The Music Speaks

Feyrin arches an eyebrow in shock and points to himself. “I should know where it is? I’m not even our team’s scout…What makes you believe that?”

Judging from the lack of reaction from Talyndra and Sylvia, he seems to be telling the truth, but that’s not what I was going for either way.

Firmly holding onto Talyndra’s tamed [echoed], I explain. “When Sylvia told me about the selection event where you somehow found and gathered all of the weakest participants, I thought it was strange.”

Feyrin maintains a dumbfounded expression, but I know it’s an act and I continue. “I mean, how, in a dark cave, were you able to pull off such a feat? Your [melody], while full of mysteries, certainly does not produce light or allows spatial transportation. So then what was it? Did you bribe the instructors? That’s also unlikely because your family isn’t nearly influential enough to do that.”

When I mention his family, I notice a twitch of his eyebrow, but I’m not given any time to analyze it. The Sandworm, in its fury, grazes the rhino, sending a tremor which nearly makes me lose my grip. “Just get on with it! no need for a long winded explanation!!” Talyndra shouts from the front.

‘What a way to ruin the moment…’

Hurried, I resume, leaving out the unnecessary parts. “Anyways… I believe, no, I know you have a way to scout your surroundings, and whatever that ability is, it’s quite long-ranged at that.” I conclude, my eyes fixated on his.

Feyrin scoffs. “Ah, I see. That reasoning is logical, although lacking in evidence… but here’s my answer…” A grin appears on his face and he clasps his hands behind his back. “I, my friend, have no such ability… So now what?”

‘This guy… seriously…’

I know he’s lying. He is right in saying that my lack of evidence weakens the reasoning, but my educated hunches are usually correct. I was correct about Soulweaver, for one, and I’m sure I’m not mistaken about him either. “...Why hold onto the lie? Do you really want to be eliminated here?” I ask him with a frown.

Feyrin is on the cusp of retorting, certainly nothing useful, but he is interrupted.

“Feyrin.” Sylvia says with a smile, though not the one I remember seeing in that clearing back at DaiKar. There’s something… off about it.

His head whips around to meet her deep blue eyes.

Once she has his attention, Sylvia takes a step forward, approaching Feyrin at a leisurely cadence. “If you possess a way to resolve this predicament, why not share it?”

Feyrin’s face contorts, showing signs of anger, drastically different from his usual maliciously playful attitude. “...I’ve just told you I possess no such thing…”

Sylvia’s smile slowly wanes and she steps closer once more. A pitying sigh escapes her lips as she looks down on Feyrin. “...Do we really have to go through this again…? What do you gain by defying me at every turn?”

I’m not exactly sure why, but Feyrin’s eyes become bloodshot, painting his sclera crimson red. For a moment, he grinds his teeth and clenches his fist until they drip with blood. In the next moment, however, almost unnaturally, The blood is sucked back into his palms, and he regains his prior demeanor. “No, no! That won’t be necessary, O great Lady FullCastle” He retorts with a polite bow.

‘What the hell just happened…?’

Though I’m curious, I sense that asking right now is not the optimal decision, and so I keep my mouth shut. I don’t know what happened between these two, but I can always ask Sylvia after the event is over.

Feyrin turns back around to face me. He places his hands on his waist as he speaks. “I don’t know how you came to that conclusion from so few clues, but you have me beat! You’re right, temporary comrade! I won’t say how, but I can indeed scout my surroundings, and I know where the Tundra is!”

He points right in front. “Fortunately, I had the same idea as you, two peas in a pod wouldn’t you say?” He says, smiling at me.I grimace at his attempt at a joke, but that doesn't stop him from finishing his thought.

“The reason why I hadn’t said anything until now, however, is because we were already heading toward it. A few more minutes at this pace and we’ll have reached it.”

Feyrin looks back at the Sandworm. “...Though a few more minutes might already be asking for too much…”

I stand up, raising my sharpsong in the air and manifest my aegis. “Great… I can buy you a few minutes…Consider it compensation for intruding on your ride…!”

Another tremor nearly sends me flying off of the rhino. Feeling unsafe, I crouch back down, and hold onto its hide with all my strength. The Sandworm, relentless in its pursuit, opens its maw, showcasing its countless rows of teeth, and threatens to swallow us whole.

In response, Talyndra attempts to gain altitude in order to narrowly avoid its attack. Unfortunately, however, perhaps because she, or her tamed [echoed] is getting tired, it doesn’t seem like she’ll quite manage it this time. This means that it is time for me to show my use.

I rotate my shield until it reaches an adequate level of lethality and propel it towards the Sandworm as fast as I possibly can. I aim for the top of its mouth, to prevent it from enclosing it on us, and hoping to even cause it harm. The others, besides Talyndra who’s busy guiding our mount, have their eyes fixated on my action.

‘Even if it’s echoluminous, it shouldn't be able to brush that off…right?’

All I need is a moment’s destabilization, just so that its attack will miss.

Finally, my aegis, and one of its sharp teeth come into contact, the clash resonates loud enough for all to hear, and I immediately realize that I won’t be able to slice through it in one go.

‘Damn…Change of tactics!!

One unique aspect of my shield is its ability to exist in three distinct states. In the first, it is made to be fixed in space, unmovable for as long as it endures. This is what I used during the first trial against the [echo-blessed] bear to pin it to the ground. In the second, it moves freely in space as though it was attached to an invisible limb of mine, a state I began using more often following Professor Silverthorn’s comments. The third, which I seldom use, allows me to wield it like an ordinary shield.

I make full use of this property as I attack the Sandworm. As soon as my shield comes into contact with the its tooth, I convert it to its fixed state. Due to our difference in strength, and with my lack of momentum, it’s unlikely I’ll be able to push it away, but if it’s stopping it, there is a way.

‘Please don’t break immediately…!!’

Fortunately, it doesn’t. My shield holds on for more than a moment, at least a second or two, before being completely shattered and putting another dent in my flow reserves. However, those few seconds give Talyndra enough time to outmaneuver the worm and bring us out of harm’s way.

“I see it! I see the Tundra!!” With a worried look, Talyndra looks down at her Rhino. “However… this guy won’t hold on much longer, we’ll just barely make it!!” She yells.

‘Sh*t, we’re so close by I’m running low on flow…and this thing looks even angrier than it was before…I won’t be able to stop it by myself, not in this state…’’

As if hearing my inner worries, Sylvia raises her warchord in the air as she stands. She seems to have better balance than me. With a shout, she instructs her teammates. “We just need to deflect one more attack! Feyrin, Alden, assist me!”

Regretfully spending more flow, I manifest my aegis once more.

Feyrin draws his melo-string, dying it blood red with his [melody]. “But of course my captain…”

I attempt to stand once more. “One more attack, sure, no problem at all…!”