309 How Are You?

The inside of the Sacred City’s basilica was dark but the starry sky shone. The flickering lights formed the brilliant aether sea.

"Is the observation record of Anglo still not ready?" Father Albert gazed at the westernmost corner. There, the starry sea was dim, almost swallowed by darkness. Only faint light flickered but he could not distinguish anything. "Bayer, it’s too slow," he said.

"Archbishop, the Musician Division is short of hands as well." Bayer shrugged helplessly. His image was projected from Anglo. Floating beside Albert, his image flickered with instability. "With the current situation, it’s difficult just to maintain this call."

Nibelungenlied’s gentle and warm voice came from the starry sky, "After all, a god’s incarnate had descended. Clutter and noise still remains in the aether sea. Mr. Mephistopheles has already sent the records of the Westminster Church. I am comparing it to Mr. Bayer’s resources. Soon, the noise will be filtered out soon."

"Please hurry." Albert shook his head. "I hope that I am just overthinking, but I become unsettled whenever something happens in relation to Anglo."

"Archbishop Albert, no need to worry. It is already over," Nibelungenlied said. "Mankind is victorious in this war."

"I hope so." Albert lowered his eyes, thinking of something.

Soon, the cleaning of the clutter and noise began. Changes appeared abruptly in the vast starry sea. The darkness above Anglo magnified and the images changed quickly as if it was replaying at a hundred times the original speed.

The interfering signals in the murky darkness were filtered out layer by layer until the original nature was revealed. Avalon’s contours slowly emerged. The ripples that represented aether waves were born from it. However, they covered the details and one could only see the general image.

Within it, the atmosphere of the battle between the blazing sun and abyss was unmistakable. Their ripples and waves had torn apart all other waves and suppressed them. A strand of pure light floated above, locking the entire battlefield until there was a victor. This was the boundary marked by Genesis. The influence shook violently until the abyss’s aura finally dissipated.

"After all these years of inactivity, the Sword in the Stone is still so sharp and terrifying." Albert replayed the image and looked carefully. He deduced the music theory in his mind. "I don’t know how far it is from its prime but seeing this, I don’t think it’s too far."

Bayer asked, "I think every other nation is concerned about whether it has the strength to continue Kingdom Comes."

"Anglo is very tricky," Albert said lightly. "They placed the battlefield in Avalon’s Shadow. Not only is there the geographic advantage, it also hid Sword in the Stone’s specific situation. This question will have no answer.

"This is unimportant to the Sacred City. As long as Anglo is willing to use this power against natural catastrophes, we have nothing to say."

"That’s the attitude of the Sacred City?"

"This has been the Sacred City’s attitude for centuries."

"That’s so straightforward." Bayer sighed. "No wonder the Sacred City is not likeable."

"Bayer, this city contains thirty percent of mankind’s power. If we learn how to be tactful and talk in circles, many would feel fear and be unable to sleep. It’s okay to be unlikable. At least, it’s better than being seen as a beast.

"Compared to the diplomats that are insignificant to natural catastrophes and demons, we wish to focus more on developing more musicians who can expand our land. There’s no point in fighting over power within the walls."

Hearing this, Bayer laughed. "Is this arrogance?"

"This is awe, Bayer. Awe of the dark world." Albert stared deeply at him before looking away. He gazed up at the image in the starry sky. If the mundane world was under this sky, then the Church’s duty was looking past the brilliance to the darkness.

-

Under the illusory starry sky, the record of the battle was replayed at hundred times its original speed. As it played over and over, the unclear image gradually sharpened. Suddenly, Albert raised his hand and paused the video. "What is this?"

Below the starry sky, amidst the darkness of Avalon, a large moon rose gradually. It entered the aether sea and created violent waves. It was nothing compared to the battle between the Sword in the Stone and the abyss, but the music theory construction within it was unbelievable.

The moon seemed large but was actually very fine and detailed. Under careful observation, it seemed to be an extremely precise and perfect object. Like a clock, hundreds upon thousands of music notes were transformed into rotating gears. They grouped into intervals, turned into music theory, and constructed the music score. Finally, it entered the aether sea and created this perfect and flawless moon.

"Deva sensing? In Avalon’s Shadow?" Albert was stunned. "That’s impossible!"

After studying for a bit, Bayer nodded. "The construction is very fine. It’s like an art piece."

"No, compared to the preciseness on the surface, I care more for the aura it emanates." Albert pondered for a while and sighed. "It’s completely natural and made real from an illusion. If it completed the process, it could meld into the true moon."

"Are you sure this is merely Deva sensing of someone becoming an official musician? It’s not something stronger, such as resonating with the world?"

"It is not, but it’s not far from it. I didn’t know Anglo had such a genius in recent years. With such fine detail, he can easily try for the Resonance level with a few years of preparation." Albert looked at Bayer. "Which grandmaster’s student is this?"

"I don’t know." Bayer shook his head. "Of the questions we posed, only this was overlooked. Maxwell’s clerk remained silent. He seems to have been authorized to do so."

"Not willing for their country’s talents to be stolen by the Sacred City?" Albert shook his head. "Before the end of the decade, he will most likely become a grandmaster. It’s understandable that Anglo does not want to give him up."

Bayer chuckled. He submitted the additional information and his projection faded. After all, this was a long-distance projection crossing thousands of miles. Every second was expensive. Even if they had a generous budget, they still needed to save on certain aspects.

Silence fell back over the hall.

In the silence, Albert replayed the records over and over. Finally, he caught an insignificant detail…the moment the moon entered the aether sea, the intersecting ripples that spread in all directions seemed to carry a message.

"I…am here?" Albert slowly deciphered the message. He could not help but laugh. "He’s announcing his existence to the world? This musician really doesn’t like to be lonely. It’s good he didn’t attract something from the depths of the aether world." He quickly moved on from this detail. However, when the recording came to an end, he froze again. He sensed another signal from within the upheaval of moonlight. However, the waves were too unclear and he could not decipher it.

"Moonlight again?" Albert furrowed his brows. "What did he say this time?"

No one replied.

"Nibelungenlied, are you here?"

"I am." Nibelungenlied’s voice was gentle. "How may I help you?"

"What was that signal?"

"Archbishop, you were mistaken," Nibelungenlied said lightly. "There was no signal; it was only regular white noise. You will not run into this type of disruption anymore."

Albert nodded and refocused onto his observation. After a long while, he finished. He recorded the result and data into Nibelungenlied’s book and left.

However, the recording of that night kept replaying in the silent starry sky. The stars changed and ripples appeared one after another; it was dazzling.

In that starry sky, someone said, I am here.

After a long, long, long time, someone asked quietly under the same starry sky, How are you?