Chapter 23 – Forgotten Melodies, Eternal Bonds

The air freezes.

Not because of a spell, not because of an enemy… but because my entire party is looking at me like I just committed the ultimate betrayal.

Harmonia, with that dazzling, innocent smile, is latched onto my arm like we’re already a married couple. Her soft cheek brushes against my shoulder, and every second that passes, the pressure around me grows heavier.

Kline is the first to break. He’s biting the hem of his shirt so hard I can hear the fabric tearing.
“KEEEEEEEEEEE!!! 😖”
His alchemist brain is clearly melting down, sparks of envy flying off him like unstable mana.

Seraphina, though… oh no. She doesn’t move a muscle, but I feel her eyes drilling into me. That gaze—it’s not just sharp, it’s predatory. A snake coiling around its prey, waiting for the perfect strike. Her lips move slightly, barely above a whisper, but I can hear it crystal clear.
“…She’s holding Randy’s arm. I wanted to hold his hand…”

Wait. That’s not the issue here!! And what’s with that pinkish-red aura swirling in her eyes?! That’s the kind of aura that says if I can’t have you, nobody will.

“Elowen…” I turn desperately to her for backup.

But the dwarf just folds her arms, hammer resting against her shoulder, looking more bored than anything.
“…So… am I supposed to watch this like some romance drama unfolding in front of me? Or…” Her eyes narrow. “…do you actually have something to say, Randy?”

The silence is unbearable. Harmonia squeezes my arm tighter, tilting her head with that angelic smile. Kline is gnawing his shirt like a rabid dog. Seraphina’s aura is getting darker, sharper, more dangerous. And Elowen is just waiting for me to dig my own grave with words.

Why does this feel more terrifying than fighting a dragon?!

My throat is dry, my palms sweaty, and the only thought running through my head is—

(…I’m screwed.)

“Uh… Harmonia…?” I stammer, trying to peel her off my arm.

Elowen raises a brow, hammer resting lazily against her shoulder. Her sigh is louder than any battle cry.
“So… this is Harmonia. Looks like you two are pretty well-acquainted, eh? Deh…” She rolls her eyes so hard I swear I hear the sound effect shurrrp echo in the background. 🙄

Meanwhile, Kline is scribbling furiously in his notebook, muttering to himself like a mad alchemist.
“KEEEEEEEE!!! Harmonia… must write this down…!”

I lean over his shoulder and—
“Oi!!! Are you writing spell formulas to seduce her?!”

“Yes!” He beams proudly. “A brand-new charm spell: ‘Femme Fatale Elixir, ver. Harmonia!!’”

Before I can stop him, a loud, sharp voice cuts through the air.

“EYA!!! I’ve had it!!!” Seraphina suddenly explodes, her tail whipping the ground like a thunderclap. She stomps forward, eyes blazing. “Randy!! You PROMISED to go on a date with me!!”

Now my other arm is seized—two girls clinging onto me at once. My brain short-circuits.
(EH?! WAIT!! Since when did I agree to that?!)

But before I can think, Kline leaps dramatically, arms outstretched, eyes sparkling with pure delusion.
“LET ME JOIN THE FUN TOO!!! RANDY!!! I’M READY TO BE PART OF THIS LOVE PENTAGON!!!”

“Oi!! You’re gonna die!!” I shout, struggling under the weight of insanity.

And then—

WHAM!!! 💥

Elowen’s hammer collides with Kline’s skull, sending him spinning like a ragdoll.
“Stay down, you perverted donkey!!”

Before he even hits the floor, Seraphina lashes her tail and drives it into his stomach.
“Perish, pest!”

And to finish him off, Harmonia lifts her slender leg and delivers a devastating kick straight into his crotch.

BOOOOM!

A dramatic announcer voice echoes from nowhere:
“K! O!!”

Kline collapses instantly, twitching, drooling, eyes rolling back into his head. Yet somehow… he’s smiling.
“B-being hit… by girls… at least… they… touched… me…”

He faints with a stupid grin plastered across his face.

The three girls look down at him, pale with shock.
Elowen, Seraphina, and Harmonia: 😨

Finally, Elowen clears her throat awkwardly and turns to Harmonia.
“…I’m Elowen. Nice to meet you, I guess.”

Harmonia beams like a saint. “Yes, Elowen! I peeked into Randy’s mind earlier. He sees you as the leader of this group… and he thinks you’re cute and chubby.”

My soul leaves my body.
“HUH?!?!”

Elowen freezes. Then slowly, very slowly, she turns to me. Her eyes narrow into a deadly glare. 😠
“So… that’s what you think of me, Randy?”

