a_clockwork_melody | Phase 2 - Of Hymns & Religion

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Phase 2 - Of Hymns & Religion

♪ BGM: The Other Side of Memories

"You sing beautifully."

Lyner!?

"Do you sing like this often?"

...I'm not that good at singing, so I have to practice...

"You're being too hard on yourself. You were great."

You don't have to lie to me... My Songs don't help anybody. I'm not like Claire... People need her... And I always get in the way... I'm nothing but trouble.

"... So you and Miss Claire grew up together?"

...Yes. Unlike me, Claire can do anything she wants. Just like the concert today... People can count on her when they need her. I joined the Church and tried my best to become a candidate for the Holy Maidens. But, as a Class-D Reyvateil, I couldn't even find a partner. So when the Bishop ordered me to join the Singing Hill mission, it made me so happy. I actually felt like someone needed me.

"But I do need you, Aurica. At the Singing Hill, when I was about to fall...you saved me with your Song Magic."

...

"Don't act like this. You never got in my way..."

...Why are you so nice to me?

"... Huh? Me? Nice? ...I'm just a normal guy..."

No, you are...

"..."

...You're really kind.

[A.) Action / The Church of Salvation:

♪ BGM: Pulse ~Elemia Arrange~

Aurica found out at some point that there was a church in Mayfield, and that their main day of doing things was on Sunday. Curiously, she decides to get dressed and head there on the first Sunday she's here. Unfortunately, it seems she missed the Mass already, not that she knows what that's about. After admiring both the exterior and interior for a little, she'll move to sit on one of the pews and rest her head on her thumbs, both hands clasped in some manner of prayer.

Though, if she's not doing that, chances are she'll be checking out the whole place, observing with wonderment. Or maybe just sitting on the steps outside.]

[B.) Action / 458 Stone Street / Housemates:

♪ BGM: Malta Living

"Uhm..what kind of religion do you have back where you're from?"]

[C.) Action / Outside & Inside 458 Stone Street:

She'll be outside in her usual Mayfield attire, or indoors doing some housework. She'll then close her eyes and begin to sing in a hushed sort of voice:

Amakami o, kakemau, tama sasayaki yueba,
       (If the spiritual murmurings that soar through the heavens were connected,)

Kanmuribi furimichite, nanihito yuki orinase;
       (the crown of fire would completely descend and interweave the happiness of everyone;)

Samidare no, aimi o, tada nagaruru koe wa,
       (The voice that merely drifts in the indigo sea of an early summer rain,)

Utsuroi sakanagi o~boroge na furusato no ne;
       (is the changing, reversed, and faint sound of your birthplace;)

Kanade narifuku gaia, sora ni hibiki ainaseba
       (If the gaias that we are playing resonated together in the skies,)

Tobekaku, inori no uta matoite;
       (they would be clad in the soaring song of a prayer;)


Yasuragi no oka, namida no garasu, kioku no hako omoi no hi,
       (The hill of peace, the glass of tears, the box of memories, the monument of feelings,)

Hitoe ikue no, utsurou kiito, tamashii no ne musubitsunagu;
       (the single and multiple blank silk threads that tie and connect the roots of the souls;)

Tayutau, mu no umi, shourei no kazaiki,
       (The swaying ocean of nothingness, the breath of wind of the spirits,)

Tokeyuu, mandara ni, utai no miko are.
       (The dissolving and tying mandala, and in there, the singing priestesses.)

After that, she'll either go back to whatever she was doing or sing something else. Unless of course she's interrupted or otherwise distracted.]

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... Let's just say that there was somethin' ancient an' evil sealed away under th' colony. An' I ain't usin' "evil" lightly, here.

[Gat's expression is somewhere between disturbed recollection and frowning in indignation.]

... An' I think th' folks runnin' th' Pioneer Project knew it. I can't say for sure, though.

[Gat glances to Dakki, looking for confirmation. She'd logged a lot more time on Ragol than he ever did. Though, Aurica's continued questions about the Gurhal Faith regain his attention.]

It don't necessarily have to be from Neudaiz; th' Gurhal Faith has believers all over th' system. Hell, there's a lot of CASTs who believe in it. Just, not a whole lot of 'em live on Parum.

I can tell you what little I know, though; th' Gurhal Faith was founded by newmans before they took control of Neudaiz, hundreds of years ago. They're a race of genetically engineered humanoids, for th' purpose of bein' able to utilize photonic technology better. That was a factor in th' faith's development; a lotta newmans feel a connection to photons an' spiritual energy th' rest of us folks can't understand.

