MELODY

“What are you looking at?” Melody hears a voice behind her, giving her a start. She escapes the daze she had been in and turns to see her Sister Rae. A smile cannot help but pass her lips as she chuckles at Rae’s mischievous smile.

“I was caught in a daze,” Melody answers. “I dreamt of a strange place. I had to…find someone. But things got dangerous? It’s all so fuzzy now.” Rae reaches up and pokes Melody in the nose with a small little laugh.

“You’re always in a daze Sister Melody.” Rae puffs herself up and forces out a strange posh tone. “Who knew that our little old miracle girl would turn out to be such a fuddy dudder.”

“Pff,” Melody hides her sudden laugh before her hand, trying very hard not to crack up. “Sister Peixie means well, please don’t make fun of her. It’s my fault for always being so distracted. Speaking of which…” Melody turns and looks around herself. She stands in a large hall full of many benches for people to sit on. In its center is a great statue. The statue itself is only an outline, a vague sense of what could be there - but is not. Melody remembers one of her Sisters speaking of it once.

‘We pray not to an individual, but to a way of life. So the statue can be anyone, and it can also be everyone.’. Those worlds still held a place in her heart to this day. But that isn’t why she found herself looking around. It is the realisation that the job of sweeping the dust away was half-done two hours ago, and is still half-done. “Sister Merri is going to kill me,” Melody cries, hanging her head.

“No no,” Rae answers with a pat on the back. “If she was going to kill you she’d have done it long ago. Now come, I’ll help you. Just this once mind! I’m sure we can finish before the day is up.”

“You’re a life-saver Sister Rae,” Melody says. She throws her hands around Rae and wraps her up in a big hug. The moment passes but Melody refuses to let go as she draws Rae further in, grabbing hold of that sense of intimacy she’s felt lacking for a long while. “Truly, you are always a life-saver.”

“Melody…?” Rae speaks, dropping the honorific in surprise at her sudden forwardness. “What are you doing?”

“It’s okay Rae,” Melody chokes up, holding her tighter. “Just hold me for a moment longer. Please…”

“Of course Melody,” Rae says softly as he hands wrap around Melody, too. Time seems to fade into the distance in this moment and Melody lets it drift, letting herself sink into a warm embrace long missed…

With a gasp Melody shoots upright as she awakens, slamming her head against the cave’s cold stone wall behind her. Her head throbs but she ignores it as she looks sadly down at her hands that feel warm no longer. “Rae…” her eyes threaten to tear up but she simply closes her eyes and holds her hands tight, her face setting into a determined mask. “Be safe, my Sisters. I pray for you all to be safe.” Ignoring the dull ache of her body she picks herself up, eating a healthy meal of fresh water and rations she holds on a few pouches tied against her waist.

Feeling a bit of strength return to her Melody focuses back on the events yesterday and goes through everything that happened. The wolves running from a new predator naturally ties up with whatever that tree thing was. Which goes back to the boxes. Melody could feel sure that there would be more of these monsters in that forest, and perhaps everywhere. It was also aggressive. It had not yet determined a place on the new food chain, and already attacked anything that got close to it. So assume these new predators will kill before they will reason. And then these boxes.

Ark Plate Name Melody Songstorm [ 0 ] Age 26 Race Aesyn Essence 34 Gender Female Titles n/a Focus n/a Bloodline n/a Memory Cubes Extremely Weak Water Affinity [ Racial ]

Internal Perception [ Trait ] Extremely Weak Water Affinity Ability Trait Familiarity 3 / 100 Rank Basic A weak affinity with elemental water. Internal Perception Ability Trait Familiarity 2 / 100 Rank Basic A small chance to predict danger or fortune before encountering it.

Two things immediately stood out to her. The first was that this Essence went up by one. Though the more interesting part is that she had some to start with. So it’s something that already existed. When she killed the creature she could feel something absorb into herself. Is it some sort of strength? Life force? Either way she has no method to use it, so putting that aside the truly important thing is this ‘familiarity’ that has gone up. Did it change anything? Closing her eyes Melody draws on her affinity with water. The sensation felt the same. But Melody could feel herself draw out just ever so slightly more water. Like a reservoir expanded, even if pitifully so. Her other skill, internal perception, felt no different. But then she never felt that one at all until it triggered. It would have been a close shave without it.

