Book 2

“Tell me, O Muse, of the turning of this world, of the gods born in answer to our being.

From his will did the Nameless God birth us, and so did he decide that the gods too would be more numerous and more beautiful than the stars in the sky. Before he withdrew to look down upon us always, four gods were born of his mind.

The first, two sisters, Life and Regrowth, born to always nurture us. The second, two brothers, Death and Calamity, born to return us to nothing.

Born in response to the beings he had made, the Goddess of Life gave a name to our state. From her all energy flows, filling us and giving us breath. Wherever she stands new life will bloom. So do all living things owe their lives to her.

Born in response to the beings he had made, the God of Death gave an end to our state. He lurks within each of us, waiting for our time. He comes for us all, so gently, and puts us all to rest. So do all living things come to an end at his hand.

Born in response to the world he had made, the Goddess of Regrowth protects us all from ruin. Where destruction is wrought she walks, bringing with her a new era. In times of need she preserves the world, never allowing it to come to an end.

Born in response to the world he had made, The God of Calamity brings disaster to us all. Where he walks, destruction is wrought, bringing an end to our era. In times of crisis he is there, bringing about the end of our world.

By the Nameless God’s will these four were born, the arbiters of time, the infinite and the limited. The beginning and the end. Now all things come from them and all things return to them in the end. So it is the cycle of our being.”

The rhapsode goes on, telling stories of Life and Death, all famous tales of heroes who once came into contact with those two. The blue-haired man sits alone, in silence, listening to the rhapsode with a small smile on his face. They’re all stories he knows well, but he enjoys listening to them all the same. They’re all important stories to him now.

As he listens alone, a tall, skinny man approaches him. This man is all white, pale skin, white hair, and white eyes, wearing billowing black robes. He sits down next to the blue-haired man, and even then towers over him.

“Cata,” says the man dressed in black, “do you really enjoy listening to these stories?”

“Of course I do, Brother. They remind me of precious memories, after all.”

“I can hardly see the point of it. It’s all only the Muse in the end.”

“I would hope that isn’t the case. I’d cry if all the rhapsodes were saying nothing but what the Muse told them.”

“Stop being such a crybaby”

“I can’t help being so sensitive.”

“Be serious, Cata.”

“I can’t help it if I’m the cutest in the world. Forgive me, Big Brother~”

“Can’t you act your age for once? This is the reason everyone’s gone so foolish. And while we’re at it, you need to do your job.”

“If you scold me too much I’ll cry. And I don’t need to anyway. There’s no point in starting something that won’t get finished.”

“So that’s it? You’ll just sit around and wait for her, listening to these stupid stories?”

“Yup. I love her, after all. Though somebody as insensitive as you might not understand that.”

“Shut up. We’re in a world where nobody dies and nothing changes, even as new lives are born and the world is destroyed. I can’t let you wallow in despair forever, not in a world like this. So we’ll find a way to work without Reno.”

“We won’t. We can’t. I refuse to do anything until she’s back where she belongs. I promised to love her after all, no matter how the world changes.”

“But what if this isn’t the place she belongs anymore? What will you do if the world has changed so much that she doesn’t love you anymore.” Cata keeps his eyes on the rhapsode, half-listening to a story he already knows.

“If that happened… Even if that happened… I would still love her. A promise is a promise, after all. And I can’t imagine a future where I don’t love her.”

“I asked Reno the same thing once, before she left us. She refused to answer. She called it a stupid question. She said it was something that could never happen. She couldn’t imagine a future where you don’t love her either. She’s too headstrong, don’t you think? And you’re too gutless.”

“Brother.”

“You know it’s true, Cata. Why are you so afraid of looking at the girl who loves you properly? She loves you. She still loves you. Don’t look down on her. You’ve been apart for but a single moment, anyway. So don’t look down on yourself either. Waiting for her doesn’t prove anything but the fact you’re a fool. And we all already knew that. But we’re waiting for the two of you just the same. Even though you’re both just fools who only know how to love each other. So get a hold of yourself.”

“I… I’ll come home soon, Brother. But I’d like to wait here for a moment longer.” The man in black stands up.

“Fine, fine. But if you’re so sure, then you better bring Reno back home in the end. If it’s you then I’m sure it’ll go well. And I’ll have a mountain of work waiting for you when you get back.”

“Thank you, Brother.”

And so Cata’s brother goes on his way, Cata himself not taking his eyes off of the rhapsode. And so the rhapsode’s performance comes to an end.

“And with that, I believe it time for me to bid farewell for the night.”