Danjin's slender hand hovered over the doorknob that is her own room. Hesitation appeared pronounced.
Although she had decided that this room would've been a good room to rest in, she had never once actually sleep here.
4 days had passed by in the blink of an eye.
And none of the night had been spent inside this room.
It's not that she's repulsed or anything, it's just... a small tug at the back of her mind. Reminding her of something unpleasant.
It would've been fine if the memory became vivid, but that's the thing!
It's merely apparitions of the happenings of the past!
At the very least, if you wanted to foreshadow something, make it less blurry! Show more of the surroundings! Stop cutting off the voices!
What's the point of giving hints if you're going to simply leave her on the edge!?
Danjin clenched her fist tighter before turning around and going downstairs.
She glanced at the restroom once and then quickly made her way to the living room and sat on the sofa.
Looking at the yawning Phoebe in her pajama, Danjin patted the empty seat right next to her before standing up and moving behind it.
The Acolyte rubbed her eyes and followed Danjin's silent calling, sitting on the empty seat with her back facing the Ranger.
"You aren't a morning person. When I first got here, I didn't quite expect that." Pulling a comb from somewhere, Danjin began to untangle Phoebe's messy hair, making sure it doesn't form a knot.
"Hm." A single hum of affirmation was everything she got as only the sound of comb going through hair floating in the air.
"My weapon should be done repairing today, do you want to pick it up with me?" The redhead spoke after noticing Phoebe's consciousness becoming clearer.
After another yawn escaped her lips, Phoebe responded, "My apologies. But today is the day of the rehearsal. Since the Carnevale begins today, I can't be away for too long. My schedule is very much packed today."
With an apologetic tone, Phoebe turned Danjin's offer down.
"That's alright. I was thinking clearing my doubts from the first day today. So I guess this is where we split for now."
"Hm. Sorry I couldn't be of much help these couple of days. Even though you looked so desperate..."
"I was not desperate."
"Ah, I spoke too loud. Sorry."
Phoebe flicked her bang slightly and pinched a lock of hair. Her purple eyes flickering slightly at the bright light.
"You didn't stay home a lot these days. Could it have something to do with the thing you required my help with?"
"...Yes. But none of my strategies worked. In fact, my confusion only deepened. Don't be disheartened, though. Because meeting you was actually the biggest breakthrough in this mystery. Thank you for that."
Blushing slightly at the compliment, Phoebe hurriedly said, "I-I didn't do much. I've been quite busy with the Carnevale, so I thought that I might've wasted your time..."
"Not at all. Don't think like that." With a final pull, Danjin placed the comb down on the table and scrutinized Phoebe's new look.
"Your hair is quite long... Have you ever thought of cutting it short? Or perhaps even tying it up in a pony tail? I'm sure the heat would get to you if your nape isn't exposed."
"Haha... The weather has always been inconsistent here. When it's hot, it's burning. But it's nothing I can't handle. I think I'm already used to the heat by now."
"Ah, that's fine then. I was just giving my thoughts." Giving Phoebe's head one last rub to feel the fluffiness, Danjin grabbed her gloves and made her way towards the entrance door where no light seeps in.
The sun still isn't up, after all.
But even then, there were still a lot of people walking out in the open.
Looking at it like this, perhaps even the plaza would be filled to the brim with people...
Better avoid that one, she doesn't like crowded place after all.
She... doesn't like crowded place?
"That's... A new information." A stutter escaped her lips. Fortunately, she could still think rationally.
After all, her emotions have been fluctuating inconsistently this past couple of days. It's like, the closer she got to the day of the Carnevale, the more rampant her inner emotions became.
But it's still manageable.
Nothing she can't handle. She's been through worse, something this small could in no way whatsoever affects her.
"Phew..." Breathing in and out, Danjin calmed herself and made her way towards the familiar blacksmith.
The man smiled brightly and enthusiastically as he handed her the one handed sword.
Then, he began talking about what makes the sword he returned so amazing.
It lasted for quite a while as by the time her ears was free of the information about her blade, the sun had already risen for a while.
Though, as she made her way from the blacksmith, she spotted a familiar blond hair.
"So how can we met the Sentinel?" Two voices said in synchronization.
"Phoebe? You're here."
"Ah, Miss Danjin. Have you taken your weapon from the black smith?"
"It took a lot more time than I expected but I did. Here it is, wanna take a look?"
"Hehe, you don't have to. I am not that skilled in fighting after all. I am more of a moral support kind of person!" Phoebe smiled, greeting the redhead in return.
"Phoebe, this is...?" As a certain voice called out from behind, Phoebe turned around and waved towards Danjin.
"Ah, right. My apologies, I got distracted. Abby, Rover, this is Miss Danjin. She came from Huanglong a couple of days ago. Due to circumstances, she's currently staying together with me at my house." She introduced the Ranger.
"...!" A small gasp escaped Danjin's lips. "Rover...? Ah, I'm finally meeting with the hero of Jinzhou. You might've heard about me from General Jiyan, I am affiliated with the Midnight Ranger."
"Hah! See, Rover! Told ya your fame exceeds yourself!" The floating Echo laughed as he smacked the shoulder of the black haired woman with a sharp gaze.
'So this is Rover...' Danjin discreetly observed Rover. Even with a black color palette as a theme, she doesn't at all seem to be the gloomy type.
Perhaps the kind of person that would smile in the face of death?
While Danjin have never actually met Rover face to face, she's heard rumors. In fact, it's harder trying to avoid news about Rover when she literally saved an entire nation from the grasp of a Threnodian.
Although the threat of a Threnodian still stands, it was undoubtedly the action of Rover that had prevented the situation from turning out for the worse.
And so, she was the Hero of Jinzhou.
'Wait... Threnodian...?'
Suddenly, a headache assaulted her mind, causing her to be staggered on her feet before being caught by Phoebe.
"Miss Danjin, are you alright? What's wrong? Did you get hurt?" Concerned, Phoebe carried Danjin over to a nearby bench and sat her down, Rover and Abby following close behind her with their own concerned look.
"No.. I mean, yes. Sorry, it's just that... Threnodian..."
Rover's eyes widened at the mention of a Threnodian.
Quickly making her way next too the Ranger, she crouched to be on the same eye level. "What is it that you know?"
Without hesitation, she grabbed a hold onto Danjin's shoulder with a determined looks.
Danjin was dazed. Feeling like she had come across a forbidden knowledge and now the information was attacking her in return.
The moment she's reminded of the existence of the Threnodian... suddenly everything clicks.
What is there in this world that is strong enough to wipe out the entirety of Solaris 3?
The Lament.
And the Harbinger of those Laments... The Threnodians. The gods of the Tacet Discords. They practically held the same amount of power as a smaller scale Lament. Capable of destroying civilization with a snap of a finger.
A being capable of locking memories behind unreadable frequencies... If it was a Threnodian's doing, then it would make sense why she couldn't do anything.
Despite being as strong as she is, she doesn't even remotely compare to a being that could be categorized as a God.
But then... Why is it that some of the memories leaked?