View source for Tasogare-iro no Uta Tsukai:Volume1 4th Play

===Part 4===

“Already…… The fire is……!”

She understood after she saw it from the roof. The whole school was engulfed in a sea of fire. Only the area around the first-year building was peaceful, which caused a huge weight to lift off her heart. 

“Neight, you idiot. It’s too unreasonable.”

Although the fact that the campus was covered in fire made her afraid, when she saw him standing in the middle of the fire, she almost dropped the things that she carried in both arms. It seemed that if she had arrived even a little bit later, she would have been baked.

“……But, this shows how much he believes in me.”

I don’t want to let down his expectations and trust. I will show him how to call out Night-colored flames. 

She moved one of the things she carried in her arms into one hand. Next, all I have to do is throw this into the midst of the fire. By doing so, the campus will be filled with Night-colored flames. What she was about to do, was merely a junior chemistry experiment that everyone had done before. 

Night-colored flames. Its true identity is ‘flame reaction’.

Normally, flames burn with a red color. However, if a specific metal is added to the flame, it will have an entirely different appearance. When some kind of metallic salt, for example alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, are added to the flame and heated, the electrons of the metal atoms created after oxidization will be in a high energy state. 

But because the resulting state is unstable, the energized electrons will turn back to their base condition. When the electron changes to a low energy state, the disparity in energy between the two states will cause energy to be released in the form of light. When the light’s wavelength reaches the wavelength of visible light, the flame will appear to take on the metal’s natural color. 

—In other words, to create flames that will emit Night-colored light. 

A silvery-white metal with a soft structure, and can immediately oxidize in air. 

Element number 37 ‘Rb’ —Rubidium.

It comes from the word ‘{{Furigana|rubidius|red-purple fire}}’. This can cause Night-colored fire to wake up.

Night Color Recitations. The Recitation that shouldn’t exist is completed by using flames that shouldn’t exist. 

Now all there is to do is believe in him, just like how he believed in me.

“Neight-kun, it’s coming!”

With all of her strength, Mio threw the containers from the roof down to the campus. 


The five-headed hydra instinctively looked around at its surroundings. 

It felt a bad premonition. Although it didn’t know where the chill came from, something was about to threaten it. 

It has no rivals. It understood that, but was concerned by it.

That must be eliminated.

Rapidly, the white-colored head conveyed a signal to the other heads.

Everything must be eliminated.

The green one agreed.

But, where is our enemy?

The yellow head and blue head questioned suspiciously.

Don’t know. But, we must find it.

Four heads, eight lines of sight glared at its surroundings.

……That.

Suddenly, the red head, which had remained silent until now, moved. Its gaze was aimed at the area where flames burned fiercely. 

That fire, when had it turned into that kind of black color? Until now, those flames had been the same color as me. 

All of the heads turned their view towards the indicated direction. Ten eyes gazed at the small creature within the flames. Wearing the blazing black flames like clothes, the small, seemingly insignificant Reciter.

—That?

Is that the opponent we must eliminate?


<div align="center"><nowiki>***</nowiki></div>


“Xins…… What is this?”

Enne, who was in charge of protecting his back, muttered in a small voice. 

……What?

Holding a catalyst in his right hand, he raised his eyebrow.

“—This is…… A song?”

When he listened attentively, at that moment, Xins’s whole body shook. 

The tender tone crossed over the campus, crossed over the flames, peacefully penetrating the entire school.

The roaring sound of flames. The fiercely blowing wind. However, amidst those, he could hear a faint melody.

Sorrowful and lonesome, but a somehow nostalgic tune.

He had heard this somewhere before—

'''''Let the Night Color’s woven song (oath) come to you'''''<br>
''“Yer she saria stig lef xeoi peg pel”''<br>
'''''Night Color’s celebratory chant (oath) beneath you, Everywhere (long), Eternally (long), Forever'''''<br>
''—Yer she saria stig lef xeoi, Yer zayixuy-c-olfey she ora''

'''''O forgotten child'''''<br>
''“U da lostasia dremren”''<br>
'''''Even if the world (everyone) forgets you, I will not forget about you'''''<br>
''—O la laspha, yupa Lom dremre neckt lostasia U meide''

The frozen feelings in his heart were revived for a moment. 

