"You go first..." After all, Fay had already delayed her ceremony by two years. Klein patted her shoulder and pointed to the spot at the platform's center where the moonlight was strongest, speaking in a soft voice.
Fay nodded, her usually serene expression now showing obvious nervousness. With hands resting on her lower abdomen, she drew a deep breath before standing and walking over.
The moonlight draped over her luminous, pristine form like a blue veil. Likely sensing Klein's intense gaze from behind, she shifted her hips somewhat uncomfortably before taking several more deep breaths, gradually relaxing.
Wearing only this celestial gown of moonlight, the beautiful elven maiden slowly raised both arms. Her slightly parted feet strained upward on tiptoe, as if offering all her intimacies to the illumination of the Heart of Gruu.
The sacred atmosphere brought profound serenity to both Klein's heart and body. Smiling, he sat upright and began softly singing the ancient elven ballad. Though not fluent in the elven tongue, he had worked hard to memorize the lyrics specifically for the coming-of-age ceremony. To his surprise, from the very first line, the gentle song flowed from the depths of his soul, requiring no effort to recall the memorized words.
It was the chant of the coming-of-age ceremony, a melody blessed by Raniel. Klein knew that perhaps, with the fading of traditions, this song would be heard less and less in the future. Yet he believed that tonight, across the vast lands of the Elfas Federation and throughout the Holy Realm, countless elves must be standing beside their most intimate companions, offering their voices in blessing.
As the song climbed to its highest notes, the flowing mist retreated before the moonlight, leaving the space around the platform crystal clear. Fay's light wheat-colored skin seemed to radiate a soft blue glow, and her feet, stretched to their highest point, appeared ready to leave the wooden boards entirely, as if her whole being might ascend into the light.
She kept her eyes closed and released a long breath, her sigh intertwined with an indescribable mixture of contentment and joy. Her lips curved in happiness as two gem-like tears escaped from her tightly shut eyes, trailing downward.
Klein sang the blessing song flowing from his soul with complete devotion. As the song drew to its close, the ethereal blue moonlight gradually returned to its usual brightness, and the thin mist reclaimed the surrounding night sky. When the final note dissolved among the accompanying dense foliage, Fay gave a soft murmur, lowered her arms, and slowly turned around, opening her eyes.
Fay is still Fay—no matter how one looked at her, there were no dramatic changes. Only her jewel-like eyes had gained an additional layer of shifting radiance.
She walked over to Klein with small steps, crouched down to stroke his hair, and says softly, "It's your turn now."
He nods nervously, then kisses Fay's cheek. With an expectant heart, he stands steadily at the platform's center, scanning his surroundings. All the trees lie below his feet, and breaking through above the forest canopy, even the air feels exceptionally fresh.
Taking a pleasant deep breath, he follows the steps he has rehearsed countless times in his mind. Like Fay's pose moments ago, he straightens his bare body and slowly rises onto his toes.
Though the cool night breeze caresses him, a distinct warmth radiates around his body. The blue moonlight seems to transform into something tangible, spiraling and wrapping around every inch of his skin.
Like bathing in warm water, a cozy warmth gently surges from the depths of his soul, flowing through every vein in his body.
Fay's melodious chanting reaches his ears, the song transforming into gentle hands that lift his body as light as a feather.
It is time...
Lord Raniel, please let me become a great archer who can protect others... As he silently speaks the coming-of-age prayer in his heart, Klein's mind becomes more peaceful than ever before, as if an invisible net holds all worries and sorrows in another world.
He believes the Dream Angel of that other world surely hears the prayer of her devoted follower.
Whether in response or not, the warmth lingering in his chest grows more intense. His breathing becomes deep and prolonged, and Fay's song suddenly seems to slow and drift distantly in his ears.
Suddenly, a stinging, burning sensation pierces into his heart. It isn't exactly painful, but far from comfortable. He feels confused, wondering if he has done something wrong, but then realizes he can no longer control his own body.
Though his eyes are closed, his vision grows increasingly bright.
This isn't the gentle blue moonlight, but a blood-red radiance that floods everywhere like a tide, filling every visible corner.
Countless voices roar in a language he cannot understand, their power contained within enough to make even the most ferocious mist apes curl up and tremble.
White feathers drift in all directions, igniting into blinding fireballs the moment they touch the red light, triggering heart-wrenching screams.
Crimson arrows fall like meteors, dense as a rainstorm—a downpour that harvests waves of dying moans.
Everything in sight is filled with the savage breath of death. Even the Twin Angels who rule the underworld could hardly inspire such despair and terror.
Yet he feels no trace of fear.
If there is one word that comes closest to describing the turbulent emotions pounding in his chest, it would be rage.
What kind of scene is this? Why is Lord Raniel showing me these visions? A bewildered Klein finds himself completely at a loss, realizing that even Fay's song has vanished without him noticing when it stopped.
Another furious roar erupts, this time sharp and piercing, clearly belonging to a woman who has lost all reason.
The blood-red light suddenly dims as a surging blue torrent instantly claims most of the space. In the blurred vision, he vaguely sees an enormous dragon made of flowing water, carrying a petite figure as it charges toward the source of the crimson light.
Klein strains to make out the figure nearly consumed by the red light, but can only see what appears to be a single beating wing remaining behind that graceful form.
A Winged One? Or... an angel?
This thought makes him more panicked. He desperately tries to banish these inexplicable images from his mind, but each attempt proves futile.
The red and blue lights vanish simultaneously, yet darkness doesn't return to his vision as it should. In the fading light, he sees countless stone fragments falling like collapsing clouds, while spider web-like cracks rapidly spread. Mournful, despairing songs rise from every corner. The firmament above bears neither sun nor twin moons—only an endless celestial curtain that swiftly dims from brilliant gold to profound black.
His heart suddenly experiences an intense stabbing pain, an icy sensation spreading from its center. A cold, calm voice speaks softly in that same unknown language, the steady male voice showing no trace of emotion.
Then, at last, everything returns to darkness.
Klein frantically focuses all his attention, but still cannot hear Fay's song. Instead, an incredibly faint voice reaches him, as if traversing an immeasurable distance:
"Please don't... abandon me... don't... abandon... me..."