Beyond that, Melody could feel the importance of the other things like bloodline. If she summed it up for herself, it all felt like a record of who she is, Melody Songstorm. An accord of her strength, her ability and her life. Mmm…what sort of power could do that for her, and possibly every other living existence? Perhaps she’d be better off not asking questions that have no safe answers. Her Sisters will be fine. She felt she had to keep repeating it to herself so her heart could settle. They are in a safe place. Besides, Melody knew their strength and tenacity outstripped hers by far. They would more likely be worried about her. So the answer is simple then. Continue on. Find him. Then think about more complicated matters.

Though all of these things felt strange, Melody also felt rather open to it all. She had grown up on the tales of old, that spoke of magic and strength both mystical and strange. The other races may have forgotten their history, but the Aesyn has made sure to never forget their past. What is happening now is concerning, but not unbelievable. “Enough,” Melody huffs, shaking her head roughly to disperse the thoughts. “No use brooding any further. I must continue on.” Picking herself up she gathers her food back into the pouches and pats herself down. She checks the thin layer of cloth acting like a film that holds itself over her body, making sure no part of it is cut in any way. The scare from yesterday is still fresh in her mind, but Melody knows she needs to push on regardless. No matter what happens.

Melody quickly reaches the caves entrance and waves her hand through the thin film of water still held in its place. It dissipates almost instantly, dispersing into a thin wave of moisture that rolls out and over her body. As the moisture sinks in a strong sense of urgency fills her for a few moments before her emotions settle back to normal. An effective alarm, if annoying when not triggers. It doesn’t take her long for her to leave the area, exiting the enclosed cave, then the inlet hiding it and finally reaching the forest once again. As Melody eyes its interior, she feels sure of something. There are definitely more trees now. More everything to be particular. The forest before could be considered overgrown. But now the ground is covered by thickets of trees and bushes and all manner of things. The sky is blotted out entirely, no longer even giving the barest of light to reveal what is inside.

For that matter, Melody also notices how the plains have stretched and grown upward like a rolling wave of ever greater hills where once flat ground lay. The land has changed. Monsters have come. And, conveniently, we are given things to face them and these trials. It irks Melody, but she knows she can only accept what has happened. And possibly what will. She is too weak to do otherwise. “What was that nugget of wisdom the Sisters always nattered on about?” Melody says, letting out a small laugh. “Don’t fuss about things out of your control.” Melody gives herself a couple of quick jumps up and down to build up some courage. “Okay. Let’s go.” As she steps inside she draws on her magic and congeals a few needles of water around her.

As she takes her first few steps inside she draws on a little more of the water she can handle and thins it out like before until it becomes moisture in the air. Then she disperses it forward, letting it trail itself over everything in her path. It doesn’t take long for her to catch the first early warning. One of the trees reacts the second it touches as if to attack before quickly restraining itself. With a vicious grin Melody instantly turns towards it and fires off all her water needles at it. Before it has a chance to react the needles have already entered the tree’s trunk and races through its internal structure, destroying everything in its way. A loud scream echoes out of it at her actions as the tree wails back and forth, its roots being whipped out of the ground and moving wildly around.

Melody simply watches from a distance, her eyes looking on coldly as it goes through its death throes. Eventually the tree lays still and Melody moves closer, drawing her water needles back to her once she had confirmed its dead. “Fucker.” Melody says as she sends a sharp kick against it. With a satisfied nod she leans down and checks out the tree. To her surprise it is no different from an ordinary one. Nothing to indicate why it can move and attack. Or maybe trees always could? That thought made Melody shudder.

