"You... want to play music?"
Siyana's eyes widened in confusion.
"You... you want to play music with me?"
She hunched her shoulders like she had reverted back to her shut-in NEET days.
"That Artifact is called
Raon pointed at the ocarina Siyana was holding.
"While it's a good Artifact that enhances Spirit Energy just by holding it, playing it can summon the power of the World Tree."
He explained to Siyana the true power that the
"Such... such an item existed?"
Sterin's eyes widened as if hearing about it for the first time.
"To think it wasn't just for enhancing Spirit Energy, who could have created such an Artifact..."
He couldn't close his wrinkled mouth, as if unable to believe it.
"Judging by the craftsmanship and the magic engraved within, it seems to be a collaboration between elves, dwarves, and humans. A rare occurrence indeed."
Raon shook his head, indicating that even he didn't know who made it.
"You... you mentioned that at the beginning too. That playing the ocarina would bring out the Artifact's true power. But I can't play at all..."
Siyana's fingertips trembled as she admitted she had never played an ocarina before.
"Compared to other instruments, the ocarina isn't difficult. You'll learn quickly. Besides..."
Raon looked at the World Tree while resting his hand on the Wooden Ring Sword.
"Since the melody itself will follow the World Tree's breath, it will be familiar music to you, Lady Siyana."
He nodded, assuring her that she would certainly be able to do it.
"Couldn't... couldn't you play it instead, Lord Raon? If I make a mistake..."
Siyana lifted her gaze to look at the red mist. She wasn't worried about making mistakes herself, but rather about something happening to Rimmer's soul because of them.
"As I mentioned at the start, we'll do this together. I'll be playing too."
Raon waved his hand, saying this wasn't something he could do alone.
"To-together? What instrument will you be playing?"
Siyana looked Raon up and down, trying to spot an instrument.
"This is my instrument."
Raon raised the Wooden Ring Sword toward the sky. Its leaf-shaped guard resembled both the ocarina and the World Tree's leaves.
"With... with a sword?"
"You seem to have forgotten. I have quite a reputation in this area too."
-Isn't it infamy rather than reputation?
Wrath nodded in agreement.
-Everyone who heard that sound died spitting blood!
He wrinkled his nose, referring to the terrifying song of the sword.
"Listen."
Raon wrapped the blade of the Wooden Ring Sword with Garunua's wind. Woong! The pale green wind pressure made the sword vibrate, creating an intense resonance. The Sword Mantra, which had once sounded like a hungry beast's cry, smoothly transformed under Raon's touch, creating elegant rhythms like a piano and violin duet.
The sword song. The melody sung by the sword rode along the Wooden Ring Sword's blade, spreading throughout the Great Forest.
Whaaaa! The World Tree seemed to enjoy Raon's performance, spreading its branches wider and scattering green mana.
"A sword song! You're singing with the sword!"
Siyana exclaimed in realization, her voice ringing with excitement.
"I never knew a song sung by a sword could be so beautiful."
She clasped her hands together in front of Raon, moved by the performance.
"I thought it was only for killing enemies, to think it could perform such music."
Sterin's eyes also widened in surprise.
"It was a song that touched the heart."
He nodded, expressing how much he enjoyed the sword's song.
"Isn't that a technique you haven't used in a while?"
Martha frowned while looking at Raon.
"Why are you still so good at it!"
She let out a frustrated breath, unable to understand.
"It's been a while since I've shown it to others, but..."
Raon calmly waved his hand.
"I've been practicing alone all this time."
Since he practiced every form from basic to advanced swordsmanship during his training, there was no such thing as a rusty technique for him.
"Raon! Play for me too!"
Evelyn spread her hands, asking for a private performance.
"..."
Raon pretended not to hear Evelyn and turned his gaze back to the World Tree.
"If we play following the World Tree's breath, we can create purification power strong enough to erase the mist and wind covering Sepia."
He turned his eyes to Siyana, saying that they needed to play to save Rimmer and Sepia.
"Then... then will you be composing the song, Lord Raon?"
Siyana swallowed dryly, as if she hadn't even considered this possibility.
"That's right."
Raon calmly rubbed his chin.
"You. You even know how to compose?"
Sterin's jaw dropped in surprise.
"There's no need for composition. Right now, in my eyes..."
Raon gazed at the World Tree with eyes burning blue.