“W-wait!! That’s not what I meant!! Harmonia, stop reading my mind!!!” I wave my arms frantically, but the damage is already done.

Elowen clasps her hands together, muttering a prayer.
“Bless me, O forge gods… for I am about to kill an idiot.”

“I’M RIGHT HERE!!” I shout.

From the floor, Kline gives a weak thumbs-up, still barely conscious.
“G-good one… Harmonia… y-you can read my mind too… we’re… c-comrades…”

“SHUT UP, PERVERT!!!” Elowen, Seraphina, and I yell in unison.

But Harmonia isn’t finished. She turns to Seraphina next.
“You must be Seraphina, the warrior babe. Randy’s thoughts about you are…”

“STOP!!!” I scream. “Seriously, STOP reading my head!!” 🤯

Seraphina’s ears perk, her cheeks flushing bright red.
“R-Randy… you think of me as… a babe?”

Before I can even deny it, Kline’s ghostly voice rises from the floor.
“Hey, I think you’re a gorgeous babe too…”

“NOT YOU, PERVERT!!! BLEHHH!!” Seraphina sticks her tongue out, stomping her foot like a flustered anime heroine. 😛

And just like that… chaos reigns supreme once again.

(…Seriously, someone just kill me now.)

We’re still deep in the dusty archives, the faint glow of lanterns flickering against shelves stacked with scrolls. The air feels heavy with secrets. Harmonia keeps fidgeting, like a child lost in her own world, and Elowen finally breaks the silence.

“So… Harmonia, how long have you been here?” Elowen tilts her head, hammer resting on her shoulder.

Harmonia blinks, tapping her chin. “Ummm… long… maybe… Hey, is Cleo around?”

“Cleo?” All of us exchange glances.

“Ehhh… yeah! That’s how long it’s been, right?” She giggles nervously, but her eyes betray a blank confusion.

She really has no idea what’s going on.

Elowen lets out a small sigh, her dwarven patience thinning. “Uh… best that you see outside, Harmonia.”

“Okay! But first—I can’t wait to try the best Kraken’s dumplings! They make the BEST dumplings here!” Her eyes sparkle with childlike excitement.

All of us freeze. Kraken’s Dumplings?

Kline adjusts his glasses, whispering to us so she doesn’t hear. “Kraken’s Dumpling… sounds exactly like what my master once told me. But that was over a hundred… maybe a couple hundred years ago.”

Elowen lowers her voice, stunned. “That means… she’s over a hundred years old?”

Kline just nods. “Yep.”

The realization sends a chill down my spine. Harmonia’s bright grin suddenly feels tragic.

When we finally step outside the archives, the air is still and cold. Broken stone roads stretch ahead where vibrant streets once must have thrived. Harmonia skips forward at first, but then… stops. Her face pales.

“What… what happened here?” Her voice trembles, fragile.

I hesitate, but Elowen speaks softly. “This place… was abandoned a long time ago. Centuries, maybe. The people, the songs… all gone.”

We continue walking, the silence weighing heavier with each step, until we reach the edge of the island. The horizon stretches endless and empty, but Harmonia’s breath catches like a dagger in her chest.

“No… so it’s true…” Her body shakes violently. Then she screams. “CLEO!!!!!”

Her cry echoes into the abyss.

Elowen grips her hammer tighter. “Who… is Cleo?”

Harmonia’s tears spill freely now, her voice cracking with both love and sorrow.

“Her true name is Cleopatra Livia. She was… no, she IS like me… a songweaver. We weren’t just friends.” Her hand clutches her chest, trembling. “We were sisters… bound by song, bound by soul.”

The weight of her words makes the ruins feel even more lifeless. A bond older than time itself, torn apart by centuries of silence.

I look straight at her, my throat tightening as the name slips out.
“Harmonia…”

She lifts her head, her lips curving into that serene, almost mischievous smile. Her eyes glimmer like she’s already decided her fate.

“Well then…” she says softly, yet her voice rings with conviction, “I’m joining you.”

I blink. “Uh—w-wait, I don’t think that’s—”

Before I can even finish, she takes a step forward, her presence washing over us like a rising tide.

“I know she is alive…” Harmonia declares, her tone both haunting and beautiful. Her hand presses gently against her chest as if she can feel something beyond this world. “…I can sense it.”

The air freezes.

“What?!” Everyone’s voices overlap in disbelief, eyes snapping wide.

Even my own heart skips a beat. Sense it? Alive? How…?

Harmonia’s smile deepens. It’s not reckless—it’s absolute, unshakable. “I could help!!!!!” she shouts, almost with childlike desperation, her voice echoing through the hall like a song that refuses to die.

