Sacred Doors/Lag-Quara Booklet Translation

Nota: Una traducción al español vendrá posteriormente.


Hello everyone! I'm Shimotsuki Haruka, and this book is an introduction to my original fantasy works! It's also the first book I've released as Maple Leaf (*laughs*)
The Maple Leaf side is called the [SD-Book], and through it I'll be giving you all brieeeef summary about the [Sacred Doors] series I've been representing through multiple music releases.

[Sacred Doors], abbreviated as SD, is the name of a story I've been making up little by little from my college days (though it's possible it started fermenting because I left it sleeping for too long), so while I've been slacking off on representing it, it's still a very important work to me. Here I've tried to write down its story and introduce its characters, as well as give some supplemental information in how they are related to the works I've released thus far. While they can stand all on their own as works, because I've connected them in such a laid-back way, I think those who like the setting should enjoy it too.

So, here's to hoping that this book will become a small key to open the door of your imagination.

2009.12 Shimotsuki Haruka


Sacred Doors

It is said that the humans and their world were created a long time ago by the Goddess who resides in Sacred, the Holy Land floating high above the skies. Two twins from the [people who have wings] were sent from the Holy Land by Goddess Palaslaura, who used the Goddess' own power to create the world, and gave the Four Great Elementals and the many Elementals that were under their protection the ability to sustain the natural balance necessary for the world to keep existing. Thus, was life born and the Holy Calendar started counting its years.

Following the orders given by the twin Creators, the first humans built four Temples that were protected by each of the Four Great Elementals. The Goddess then delivered oracles through the Elementals, so no conflicts would ever spark among the humans. And the people lived following the instructions given through the oracles. Thus, the world's order was maintained for a long time.

However, the light from the Holy Land started weakening suddenly 18 years ago, and the Elementals' oracles stopped coming. This caused unrest and tension to run rampant through the Temples and the highest seats of power in the kingdom. This caused the multiple ambitions and ulterior motives the oracles had kept at bay to be brought to the surface, which started eating away the balance of power that existed between all the kingdoms. At the same time, the power of the Hell's (Farack) Elemental of Darkness grew stronger, which started having an influence even over the monsters that lived upon the surface.

Within the shaken world, the memories of the lost wings open the door to truth...
This is the story of the truth of the world and the fate of a boy who was chosen by the Warlock amongst the chaos, Rudess.


Prologue
 
Holy Calendar year 2304, February. The Temple of Water in the kingdom of Repthys has been placed under the kingdom's protection.

But contrary to what the word "protection" implies, what the kingdom carried out was "oppression". During a certain snowy night, armed soldiers came out from nowhere and started attacking the Temple in search of the Warlock, killing anybody who opposed them.

Amid this blood-soaked chaos, Rudess and Eriu were called to the deepest chamber in the Temple. The person who waited for them in there was no other than Laylia, the Warlock of Water. To protect the Water Elemental Undine that resided in her body from the kingdom's clutches, she carried out the Warlock Succession Ceremony.

...Thus, was Rudess entrusted with the Water Elemental Undine without even knowing what was happening and became a fugitive for the kingdom, while the world started being surrounded by darkness regardless of what his decision was.

Keywords
 
・Four Great Elementals
 
The Elementals that rule over the balance that keeps the world existing. They are Undine (Water), Salamander (Fire), Gnome (Earth) and Sylph (Wind). While nature lodges many kinds of Elementals within itself, it is said that it's possible to generally classify them into Elementals that are either under the protection of the Four Great Elementals, under the protection of the Elemental of Light, or under the protection of the Elemental of Darkness.

・Warlock
 
The title given to the person who lodges an Elemental within their own body, listens to said Elemental's voice and carries out the role of delivering their oracles to the people at large. Only pure maidens can be chosen as Warlocks, and it depends entirely on each Elemental's will to choose their host. Each one of the four Temples has a Warlock, and in practical terms each Temple exists to protect its residing Warlock and the Elemental they lodge.

・The Four Kingdoms and Temples
 
There are four kingdoms upon this world, each of which is nested close to each Temple. The Kingdom protected by the Water is [Repthys], the Kingdom protected by the Wind is [Nardie], the Kingdom protected by the Earth is [Clayrion] and the Kingdom protected by the Fire is [Forda]. While its exact forms changes from a kingdom to another, they are basically all monarchies ruled each by a king. However, given that the Temples possess an absolute power because they are the ones that rule over the oracles, and the words given by the Temples are the Elementals' words themselves, the Kingdoms must obey their instructions. They are the only organizations that are not bound by the Kingdoms despite being inside their territories.