"I can read all of the World Tree's breaths."
Through the Ring of Fire and Azure Clear Eye, he could see the World Tree's breath and mana flow. If he could just teach the mana breathing method that followed that flow, the music would create itself.
"How long will it take to create the song?"
Siyana nodded, saying she would practice the basics of the ocarina until then.
"It's already done."
Raon nodded, saying he had already completed the mana breathing method that could follow the World Tree's breath.
"Ah..."
Siyana froze, apparently not expecting it to be completed so quickly.
"Insane..."
Sterin too couldn't close his gaping mouth, seemingly shocked.
-To think High Elves would be amazed by someone else's talent...
Wrath twisted his lips in disbelief.
-This damned system has created a monster!
He ground his teeth, vowing to take it all away later.
'Do as you please.'
Raon pushed Wrath aside and approached Siyana.
"Let's do this together. To fulfill a foolish elf's wish."
***
"Hueeee..."
Siyana slumped to the ground, her hands still gripping the ocarina.
"I'm sorry. I can't do it well."
She dropped her head, saying it wasn't easy since it was her first time playing the ocarina.
"It's alright."
Raon lowered his Wooden Ring Sword and calmly shook his head.
"We have plenty of time."
He smiled wryly, saying that it wasn't them but Rimmer who was dealing with the malice right now.
"When you say things like that, it makes me even more anxious!"
Siyana shook her head frantically, begging him to stop.
"I'm joking. Just joking."
Raon gently waved his hand.
"As I said from the beginning, you don't need to play perfectly. We just need to follow the World Tree's breath."
He smiled, telling her to think of it as something as easy as eating.
"That might be possible for you, Lord Raon. It's hard for me."
Siyana bit her lip while wiping sweat from her forehead.
'It's not easy.'
The ocarina was a more difficult instrument than expected. It wasn't just about playing - she had to manage mana, control her breathing, and continuously move her fingers, making her head and hands work independently.
'It's also embarrassing because Lord Raon is so good at it.'
Raon's sword song flowed with such beautiful melody that it was complete on its own. She couldn't help but feel intimidated, as it was incomparable to her awkward, repetitive breathing sounds.
'And then...'
Siyana swallowed dryly and glanced behind her. Swoosh! Evelyn was watching her and Raon from behind a tree with cold eyes. Her long purple hair flowing in the wind made her look as eerie as a ghost.
'W-why is she being so scary!'
She had given up her fan feelings for Raon and was just practicing music, but that woman hadn't eaten or slept, just keeping watch. It was so scary that Siyana wanted to hide under a blanket.
"D-don't mind her."
Raon shook his head, seeming to sense Evelyn's presence through Siyana's gaze.
"Sh-she's always like that."
Though even he stammered for the first time, apparently scared of Evelyn too.
"Shall we try again?"
Raon raised his sword first.
"...Yes."
Siyana nodded and put the ocarina to her lips. Woong! The Wooden Ring Sword vibrated softly, releasing a subtle resonance, while the ocarina produced a dull but earnest melody. Zing! The sword and ocarina vibrated together, creating music that perfectly matched the World Tree's breath.
Clear green light rose around the World Tree as nature's mana surged dramatically.
Tak! Just as the massive mana was about to rise into the sky with purifying energy, the ocarina's note went off-key. Chiik! In that moment, the light burning from the World Tree subsided, and the elegant rhythm that had sounded like heavenly instruments faded away.
"I-I'm sorry."
Siyana lowered the ocarina and bowed her head to Raon.
"I was concentrating, but I made a mistake..."
"Let's stop here for today. Seeing how your breathing is shaking, I think you need to rest."
Raon sheathed his Wooden Ring Sword as he spoke.
"Haa, alright."
Siyana nodded and sighed. Her expression darkened like Sepia's sky.
"I... I'll rest for a while."
Siyana bowed her head first and went into her house.
-Aren't you worried? At this rate, it won't succeed.
Wrath frowned, saying her practice and skill were both severely lacking.
'I don't think so.'
Raon smiled slightly and hid behind Siyana's house.
About 10 minutes passed. Siyana changed into comfortable clothes and went back into the forest.
"Not enough."
Siyana returned to their practice spot, put the ocarina to her lips, and began to play. Her eyes were more serious than ever, and her slender fingers moved as carefully as if walking on thin ice.