No essence this time either. With no other information Melody decides to move on. It doesn’t take long for the environment to darken, her vision quickly fading until she can barely see her hand in front of her face. Taking it slower she draws some water back to her and sends some of her energy into it. The magic had felt a bit weird when she first started using it. Rather then saying she manipulates water, it’d be closer to the truth to say she creates water that she can manipulate. Regular water doesn’t react at all. How much Melody can use at a given time depends on what reserves of strength she can hold, and how much time she has given for her strength to return. Fortunately once made the water takes very little strength to maintain.

This conjured water has its own properties that can be shaped and changed. She had figured out a small trick on one of her many secret late-night readings. Grasping that feeling Melody connects to the new water she’s conjured and twists it, much like a key unlocking a new door. The water swiggles and swirls around in its own gelatinous shape until a bright spark suddenly appears and quickly grows to a bonfire, the water shining its newfound light outward. The dark recedes a few steps in front of her before stopping, creating a thick wall of pitch black around her.

Whatever this darkness is, it isn’t natural. Melody stands still for a bit as she gathers some of her strength but, her eyes staying focused on her surroundings. Taking another look at her affinity skill, its familiarity had grown to eight. Whatever familiarity meant. Melody couldn’t help but feel her curiosity grow at the thought of maxing it out. What would happen then? Turning her eyes back to the darkness in front of her, she takes a few tentative steps forward as her mist of water extends outward as ring once again for detection.

Melody makes it a fair distance this way. She encounters a few more of those tree monsters and quickly dispatching them. When her strength feels drained she takes a break and rests go let it rejuvenate. Traveling this way she soon encounters a change in her environment. The thick grouping of trees had made it hard to move through the forest. Often she had to cut many thick branches down to make it past. Yet in front of her the trees seemed to have evened out. They gather in groupings that extend forward in a maze-like structure, leaving an even and open space in the middle. Her eyes move slowly in each direction and finds everywhere else covered by numerous trees. Only in front of her does this strange space appear.

Melody considers for a few moments before inevitably deciding to enter, her desire to explore it out-winning her instinctual caution. Ready for battle Melody enters and walks down the beginning of the maze. Her steps are careful and considered, each one taken after some thought. On her tenth step is when she feels something react to her mist. Instantly she jumps back as she whips her water around herself. Before she has a chance to react something extremely fast flashes by her and cuts through the water filled with light, dissipating it.

The world turns dark. Melody curses as she whips around and flings a water needle at whatever slipped by. She hears a cry of pain but only becomes more tense as more cries of anger answer it. Her instinct is to gather as much water as possible and spread it around herself but she quells that dangerous thought. Melody’s panicked mind calms as her eyes become hooded. Though she often seems care-free, her decisions are always carefully considered. The more danger she’s in, the calmer she becomes. It’s a trait that has shown little use before now. But in a place like this, perhaps it is what will save her life.

Melody conjures a few more needles of water and gathers it around herself. Closing her eyes she senses what is around her, focusing completely on her hearing. Soon she hears it. The smallest sound of soft footsteps scurrying about. One…two…five her ears pick up. Her mind details their path and predicts their movement. Without hesitation the needles shoot out and arrive in front of them in a single moment. Four of them die before they get a chance to react. She can still hear the last one move, its footsteps growing louder as it pounces toward her.

Gathering her last two needles she flattens them and brings them in front of her, creating a film of water as she dashes to the side. The creature reacts in pain as it hits the thin screen of water. The water falls onto its body and surrounds its, compressing tightly. It collapses onto the ground in its newly made cage. Melody waits for a few minutes longer in silent tension but hears no more movement. Still focused she conjures a bit more water and does the same light trick, gathering it into herself until she can see around herself again.

Her eyes quickly adjust and she finds herself in the same maze, facing the walls of trees around her. Nearby are four corpses of large black rats, their fangs extended out of their mouth and their claws sharp. Next to her lies a frozen rat slightly large in size with a streak of purple across its back. It’s still covered by the film of water and can only look at her, unable to move.

