On our trip to Gaia’s domain, I was able to have a nice long nap. I don’t really know why I even can nap in the spirit world, but at the same time, I did and it felt amazing, so I’m not going to question it.
I asked the others how long we’ve been traveling, but instead of getting a time, I got a distance. And even that was just an estimation.
“... so we have no clue how long we’ve been traveling for. Are we at least getting close?” I asked.
“Yes. We are 90% there.” Lady Janina answered.
“That’s good. So not too long?”
“Do I even have to say it?”
“Time is relative?”
“Yes.”
“This world will break my sense of … I was going to say time, but it really messes with other senses as well.” I complained.
“A reason not to come here when you aren’t ready.”
“Well, not much we can do about that now. … where is Lua?” I asked after I looked around.
Alice was sleeping in the shotgun seat, but I didn’t spot Lua anywhere.
“Sleeping on the roof. She got a few spirits to make her a water bed there.”
“... well, if it works, who am I to say no. I did kind of steal the only bed here.” I admitted. “What about you? Need a nap?”
“Does a dragon ever really need a nap?”
“... Agunan seems to like sleeping.”
“Enjoying sleeping and actually needing to sleep are two different things. We like it because it saves energy. But it doesn’t matter much in the spirit world, as my real body isn’t using much while we are here.”
“Oh? Dragons are … I would say strange, but I think interesting is the correct term.”
“Call us advanced.”
“As you wish, my Lady.” I said in a teasing tone.
I got to the front where I was planning on just seeing the sights for the rest of the trip.
“If you want something to do, I recommend trying to get a feel for the mana all around us. Maybe you’ll learn how to feel the places of power.” Lady Janina told me.
“Sure. Thanks for the tip.” I quietly responded.
“... I don’t really like this place.” I complained quietly.
“Why?” “Why sad?” “Is it because no wind?” A few of the lesser spirits asked.
“... because it reminds me of a bad place.” I told them.
We were in a large underground cavern, the domain of the superior earth spirit. And ever since I got trapped in … in there, caverns just make my skin crawl.
Spoilernro_8 So a note here because someone might ask. Cailie isn’t bothered being underground when she is inside HomeBase on the CropFields as the floor has an artificial sky, so it doesn’t feel like it is underground.
[collapse]
“Bad place?” “But this no bad place.” “This is home.” A few new spirits appeared from the ground and told me. Their bodies were made of brown-orange light, so they were earth spirits.
“... this isn’t a bad place.” I told them. “... just… brings back memories of a bad place.”
“What place?” “Tell us.” “We will break the bad place!” The spirits responded.
“N-No!” I yelped. “If you break it … she will know I’m not there.”
“She who?” “Is She bad?” “Can we punish She?”
“... I … she lives in the sea… so it might be difficult for you.”
“We will help.” The water spirits said.
“No. You are not getting revenge on anyone.” Rain said to them to calm them down.
Rain is the greater water spirit that has blessed Brian and Lucia. I began to call her Rain, because she doesn’t have a name and greater water spirit is too long.
“Yes. Revenge will not accomplish anything.” Vine added. And yes, Vine is what I’m calling the greater nature spirit. “But if you ever want to confront this ‘She’, we will be there to help you.”
“... thank you. I’ll think about it.”
Eventually, we arrived where the superior earth spirit was resting. Anemoi slept in an egg made of clouds, so I was expecting an egg made of rocks, but instead it was a bright orange crystal. I could even see the spirit inside of it. She has a very well defined muscular body and long hair, giving her a look similar to Brian’s Amazoness monsters.
“... what kind of song will wake her up?” I asked the spirits around me.
“Rhythmic!” The earth spirits answered.
“... Umm. I’m not sure that explains it.”
“You should think of a war song or a marching song.” Vine said. “Those should work.”
“... I’ve … I’ve never heard any.” I admitted.
“Oh right. Mer-folk. You don’t really have songs like that.” Vine realized. “Your songs are more ritualistic and fit Water better.”
“I guess you need to learn one from the earth spirits, like you did for Anemoi.” Rain said.
“... or I’ll wait for Brian to come back. Maybe he will know a proper song.”