"..."
Raon gently connected nature's mana to match her playing, supporting Siyana as she practiced alone without rest.
'How about that?'
He shrugged at Wrath, whose eyes had grown wide.
'Does this still look insufficient?'
-No, it's not bad at all.
***
A week had passed. Red mist and wind swirled above the World Tree that spread greenery throughout the world. During the week that Raon and Siyana practiced their music, the malice that Rimmer had brought grew even larger, feeding on the negative energy rushing toward the World Tree.
Now the mist and wind began descending from the sky to Sepia's earth, as if even Rimmer's soul could no longer contain them.
"Ughh..."
Dorian bit his lip as he looked at the red sky that had descended right before their eyes.
"Th-the sky looks like it's going to collapse! Can't we just go somewhere else?"
He grabbed Raon's sleeve, suggesting they should leave.
"Stop being so negative!"
Martha slapped the back of Dorian's head with her palm.
"It definitely won't collapse. Stay still!"
She grabbed Dorian's nape, telling him to wait here.
"It won't collapse, but even if it does, I'll save Raon."
Evelyn shook her head, telling them not to worry.
"...What about me, not just Lord Raon?"
Dorian blinked, wondering why only Raon's name was mentioned. Of course, Evelyn gave no response.
"It's definitely gotten rougher."
Raon curled his lips as he looked at the malice that had become a red storm enveloping Sepia.
"If we don't succeed today, everything will be ruined, won't it?"
He shrugged teasingly at Siyana who stood on his right.
"Siyana. Can you really do this?"
Sterin, whose wrinkles had deepened over the week, raised his hand worriedly.
"If it's too difficult, perhaps leaving it to Raon would..."
"It's fine."
Siyana threw off the blanket covering her face and body.
"I can do it."
She nodded confidently while raising her fingers, now calloused and cut from the ocarina's sharp holes.
"I'll save my older brother!"
Siyana stared at the red mist and wind with calm eyes, as if she had overcome both fear and embarrassment.
"Please begin."
She nodded as she made her request to Raon standing beside her.
"Very well."
Raon drew his Wooden Ring Sword with a subtle smile. Ching! Garunua's pale green wind rode up the silver blade, distorting the air. Raon Zieghart Style Ocean Sword Style.
Fourth Form: Azure Rain.
His unique swordsmanship, originally meant to kill enemies by scraping the scabbard, became at this moment the most beautiful instrument in the world, spreading clear melodies throughout the Great Forest.
"Haa."
Siyana took a deep breath and put the ocarina to her lips. She covered each small hole with her bandaged fingers. Paaaaah.
A magnificent resonance burst forth from the leaf-shaped ocarina, powerful enough to shake the forest. It was an elegant and beautiful sound that brought new light to the darkness-shrouded Sepia.
Woong! The different timbres of the sword song and ocarina yearned for each other like separated lovers, following the World Tree's breath to merge into one path. The sound that should have been invisible was tinged with pure green light, rising into the void like a deep wave.
The World Tree's breath was nature's breath. The green radiance that purified all malice in the world seized the dark red burning mist and wind.
The mist and wind that even Highest-grade Spirits and Grandmasters couldn't penetrate hardened like plaster and dissipated into particles of brilliant light. The purification of malice. The World Tree's energy that erased everything and created anew was exerting heavenly power through Raon and Siyana's song.
"Ah, the mist is being erased!"
"To think this was possible with music, what an insufferably talented guy!"
"I told you. It wouldn't collapse."
Dorian, Martha, and Evelyn each nodded, showing surprise and faith.
"Siyana..."
Sterin pressed his lips tightly as he watched his granddaughter who seemed to be entering a new realm. Woong! Raon and Siyana focused on their performance, gazing into each other's eyes, unaware that the malice Rimmer had brought was being purified.
As their performance reached its peak, the World Tree's intensified breath finally erased all the malice that had covered the Great Forest, creating a flow of pure mana.
"Well done! Now it's..."
Just as Raon was lowering his Wooden Ring Sword while praising Siyana... Within the red mana and wind that had transformed into nature's mana, Rimmer's smiling face seemed to appear.
"Master?"
The moment Raon called out to Rimmer with wide eyes, the masses of mana filling the sky fell like meteor showers, covering Raon, Siyana, and Sterin.