Following Phrolova's guidance, the two advanced with difficulty through the lower level of the Energy Storage Hub, where the energy was highly chaotic.
The surrounding mist seemed to grow even thicker. It contained not only rampaging Threnodian energy but also something else mixed within.
Fragmented pieces of sorrowful melodies and blurry, low whispers of human voices constantly tried to drill into their minds like the sighs of departed souls.
"The reverberations here... are getting stronger." Phrolova's voice carried a slight tremble. She held her forehead, seemingly resisting something. "The Shores are overlapping with reality..."
Rover vigilantly observed their surroundings. He could sense that Phrolova's condition was becoming unstable.
"Guard your mind," he reminded her in a deep voice, his tone holding a bit more concern than usual.
They arrived at a relatively open platform. In the center stood a Tuning Platform of archaic design.
However, unlike all the tuning devices they had seen before, this one was covered in dark red veins resembling biological tissue, pulsating slightly with a rhythm similar to a heartbeat.
"Is this a Tuning Platform too?" Rover frowned, feeling an ominous resonance. "It doesn't look like the ones we encountered earlier."
"The core principles should be the same, but it has been contaminated... by the energy here and the aura of the Shores," Phrolova said after observing it carefully. "We must return it to normal, or the loss of control in this area will intensify."
Rover's gaze swept over some document racks scattered in the corner of the platform. "I'll look around to see if there are any other clues here. You do the tuning; it will be faster that way."
Phrolova glanced at him, seemingly surprised by his proactive division of labor, but quickly nodded. "Alright."
She walked toward the Tuning Platform, took a deep breath, and raised the spider lily baton.
An ethereal, slightly sorrowful melody rang out once again, attempting to communicate with the contaminated core.
Meanwhile, Rover rapidly flipped through the scattered pages.
He skimmed them quickly, his frown deepening. One log and record after another revealed Finlay's contradictory plans:
"The 'Connection' is the only path to survive the 'Heavenly Calamity'... Is this the true reason Finlay forcibly prevented the people of Laguna from splitting apart?"
"Darkness imprisons the deep consciousness of the Lagunans. Only by defeating the 'Proxy,' stepping into the darkness, and bringing out all the trapped consciousnesses can we resist the Black Tide..."
"So his fight over the Gemstone and the Shores was actually an attempt to use them to house the deep consciousnesses of the Lagunans, thereby resisting the Black Tide's invasion?"
"Are these solutions truly something Finlay thought of entirely on his own?"
"Bringing people's consciousnesses out intact, and preserving them in that land of peace... This information is in the exact same handwriting as the information I saw before, but the viewpoints are completely contradictory. The audio recording we found earlier also mentioned that Finlay experienced situations where he issued completely contradictory orders to his priests."
"But he doesn't seem like an indecisive, fickle person. Moreover, even he himself noticed this anomaly, which is why he intentionally used notes and a lantern to remind himself. Could there be other factors interfering with him behind the scenes?"
"If that's the case, could there also be other problems with this path of salvation he chose for himself... A powerful proxy will walk among their followers, bringing both the life and destruction within the Black Tide to this world."
"Who does this proxy refer to...?"
"I don't know, and I don't care."
Phrolova finished the tuning and let out a long exhale, interrupting Rover's internal monologue.
The light of the Tuning Platform stabilized, and the surrounding energy turbulence calmed slightly.
To her, whatever difficulties or anomalies Finlay faced couldn't shake her resolve to seize the Gemstone and complete the Shores.
Rover looked at her, knowing her mind was currently entirely focused on the Gemstone and the Shores of the Lost. He temporarily suppressed the doubts in his heart and said, "...Let's go. There is still space below. Perhaps there is a way out."
The two continued their downward exploration. Along the way, they encountered several waves of Tacet Discords drawn by the chaotic energy, all of which they repelled together.
After one battle ended, Phrolova looked at the dissipating Tacet Discords and suddenly chanted in a low voice:
"Why must sinful dreamscapes disturb peaceful slumber... The wailing, pitiful child no longer stops to linger, but raises a hand to pluck that dripping dewdrop."
As she spoke, her high heels clicked rhythmically as she walked toward Rover. Her eyes were somewhat hazy as she reached out a hand, seemingly wanting to touch his cheek—the gesture carrying an almost instinctual intimacy and inquiry.
Rover froze slightly. Just as he was about to speak—
A sudden change occurred!
The entire space violently trembled. The floor beneath Phrolova's feet abruptly split open into a dark red rift exuding the scent of spider lilies, and her silhouette was instantly swallowed by the rift, disappearing completely.
"Phrolova!" Rover lunged forward, only to be sucked in as well.