—This song is…… That time’s……

There wasn’t any possibility other than that. A Recitation poem filled with tragic emotions, longing for an end, a tune desiring loneliness. 

But now, the lyrics were different. The one singing is…… No, it shouldn’t be Evhemary.

The lyrics, timing, and singer were all different. But even so, only that tune is— No matter how much time passes, it hadn’t changed or lost its delicate and pure sound. 

'''''Come, O child who has been born'''''<br>
''“Isa da boema foton doremren”''<br>
'''''Come, O child who has been born, A new wind has begun to blow'''''<br>
''—Isa da boema foton doremren O hearsa neighti loar''

'''''Welcome back to the midst of slumber (cradle)'''''<br>
''“O univa sm thes hypne”''<br>
'''''The time of slumber (cradle) ends, Because the promised bell declares it'''''<br>
''—eposion lef hypne, eposion lef xeo, elmei jes muas defea''

'''''And then I—'''''<br>
''“ende Years besti……”''<br>
'''''And then you'''''<br>
''—ende Wer she pridia……''<br>

The woven song paused momentarily. That foretold the end of the <{{Furigana|Song of Praise|Oratorio}}>. The song’s ending stanza arrived at the last bar of music. 

He was finally able to hear the end —At that time, the girl had personally stopped the Recitation poem.

The poem of Night he had been waiting for was finally completed. The final lyrics that had never been sung before……

“……So there was……a continuation……”

The memories and melody overlapped. It was engraved in his heart even now, that girl’s tears. 

Within the nearly eternal passage of time, the final dream had become hazy like a phantom. 

Everything— Xins remembered.


<div align="center"><nowiki>***</nowiki></div>


Had it noticed……?

The approaching rumble in the ground caused Arma to narrow his eyes. What an amazing guy. Even though the {{Furigana|Recital Gate|Channel}} still hadn’t opened, it could sense the minute presence leaking out from the <{{Furigana|Song of Praise|Oratorio}}>. But this was also because the creature that was about to be called out was fairly powerful.

Did he make it in time? Even looking at it optimistically, the situation was still very dangerous.

Neight’s song had already ended. Next, by adding a catalyst, the conditions for a {{Furigana|First Scale Recitation|High Noble Aria}} would be met.

But, the flame hadn’t changed color. It was still red.

Although he felt uneasy, but…… Right now, there was still enough time to escape. He couldn’t lose Neight here, or else he would be unable to face Neight’s mother.

“I will wait.”

He hadn’t spoken his thoughts aloud, but the boy who had been standing by his side for a long time had already sensed them.

“I promised Mio-san.”

Not even blinking, Neight stared at the crimson wall of fire.

That action made Arma sigh for the first time in his life. Faced with the crisis approaching before his eyes, the boy had chosen to make an oath at the most uncertain hour, not knowing whether or not it could be accomplished.

He hadn’t noticed until now. He had thought that Neight’s personality didn’t resemble his mother’s, but he seemed to have inherited her stubbornness.

……However, perhaps it is because of this that I am attracted to Neight.

[It doesn’t matter. Just do as you like, I will accompany you until the very end.]

While he spoke those words, a sharp sound— The sound of breaking glass bottles resounded throughout the campus.


When the sharp shattering sounds faded away, the surrounding flames were dyed in the color of night.


Mio-san, thank you. 

All of the conditions are fulfilled. ……Next, it’s time to see whether or not I have the skill.

He breathed out all of the air that had settled in his lungs.

[I will watch until the very end.]

He nodded at the Night-colored Recited creature. 

Although it was Night-colored flames, its temperature hadn’t changed. Flames as a catalyst. Although it was of the highest quality, it was also the hardest to control. By making even one mistake, the strength of his concentration and imagination that he had accumulated up until now would all be broken. There was no second chance.

