Golden Eden

Lemnian Hollow · Fringe Zone

For ordinary people, Hollows were dangerous forbidden zones—Ether concentrations exceeded safe limits, Ethereals ran rampant, and the slightest carelessness could cost them their lives.

But for certain people, entering a Hollow was as routine as eating and drinking.

Yet in one corner of Lemnian Hollow, a rather strange scene was unfolding. A group of children had actually ventured into Lemnian, one of the six major Hollows.

"Nangong, there are still a few Ethereals over there! Hurry and send them home!"

"Aria, scout the area! I need to make sure there isn't a single Ethereal within ten kilometers!"

As the arranger for Angels of Delusion and the team's only ordinary human, Sunna was usually weak and timid—a total crybaby.

But at this moment, she was so excited that she was dancing around, constantly directing her companions to clear out the Ethereals.

"But Sunna, I can only detect Ether energy leakage within two hundred meters!"

Aria had just gotten up from a beautiful "butt-drop slam," having flattened two Ethereals beneath her until they vanished without a trace.

She stared at Sunna blankly. Ten kilometers?

Even I can't do that!

"Aria, don't mind her. Sunna's too worked up and just spouting nonsense!"

Nangong emerged while dragging two meteor hammers, clearly having just finished her fight.

She looked around, then nodded once she confirmed there were no Ethereals left. "All right, Commander Sunna. The Ethereals have been cleared out. You can begin the part you've 'been looking forward to' for so long."

"Hmph, Nangong, it's not like I wasn't helping..." Sunna snorted, then stuck her tongue out at her two companions with a haughty little face. "You're the ones who teamed up to scare me!"

With that, Sunna turned toward Griseo beside her. Her expression instantly switched into "gentle big sister" mode, and her voice softened as well.

"Um... Griseo, can we start now?"

"Okay!" Griseo nodded, then closed her eyes.

The previously tranquil Ether energy around them suddenly stirred without warning, as though a catalyst had been added to some inert reaction.

A vigorous rhythm spread through the air, and a dazzling Signets formed within the light.

Then, Ether energy poured into the center of the Signet, and a woman's figure slowly took shape... She was elegant and composed, like a muse stepping out of a score.

"Teacher Eden is here! Nangong, hurry and get my sheet music! Aria, get the recording ready!"

Sunna was now no less excited than a fanatical idol fan. Normally, perhaps only attending Astra Yao's concerts could make her this thrilled.

Meanwhile, Nangong and Aria were much calmer.

It was not that they were not amazed—every time Eden appeared, the stunning beauty of it was enough to leave people speechless.

It was just that... they had seen this scene far too many times already.

This was a little secret shared among the four of them. Even Cecilia did not know.

At first, Sunna's pure love for music had moved Griseo, and by a fortunate coincidence, Griseo awakened the [Golden] Signet.

In Cecilia's eyes, Griseo had only reluctantly agreed to occasionally perform because of her relationship with Sunna.

But there was another "secret." From then on, Eden had become Angels of Delusion's "invisible mentor."

Whenever they entered a Hollow for commissions and had enough time to spare, Griseo would use her Signet to summon Eden and have her guide Sunna and the others in music.

That was also why the three girls had improved so rapidly over the past half year, with the quality of their performances growing ever higher.

And today's summoning had begun with the prank from the night before last.

First, it was Griseo and Aria's way of apologizing to Sunna. They really had scared everyone badly.

Second, during their recent trip to Weifei Land, they had encountered plenty of authentic folk music. Sunna had gathered a great deal of inspiration and wanted to turn it into melodies.

Before handing it over to Cecilia for review, Sunna had pleaded and pestered Griseo for ages until Griseo agreed to summon Eden for her.

"Isn't the sheet music in your own backpack?"

Nangong looked utterly helpless. After all, Sunna was the only one in their group who carried a backpack!

Nangong walked behind Sunna and pulled a stack of handwritten sheet music from the little backpack. The staves were densely packed with notes and correction marks.

Sunna snatched it over, cradled it in both hands, and offered it toward the figure that was still solidifying as though presenting a treasure.

[When the stars dim and the wine cups run dry, my king, why do you remain in this barren land?]

[To await the triumphant hymn, to seek out the truth.]

[I am Eden, the fourth of the Flame-Chasers, known as Golden.]

Eden slowly opened her eyes. They were clear and bright, as though they held an entire sky of stars.

She looked down at Sunna before her, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. Then Eden spoke, her voice gentle, like an ancient zither lightly plucked.

"My three dear little friends, we meet again. What have you brought back for me to hear this time?"

"So elegant!! So beautiful!!"

Rather than immediately giving Eden the sheet music, Sunna pulled out her phone and opened a video. "Teacher Eden, could you sing this a cappella?"

Eden tilted her head slightly as she watched the video. It was a passage of lyrics...

(Note: This song is "Predestination," the BGM from Kinoko Mushroom's work on Bilibili.)

(The video is titled True Hymn! Aponia & Eden Fan Song. It is absolutely stunning, so everyone should check it out.)

She did not understand, but she respected it. After all, it was a request from a little cutie.

"The sun drops (When the setting sun falls)

Nightmares climb top (Nightmares climb onto the eaves)

Wings flip, and the world stops (Butterfly wings flutter, and the world comes to a halt)

Sharing gems and rum worth of diadem (Even if one bestows fine wine and treasures upon the world)

Sunna and Nangong quietly listened as the audience, while Aria set up the recording mode and did her utmost to ensure that not a single note would be missed.

Eden paused, then lifted her gaze slightly, as though looking toward somewhere unimaginably far away.

Then she continued—

When the sun dropped (When the final radiant sun set)

Sweetened dreams floated top (Sweet dreams floated like bubbles)

As the final line fell, the air seemed to freeze for an instant.

The three girls were stunned for two seconds before they instinctively began to applaud. Eden had only looked at it once, yet she had perfectly conveyed the result they wanted.

Eden smiled. "It is only a short passage. What are you planning to use it for?"

"We wanted to find the feeling of this song!" Sunna gestured excitedly.

"We want to add a spoken section that feels like 'the descent of a god,' but no matter how I say it, it just doesn't sound right. So we wanted Teacher Eden to demonstrate it for us!"

Eden looked at Sunna, then Nangong and Aria, before finally letting her gaze settle on Griseo.

"Although my best suggestion would be to seek out 'Aponia,' Griseo, you still came to me. I assume there is another matter, then?"

Griseo nodded at Eden. "Sister Eden, could you help Sister Sunna take a look at her sheet music?"

Seeing that, Sunna hurriedly snatched the sheet music from Nangong and handed it over, her eyes brimming with anticipation.

"Of course!"

There have been a lot of things going on lately, and I have been too busy to keep up. Plus, the debut went live, and there have been quite a few comments, so I cannot reply to them all. I will respond to them here together.

Thank you all for your criticism and corrections. The mistakes are being fixed, and I will keep your suggestions in mind going forward.

Also, I will not have time to write today's second chapter. I will make it up during the day.