In the forest near a small settlement, screeches and discordant howls could be heard. The villagers could only ignore the painful wails of the forest that was an extension of their home.
Daily life shouldn't be disturbed by such a phenomenon. Dissonance surges were commonplace. Maybe they would get lucky and the problem resolves itself. Now was not the time to lose focus, the reaping was nearly here.
They must gather as much crop and resonance tokens as possible to appease those who reign over the small secluded settlements in the area.
Some hoped that a nearby kingdom would pity them and send a few knights to take care of the rogue harmonists. That was only a dream as they had no way to signal they needed assistance. Their ancestors severed any connection with the outside world.
Many from the younger generations sought to change the mindset of the old but their elder, who still had a lot of influence due to his age, prevented anyone but those trusted enough to leave. Small trades from the few around the settlement were within acceptable measures.
Outsiders were sometimes called upon to deal with dissonance surges like this. Although the elder was an experienced harmonist, but he was quite old and frail. He can still do damage, but a single slip up in a surge and the village loses the majority of its fighting power.
The rogue harmonists had only recently seized control. Attempts were made to escape but it was all for naught as two Choral Masters were within their militia .
Asking their captors for help wasn't an option either since the last person they sent to talk to the harmonists hadn't returned. A clear indicator of their refusal.
A sigh escaped the lips of the village elder. He stood with trembling hands on his second-floor balcony. The old wooden floor creaked with the slightest movement. Largis was nearing 300 years of age. He witnessed and assisted in the creation of Sylvara.
It was once a place bustling with life and a thriving harmonist population. That was until the Talvaron Empire kidnapped their harmonists. A better future was promised but the old man knew it was an empty one.
His village was being threatened by the increasingly dangerous state of the once prosperous forest. It has been weeks since the surge began. The cause was currently unknown, but what he did know was that if he tried to calm it, that would be the last thing he ever did.
His aching bones and shriveled appearance was a strong indicator of his frailty. Even now as he watched the wriggling branches and the withered leaves fall, the dissonance still had an effect on his resonance core.
Every pulse of dissonant energy tried to destabilize his core. It took every ounce of strength to protect himself.
'How could I help my people if I can't even help myself?! This stupid body!' Gnashing his teeth in frustration, Largis was at his breaking point.
As he was about to rest, he heard the faint sounds of wind chimes. A subtle shamanic chant accompanied the chimes as they melted together into a beautiful harmony.
"Is that-?" Disbelief spread on his face as he tried to find the origins of the melody in the distance. Rarely anyone ever comes here. Not only are they not on any map, but the rogue harmonists that took over hadn't allowed anyone other than themselves to travel so close to their village.
Largis wasn't the only one to notice an unusual presence. The foreign melody seemed to calm their surroundings. After getting used to the dissonant wails of the forest, the tribe of elves had a moment of peace.
Deep within the forest what appeared to be a middle-aged human man took steady steps toward the forest center where the dissonant energy was strongest. Nothing seemed to faze the man as branches lashed toward him and disruptive notes were sent to destabilize his core.
Such attacks only bounced off the man. His tan skin and unkempt long black hair were covered by a robe and straw hat. On his waist was a katana that released a constant but almost imperceptible note. It corresponded with the man's heartbeat, creating a tempo that kept his melody undisturbed.
Soon enough, the man stops in the middle of the forest where the dissonance was visible. Vibrations in the air caused the surroundings to ripple and sway. Animals around this place were in a trance like state as they lashed out at each other.
Looking down at his feet, the man only wore bandages as he liked to be connected to Thaloria's natural frequency. This allowed him to better spot dissonance surges. If this went on any longer, any number of things could happen.
Not only was the village at risk, but other settlements in the area could be affected if it wasn't stopped.
Shinryu was not someone who could let innocent people die. He could sense a corrupted resonance crystal below him, but knew that accessing it wouldn't be that easy with the state the forest is in currently.
A hum could be heard as his core attempted to match frequencies with the crystal. Although the forest was releasing a chaotic symphony of frequencies to counter his attempt, as long as he focused on the source, the rest will follow.
The sound of wind chimes grew louder as the chants rumbled the ground beneath his feet. Shinryu, steady as a rock, vibrated the ground causing the soil to shift. A deep blue crystal soon appears. Black veins could be seen pulsing from within, creating a frequency painful to one's core.
It was a note so alien to this world that even non-harmonists are affected. Only those with stable cores and iron wills could enter the epicenter of such a cataclysmic event. With just a glance, Shinryu could tell any longer and the crystal would have formed a rift leading to the Beyond.