Th' basic belief of th' Gurhal Faith, though, is that all life has a basis in photons, in th' spiritual sense. That's what they call th' Holy Light. Also ties into th' Divine Maiden; they believe th' Holy Light controls all events, an' th' Divine Maiden can see th' future.

If you're lookin' for an in-depth discussion about th' Gurhal Faith's beliefs, though, you'd be best off askin' someone who's actually part of th' Communion of Gurhal. I'd expect a clergyman or an Armed Servant to have a better understandin' of th' theology than most believers.

[It does not appear to be a topic that Dakki much cares for. Gat wants her opinion? ...her opinion? She grimaces for a moment, shakes out another shirt, then actually tries to think.]

I've been through the caverns, and the mines, and the ruins themselves. I've read Rico's messages, and I've skimmed things off of terminals in the mines. I don't believe everyone on Pioneer 1 was in on it. I think enough of them were. Enough of them either thought they could control what was down there, didn't understand what was down there, or wanted to let loose what was down there...

[She shakes another shirt, staring off into the distance.]

...you explain it so well, Gat.

[A pair of pants is picked up, then. She's still staring.]

If there's a Holy Light that's a part of everything, then the SEED-forms and whatever was in those ruins are some sort of... opposite.

... I'm sorry if it's a poor topic for you two. [She really could tell by now that there were things in the ruins that were beyond a casual understanding of life, in the bad sense.]

So a conflict between good and evil... photons though..what are those?

[It's then Aurica notices Dakki's staring off into space. She walks over to her, head tilted with a frown.] Are you okay, mom?

[Gat shakes his head.]

It's alright, Aurica. I'll say this much—th' kind of things I saw under th' surface of Ragol, an' what I've seen of th' SEED back in th' Gurhal System— it's enough to make me think there's somethin' bigger goin' on out there beyond th' scope of a single world. Like th' galaxy's one big show, an' everything I've seen an' done is jus' a side show.

[Normally the observation that one's own life is a drop in the bucket would be a no-brainer for a populated world, but Gat and castaways like him have crossed several worlds and fought several flavors of eldritch abominations.]

[Aurica's other question changes his train of thought, though.]

You know anything about th' particles that're a part of electromagnetic radiation? Photons're kind of th' same. Named th' same, even—but these kinda photons convert spiritual energies into other kinds.

You can crystallize photons like any other particle, too. Photon reactors make use'a that. Where I'm from, you can power most electronics with a photon reactor th' tip of your finger. No need for all these power lines an' cords you see 'round town.

[He's gesturing to the TV as an example, with the power cord plugged into the wall.]

...I'm alright. [Her case of the stares is shaken off when Aurica brings it to her attention, and Dakki plasters on a smile. Being mopey and moody in front of the entire household is just.... no.]

The side show helps support the big one, though.

[Well! Now she has a basket full of shaken-out damp clothes. It would be a good time to excuse herself. So she does, flashing another smile at Aurica on the way out.]

♪ BGM: Can Still See The Light (Piano) (http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=NG9sYS3ACFM) (Repeat) (http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch/?v=NG9sYS3ACFM)

[She could only look on in a troubled frown as Dakki went on her way. She sighed inwardly as she knew she was faking it. Her attention turned back to Gat for the moment though.

Galaxy... Someone she met earlier today had told her about his own galaxy, a concept she didn't really imagine until then. It was still something to be easily overwhelmed by, as she listened on.]

Not really, but I think I can understand...back on my world we could use the Symphonic Power of materials and Song Magic to power things.

[Her own depression was beginning to set in though.] Did something happen to Dakki before..? I feel like I caused that reaction from her...

[Gat watches Dakki taking her leave to continue the laundry work, before looking back over to Aurica.]

... It ain't your fault, Aurica. Dakki an' I, we've both been through a lot. Crossin' worlds from Ragol to th' Gurhal System was—a bit traumatic, I s'pose you could say. As if what we'd found on Ragol weren't enough.

In th' Gurhal System, they call folks like us—former Hunters from Coral an' Ragol—"castaways." ... 'Least, to those in th' know. There's a gag order keepin' us from talkin' about it openly.

[Gat wants to ask about this Song Magic and Symphonic Power business, but he figures it's not a good point in the conversation to do so—yet.]

Oh..

[She can't find any words to say that could make it better. Trauma was something she knew too, both in her distant past as well as recent times. If anything, she was as guilty as Dakki, if not moreso; half of her time interacting with people here was with a forced smile of her own to help endure her internal hardship.]

..I see.

