A Change In The Horizon || The Lost One AU

16. Polyphonia

"And this is the most important place in the entire village-- the Polyphonia!" Elisha exclaimed, spinning around as the building started to come into view. It was tall and elegantly crafted, a jewel compared to all the other buildings. It stood as a narrow shaft, made of the same wood that the rest of the village had used. At the very top of this tower, however, it flattened out, a large golden dome resting on top of it. Flecks of gold had been added to the main part of the tower to being it all together.

"What is it?" Xelqua asked, staring up at the building as they drew closer. Looking inside, he saw that the tower leading up to the dome was hallow and empty, with exception to a spiral staircase leading upwards. The dome itself was empty as well, though he found even the floor to be made of the precious material.

"It's where you can hear the song of your heart. Every elven village has one." Elisha said, giggling to herself. "My Mommy says it's a scared space, though it doesn't scare me at all." Evidently, the young girl did not know the word sacred.

Miesall continued to frown as he looked up directly into the sky, his gaze not quite aligning with the tower.

"That sounds so cool!" Xel said, trying to keep the extra enthusiasm in his voice for both of them.

"It is! And people also say—" She paused, looking around to see if anyone was around to listen, as if they couldn't hear well. "That sometimes lovers go in there. If their songs sound good together, it means they get should get married! They might even kiss!"

So it could be used as a romantic setting, Xelqua deduced, or at least some kind of love test. They reached the bottom of it, where two doors stood waiting to be opened. "Is it alright for us to be going in? It sounds like an important place." He asked. He wanted to be as respectful as possible, not wanting to break any boundaries.

"Of course! Come in, come in!" She said, nearly pushing the both of them through the door.

'What do you make of this?' Xel asked as he began ascending up the steps. Miesall had followed him against his better judgment, and Elisha followed behind him.

'Polyphonias are a sorry excuse to mate hundreds at once.' Miesall replied. His wings loosened against his back a bit as his eyes studied the tower he was residing in. 'Still... I am intrigued as to how this place works if it is truly to play some sort of sound. There is no redstone to be found anywhere.'

'Does that mean you'll go in with me?' Xel asked, smirking.

'Not if it breaks my celibacy. Although, I am curious to see what sorts of evil there is for research purposes.' Miesall retorted, trying to play it cool. Almost as though he were calming down. Perhaps it was in Xel's imagination, but he hoped the Watcher was loosening up finally, even if he was too proud to admit it.

At last they reached the top of the stairs. A door stood waiting, and Xel pushed it open. 'Careful,' Miesall warned, frowning. He knew though that like the rest of the tour, he could not control Xel.

"It's going to be alright. Just you watch." He assured with a smile, meeting Miesall's gaze. He took one step into the strange room, and as he did so, music began to play. 

Xel had wondered what kind of song was in his heart. Bright and happy, he was sure. Maybe a bit silly, a bit sneaky to reflect his trouble-making days. He could have believed his song to sound like many things, but he couldn't have expected this.

The tone was low, dark. It was as though a body was being dragged across the floor, maybe his own. Something tearing through the seams; something dying, something crying and begging for mercy. It was absolutely bone -chilling, to say the absolute least. He stood there frozen for about twenty seconds, more confused than anything else by the tearful song that played. Why was it so sad when he was so happy? Always smiling?