“We don’t know how long that will take.” Rain said. “Perhaps the supreme dragon couldn’t help him any longer.”
“No. He is coming.” I said. “... I feel it … in the wind.”
While we waited for Brian, I played with the spirits, though mostly with the earth spirits. They wanted to see me mold earth, but it was difficult using wind. But I did learn how to cut crystals by learning about their cleavage planes. So our playing turned into me forming the raw crystals the earth spirits were making.
Maybe I can cut a stone for Brian when I get back to my body. Wilma can help me make it into something he can wear.
Eventually, Brian arrived. He was driving a golem carriage of some kind, but I’ve never seen it before, so I wonder when he made it.
But the carriage has… eyes? So maybe it isn’t a carriage. Did Brian have a monster that looks like some strange golem carriage?
Spoiler [collapse]As the carriage got closer, I noticed that there was a bubble of water on its roof, and someone was laying in the water, almost like they were using the water as a bed. Recognizing the crimson hair, I deduced that it must be Lucia. But why is she on the roof?
“Brian. I need your help. I need a … was it a marching song?” Cailie requested after we caught up.
“... okay? Like … the imperial march? Does that work?” Come on guys. It was the first thing that came to mind. Sure I could think of others, but I think I can recall all of the imperial march, while I can’t for others.
“Imperial march? Is that something from the Crystal Empire? Well, if it is a marching song, it should work.” Cailie said. “If you play it, I can write some lyrics for it.”
“Wow, wow, wow. A second. One, I don’t have an instrument. Two, I’m not at all sure if I can play it. I can’t just imagine it into existence. We aren’t in the Factory.”
“And you still haven’t learned how this world works.” Lady Janina said. “Just play the mana.”
“... I can do that?”
“Why couldn’t you?”
“... alrighty then. I guess I can try.”
I began to feel out for the mana around us, trying to implant my vision of how the imperial march should sound like. I know I can’t put it as how it does sound, because I don’t remember it exactly, but if I play it like I think it should sound like, I think it will work. That is at least how it works in the Factory.
SpoilerJust so you won’t need to search for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8
[collapse]
“... it sounds a bit wrong, but it is close.” I said, after I ended the song.
“It was great.” “Sounded great.” The earth spirits said.
“... Well, if you say so.” I just agreed with the spirits. They would know the best. “What do you think, Cailie?”
“It … It isn’t something I’d usually sing to, but I think I can. … I just … I’ll try to come up with some lyrics for it.” Cailie said. “... but can you play it again? I need to hear it a few more times.”
“Sure. I’ll put it on repeat for now.”
“... I think I have it.” Cailie said.
“Took you long enough. That march is going to be stuck in my brain forever.” Alice complained.
“Welcome to my world. It lives rent free in my head.” I told her.
“... wait? That song originates from..?”
“My world. Yes.” I confirmed. “It is from a movie series. I’ll look if I can Factory bullshit it together later. But for now…” As I said that, I looked at Cailie.
“We have a spirit to wake up!” Cailie finished my sentence.
Cailie set up everything around the crystal holding the superior spirit of earth, mainly all the earth spirits that wanted to help her. They would be drumming along to the beat.
She then looked at me and nodded, giving me the sign to play the song.
I started playing the imperial march again, and even if I say so myself, I’d gotten a lot better at it, and I think it actually sounds accurate now.
And as I played the song, Cailie began to sing.
“On we march to the beat of the Earth
Saving the Spirits from their eternal sleep
The supreme Spirits
Their might is revealed
The evil tries to flee
But its fate has been sealed”
“Faraway shall it hide
Wherever it may go
It's too late for it
As the spirits are free!”
1Okay. Let’s be honest here. This makes no sense, but does it really need to. I mean, Cailie does know a bit about the spirits and their culture, but not enough where she could realistically make something less generic than this.
And with the song coming to an end, large cracks began to appear in the crystal that held the superior spirit, before the crystal shattered completely and freed the spirit.
“Mmm. That was a great nap.” Gaia said, as she stretched. “So you little musicians, why did you come and wake me? And good day to you, Lady Supreme Dragon.”