Shadow Rat

[ Origin ]

“I see…” Melody mutters, observing the box that appears above it. This one is a bit different. But from what she’s seen the box only shows if she can see the creature, and then only if it’s alive. Leaning over Melody glances down at the creature with distaste. Conjuring another needle of water she pierces it down. As it dies a heavy rush flows out of its body and hits her. It’s stronger then last time and, unlike before, Melody can feel an intense euphoria rush over her from it. Like her body consuming water after being starved for a long time. She checks her information and sees the essence has gone up another two.

Melody decides to take a rest to let her strength return to her. That fight had consumed a lot. Thankfully she kept her head and didn’t waste her energy early on, or things might have turned out differently. After the break Melody decides to continue. The path ends up being very much like a maze. She finds herself twisting and turning between dead ends as she moves further inside. Quite a few of the creatures she just fought appear on the path, but with with her experience of the previous battle she is able to contest them efficiently.

After a few winding pathways Melody finally sees a change as the path she’s on opens out toward a large room. Looking around she notices it’s empty except for two things. A massive twisting group of vines swaying back and forth, and and exotic chest that lay behind it. “Well that’s strange,” Melody whispers to herself. “Very strange indeed.” The vines pause and turn themselves toward her. Melody’s eyes narrow as she stares at the box above it.

Mutated Vine

[ Elite ]

Not giving the monster a chance to react Melody fires the few water needles she has toward it. The vines react instantly and swing down at a fast speed, striking the water needles out of the air. As it moves Melody has already conjured more water and pushes it outward in an arc like a thin blade. It hits the vines directly but fails to cut through them, only leaving it with light injuries. The creature roars in pain. Its vines suddenly increasing by a huge length and start thrashing around. Unable to dodge all of them Melody conjures a thin veil of water on her hands and grabs around one of the vines, using the water to stick to it. As it flings upward she releases and finds her body flung through the air.

Twisting her body around using the momentum she gathers that film of water and congeals it together into a sharp blade. As her body falls she pierces the blade downward. Using the momentum her blade cuts straight through one of the vines that lay at the creatures core. Her body continues to fall and Melody conjures more water below her to soften the impact. Still it hits hard and she finds herself short of breath as her body jolts from the impact. Ignoring the pain she immediately rolls to her side, just missing a sharp strike from one of the vines where she had lain.

Melody gathers all of the water she had conjured back toward herself and slams it into the root of the vines. It trails inside of the root instantly and reaches its core as it compresses itself as far as possible. A silent moment passes and then a heavy boom is heard as the water explodes outward. The root shatters apart and the pieces fly outward, taking Melody along with them as she slams hard into one of the trees acting as the maze’s wall. “Fuck.” Melody groans out as she falls to the ground, degenerating into a fit of coughing. Blood splatters everywhere as her mouth coughs up the blood congealed inside her. Her body is bruised everywhere with many cuts both shallow and deep. She felt like shit, and yet couldn’t help but find herself laughing. “That was a tough one.” Her eyes check her body and she groans in relief when she realises the cuts in her clothing hadn’t touched anything. She only needed to wait and they would mend themselves back together.

After giving herself a moment of rest, Melody uses what little strength remains in her to gather a little water and run it through her wounds. They quickly grow clean and the injuries rejuvenate a little. It isn’t true healing, but it does help. With that done she simply lets herself rest back against the tree and stares at the aftermath. That same rush of energy had entered her once again. This time her essence had gone up five. As it damn well should with the scary strength of whatever the hell that thing was. Observing it Melody could only see that it was just a group of vines. They had connected together inside of a congealed mass of wood. But after breaking that wood there was nothing inside. Just like the tree she had fought. “What gives them life?” Melody could not help wonder. Her eyes trailed over the pieces of dead vines scattered around her. With a laugh she shakes her head. “What do I know of life anyway.”

Turning her eyes to the chest she notices its strange design, even from afar. It’s colored a strange blue. The closest she could liken it to is those pictures she once saw of an object that had come out of depths of the ocean. A blue neither dark nor light, but a swirl of the mix like the never-ending flow of the ocean. The curiosity getting the better of her she forces herself up as she takes care to not have any of the skin under her cut clothing touch the surface. Even as she moved toward the chest her clothing started to sew itself together, merging the cut seams until it seems as if it had not been cut at all.

