[Legend of Lineage] Episode 7: Echoes of Resonance, a Maiden's Scream (Chapter 3)
Chapter 3: The City of Freedom, "Freehaven"
Episode 7: Echoes of Resonance, a Maiden's Scream
[Recap of Previous Episodes]
Prince Elios (Artorius), who lost his memory, and Elise, a girl burning with ambition. The two were imprisoned during a "bombing terror" incident but met Zeke and escaped. Then, with the help of Baltro, a fixer in the underworld, they stowed away and arrived at the city of freedom, Freehaven.
Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Exaltia, the shocking past of his uncle Will is revealed. Tormented by guilt and the encroachment of darkness, Will, convinced of his nephew Elios's (Artorius's) survival, places a high bounty on the underworld to eliminate him and sends out ruthless assassins.
[Character and Terminology Guide]
If you are new or would like to review the overview, please see the [Introduction] below.
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1. The Humiliation of the Livestock Transport Ship
Freehaven, located north of the Meridius territory, is a city that serves as a symbol of "freedom," where all races, desires, and immense wealth intersect. A massive cargo ship entered the port, cutting through the azure sea shining in the morning sun, where thousands of ships come and go.
However, in contrast to the glamour of the city, the ship was a livestock transport vessel, wafting a pungent, nose-stinging odor into the surroundings. In the corner of the deck, in the shadow of a pile of straw, three men and women were holding their breath and hiding.
Resonating from the bottom of the transport ship were not the sounds of waves, but the low, murky cries of cattle and the sound of hooves constantly striking the floor. In the sunlight filtering through the gaps, countless particles of dust and straw danced, and every breath brought a sense of discomfort.
As for Elise, she stared at the dried mud caked onto her favorite hat, trembling with an expression that looked as if she might unleash her magic at any moment... Her light purple dress, which had once shone beautifully, was covered in straw and mud, and now in a miserable state like a rag, Elise twitched her face and clenched her small fists until they turned white.
That sewer rat old man...! Of all things, to stow me away—the beautiful maiden Elise—packed in with cows and pigs...! Someday, I will definitely crush that high nose of Baltro's with this fist. I'll smash it to pieces!
Well now, little lady. I'm not sure about you calling yourself a beautiful maiden... but whatever. If you'd been caught by the guards at Port Anchor, you'd be drying up in a cold dungeon by now. Just be grateful we made it here safely. Oh, look, it's coming into view.
Zeke crawled out onto the deck, brushing off the straw with practiced hands, and squinted as he pointed. There, illuminated by the morning sun, was a massive port city overflowing with a forest of countless sailing ships and vitality.
Artorius watched the magnificent sight quietly while checking the feel of the orb hidden in his pocket. That strange warmth he felt during the collapse of Echo Grotto—a nostalgic yet sorrowful vibration that seemed to speak directly to the inside of his soul—was transmitted to his fingertips through his thick gauntlet.
...Hey, that glowing orb. I feel like I've seen it somewhere before...
Zeke peered keenly at Artorius's hand and continued, rubbing his chin.
There's a huge clock tower in this city... and a stubborn old man named 'Clay' lives there. I saw him fiddling with a strange orb like that a long time ago. If you go there, you might find out what it really is.
...An old man in a clock tower, huh.
For them, with nowhere else to go, it was the only signpost. The party decided to head first to the old sage.
2. Bartolo's Interest: Cleaning the Sewers
However, the "City of Freedom" would not accept them so easily. The moment they stepped onto the docks, burly men dressed in black travel gear blocked their path. They were Bartolo's henchmen. The sharp-eyed leader among them flashed a cold smile and declared to them:
“Well now, time to pay the ‘interest’ on your stowaway fee. A message from the boss: ‘Go clean up that troublesome sewer that’s been threatening the safety of our important clients here in Freehaven lately.’”
“...That sewer rat... What do you mean, interest! Just how long do you intend to keep us working?!”
Despite Elise's protests, they were forced into the dim, foul-smelling, and damp sewers, with the men ignoring their complaints as they glanced toward the bustling main street.
“Seriously, why do I have to... do monster extermination in a filthy place like this...!”