“We … The other spirits… asked us to wake up … all of the superior spirits.” Cailie answered.
“Oh? So it is time for us to awaken again? Did someone perhaps solve the barrier issues?” Gaia asked.
“That is still in the works, but we do have a temporary patch for it.” I answered her question.
“The composer speaks. Or should I call you the little Hero?”
“My name is Brian. Brian Wood.”
“... Wood, huh. Makes you sound like a child of Hegemone, so I’ll just call you Brian.”
“That is perfectly fine. May I call you Gaia?” I asked.
“Normally I wouldn’t allow it, but since you did play that lovely march, I shall allow it.” Gaia said. “The same goes for you, little mermaid.”
“N-No. I’m not a mermaid. I’m still just a mer-folk.”
“Shame. I do hope you evolve soon. Perhaps Thalassa can help you. It does feel like you haven’t awakened her yet.”
“No. Just you and mother Anemoi.”
“So Anemoi did make you her daughter. Congratulations. It does suit you.” Gaia said to Cailie. “And I suppose that makes me your aunt. I’m glad to hear that my niece is a great singer.”
“... A-Aunt?”
“Yes. Isn’t that what I am? I mean, if my sister is your mother, I am your aunt.”
“... are all the superior spirits related?” I asked.
“Of course. Not directly like the four of us, fire, water, wind and earth, are. Light and dark are sisters. So are space and time. And Hegemone was born of light, water and myself, making her partially my child.”
“... okay. Good to know.”
“Now, I would like to know what has been happening while I’ve been asleep. Would you care to tell me a story?” Gaia requested.
nro_8 So yeah. This time you actually got a song with lyrics. I know they don't really roll correctly, but I tried, okay? Don't be too mad. The one in next chapter is better. At least in my opinion.
And I know that has at least a few of you asking, what would the wind song have been like. Well, I actually have an answer that I kind of ended up with on accident. I only really realized it later when I reread chapter 395, but the song I described is actually surprisingly close to Bohemian Rhapsody. So had Brian been involved in waking up Anemoi, that is likely the song that would have been used. Just change the lyrics up a bit and call it a day.
On our trip to Gaia’s domain, I was able to have a nice long nap. I don’t really know why I even can nap in the spirit world, but at the same time, I did and it felt amazing, so I’m not going to question it.
I asked the others how long we’ve been traveling, but instead of getting a time, I got a distance. And even that was just an estimation.
“... so we have no clue how long we’ve been traveling for. Are we at least getting close?” I asked.
“Yes. We are 90% there.” Lady Janina answered.
“That’s good. So not too long?”
“Do I even have to say it?”
“Time is relative?”
“Yes.”
“This world will break my sense of … I was going to say time, but it really messes with other senses as well.” I complained.
“A reason not to come here when you aren’t ready.”
“Well, not much we can do about that now. … where is Lua?” I asked after I looked around.
Alice was sleeping in the shotgun seat, but I didn’t spot Lua anywhere.
“Sleeping on the roof. She got a few spirits to make her a water bed there.”
“... well, if it works, who am I to say no. I did kind of steal the only bed here.” I admitted. “What about you? Need a nap?”
“Does a dragon ever really need a nap?”
“... Agunan seems to like sleeping.”
“Enjoying sleeping and actually needing to sleep are two different things. We like it because it saves energy. But it doesn’t matter much in the spirit world, as my real body isn’t using much while we are here.”
“Oh? Dragons are … I would say strange, but I think interesting is the correct term.”
“Call us advanced.”
“As you wish, my Lady.” I said in a teasing tone.
I got to the front where I was planning on just seeing the sights for the rest of the trip.
“If you want something to do, I recommend trying to get a feel for the mana all around us. Maybe you’ll learn how to feel the places of power.” Lady Janina told me.
“Sure. Thanks for the tip.” I quietly responded.
“... I don’t really like this place.” I complained quietly.
“Why?” “Why sad?” “Is it because no wind?” A few of the lesser spirits asked.
“... because it reminds me of a bad place.” I told them.
We were in a large underground cavern, the domain of the superior earth spirit. And ever since I got trapped in … in there, caverns just make my skin crawl.