For a moment, no one breathes. It’s like the whole world is holding its breath with us—watching this forgotten songstress ignite with fire once more.

Before Elowen can voice her doubts, Kline suddenly steps in front of her, grinning smugly.
“Oi, oi, oi… you don’t seriously think we’re dumb enough to leave her behind, do you?”

Elowen frowns, crossing her arms. “It’s not about stupidity. We don’t know if bringing her is a good idea.”

Seraphina’s tail flicks as she speaks up, her voice softer than usual. “I just… don’t feel right leaving her alone here.”

Kline smirks, wagging his finger like a teacher scolding children. “Tsk, tsk, tsk… you guys are missing the obvious.”

Everyone looks at him, deadpan.
“…And what’s that supposed to mean?” Elowen asks flatly.

I sigh, already knowing where this is going. “We’re lacking one thing in our party.”

Kline’s grin widens. “Bingo! A healer and supporter!” He points dramatically at Harmonia like he’s unveiling a grand treasure.

Elowen narrows her eyes. “Are you sure about this… Harmonia?”

Harmonia’s eyes light up like stars, her smile radiant. “Yes! Yes!!! I will!!! Plus—” She clasps my arm tighter, her voice sweet and unwavering. “—I’ve got Randy here with me!”

“Oi, what about me?” Kline pipes up, puffing his chest.

“Yes… the perverted guy too.” Harmonia replies with a straight face.

The group collectively bursts out laughing.

“Damn, she doesn’t hold back.” I mutter.

“Yep. I like her already.” Elowen smirks, a rare glimmer of approval in her eyes.

Seraphina steps closer, her expression softening. “Don’t worry, Harmonia. I’ll back you up, no matter what.”

Harmonia nods, cheeks slightly flushed. “Thank you… I’ll do my best!”

Kline throws an arm dramatically in the air. “See? We’re already comrades! You’ve got buddies now!”

I finally speak, extending my hand to her. “Well then, Harmonia… welcome to our party.”

Her smile blooms even brighter, and somehow, I feel like the air itself becomes lighter with it. We all exchange grins, realizing just how much we wanted her with us—even if we didn’t say it out loud.

Later, as the laughter fades, I break the silence.
“…Hey, everyone.”

Elowen tilts her head. “What’s up?”

I look around at the floating island bathed in twilight. “Why don’t we make this place… our base of operations? This Sky Island. It’s too unique, too powerful, to simply abandon or share recklessly.”

Kline nods instantly, a mischievous grin on his face. “Heh. I agree. Besides, now I’ve got my own workshop here. Perfect place to blow stuff up—uh, I mean, experiment.”

Elowen adjusts her cloak with a little smirk. “As the leader, I hereby declare this our HQ.”

Seraphina stretches her arms behind her head, her tail swishing happily. “Heh. This already feels like home. Don’t even think about changing it.”

I chuckle, then glance at the half-broken Skybreaker docked nearby. “Well… I’ve been working on a design for a smaller airship. Something that fits one or two people. Less obvious, less flashy. The Skybreaker… stands out like a sore thumb.”

Kline whistles. “Heeeh~ can’t wait for that.”

“Hahahaha!” Elowen suddenly claps her hands. “Well then! Since this is our first official party gathering here… Harmonia, why don’t you give us a blessing?”

Harmonia blinks, then nods, smiling brightly. “Alright then… I’ll sing for us.”

She begins softly, her voice pure and melodic. The sound carries across the ruined halls of the archive, resonating like it’s weaving itself into the very air.
One by one, without even realizing it, we join her.

First me. Then Elowen.
Then Kline—singing terribly off-key but grinning like an idiot.
Finally Seraphina, her voice low and strong, harmonizing perfectly.

The song rises into the sky.

And as we sing, I feel it—something stirring deep inside my body. Strength, warmth, resolve. As if the island itself is responding to our voices.

Light begins to spread from the ground, flowing through the ruins. The once-dead island glows again, alive with power.

It’s as if the island has accepted us… bound us by oath.
Not just adventurers. Not just allies.
But comrades. Companions.

That night, as laughter and warmth still hang in the air, a sudden flutter breaks the moment.

Fwshh!

From the skies, a bird descends—its feathers silver like moonlight, a scroll tied carefully to its leg. It circles once before landing gracefully on Elowen’s arm.

Her eyes widen. “A messenger falcon… from my father.”

The moment she opens the letter, her face stiffens. Her usual calm composure shatters—her hands tremble.

“…It’s Father. Something terrible is about to happen.”

The atmosphere freezes.

Kline leans closer, trying to keep it casual but his voice low. “Then… read it out loud. No secrets.”

