On the mist-shrouded sea, a two-masted sailing ship cut through the waves and crossed waters that had already turned foggy just as the sun began to set.
A dark silhouette rose ahead, its back to the sunset, an orange-yellow tower tip showing above it. A-Luo excitedly lowered his telescope, leaned over the railing, and called down, "Island ahead, off the starboard bow!"
"Is it
Elegia?"
At the bow, Ahua leaned against the railing and looked up at A-Luo.
"Should be." A-Luo slid down the mast onto the deck and hurried toward the bow. "I don't remember any other islands along our route."
"Hm..."
The moment A-Luo stepped onto the foredeck, he stopped. He raised his head toward the island. "Listen. Is that singing?"
"It is. A woman's singing."
Ahua nodded and cupped a hand behind his ear. "What a beautiful voice. The song's beautiful too, like an elf singing."
"Yohohoho!" Brook's eyes lit up at the sound. "Looks like the city of music hasn't passed entirely into history. There's someone here!"
"The voice sounds young, but the singing is exquisite. It's as though God handed her that gift on a platter. What a marvelous voice!"
Brook had not thought much of the visit before. But after hearing such beautiful singing, he, as a musician, looked forward to what lay ahead.
They broke through the fog, and the first thing they saw was a vast stage shaped like a human rib cage. At the enormous curved vaults on either side, a trace of puzzlement appeared in Kuta's eyes.
He remembered watching the trailer for Red-Haired Songstress in his previous life. Those rib-like vaults had been transparent and crystal-colored.
Now they looked like ordinary stone, with nothing remarkable about them.
Following the song, they spotted its singer on the beach to the