The veil was a volatile existence, even resonance crystals that have a natural connection to it can create a hole. Thinking of the havoc the beasts would have created if they had escaped made Shinryu's heart ache.
Floating in the air, the crystal continued its chaotic melody as Shinryu reached out to touch it. A spark of lightning erupted from the crystal, striking Shinryu on his right arm.
The powerful blast did damage to his clothing and nothing more. The charred hole revealed tattos written in an ancient language not known to the modern world.
Synchronizing with the crystal, Shinryu was able to tame its chaos by guiding its frequency back to its natural resonance. The trees that were once wilting and frantic started to return to life as leaves rapidly grew.
The animals that had begun to bleed through every orifice healed and went back to grazing. Even the villagers who were anxious and scared for their future began to regain hope. It was like nothing bad had occurred in the forest as the trees started to sing their normal tune.
This was what made the village so special in the villagers' hearts. Even after losing their harmonists, they were confident in rebuilding their forces as the forest assisted in the training and awakening of Novices.
Those with mage attuned cores could meditate for prolonged periods with no disruption. Warrior attuned cores could sit in the forest and heal from most injuries. This elven tribe had an ethereal connection with the forest that didn't allow outsiders to profit from it.
The rogue harmonists knew this and that's why they refused to help. Tears ran down Largis' cheeks as he tried to see past his blurry vision. The beauty of the forest's music soothed their hearts once more.
But one question prevailed. Who was their benefactor that made even the forest thankful enough to break a long formed rule?
Before he could investigate himself, soft footsteps could be heard from the edge of the forest. Largis who was now standing near the entrance to the forest waited with bated breath for their savior. The villagers stood eagerly behind him.
"Is it another elf?"
"Has Loufin returned?"
Hearing the name of his only son made Largis shudder. He was a talented young warrior who had reached the Choral Master rank just like his old man but at an even younger age. His potential was limitless. The heartless empire thought that his talents were wasted in the village and took him away to be used in some war.
'Emperor Caelthar Veytharion, I swear that I will one day destroy you AND your family!'
Largis' curses were interrupted by the emergence of Shinryu. His presence brought a silence upon the area. Even the trees quieted their choral tunes as they seemed to listen for the man's next words.
"I'm hungry."
"Eh?!" Having expected a grand speech, the villagers were too stunned to speak. Largis was the first to recover as he put on his best customer service smile.
"Of course, you must be famished from your journey. This place is quite far from the nearest human settlement." Having identified Shinryu as what appeared to be a human, Largis made a come hither gesture as he led the strange man to his lodging.
Shinryu noticed many things from the brief walk to the village center. Not only was there a lack of harmonists in a such a prosperous region, some villagers were covered in injuries. Elves are prideful creatures, but these villagers looked quite pitiful.
'I've been sensing weird fluctuations in this area. Corrupt crystals don't just appear out of nowhere. If it was a natural build up of corrupt veil energy then this old elf would have been enough to deal with it earlier even in his current state.'
Staring at the back of the village elder's head, Shinryu had many questions he wasn't sure any of the villagers could answer.
Feeling his gaze Largis turns around just as he reaches the dining room table. "Ah, let me introduce myself. My name is Largis Varhin, one of the two elders of our village."
"I am Shinryu, but you may call me Shin. Thank you for your hospitality." With a slight bow Shin showed his respect to the village elder before sitting. 'So he's not the chief?'
Usually a village will consist of one chief and a council of the oldest members to guide the chief. Shinryu had suspected Largis to be the type to not want to give up his position to the younger generation as a futile attempt to hold onto some power. 'These guys might be in trouble with one of the kingdoms around here.'
A shortage of harmonists amongst elven villages could mean they're at war. Only humans and technology focused species have villages that have no need for many harmonists due to their technological advancements.
Elves are known for their talented harmonists so them having only one Choral Master and a few Novices was quite the surprise to Shinryu.
Curious, Shinryu watches as Largis threw together what looked like meat stew. He waited until the man was finished to begin asking questions.
Placing the bowl in front of Shin, Largis takes a seat across from him with his own bowl.
"Enjoy. This is a recipe from my great grandmother. She came up with it during the 3rd Great Harmonist War."
Smelling the aroma of the stew, Shin smiled at the pleasant array of herbs and spices permeating throughout the small wooden cottage. Soft chimes could be heard making Largis chuckle.
Turning to the elf after taking a few spoonfulls, Shinryu speaks. "Where is your chief?"
Raising an eyebrow the man frowns slightly in thought. Opening his mouth to answer, Largis hesitates.
'Do I involve an outsider in our affairs or give him a non-answer? What if he can help?' Sighing, the elven elder seemed to age 100 years as he makes a decision.
"We need your help."