The purple lightning magic released by Elise illuminated the darkness of the sewers, and the silver flash of Artorius's drawn blade sliced through the grotesque shadows lurking in the dark in an instant. Waiting in the deepest part was a massive, mud-like monster shrouded in the same ominous “black mist” they had seen before in the Echo Grotto.
After dispersing the monster through their well-coordinated teamwork, Zeke picked up a “broken dagger” from the junk at his feet. The rusted blade was engraved with the crest of the Holy City of Solas, which had once reached the height of prosperity. Artorius did not miss the indescribable, painful look that flickered in Zeke's eyes for a moment.
“...Zeke, what is that dagger?”
“...Nah, it’s nothing. Well, it just looks like it might be worth a little money. Come on, let’s get out of this gloomy place already.”
3. Clay, the Sage of the Clock Tower
Returning to the surface, the party headed for the massive clock tower that pierced the sky in the center of the city. In a room within the tower, where countless giant gears meshed and emitted complex mechanical sounds, was the eccentric old man, “Clay.” The moment he saw the glowing orb in Artorius's hand, his eyes widened in surprise.
“Ho... From that orb, I can hear the sharpness of your blade and the passionate heartbeat of one who cares for their companions.”
Clay took the orb from Artorius, stared at it as if drawn in, and his voice trembled.
“What a pure melody... This is only the second time in my life I have seen such a clear ‘Core of Sound.’ Wonderful, truly wonderful...!”
Clay called it a “Core of Sound” and incorporated it into a “Resonance Orb,” a magical tool with a mysterious mechanism. At that moment, the entire workshop was enveloped in a dazzling golden light. The orb began to play a supreme melody, clear and boundless, as if it were reflecting Artorius's own soul.
“This is the melody of you as a human. You are always protected by light. Never forget that melody.”
Protected by light. Those were words someone had said to him in the distant reaches of the memories Artorius had lost. He couldn't remember the face, no matter how hard he tried, but he felt a tightness and warmth deep in his chest.
“It’s been years since I’ve heard such a beautiful sound. ...That’s right, I’ll give you one more good thing. Take this. It should be of use to you.”
Another glowing magical tool was handed to him by Clay. It was the “Amber of Echoes,” a magical tool that emitted a mysterious radiance coated in amber. It was a crystal of ancient wisdom that could fix the memories of the paths they had traveled and allow them to leap through space in an instant.
4. The Shocking Potato Young Lady
"Hmph, well, you've obtained something that seems useful. ...Still, hasn't the town been acting strange since a while ago?"
Elise tilted her head as she walked through the bustling market. They were supposed to be wanted criminals who shook the nation. Yet, not a single person in town seemed to fear them; in fact, they wouldn't even make eye contact.
"Indeed. If we were within the Meridius territory, wanted posters would have already been distributed, and the guards would be flying in... or so it should be?"
Artorius also looked around.
"Hahaha! It means old man Baltro did us a 'stylish favor.' Look at that."
Zeke pointed to the market bulletin board. Several wanted posters, still smelling of fresh ink, were layered on top of each other.
[WANTED: BOMBING TERRORIST "POTATO OJO-SAMA"]
What was drawn there was not a human face, but a vegetable. It was a surreal item—a plain, unmistakable potato with a strangely realistic, expressionless face drawn on it. And it read as follows:
"Wanted Criminal: Potato Ojo-sama. Characteristics: Extremely violent personality. Blows up rocky mountains when things don't go her way. Do not make eye contact if seen."
Elise's face flushed bright red.
"............Who is this?"
Elise's voice trembled as if crawling along the ground, and the surrounding temperature dropped by several degrees. Artorius, who had been peeking from the side, compared the poster and Elise with an extremely serious face, then opened his mouth as quietly as he could.
"Rest assured, Elise. ...It doesn't look like you at all."
"Obviously not!!! This is a vegetable! I will never forgive that damn old man!!!"
Elise's scream and Zeke's roar of laughter echoed through the crimson sky of Freehaven. Thanks to Baltro's "stylish consideration," they had gained perfect freedom. However, the price was a "rate of interest" that was far too cruel and far too high for Elise's maiden heart.
▶Read Episode 8 "Lies, Affection, and the Star Compass"
▶Click here for the Prologue
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