Reaching the chest and standing above it, Melody notices how plain it is. No engravings or design. Not even a crack to indicate where it opens. Just that impossibly smooth, blue color. Right at the chests top, directly in the middle, the chests surface grows around a translucent orb. As her eyes are cast on it, a box reveals itself.

Treasure Chest [ Locked ] Essence 2

“Oh…?” Melody cannot help but exclaim, her eyes alight with a new feeling. There had been many an adventure tale she had read in her younger days. This feeling that fills her, the urge to know more, see more and discover more, is very similiar to what she felt when she read those books. “How exciting,” she muses as her hand reaches down and rests on the orb. Her thoughts settle on the idea of using her essence and in an isntant she feels something be sucked out of her.

It didn’t feel painful, but she felt discomforted all the same. As though she lost something precious. Perhaps she did. Her eyes watch as the orb above the chest glows brightly, completely filled with a new light. Then it shatters and turns into dust as the light blinks out of existence. Melody was quite sure of that. It didn’t fade away, or go into something. It simply…disappeared. The chest follows suit as it disintegrates in front of her eyes, the shards turning to dust and that dust turning to nothing. And in its place, where the chest once was, rests a cube.

Unlike the chest this cube is full of intricate designs. Lines flowing over it like trails of water flowing along a stream. The cube, a mixture of purple and black in an oddly comforting fashion, seemed to almost glow as she stared at it. Then another box forms, and Melody’s interest only grows stronger.

Memory Cube [ Locked ] Essence: 3

“Stingy,” Melody pouts as she picks up the cube. On closer inspection she notices that many of the lines etched into the cube act as inlets, like a person had gouged it out. If that person could create perfectly perpendicular lines. She doesn’t hesitate and focuses again, pouring essence into it. The cube glows strongly as those lines light up a dark purple, the glow brightening until Melody hears a loud click sound and the cube dims to a steady but subtle glow.

Memory Cube Ability: Art Name: Convergence

Melody pouts again as she stares at the box. Truly useless information. It seems she won’t know what it does until she uses it. Melody considers weighing the pros and cons of such an action for a moment. But as she considers she realises something. What’s the fun of considering every little thing? With a grin Melody focuses on the cube and tries to convey acceptance. It reacts immediately as the glow brightens again. This time growing stronger and stronger as the cube untangles itself like a web being unwoven. With every bit untangled the cube grows flatter and flatter until a light is revealed inside, revealing a small purple mass. Before Melody has a chance to study it the mass pounces upwards and slams into her body and enters it.

Melody feels a rush hit her as her body greedily sucks in whatever just entered her. Then something clicks in place and she almost tastes the feeling of something new emerge from inside her.

Convergence Ability Art Familiarity 0 / 100 Rank Basic Merge two agreeable halves, forming something more than the sum of its parts.

As Melody peers at the box a strange feeling washes over her. Unlike the first skill she gained, internal perception, the knowledge of this one instantly appears in her mind like an instinctual memory. Convergence…Melody could already see how valuable it is. Her hands come up and gathers a little of the water that remains around her. Drawing them together she taps onto the ability, feeling it quickly drain the remainder of her strength as the two pieces of water converge.

Melody watches as they trail around each other like yin and yang converging. Merging closer and closer until the two become one. The color of the water becomes darker as Melody watches it settle in front of her. But more important, she can feel the surge of strength roiling around it. Without hesitation she turns it into a water needle and sends it toward one of the vines. Her eyes fail to follow ti as it shoots over at blinding speed and pierces through the vine effortlessly, leaving a gaping hole behind.

“That’s…amazing…” Melody whispers as she collapses, the last of her strength drained. Her eyes stare at the now obliterated vine in a daze. “Amazing…” she finds herself continuing to whisper. “Twenty years of study, and it’s trumped in a single moment.” Finding herself unable to move, Melody simply sighs and settles down. She’ll think later. For now she’ll simply rest and recover.

And not think about how laughable the title gifted can be.