[After that, Aurica could only stare out the doorway that Dakki had left from. Perhaps thinking of her past, or just not knowing what else to do.]

[... Well, that leaves a chance to ask about Aurica's world, at least.]

What's this about Song Magic an' Symphoic Power now?

[There was a selfish caveat at least; with her family here she didn't need that mask, even if it made for a gloomier environment at times. She caught herself in an bemusedly grim grin as Gat asked her a new question. She lightly slapped her face with both hands to cheer herself up a little.]

Sorry, I want to do something to help both of you, I just don't have any means to right now...

[Her expression soured for a moment as she tried to think about how to go about explaining.] Those things? ...I'd show you, but Mayfield. [She figured her new catchphrase would say enough. She tried explaining it though anyway.]

Back on my world, Ar Ciel, many things were powered by Symphonic Power. We could take these things called Grathnode Crystals, and use their resonance ability to create things with them, from medicine to weapons. That's what I was told anyway..I don't work with Grathmelding all that much compared to my friends. I know a little though.

Song Magic itself could be used as a substitute, but it's taxing on those who sing, like myself. We get called Reyvateils because of what we do, normal humans can't use Song Magic. We call on the tower we live on to grant us power through our songs, but each Reyvateil can do it differently. We don't have to use it for Symphonic Power though. We can use it to heal people, or destroy objects, walls, other living things if we have to...

It's as easy as imagining, feeling, a great ball of fire, and it can become true, with our voice and words to create and guide it. I couldn't even do that for a long time though...I was one of the worst Reyvateils.

[Heh. Mayfield. Gat nods with sympathy. Light-blasted town and its stripping everything that made a person what they were. At least the town's been relatively peaceful in recent weeks. ~~Iddn't that right, Murphy?~~]

So from what I'm understandin' ... Song Magic works a lot like TECHNICs, 'cept that it's done through singin' an' it's tied to that there tower. So I reckon th' tower functions similarly to th' gear I see techers an' Forces use. Only on a much larger scale.

[Normally Gat would think that's extremely limiting since that would render Song Magic only usable around the tower's broadcast zone, but she'd already mentioned that there's only a few islands left in her world. It wouldn't be a problem.]

[And now he finds himself curous ...]

There any special meanin' to th' term "reyvateil?"

♪ BGM: Whisper (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w94cR_7Ufh0) (Repeat) (http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch/?v=w94cR_7Ufh0)

TECHNICs? ...So that means there's something like that where you two came from? That's somehow reassuring. [If they could relate to her easier, all the better, it seemed.]

A Reyvateil is someone who can sing Song Magic, more or less. Some are found, some are raised...it just makes a difference in how the person is born, really. Only girls can become Reyvateils, but after a certain age in their teens, they get a really bad fever. [She idly reaches for the back of her neck as she continues, her eye contact waning.] Some time after that, they feel better and a tattoo of sorts appears on their body somewhere, to let it be known they've become a Reyvateil.

That's how it is for Third Generation Reyvateils like myself at least...there are others who were just simply...like that, created by people. Those are the Reyvateils we come from, called Pureblood or Beta Revyateils.

[Her face made a frown, as she looked back to the doorway.] My mother...was one of those. Both of my parents are gone though, they have been for many years. I don't even know if they're dead or just missing... [A sigh.] So I sort of gave up trying to look for them when I couldn't find them anywhere.

[Gat remains quiet the whole time Aurica explains the nature of Reyvateils to him. At first, he has a sort of curious frown on his face as Aurica mentions that some Reyvateils are found rather than raised—which he takes to mean as being born. Though when she gets to the part about losing her parents, he takes on a more sympathetic expression, and looks down at the floor for a moment.]

... Sorry t'hear that, Aurica.

[It does put a lot of her personality in perspective, to know that she lost her parents ... and it doesn't sound like an old wound to her, either.]

[The girl glanced at her not!dad's direction while still facing the doorway, her head moving down just an inch. It was her only register of response, aside from a silent sigh that heaved from her chest. She looked back in front of her and started to move, stopping at the doorway to lean on it with her arms, turning to look back at Gat.]

I'm going to go check up on her, okay?

[Gat nods. There's always time to ask more about the nature of reyvateils later, after all.]

Alright.

[Which reminds him that he hasn't finished his share of the laundry ... so he'll turn his attention back to that, picking up the basket of clothes he'd been carrying.]

[She makes an almost unnoticeable nod before leaving.

Dakki wouldn't be of much talk though, as she would find out. At least, Aurica offered to help with her chores.]

[This progresses towards C.)]

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Phase 2 - Of Hymns & Religion

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