?!" Naoru approached walking exhausted, from the opposite direction of the mirror.
"Naoru!" They shook hands. "What brings you here?"
Samantha greeted him and continued to support her younger sister.
"You know, a break. All that noise from people really annoys me."
"Haha, yeah. There's always a few drunken brawls or some dumb thief."
"Yeah…" Naoru sighed. "I already stopped two." Naoru leaned on his partner's shoulder, glancing at the sister duo and their struggle to get past Melody through the mirror.
"She wants to see the play from the other side. If it takes a long time, I'll pass her on, but it's nice to see her make such an effort."
"You're right" Naoru gave a slight smile.
Gregory patted him on the back which shook Naoru's laziness.
"H-hey!"
"Thank you," Gregory smiled at his friend, "It's a relief to have the support of you and the other Gold Guards, really."
"No… forgive me… I'm not strong enough…" Naoru lowered his head, discouraged.
"Don't worry, if something happens, we'll figure it out together."
That's right, everything will be fine. They just have to keep the secret, and even if Zughan'ko himself comes to annihilate them, he is willing to die for his friends, for the city, for his nieces. As long as they have the willpower, Samantha's life is not in danger.
"Seriously… I'm sorry."
The girls didn't notice, how could they? It was silent killing intent. A pair of figures ran between the rooftops of the street, their footsteps muffled by applause from the large, innocent audience in the distance. Gregory wasn't slow, as soon as he saw the figures pass by in his peripheral vision he prepared to save his nieces from the attack, trusting that Naoru would have his back.
After protecting the girls, they would find out who the killers were, who hired them and how they found out about the secret of the mirrors. After all, running away from Naoru is not easy, he is the fastest Guard. That's right, that's why he had no trouble moving ahead of Gregory and drawing his sword in a wide, grotesque slash across Gregory's chest and shoulder.
His uncle's scream of agony alerted Samantha and Melody to the situation, but it was too late. One of the figures threw a dagger straight at her just before leaping like the other to surround them.
The image of Samantha…covering her little sister with her whole body… was etched in Gregory's retinas, the only pain he felt was in her heart, from being forced to listen to Samantha's poor howl…
<< Lacking ideas, she opted for the last resort. It was time to use her resonance, it was time to make mirrors… >>
And with the applause of ovation at the end of the first half of the work, the sky cracked revealing the first rift.