Elowen nods, swallowing her breath before speaking.

‘Dear Elowen… I can no longer hold this news back. The kingdom is in grave danger.
A new dungeon has appeared. Scouts report a vast army already on the move—monsters, fairy beings, enemy soldiers, airships, and dragon riders. Two of the legendary land battleships, Behemoth and Eligor, march with them. We are outnumbered ten to one.
With the aid of Lady Elysia we hold the walls for now, but our strength wanes. The dungeon concerns me most, and so Lord Devonshire has dispatched Valga and her men to investigate. May the gods grant it is not a greater calamity.
Tell Randy… if he has found the way home, he must take his friends and return. This world is not his to suffer for… but if he chooses to stay, then may fate guide him.
—Your Father.’

The letter falls silent in Elowen’s hands, but the words thunder in all of our hearts.

My chest tightens. My gut tells me what I don’t want to admit: I need to be there.

I step forward, my voice steady. “Elowen. We’re going… but first we head to that dungeon. Something about it feels… wrong. More than just coincidence.”

Kline scratches the back of his head, grinning nervously. “…Heh. I’ve got the same gut feeling. That place is calling us.”

Seraphina’s tail lashes, her eyes sharp. “Then we follow that instinct. But Elowen—did your father mention how long until the invasion reaches the capital?”

Elowen exhales shakily. “…Three days.”

The silence that follows feels heavy enough to crush us.

“Three days…” I mutter. “Then we don’t waste even one second. We prepare. We fight.”

I turn to Harmonia. “And Harmonia—you’re not going to walk into this barehanded. You’ll need gear, weapons, everything.”

Harmonia raises her hand timidly. “U-um… is it possible to check my old quarters in the archives? I still have some things there…”

Kline immediately puffs out his chest. “Allow me to escort the young lady! I’ll protect you with my—”

“Oi.” Elowen cuts him off coldly, glaring. “You’re loading potions, bombs, and every supply we need for this battle. I’lltake Harmonia. Got it?”

“Eeeeh?!” Kline groans, but no one gives him sympathy.

Elowen smirks slightly. “What about you, Randy?”

I glance down at my gear, my hand brushing against the hilt of my lightsaber. “…I need to upgrade. My suit, my armor… everything. And this blade too.”

I turn to Kline. “I’ll need your workshop.”

Kline gives me a mock salute. “Huh. Sure. Try not to blow it up.”

The workshop reeks of oil and steel. Tools scatter across the benches. I lock the door behind me—this isn’t just maintenance. This is survival.

I take the lightsaber in hand, activating its faint hum. I think about security measures—if someone steals this, if it’s used against us… no. That can’t happen.

First, I try with a strand of my hair. Nothing.

Then… I press the blade against my finger. Blood stains the hilt.

BZZZT!

The weapon responds instantly—its core pulsing, light surging as if it recognizes me. My blood doesn’t just bind to the blade—it spreads, resonating across my armor, my gauntlets, every piece of gear I own.

The lights flicker. For a moment, the entire workshop hums with energy.

“…Good.” I whisper, clenching my fist. “Now… no one can wield this but me.”

The glow fades, but something lingers—like the island itself responds to my resolve.

This isn’t just equipment anymore.
This is mine.
Bound by blood.

An hour passes. By the time we regroup on the Skybreaker, everyone is different—sharper, stronger, more prepared.

The biggest surprise comes from Harmonia.

She twirls in her new outfit, her face glowing with pride. “This is called Weavertail Armor! It enhances song-based abilities tenfold… and reduces mana usage drastically.”

The metallic fabric gleams faintly with flowing rune lines, as if it hums with every heartbeat.

“Tenfold…?” Kline whistles. “So basically, you’re busted now.”

Harmonia beams, puffing her chest. “Exactly!”

We all exchange glances and nod. Having her with us is no longer just reassuring—it’s terrifying in a good way.

Meanwhile, Elowen gives crisp instructions to the golem control core. The ancient guardians that slumbered beneath the island groan awake, their golden bodies shining with renewed power.

“Two hundred ground units assigned to guard the island.” She announces with military precision. “And thirty airborne models with flight cores will follow us as escort.”

The thought of thirty flying golems flanking the Skybreaker is enough to make even Seraphina smirk.

Kline mutters, “Now that’s what I call an air entourage.”

Soon, the Skybreaker rises, cutting across the clouds. Our destination: the newly appeared dungeon, ominously close.

Meanwhile, in the Palace of Magick, the air crackles with urgency.

Inside the war council hall, Luna pours over maps and shifting mana charts, calculating defense formations, while Elysialeads squads of volunteers through drills in the courtyard.

