Suimen Volume 4 Preview "Trailer"

Shizuku stands by the central hologram-map, arms crossed, his reflection rippling against the animated display of Meeresboden. Lily and Alto sit across from him at the long obsidian planning table, tension hanging between them like frost.

LILY:
(squinting at the display)
So... Raureif really fell that fast?

ALTO:
Not exactly fast. Just... quietly. Like it had been hollow for a while, and no one noticed until it collapsed.

SHIZUKU:
Kalt XVII was murdered. Cold blood. No warning.

LILY:
(reeling)
They assassinated him?

SHIZUKU:
Givre took the throne. And He's not hiding his power. He's ruling Raureif like it's a glacier built for war.

ALTO:
But here's the twist. His son — Kalt XVIII — survived.

LILY:
Wait. There was a son?!

SHIZUKU:
He fled here. Hid in plain sight, somewhere in Central City.

ALTO:
Astera found him. Brought him in.

LILY:
So the mission is...

SHIZUKU:
Liberation.
We go into Raureif. Remove Givre. Place Kalt XVIII on the throne.

LILY:
(pulling her ponytail tighter)
No pressure or anything.

Before they can reply, a gentle ripple of harmonic wind flows into the room. A floating bar of symphonic notation glides from the hallway as a short woman with long, silken blonde hair and blue eyes steps into view, hands behind her back.

CELESTE:
Mind if I introduce myself?

SHIZUKU:
(smirking)
Ah, yes. Come out, Captain of the Arcana Sound and Support Guard—

ALTO:
(smiling softly)
Celeste Diminuendo.

CELESTE:
(grinning as she floats in fully)
Hello again, cousin.

LILY:
(stunned)
You're Alto's cousin?!

CELESTE:
Indeed. And don't worry, I come in peace. Mostly.

I've been active on the edge of the Sound Axis for the past year. Handling dissonance breaches, organizing spirit-bard patrols, and attending seventy-six celestial choirs.

SHIZUKU:
(semi-impressed)
That's... more than most.

CELESTE:
I'm honored to be part of the story from here on out. Really.
(pause)
It was getting boring being legendary off-screen.

Arismu's Note:
I'm incredibly excited to release Volume 4 — it’s one of the most dramatic, tightly written, and emotionally layered parts of Suimen so far. 💙