Spoilernro_8 So a note here because someone might ask. Cailie isn’t bothered being underground when she is inside HomeBase on the CropFields as the floor has an artificial sky, so it doesn’t feel like it is underground.
[collapse]
“Bad place?” “But this no bad place.” “This is home.” A few new spirits appeared from the ground and told me. Their bodies were made of brown-orange light, so they were earth spirits.
“... this isn’t a bad place.” I told them. “... just… brings back memories of a bad place.”
“What place?” “Tell us.” “We will break the bad place!” The spirits responded.
“N-No!” I yelped. “If you break it … she will know I’m not there.”
“She who?” “Is She bad?” “Can we punish She?”
“... I … she lives in the sea… so it might be difficult for you.”
“We will help.” The water spirits said.
“No. You are not getting revenge on anyone.” Rain said to them to calm them down.
Rain is the greater water spirit that has blessed Brian and Lucia. I began to call her Rain, because she doesn’t have a name and greater water spirit is too long.
“Yes. Revenge will not accomplish anything.” Vine added. And yes, Vine is what I’m calling the greater nature spirit. “But if you ever want to confront this ‘She’, we will be there to help you.”
“... thank you. I’ll think about it.”
Eventually, we arrived where the superior earth spirit was resting. Anemoi slept in an egg made of clouds, so I was expecting an egg made of rocks, but instead it was a bright orange crystal. I could even see the spirit inside of it. She has a very well defined muscular body and long hair, giving her a look similar to Brian’s Amazoness monsters.
“... what kind of song will wake her up?” I asked the spirits around me.
“Rhythmic!” The earth spirits answered.
“... Umm. I’m not sure that explains it.”
“You should think of a war song or a marching song.” Vine said. “Those should work.”
“... I’ve … I’ve never heard any.” I admitted.
“Oh right. Mer-folk. You don’t really have songs like that.” Vine realized. “Your songs are more ritualistic and fit Water better.”
“I guess you need to learn one from the earth spirits, like you did for Anemoi.” Rain said.
“... or I’ll wait for Brian to come back. Maybe he will know a proper song.”
“We don’t know how long that will take.” Rain said. “Perhaps the supreme dragon couldn’t help him any longer.”
“No. He is coming.” I said. “... I feel it … in the wind.”
While we waited for Brian, I played with the spirits, though mostly with the earth spirits. They wanted to see me mold earth, but it was difficult using wind. But I did learn how to cut crystals by learning about their cleavage planes. So our playing turned into me forming the raw crystals the earth spirits were making.
Maybe I can cut a stone for Brian when I get back to my body. Wilma can help me make it into something he can wear.
Eventually, Brian arrived. He was driving a golem carriage of some kind, but I’ve never seen it before, so I wonder when he made it.
But the carriage has… eyes? So maybe it isn’t a carriage. Did Brian have a monster that looks like some strange golem carriage?
Spoiler [collapse]As the carriage got closer, I noticed that there was a bubble of water on its roof, and someone was laying in the water, almost like they were using the water as a bed. Recognizing the crimson hair, I deduced that it must be Lucia. But why is she on the roof?
“Brian. I need your help. I need a … was it a marching song?” Cailie requested after we caught up.
“... okay? Like … the imperial march? Does that work?” Come on guys. It was the first thing that came to mind. Sure I could think of others, but I think I can recall all of the imperial march, while I can’t for others.
“Imperial march? Is that something from the Crystal Empire? Well, if it is a marching song, it should work.” Cailie said. “If you play it, I can write some lyrics for it.”
“Wow, wow, wow. A second. One, I don’t have an instrument. Two, I’m not at all sure if I can play it. I can’t just imagine it into existence. We aren’t in the Factory.”
“And you still haven’t learned how this world works.” Lady Janina said. “Just play the mana.”
“... I can do that?”
“Why couldn’t you?”
“... alrighty then. I guess I can try.”
I began to feel out for the mana around us, trying to implant my vision of how the imperial march should sound like. I know I can’t put it as how it does sound, because I don’t remember it exactly, but if I play it like I think it should sound like, I think it will work. That is at least how it works in the Factory.
