Tune That Halts the Clocks
As we finished our prayers, a soft orchestra began to play, and we felt a sense of peace wash over us.
Suddenly, the statue lit up with a bright light, enveloping us in its warm glow.
The music grew louder, and we heard a voice that seemed to come from the statue itself.
"Beneath a lofty statue, behold the thrall that lies therein,
Gaze upward, and you shall see it, with arms raised, reaching for skies so cerulean.
Yet, beneath the earthy plinth, a myst'ry waits to be revealed,
Wherein lies the solution to free those who are kept bound, oppressed, and sealed.
Descend the steps with courage bold, venture into the abyssal deep,
Discover the verity you seek, the truth that would make one weep.
Wherefore doth this place holds the key to breaking enslavement's shameful curse,
And grant release to those in bondage, from sufferings dire and worse?"
The ethereal voice faded away, leaving behind a haunting echo that reverberated through the concert hall.
[System: New quest received]
+Quest Name: The Liberation of Caelumoria
+Quest Description: Caelumoria, the land of flying cities, is a wondrous sight to behold. However, it is also a land where the practice of enslaving certain groups of people still exists. You have been tasked with leading a group of adventurers to liberate the enslaved people of Caelumoria and put an end to the practice once and for all. Additionally, while you're on this quest, you may uncover the mysteries behind how Caelumoria was able to obtain its power to fly.
+Quest Objectives:
- To reveal the hidden places, and bring forth freedom to the captives; to vanquish the leaders of corruption, and seek out the source of their strength.
+Quest Rewards:
- 100000 Exp points for completing the quest
- Steam Strider
- A unique artifact that has been passed down by the Caelumorian people for generations, said to hold the key to unlocking their greatest secrets
[System: Accept quest?]
< Yes / No >
Yes.
[System: Quest has been accepted, good luck adventurer]
Gradually, the orchestra's majestic notes dissipated, coming to a gentle stop as the last note lingered in the air.
As the light dissipated, we found ourselves staring at Orion, who was clutching a piece of paper in his hand. He held it up to his face, squinting as he studied it with intense scrutiny.
"Well, looks like we have our work cut out for us," Orion announced, his voice laced with a hint of excitement and trepidation.
He continued to examine the paper closely, the creases on his forehead deepening with each passing moment.
"I don't understand," Airi said, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to make sense of the situation.
"What does the paper say?" I asked, leaning forward to catch a glimpse of the mysterious document that had brought us here.
"In a distant realm of ancient lore,
Lies a sanctuary, cryptic to the core.
To unravel its mysteries, one must pray,
For entry to its fabled estate.
Once inside, a grand piano resounds,
With a melody that never astounds.
The chords cascade, so brightly and fair,
A symphony of joy beyond compare.
But to journey deeper into its heart,
One must decode a cryptic musical chart.
An orchestra of ethereal grace,
Only the most virtuous can retrace.
By the river's edge, a note unknown,
A hidden treasure, a song unsown.
But to reveal what's hidden from sight,
Let the water mirror the notes aright." Orion read the paper.
"Ah, I see," I exclaimed, a moment of clarity washing over me as I finally grasped the solution.
"Hah!? How did you figure that out?" Airi asked, her expression reflecting confusion.
"We simply need to perform the piece that was played on the piano in reverse," I declared with absolute certainty.
They chorused in disbelief, "Simply huh?"
Orion added, skeptical, "But that piece went on for nearly a quarter of an hour. How are we supposed to remember it all?"
"Perhaps we should have brought a recording device," Airi suggested.
I declare with unwavering certainty, "We just need to play it, it's not that hard."
They said in unison, "Just huh?"
Orion gasped in disbelief, "Are you telling us that you can play this intricate composition in reverse after only hearing it once?"
"Most likely, yes," I replied with a smile, feeling the urge to touch the piano keys.
As I listened to the song, it sounds exactly like Moonlight Sonata in E-flat minor, I couldn't help but wonder if it could be played in reverse.
"Let's see," I said, as I began to play the opening backwards.