“They’re rough around the edges, but…” Elysia eyes the group. “These adventurers have more real combat experience than Alfian and Raul ever did. Fighting us doesn’t count.”

Raul poses dramatically, flexing in front of some trainees. “Heeeyaaaah!! Witness the heroic spirit of Raul, defender of justice!”

Alfian swings his sword with unnecessary flair. “Is that all you’ve got?! Pathetic!”

Elysia sighs. “…Case in point.”

Oswald adjusts his glasses, scribbling notes on a clipboard. “For all their noise, they’re… at least extra meat shields.”

The courtyard is full of familiar faces—twenty young fighters who once followed Elysia, now hardened adventurers.

Adventurers Roster

Tier A

Tier B
3. Marian (Form 2) – Assassin-Wizard (Hybrid Mage/Assassin)
4. Kyle (Form 5) – Spearman (Vanguard / Anti-Cavalry)
5. Marlisa (Form 3) – Healer-Sage (Main Healer / Support)
6. Rizal (Form 4) – Martial Artist (Frontline Striker)
7. Lilika (Form 4) – Elemental Archer (Archer / Water Mage)
8. Wildad (Form 1) – Tank (Shieldbearer / Protector)
9. Kevin (Form 3) – Arcane Cleric (Wizard / Healer)
10. Micheal (Form 3) – Bulwark Fighter (Tank / Bruiser)
11. Lionel (Form 4) – Paladin-in-Training (Knight / Healer)
12. Padel (Form 4) – Scout Archer (Sniper / Tracker)
13. Quill (Form 3) – Shadow Thief (Stealth / Infiltrator)
14. William (Form 5) – Knight Vanguard (Tank / Defender)
15. Jake (Form 4) – Trickster Archer-Thief (Rogue / Archer Hybrid)
16. Paul (Form 3) – Wizard (Offensive Mage)
17. Carol (Form 5) – Knight of Honor (Duelist Knight)
18. Flint (Form 2) – Battle Healer (Fighter / Support Healer)
19. Roland (Form 4) – Monk-Healer (Martial Artist / Ki Healer)
20. Roslan (Form 5) – Support Archer (Archer / Healer / Buffer)

Each one a fighter now sharper, stronger, and hungrier than before.

“These kids are the real deal,” Oswald notes, his tone surprisingly respectful.

“Yeah,” Elysia smirks. “And compared to them, Alfian and Raul are…”

“HEY!!” Alfian suddenly points at Oswald. “Don’t ignore me! You think you’re hot stuff just ‘cause you act cool?!”

Oswald blinks slowly, then looks deliberately to the side, crossing his arms. “…Is someone talking?”

“DAMN YOU!!” Alfian stomps, face red.

Elysia pinches her nose. “…You sure you want this fight?”

Alfian grins cockily. “Of course! He thinks I’m weak!”

Elysia shrugs. “Os… humor him.”

“Tch… fine.” Oswald adjusts his gloves, sighs, then leaps down into the sparring arena. Raul watches with sparkling eyes, fists clenched.

“This is it! The duel of rivals!” Raul cries dramatically.

CLANG! The sound of steel echoes as Alfian charges at Oswald. Sparks fly. Oswald parries lazily, his expression bored.

“You’re telegraphing your swings.”

“Shut up!” Alfian roars.

The courtyard watches, half in awe, half in amusement.

Elysia mutters, “Bet three gold he gets floored in under a minute.”

“Ten seconds,” Marian whispers back.

While the spar continues, Luna steps away to the window. The sky is restless, clouds heavy with distant thunder.

“…Randy. Hurry.” She whispers.

Her prayer is interrupted when a servant rushes in. “Lady Luna! Message from Lady Elowen!”

“Read it!” Luna demands.

The servant bows. “‘We head to the dungeon first. Afterward, we’ll move immediately to reinforce the capital. Out.’”

Luna exhales, some tension easing. “At least… Lord Devonshire has backup now.”

She turns back to her commanders. “Focus on defense. The enemy will press us hard, but we endure. We must persevere.”

“Yes, my lady!” the strategists bow.

At her side, Sphaera, the enigmatic presence cloaked in mist, speaks softly. “I sense turbulence. More than armies—fate itself shifts here.”

Luna’s lips tighten. “Then we must be ready.”

Sphaera’s gaze hardens. “Remember this, Luna. She must be protected. They will target her above all else. If the worst comes… and Randy arrives with the Skybreaker… make sure she escapes first.”

The chamber falls silent, Luna’s hands trembling slightly as she clutches the map.

“…I know.”

To be continued