Even with his naked eyes, he could confirm that the hydra was coming towards him. Five colors being used simultaneously, called out a Recited creature that exceeded human knowledge. And above its heads were a large amount of chimera that could be counted by the tens.

But Mother said, the True Spirit of Night will surely protect everyone.

……Everything depends on me……

The strength of his concentration didn’t waver. However, he could feel a different portion being eroded by heavy pressure. His whole body was covered in sweat from the heat, and it soaked into his robe. 

Even if he stood there motionless, he still felt dizzy. When he thought to breathe deeply and straighten his back—


———Eh? ———


Just then, his body lost balance. 

A migraine. His whole body felt lethargic. His sight was fuzzy, and his whole field of vision became a mirage. Because he had been overly focused on the <{{Furigana|Song of Praise|Oratorio}}>, he hadn’t noticed anything abnormal about his body until now. 

Acute heatstroke. The wave of heat emitted by the surrounding flames was too much for the body of a thirteen year old boy. 

[Neight!]

Even the sound of Arma’s voice sounded like a hallucination. He who had collapsed amidst the black flames, felt like the consciousness of a different person. The sweet temptation was like being in a dream. 

No. I can’t just collapse like this. Even though he understood this, his legs wouldn’t move.

As if about to embrace the boy, the black flames extended its arms. 


Eh…… I can’t. I definitely can’t. I promised. I already made promises with many people.

Because I want to do something. I want to do something for everyone’s sake……


Before the flames licked Neight.

Someone supported the boy wearing a robe. Someone jumped in between him and the flames. Neight clung to that hand without being aware of it. —But, who?

“Neight, like usual, you’re forcing yourself too much.”

With a knocking sound, a fist lightly struck his head.

“I can’t help you conduct the Recitation, but, I can at least stay by your side—”

—Mother?

He thought that voice was an illusion. But, I’m certainly holding onto that arm.

[[File:Fb3-308_263-1-.jpg|thumb]]

He rubbed his eyes. The person in front of his eyes wasn’t Mother. A pure white dress filled his vision. After he lifted his head, he saw a girl with a bandage wrapped around her left shoulder.

“……Kluele-san?”

The girl nodded, and gave a faint smile. 

“……No way, how did you come here? No, before that, hurry up and escape! The fire is already out of hand, and the hydra is coming!”

She didn’t respond at all to his explanation, but only gazed at him with calm, steady eyes.

“Is the <{{Furigana|Song of Praise|Oratorio}}> completed?”

His lips didn’t move. Before he knew it, the hallucination vanished, and the illusionary figure disappeared. He couldn’t even hear the sound of crackling flames surrounding him. Only her figure was reflected in his field of view, only her voice resounded in the depths of his heart.  

After nodding, that girl gripped his right hand.

“It’s okay. I will also stay with you. Let’s sing together.”

For the first time, Neight felt glad amidst the flames.

Because the surrounding heat could sweep away what was flowing out of his eyes.

“Thank you very much. ……This time, I’m really okay now.”

 

In the sky— As if it was blessing the two of them, the bird deity’s red feathers fluttered down like layers of snowflakes. 


Together, the Night Color Reciter and the girl willingly stretched their hands into the Night-colored flames.

The Night-colored flames didn’t burn the two people. Its radiance illuminated them brilliantly. 

Twilight-colored light floated in the sky above—

Neight sang the promised song, the promised name.

'''''And then I—'''''<br>
''“ende Years besti……”''<br>
'''''And then you'''''<br>
''—ende Wer she pridia……''

'''''Woman of origin, of twilight (Evhe), You smile in the dawn'''''<ref>"Woman of origin" refers to how Evhe was the woman who created Night Color Recitations, and is also a link to the bible in which the first woman created by God (and thus the origin of all other humans) was named 'Eve'.</ref><br>
''Ive lef Armalaspha— La Selah she maria sm neight''


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