Soon, people from across the room and hallway began to gather around us.
As the notes filled the room, one of the onlookers exclaimed, "What a majestic performance!"
The others nodded in agreement, and gasps and whispers of admiration filled the space.
"Absolutely stunning!" exclaimed one listener.
"I can't believe what I'm hearing," added another.
"Bravo! Magnificent!" cried out someone from the back of the room.
"I've never heard anything like it," said another, smiling.
As I finished playing, the crowd erupted into applause, their hands clapping in unison.
But then something strange happened.
Time seemed to slow down, and the once-vibrant world around me suddenly turned monochrome, draining the colors from everything in sight.
My heart raced as I looked around in confusion, calling out to my friends Airi and Orion for reassurance.
But to my horror, they were both frozen in place, their faces contorted in fear and devoid of emotion.
"Airi? Orion?" I tried to call out, but my voice was silent as if I had suddenly lost the ability to speak.
That's when it happened - my vision cracked like glass, the world becoming a kaleidoscope of fragmented images.
I felt dizzy, my mind struggling to comprehend what was happening.
I blinked, trying to clear my vision, and when I opened my eyes again, the sound of applause resumed, as if nothing had happened.
But my relief was short-lived.
Just as suddenly, the piano shattered into pieces before my eyes.
The once-beautiful instrument was now a heap of rubble on the ground, its destruction a shocking sight to behold.
The audience, who had been clapping just moments before, fell silent and then started to scream in shock and surprise.
I stood frozen, unable to comprehend what was happening.
It was as if I had entered another dimension, a place where reality was distorted and unpredictable.
My breathing became rapid and shallow, and I felt a hand on my shoulder.
It was Airi, trying to comfort me amidst the chaos, but her touch was icy and lifeless as if she had turned to stone.
"Hey, are you okay?" she asked in a flat, monotone voice.
My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to process what was happening.
"N-no, who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear.
[System Alert: Warning! Player's exhaustion level has reached critical levels]
"Hey, are you okay?" Airi repeated, her voice devoid of emotion.
"Airi?" I asked again, my voice cracking.
[System Alert: Warning! Player's exhaustion level has reached critical levels]
"Hey, are you okay?" Airi repeated her line, sounding almost robotic.
I heard a scream, but it was distant as if someone was whispering in my ear.
"Mika!"
...
...
...
"Mika!"
...
...
...
"MIKA!"
"AIRI!" I shouted, desperate for some sign of life.
I blinked and saw that Airi was still touching my shoulder.
Her eyes seemed to focus on me for the first time, and she asked, "Hey, why did you just stand there after the piano shattered?"
[System Alert: Warning! Player's exhaustion level has reached critical levels]
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
It wasn't just the piano; it was everything.
"I don't know what's going on," I said, my voice trembling.
"I don't remember anything after the piano broke."
Orion tried to reassure me, "It's okay, man. Shattering the piano was probably not your fault. It was just an old piece of junk."
But despite his attempts, I still felt uneasy.
This wasn't a normal situation, and I couldn't ignore the sense of danger that hung in the air.
[System Alert: Warning! Player's exhaustion level has reached critical levels]
As we stood there in confusion, Orion suddenly pointed to a staircase nearby.
"Look, there's a staircase over there," he said.
"It's probably the quest objective," Airi added.
They began to walk towards the staircase, but I stayed put, still trying to process what had just happened.
It wasn't until Airi called out my name that I snapped back to reality.
[System Alert: Warning! Player's exhaustion level has reached critical levels]
"Mika?" she asked in a confused voice.
I realized that I was falling behind and quickly followed them down the staircase.
As we descended, the darkness swallowed us, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread creeping up on me.
"Are you okay, Mika?" Airi asked, sensing my unease.
[System Alert: Warning! Player's exhaustion level has reached critical levels.]
But before I could answer, Orion interjected, "Man, don't tell me you're afraid of the dark. I got a flashlight. No worries."
"I'm fine."
I smiled.
[System Alert: Warning! Player's exhaustion level has reached critical levels]