Rain had become part of Alpha II's life.
Modernia never truly stayed dry for long. The mornings were often warm and humid beneath cloudy skies but by afternoon the rain always returned, drenching the tropical forests, soaking the endless rows of graves and washing over the floating Musicum Instrumentum that hovered above tombstones.
By the time Alpha II turned twelve, she had become used to the funerals. Every few days, boats arrived from Concerto.
At first, she used to hide completely, watching only from faraway cliffs where nobody could notice her. The Musica still feared her. Even after years, she knew they would not welcome her. Some probably still whispered that she killed her parents. Others likely believed her existence itself was dangerous so she stayed hidden.
Still, she watched.
People came dressed in mourning clothes, carrying instruments and flowers while grief followed them like shadows. Funerals on Modernia were always emotional. The Musica buried their dead respectfully, allowing the deceased's Musicum Instrumentum to float above the graves forever. Music was sacred to them. Their instruments were part of their souls, so even death did not separate them.
Sometimes parents cried. Sometimes lovers stood silently in the rain. Sometimes entire families came together. Alpha II never approached them so she only watched.
The old woman never came, not even after death.
Alpha II had looked for her grave.
She searched the island many times, quietly walking through rows of tombstones while rain soaked her clothes and wind blew through the graveyard. She looked carefully at every inscription written in Latin, hoping to find something familiar.
Nothing was there. There was no sign she had ever been buried there. At first, Alpha II thought she simply missed it. Soon, she thought that the Musica never allowed her burial on Modernia at all. She wanted answers but she did not want to speak to the Musica so she stopped trying.
One afternoon, something changed.
Alpha II stood hidden behind large stone blinders near one of the burial areas while rain drizzled softly over the island. Boats had arrived again, though this funeral felt quieter than usual.
It was a male child. The coffin looked painfully tiny compared to the others buried nearby.
The adults surrounding it looked exhausted. Some cried openly while others struggled to stand straight. Even from afar, Alpha II could hear whispers between grieving voices.
"The disease is spreading."
"More children got sick."
"The doctors still cannot identify what caused it."
"They say the fevers do not stop. No medicine works."
"The healers are exhausted."
Alpha II listened quietly. The child had died from some disease spreading through Concerto. Apparently, many children were already sick. The little boy became the first death.
The funeral ended quietly. His Musicum Instrumentum floated above the grave. Alpha II watched until the boats left and quietly walked away.
However, it did not stop. The following weeks became worse. More boats arrived. Small graves began appearing beside one another. The instruments hovering above them were tiny compared to the adult ones, looking almost painfully fragile against the endless rain.
Alpha II counted them without meaning to.
Three. Seven. Twelve. Twenty.
The graveyard grew heavier. Sadness lingered everywhere. Even the adults burying them looked more exhausted each time they arrived. Parents cried harder now. Some screamed. Some refused to leave the graves. One mother collapsed entirely. A father stood motionless in the rain for hours. A sibling cried so hard that several adults had to carry them back onto the boat.
The disease was winning and nobody knew what to do.
One rainy afternoon, Alpha II sat near the newest graves. Some were children her age. Some were younger and others were older. They had all been buried together. Rain dripped quietly through her hair. The small Musicum Instrumentum floated silently above the graves, occasionally glowing faintly through the mist.
She stared at them, not understanding what exactly she felt. Was she supposed to cry? Did she feel sad? These were strangers. She never knew them or even spoke to them. She never even saw them alive but still, something about it hurt. The image of crying parents stayed in her mind. The sound of siblings screaming at graves stayed too. She remembered her own parents, even if the memories were blurry.
"Do you feel sorry for them?"
Alpha II was startled. The giant sat nearby like always, appearing without warning.
Rain slid down his absurdly long white hair while his sapphire eyes reflected the gray skies above. He sat casually on a broken gravestone. He was three meters now. She still had no idea how he kept changing sizes.
"I did not hear you come."
"You usually don't. Well?"
She looked back at the children.
"I do."
The answer surprised even her.
"Some are my age. I do not remember Concerto very much but… I don't want more people to cry."
The giant stayed silent. Rain continued falling around them.
"Do you want them to be saved?"
Alpha II blinked.
"You can do that?"
"Of course. All I have to do is fly there and heal them. It's not hard."
"Then why not do it?"
The giant leaned back against the gravestone.
"Why would I? They are not part of my race."
Alpha II thought for a while. He was right. Why would he help them? He's not involved with them.
"If you heal them… I will be your servant forever."
The giant raised an eyebrow. She looked down.
"I do not want more children to die. I saw too many parents cry. I do not want them to feel what I did."
The giant stared at her for several moments and sighed.
"You cannot take back that condition."
"I know."
"If I help them, you're my servant for life."
She nodded immediately.
"I agree."
The giant stood up.
"There is another condition. You have to come with me."
"But… I'm exiled."
"That part is easy."
Before she could ask, he waved his hand at her. Light shimmered around her face. Alpha II gasped softly. Her dark hair slowly turned blonde. She didn't notice that her emerald eyes became brown. She touched her face immediately.
"What…"
"There. You no longer look like yourself."
She stared at him in amazement.
"You can do that?"
"Yes, very easily."
Before she could react, he suddenly picked her up. Alpha II yelped.
"Wait—"
They flew. Rain hit her face while wind screamed past her ears. Modernia disappeared behind them almost instantly as the ocean stretched endlessly below.
"This is too fast!"
The giant looked confused.
"Fast? I'm moving slowly."
She stared at him in horror.
"Slow down!"
"This is my slowest speed."
"WHAT?!"