Hyouketsu Kyoukai no Eden Volume 8, Prologue - Beneath Cold, Dark Waters

Parts (Complete):

• Part 1
• Part 2

Part 1


A pure white tower stretched from the ground to the heavens.

It surpassed the flight range of the birds and even extended beyond the clouds in the azure sky. He looked at that tower which had been aptly named 'Sophia' for its figure joining the earth and sky── [T/N: Sophia is the given reading for 天結宮, literally meaning heaven-binding shrine/palace. With all the other naming schemes, the original way this was read (Tenketsu Palace) is wrong as it should have been Shrine.]

"......How nostalgic."

Igun-I whispered with a tone like a sigh.

He was on a small hill in the nature district near the living district.

In this place where only windmills quietly continued to rotate, a Lord of Unusual Books in a jet black suit stood there like a sculpture.

"......It really is nostalgic."

Only a fleeting smile could be glanced from beneath his hat as he spread his arms as if to embrace the sky.

"My memories within that tower, Sheltis' memories, everything has now disappeared like bubbles as if they were but a dream. Only the past is so preciously wretched...... But just a little more...... Soon everything will be as it was. I will take everything back from that tower."

The fluttering wind shook his pale blond hair.

He firmly held the brim of his black hat so it wouldn't fly away──

"Say, Forbidden Crystal? It's been one thousand years since you granted Queen Salah the secret art to seal Eden. At last, the person you longed for has appeared. That boy which reached the deepest parts of Eden and was nurtured by that song. The sole, irreplaceable existence which will destroy Eden and liberate you────"

Igun-I tightened his light pink lips.

"But I won't allow that."

A single droplet created a ripple upon the lake's surface which spread out.

His words gently permeated.

"I won't allow Sheltis to go to Eden or destroy it. That's why, Forbidden Crystal, you just sleep there forever. The miracle or even its possibility don't exist in this world."

Above the hill.

Igun-I continued to look at the top of the tower which was hidden behind the clouds.

"Hey, Sheltis, can you feel it? The tragedy of being the sole heretic within the world. Having come to know yourself and the natural order of the world, where do you plan to go?"

He called the name of the boy who had left the nature district and turned around.

He descended from the hill which had a full view of the living district and headed towards the tower.

"It's been three years since I've been to Sophia too. ......It's been a long time."




Part 2


......Plop.

The sound of a water splash could be heard from somewhere distant. It was the sound of a lone droplet hitting something and bouncing off. Its moisture spread throughout the dried out, soundless room.

'────'

But the Forbidden Crystal knew that even that sound was just a hallucination borne of its memories.

For this was a world in which light and sound, and even time, were frozen.


Eden.


A world which it had become the cornerstone of to seal.

'──'

The young girl closed her eyes and hugged both of her knees to herself. She had no clothing but her hair which shone crimson wrapped her body like heavenly garments.

'......It......hurts......'

She had poured almost all of her power into the barrier 'Hyouketsu Kyoukai'. As the price for sealing Eden, her body was eaten away at and she was assaulted by pain beyond freezing.

But that was a price she had to pay──

'......'Selah'............ Your grief is......too much......' [T/N: Selah is apparently the canonical spelling for the Queen's name.]

After paying such a price, she had finally succeeded in freezing Eden.

She taught Queen Selah the secret art of Hyouketsu Kyoukai and was sealed in Eden as its cornerstone of her own will. That was her duty as the world's protector.

'......But'

While drifting within the black space reminiscent of the cold base of a lake, the Forbidden Crystal's arms that were hugging her knees were trembling slightly.

'The truth is............I............'

A voice that wasn't a voice. A shrill sob that was so quiet it seemed like it would disappear even as it was squeezed out ── it could be called crying.

'............Onee............sa......n......I............'

Tears flowed from her closed eyes.

Those traveled down her cheeks and fell...... No, in this world, even those droplets froze before they fell.

'──'

She moved her lips as if to say something but no words came out.

But her lips formed out words.

'......Sheltis............you......'

Her monologue was directed towards one boy.

It was directed towards Orbie Clar which lay far above Eden.

'You decide. Decide where this frozen world will go.'