Fallen Kingdom Sorrows/Story Stages

## Prologue

Narration
The Ark sails slowly on the calm Ocean of Memories. The sunlight, like a pair of unfurling golden wings, pours down onto the water and spreads with the waves.
On Nikki's shoulder, Momo looks excitedly at the distant horizon. Aeon leans against the porthole reading an ancient book. At the helm is Marina.
Marina
According to Captain Marina, we will find the legendary Starstream Islet following this direction!
Momo
Are you sure this is the right direction?… Aeon! Stop reading!
Aeon
No worries, Marina is an excellent voyager. Besides, the Ark's navigation system has just been upgraded.
Nikki
Aeon, are you reading The Lost Civilization of Miraland?
Aeon
Yeah, I just finished the chapter on Delmond, one of the seven mysterious civilizations. It's a long story, but it's so great that I would recommend it to you guys…
Momo
Hey, look, when did it get dark?
Narration
At some point, the surrounding sea turns deep and dark, and the sky becomes overcast and grim.
Marina
The navigation system fails (sic). I'll slow down the Ark first!
Narration
Before Marina could stop the ark (sic), it comes to a halt, as if having hit a transparent barrier.
In the eerie silence, the sea shines with an inexplicable light, with no waves or ripples at all.
At that moment, a faint but melodious murmur comes from deep down in the ocean.
[*A voice sings, music starts playing*]

Nikki
Is it someone singing…
Narration
The song becomes louder, followed by a sound that's like the air being sliced by a silver arrow.
A large transparent fish leaps out of the water, whose crescent moon-like reflection seems to be free from restraint.
Its body shines with the luster of gems, and even the waterdrops around reflect a colorful light as the splashes disappear. But only the sad songs make the crystal drops more like tears of sorrow.
Momo
Wow, is this the magical creature of the Ocean of Memories?
Aeon
There are no ordinary creatures here. It's the incarnation of people's collective consciousness, trapped by unknown power and unable to leave the still sea.
Narration
The big fish floats near the Ark singing mournfully, reluctant to leave for a long while.
Nikki
It keeps swimming nearby, as if wanting to say something to us…
Narration
The fish dives down, floats up, then looks back, and wails as if signaling the crew to follow it.
Aeon
It seems that unknown power is hidden below the sea surface.
Marina
So our adventure into the mysterious ocean begins? Good! Marina is in!
Nikki
[Player], perhaps the secret of this ocean is related to Starstream Islet.
[Player]
Are we going to dive below the surface of the ocean? But…
Aeon
Don't worry, it's not real seawater, but memories of human feelings.
Narration
Aeon leans down and stretches out his hand to touch the crystal-clear water. Glowing, it slowly absorbs Aeon's figure.
Aeon
Focus on the sea, and gather the styling power on your fingertips.
Narration
The water surges as its emotions are touched. A powerful force comes from the ocean's depths. In a split second, the Ark is empty.
[*End transcript*]

## Chapter 1: Delmond Ruins

### 1-1 The Missing Kingdom

[*Sad orchestral music starts, a mournful voice joining later*]

Narration
Surprisingly, no one suffocates. Instead, the surrounding seawater is soft as a dark embrace.
Everyone slowly fell down (sic) towards the sea bottom, and their mind is so light and peaceful like bubbles as if wandering in the ethereal song.
The fish appears again, its gem-like luster illuminating the deep ocean.
In the gentle ripples, moonlight disperses the darkness but does not disturb the restful night. Gradually the outline of an ancient city appears.
[*Scene fades to black, background transitions to the underwater ruins of Delmond*]

Nikki
That’s…
Momo
The legendary underwater city?
Narration
Although buried under the sea, the city is still reminiscent of its former grandeur.
The tower in the center of the city resembles a sacred scepter, with its broken spire hanging like a fallen crown.
Glass windows decorated with fine reliefs and gems are still bright, offering a glimpse of the past prosperity.
But the place has long been empty, like a clam that has lost its pearl, leaving only the shell.
Marina
Wow, there's such a city under the sea!
Narration
There is no trace of moss or erosion on the architecture. It is unexpectedly well preserved, as if it has just fallen to the ocean floor.
Nikki
Where was it before? Was the city originally built in the sea, or did something drag it down into the water?
Momo
Like a tsunami, earthquake or something?
Narration
Drawn by the mystery, the crew follows the fish, swims through the broken walls, and finally lands in a temple at the front of the city.
The massive stone steps lead upwards to a majestic temple, where the smoothly polished columns are inscribed with beautiful ancient writing.
Aeon gently touches a broken stone tablet, looks down to carefully check the patterns and words, and speaks thoughtfully.
Aeon
Delmond.
Momo
What did you say?
Aeon
There's a recurring word in the inscription. According to the information in my book, it should be 'Delmond'.
In addition, the temple is well-built, and the stone reliefs are set with gems. This is the same as the description in the book I'm reading.
It must be the lost civilization of Delmond. It is said to be built on the sea island, once prosperous but collapsed suddenly, and was nowhere to be found.
[Player]
I didn't expect that this mysterious kingdom to be found (sic) in the Ocean of Memories.
Aeon
The ocean holds many secrets that even the Ark administrator cannot fully explore. But the civilization must have suffered something before it sank here.
Marina
Look, the big fish is swimming away!
Aeon
Marina, I don’t know if there is any danger here. Don't run wild.
Narration
Before Aeon finishes his words, Marina has entered the temple.
[Player]
Let's go check it out!
Nikki
Well, there must be a reason for the big fish to lead us here.
Narration
The big fish does not join them. It just circles around the temple, as if it has left something important here.
The majestic temple has been eternally left in the past time. The sorrowful scream of the big fish lingers around the huge pillars, like the rousing hymns of the past.
[*End transcript*]

### 1-2 Saint's Tears

Narration
In the long corridor leading to the sanctuary, only the sound of footsteps echoes in the solemn atmosphere.
[*Mournful music plays again*]
[*Scene fades to white, background transitions to a crystal statue in a room made of light purple crystals*]

Narration
At the end of the hall is a statue of God, seemingly cast from crystal. The girl in a long skirt is pure, with a pair of wings that reflect the chilly sea water.
The big fish swims above the temple. Its light spills onto the statue of the saintess through the glass dome, illuminating the hall in brightness and holyness (sic) in an instant.
Momo
So gorgeous.
Marina
Is she a goddess worshiped here?
Nikki
The pedestal under the statue seems to be engraved with some ancient characters…
Aeon
Hmm… The general idea is that once a deadly famine in Delmond made the land barren and people here homeless.
It was not until the high priest of the kingdom prayed for the blessing of Arionus, the God of Water, and had the befell saintess that Delmond became prosperous again.
Nikki
So this is the statue of that saintess.
Aeon
In the classics, there is a record of such a saintess who is said to be born with wings in the ocean and have the ability to bring endless wealth to the kingdom.
Marina
But the saintess doesn' t (sic) seem to be happy.
Narration
Indeed, there is even a teardrop hanging on her face.
Player selection
▸ May be sad because of the initial famine.
Nikki
Famine… falling into ruin… If Delmond regained prosperity, why did it disappear all of a sudden?
▸ May be sad because everything fell to ruin.
TBC
[*End transcript*]