After a bout of dizziness, he found himself in an unfamiliar area, but Phrolova was nowhere to be seen, leaving behind only the faint, lingering echo of a sorrowful wail.
"Did she shake me off during the teleportation? Or... has the pull of the Shores grown so strong that it's dragging her in reverse?" Rover's mind raced, but after a moment, he shook his head. "Figuring this out won't change the current situation or our goal. Better get moving first."
He forced himself to calm down and observed his surroundings.
"Are those Convent Echoes? They seem to be searching for something... Could this be the Shores of the Lost that Phrolova spoke of? Was she pulled into the Shores just now because she sensed the Convent intruding?"
"It looks like these Echoes haven't found the Gemstone yet. Let's get rid of them first."
After easily disposing of the patrolling Convent Echoes, Rover began to carefully explore the area.
The surrounding scenery became bizarre and surreal. The air was permeated with a sorrowful, nostalgic atmosphere.
"Where is this place... It doesn't look like Rinascita, nor does it look like the Proving Ground..." He remained vigilant in his heart, looking ahead. "There seem to be signs of human habitation ahead. Let's go in and take a look."
He walked into the area woven from illusions and entered a harmonious, cozy little town, where he saw a few residents.
Noemi asked worriedly, "Is it very far? How long will the journey take?"
Lia shook her head, "I can't say for sure."
Runo said optimistically, "As long as we have all our luggage, there shouldn't be any problems."
Just then, Grandpa Eskles saw Phrolova approaching and called out happily, "Ah, Phrolova, you're here!"
Lia asked with concern, "Did you forget anything?"
Eskles noticed the item "she" was carrying and smiled, "Hey, you brought the violin everyone gifted you! Play it to your heart's content, just as if we were all there cheering you on!"
Runo said with anticipation, "Take our songs to an even bigger stage! Let's see what kind of response our future performances will receive."
Phrolova replied, "When I return, we'll have our final rehearsal."
Tris skipped over, "Big Sister Phrolova, I brought you some yummy snacks! You can eat them on the way!" She then hurriedly added a warning, "Don't get them on your dress! People who go to concerts have to look very pretty!"
Phrolova smiled and agreed, "I know!"
Melissa looked at the dressed-up Phrolova, her eyes full of emotion, "Oh... Phrolova, you look absolutely beautiful today. I really wish I could take some pictures to remember this by..."
Phrolova said sincerely, "Melissa, thank you for preparing this dress and doing my makeup."
Melissa softly revealed, "Actually... your mother helped prepare this white dress for you. She isn't actually opposed to you going to perform; she's just sulking. After all, you've never traveled so far away before. Don't make us worry, alright? Remember to contact us as soon as you get to the concert so we know how you're doing."
Phrolova fell silent for a moment, then promised, "...Mm. I will bring everyone's cheers back with me. I'll return to her side, apologize to her, and tell her all about it." She then turned to Grandma Lia, "But right now... Grandma Lia, let's go!"
Watching this heartwarming farewell scene, Rover attempted to intervene and ask, "Phrolova is going to attend a concert?"
Tris looked at him curiously, "Hm? Who are you?"
"I am here looking for a Gemstone."
Lia was confused, "What Gemstone?"
"Perhaps Phrolova knows."
Phrolova turned her head, a polite yet unfamiliar smile on her face. "A Gemstone? I haven't heard of one either... Did you perhaps find the wrong person? We don't seem to have met before."
"We haven't met?" Rover's heart sank.
Lia urged, "Alright, we can't delay any longer. We're leaving immediately!"
"It seems the people here don't know anything about the Gemstone. I'll have to look elsewhere."
Rover realized that these phantoms were merely repeating a specific past and could not provide any useful information.
Finally, he found a notebook containing clues in what appeared to be a study.
"The various attempts recorded in here seem to match the research logs left by Phrolova that I saw earlier... Could this be Phrolova's home? She also mentioned a soulmate she met at the concert, who seems to be very important to her."
"What does 'new anchor' mean... Who is she mutually utilizing..."
Just then, a cold voice brimming with obsession sounded behind him:
"No one can stop... the final brilliance..."
Rover whipped his head around. "Phrolova?"
But the illusory silhouette vanished in a flash, impossible to communicate with.
"It was clearly her voice. Why couldn't I communicate with her? Strange..."
"There are no other clues here. I'll look elsewhere."
He continued exploring, eventually arriving at a pool of water. Seeing a violin submerged inside, Rover subconsciously crouched down, wanting to fish it out.
However, the surrounding environment began to twist and spin. Ultimately, he felt a wave of intense dizziness wash over him...
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