#5-8 Amidst Differing Beliefs | Origin of Reminiscence ~ The City Where the Ice Queen Sleeps
Episode 8: Amidst Differing Beliefs
The underground city of Rafe was very comfortable and fascinating.
Luli and Mimi walked around the maze-like city almost every day.
Tato and Ray begged Moses to let them visit the archives.
The archives in the Blue Plaza were a stone-built space that completely blocked out moisture, where records of the underground city passed down over hundreds of years were lined up in an orderly fashion.
“There are many books, aren't there? I don't even know everything that's here.
If there is anything you wish to copy, please speak to the person in charge.”
Ray carefully picked up old books, searching for records about the outside world and legends.
Tato read through the history books of the underground city one by one, carefully.
＊
On another day, they visited the warehouse of excavated items in the Yellow Plaza.
There, the scent of dry earth drifted from shelf to shelf, filled with rubble, stones, fossils, and tree roots...
“This place stores rare items found in the soil.
Moses has a hobby of collecting them, and it's troublesome because only junk keeps piling up.”
Ra gave a bitter smile as she guided them to the back of the room.
“He’s the type who can’t throw old things away, isn’t he? I’m sure he thinks they’re all memories of something.”
She continued, lowering her voice slightly.
“My favorites are on this shelf here.”
The shelf was merely covered with a cloth and dusted, yet even the air around it seemed clear. The items chosen by Rah’s sensibilities seemed to be wrapped in some kind of aura.
In one corner of it—
A black hexagonal stone was placed quietly.
Tato and Rei stopped in their tracks at the same time.
“...Found it.”
Rei muttered in a low voice.
Tato reached out and touched it gently. The moment he did, the black surface slowly turned white and translucent, and a pale light overflowed from within.
“My goodness...!! Was it something like this?”
Tato nodded firmly at Rah, who was wide-eyed with surprise.
“This is the ‘Origia Stone’ we were looking for.”
＊
After their meal that day, Tato asked Moses.
"Would you be willing to give me this stone?"
Moses narrowed his eyes, looking slightly surprised.
Tato held out the Origin Stone of the Tower of Hope, Mimi held out the stone from the Tower of Friendship, and Ray held out the stone from the Tower of Knowledge.
"Hmm... so there are already three of the same kind. These are the same stones as the Source Light Disk, and they represent the towers, then."
When the four stones were lined up, their light overlapped faintly. Moses stared at the light, lost in thought for a moment.
"I see, how interesting."
"We are told that it is necessary to enter the Iceberg Palace."
Moses nodded slowly.
"--Very well. If you need it, take it. However, could you return it here once your task is complete? It is one of my prized collections, after all."
Saying that, she gave a wink.
The people of Lafe say they have no plans to search for the 'Origin' either.
In this underground city, Tato and the others encountered knowledge, technology, and elemental magic not found in other cities.
The people of Lafe were all calm and kind.
However, their beliefs would never intersect.
A week later, the five of them decided to return to the surface.
*
"It's a pity. Do come back and visit anytime."
Tato took La's hand and thanked her politely.
Seeing them off, the five of them headed back the way they came.
They passed through the plazas symbolizing each of their colors, went through the corridors of the green plaza they had visited for the first time, and entered the small passageway.
Before long, when they stepped outside through the simple door behind the church tower, the outside air was piercingly cold.
The upper part of the forest was white, and snow had begun to dance in the air.
(To be continued)
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