User:Démiurge
Chapitre 2 : Ligne Silencieuse (Esthétisme)
However, those great wings
failed to reach the sky. For there was no sky in that world.
An empty world that lied, saying they could go anywhere.
An empty voice that would not let them go anywhere.
An empty cage that told them how to live—
Every time those wings opened,
aversion and curiosity,
inclusion and exclusion,
a force barred the sky.
Seeing the baby bird’s tears, the puppet said:
Let’s take our time and think how we can escape this cage.
The puppet entered the bird’s cage.
Let’s think together how to spread your wings and fly.
Always together…
Just as we promised. They smiled…
Partie 1
There was no sky in that world…physically.
The capital of Hardenfell—a massive space said to lie ten thousand meters below the surface. Sora and Shiro got down from the subterrane and viewed that expansive underground city. Both were lost in thought figuring out how they could describe what stretched in front of them. Technically, not just in front. Also above, below, behind, to the left, and to the right. If they were to describe this 360-degree panorama just as they saw it.
“Let me guess. Your chieftain is the president of a corporation that rhymes with Thinra.”
“…What does Demi…actually…do…anyway?”
If you did an image search for “factory nightscape,” you’d probably get the right idea. A steel jungle floating fantastically with countless dazzling light sources sparkling in the darkness. It basically looked like a slight modification of Midgar from the seventh installment of that one series where both of the words begin with F. As if they’d used a Gravity spell to ignore all those laws of physics and stuff and copy-pasted it in every direction and there you go. What you saw was what you got—no sky, no up or down. The upshot:
“They even have the Mako Reactors. Just say it. The chieftain’s Ruf*s, isn’t he?"
Seeing a pillar of light thrusting through the center of the city, Sora threw this question over his shoulder half in earnest.
@
"—Oh! No, Master. That is the aforementioned fire of the Old Deus Ocain—the Holy Forge.”
Jibril had been looking about, eyes agleam with excitement, but she hurried to lower her head as she spoke.
“The Dwarves are one of the rare races whose creator is alive and well, and still resides with them. The industrial utility of the Holy Forge allows it to serve as the driving force of this advanced mechanical civilization—this city.”
Advanced mechanical civilization—huh. They’d seen plenty on the way to convince them of that. Such as the subterrane, which Til still wouldn’t exit…
Apparently, it was a ship that used “flow differentials” to travel through the earth. They hadn’t a clue what that meant, but anyway, they had traveled about nine thousand seven hundred kilometers to get here. Discounting the time Til had needed for repairs—a little under six hours. One thousand six hundred kilometers per hour…
…through solid ground. In their old world, that wasn’t even in the range of a submarine—you’d need a supersonic jet. Did the standard disclaimer for improbable physics—“ignoring friction”—apply to reality in this world? Even Shiro clutched her head.
“…It’s pretty awesome, I’ll give you that. But with Jibril saying it was the most scientifically advanced civilization anywhere—”
Sora took another look about Midgar—pardon, the capital of Hardenfell. A bit steampunk, but totally sci-fi.
@
Yet even so… What was it? Somehow…it didn’t live up to his expectations. Something was off—or not exactly off, but…
“Oh, no, Master. I merely indicated that it was the most mechanically advanced civilization in this world.”
Jibril interrupted Sora’s discordant thoughts with a correction and elaborated.
“If I may add—your world is far more advanced in science.”
…Huh. Compared to these bullshit Dwarves who messed with gravity to build 360-degree cities? These sick freaks who’d built this city in layers with no supports?
“Dwarven civilization is mechanically superlative—but by no means scientifically so. In fact, Dwarf is the race furthest removed from science… I suspect this will become clear to you quite soon. ♪”
—?
Mechanically advanced, scientifically advanced… What was the difference? Sora and Shiro exchanged skeptical looks, but Jibril just smiled knowingly.
“With that, though with great reluctance—I shall take my leave to welcome our guests.”
Her sullen voice lingered as she vanished into thin air.
And so, for now, those who remained were Sora, Shiro…and one other. That was Til, making furious use of countless tools to fix her spirit arm—her hammer. Her work had continued noisily since they were in route. “Hey,” started Sora—
“Y-y-yes?! I-i-is the chieftain here? Help me!!”
—to which she immediately shrieked from behind him and Shiro. She’d taken shelter in an instant, tears in her eyes, her hammer held defensively aloft. It had been too fast for Sora or Shiro to see or comprehend.
@
"We dunno why you’re so freaked out. But can we say what we do know?”
“…We’re…positive…we can’t do…shit, to help you.”
If she had that kind of physical prowess and was still afraid…then hell if they could help her.
“I disagree, I do!! I-I’ve somehow managed to overhaul my spirit arm—in time!!”
As if to confirm Til’s objection, her hammer made a clanging noise and emitted an intricate pattern of light beams.
Sora and Shiro narrowed their eyes and went, Ah, I see. Not because of the transforming, initializing spirit arm. Rather, it was the pale blue fire shimmering in Til’s eyes—those eyes purportedly of orichalcum—that brought grins to Sora’s and Shiro’s faces. It was the determination in those eyes, that indomitable resolve burning with bright flame—
"I’m not alone anymore, I’m not!! If the enemy comes—”
—that iron will, bowing for no one, that roared from the mouth of that brown Loli monster girl. In other words—!!
Références
| Revenir au Chapitre 1 | Retourner au Sommaire | Passer au Chapitre 3 |