SpoilerJust so you won’t need to search for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8
[collapse]
“... it sounds a bit wrong, but it is close.” I said, after I ended the song.
“It was great.” “Sounded great.” The earth spirits said.
“... Well, if you say so.” I just agreed with the spirits. They would know the best. “What do you think, Cailie?”
“It … It isn’t something I’d usually sing to, but I think I can. … I just … I’ll try to come up with some lyrics for it.” Cailie said. “... but can you play it again? I need to hear it a few more times.”
“Sure. I’ll put it on repeat for now.”
“... I think I have it.” Cailie said.
“Took you long enough. That march is going to be stuck in my brain forever.” Alice complained.
“Welcome to my world. It lives rent free in my head.” I told her.
“... wait? That song originates from..?”
“My world. Yes.” I confirmed. “It is from a movie series. I’ll look if I can Factory bullshit it together later. But for now…” As I said that, I looked at Cailie.
“We have a spirit to wake up!” Cailie finished my sentence.
Cailie set up everything around the crystal holding the superior spirit of earth, mainly all the earth spirits that wanted to help her. They would be drumming along to the beat.
She then looked at me and nodded, giving me the sign to play the song.
I started playing the imperial march again, and even if I say so myself, I’d gotten a lot better at it, and I think it actually sounds accurate now.
And as I played the song, Cailie began to sing.
“On we march to the beat of the Earth
Saving the Spirits from their eternal sleep
The supreme Spirits
Their might is revealed
The evil tries to flee
But its fate has been sealed”
“Faraway shall it hide
Wherever it may go
It's too late for it
As the spirits are free!”
1Okay. Let’s be honest here. This makes no sense, but does it really need to. I mean, Cailie does know a bit about the spirits and their culture, but not enough where she could realistically make something less generic than this.
And with the song coming to an end, large cracks began to appear in the crystal that held the superior spirit, before the crystal shattered completely and freed the spirit.
“Mmm. That was a great nap.” Gaia said, as she stretched. “So you little musicians, why did you come and wake me? And good day to you, Lady Supreme Dragon.”
“We … The other spirits… asked us to wake up … all of the superior spirits.” Cailie answered.
“Oh? So it is time for us to awaken again? Did someone perhaps solve the barrier issues?” Gaia asked.
“That is still in the works, but we do have a temporary patch for it.” I answered her question.
“The composer speaks. Or should I call you the little Hero?”
“My name is Brian. Brian Wood.”
“... Wood, huh. Makes you sound like a child of Hegemone, so I’ll just call you Brian.”
“That is perfectly fine. May I call you Gaia?” I asked.
“Normally I wouldn’t allow it, but since you did play that lovely march, I shall allow it.” Gaia said. “The same goes for you, little mermaid.”
“N-No. I’m not a mermaid. I’m still just a mer-folk.”
“Shame. I do hope you evolve soon. Perhaps Thalassa can help you. It does feel like you haven’t awakened her yet.”
“No. Just you and mother Anemoi.”
“So Anemoi did make you her daughter. Congratulations. It does suit you.” Gaia said to Cailie. “And I suppose that makes me your aunt. I’m glad to hear that my niece is a great singer.”
“... A-Aunt?”
“Yes. Isn’t that what I am? I mean, if my sister is your mother, I am your aunt.”
“... are all the superior spirits related?” I asked.
“Of course. Not directly like the four of us, fire, water, wind and earth, are. Light and dark are sisters. So are space and time. And Hegemone was born of light, water and myself, making her partially my child.”
“... okay. Good to know.”
“Now, I would like to know what has been happening while I’ve been asleep. Would you care to tell me a story?” Gaia requested.
nro_8 So yeah. This time you actually got a song with lyrics. I know they don't really roll correctly, but I tried, okay? Don't be too mad. The one in next chapter is better. At least in my opinion.
And I know that has at least a few of you asking, what would the wind song have been like. Well, I actually have an answer that I kind of ended up with on accident. I only really realized it later when I reread chapter 395, but the song I described is actually surprisingly close to Bohemian Rhapsody. So had Brian been involved in waking up Anemoi, that is likely the song that would have been used. Just change the lyrics up a bit and call it a day.