◆[Repthys], Kingdom Protected by the Water

A rich kingdom that boasts possessing the widest lands amongst the four kingdoms as its territories. The Water City Eltherna that serves as its capital is a thriving place that gathers people and merchandise from around the world in its market. While they are in a delicate situation with their neighbors from Nardie due to fighting over their fertile lands, they publicly maintain good relationships due to the oracles.

◆[Nardie], Kingdom Protected by the Wind

A kingdom whose territory has severe climatological differences. While it also has regions that are covered in snow all year long, the areas around its capital are relatively warm. As it is a kingdom where the differences between social classes are very severe, the population are divided into High Class and Low Class depending on their wealth or poverty, to the point where residential areas in places such as the Nardie capital are formed by two separate districts: The High Residential Zone (First Class Residences) and the Low Residential Zone (Second Class Residences).

◆[Clayrion], Kingdom Protected by the Earth

A kingdom that had formed a unique culture due to not having any significant contact with other regions because of it being in a mountainous area. As the area it is in is quite arid, the people make their living mainly through hunting. It is also the least populated among the four kingdoms. They are famous for their annual Festival of the Spirits, which is a festival to offer gratitude to Predoll.

◆[Forda], Kingdom Protected by the Fire

It thrives on the production of items such as tools and weapons due to there being many gathering spots for minerals within its territory. However, the production of weapons is limited due to the orders (will of the Elementals) given by the Temple, so the kingdom strictly sticks to the given limits because it is said they would suffer divine punishment were they to make more weapons than they are allowed by the will of the Elementals. The Holy Beacon that can be found in its capital city Flare is the symbol of the kingdom, so it also appears on its flag.


Characters

Rudess Airlud

"...If my destiny's unavoidable, I've got no choice but to face it head on!"

The story's protagonist. Male. 18 years old.
He was picked up from a lake's shore by the Warlock of the Water Temple, Laylia after he was abandoned as a baby, and he grew up in the Temple's orphanage. And just like that, he grew as an Acolyte of the Elementals. Basically, while his head moves quite quickly, he's the type who moves forward only once he has digested what it's happening to him, and so he's irregularly weak when it comes to adapting to new situations.
Due to a certain incident, Laylia entrusted him with the Elemental of Water Undine, making him into the Warlock of Water. And now lodging an Elemental that by nature shouldn't dwell in his body, he was driven out of the Temple and went in a journey.

Celsior Lexes

"Prying into what interests someone else is an information broker's job.
If you don't want talk about it, you just shouldn't do it."

Male. 27 years old.
He lives in Lain's bar in the lower residential sector of Nardie while at the same time working as an information broker. Apparently, he is quite famous in the neighborhood due having to his name an information network that allows to gain trustworthy information quickly, despite his youth. A shrewd man that has good manners and a good head over his shoulders. While he doesn't talk about his past, there are rumors that he is related by blood to some of the most respectable families residing in the upper residential sector due to having a large influence. One of his hobbies is changing his glasses (particularly). As he has a personality that can't stand to see others being abandoned, he frequently picks up stray cats and dogs to take them back home with him, which has made Lain quite angry at him several times. While he also tames the Elemental Beasts known as Sekirei, it isn't something he likes to do.

Lain Mimosa

"There's no difference between lower and upper residential zone inhabitants among my customers.
Get out from my bar if you've got any complaints about it."

Female. 28 years old.
The only woman in her family who inherited from her father the bar she currently manages in the lower residential zone of Nardie, which led her to get acquainted with the many ruffians and impoverished inhabitants from lower residential zone, and the travelers who pass through the city. A woman with a sisterly disposition that has a frank spirited personality, who also has slipped through many difficulties. She also throws knives as a self-defense maneuver, and has quite a precise aim with them. She lets Celsior to live in her bar at no cost and gives him a hand with his information broker business.

Eriu Lugray

"Rudess... It's possible we won't ever meet again."

Male. 19 years old. ※The picture shows Eriu when he was a young child (in Yuragu Sora).
An orphan that was saved and raised in by the Temple of Water after his parents were killed by monsters. As he's childhood friends with Rudess, they both share a close friendship. Eriu also has a really strong sense of responsibility, to the point he at times overexerts himself because he doesn't mind sacrificing his own life for others. As he's diligent and a hard worker, his abilities as an Acolyte of Water are unparalleled in the Temple of Water.

Frale

"...I finally found you."

Female. 14 years old.
She is the Warlock of Fire, who has crimson eyes and hair. Because she was isolated from everyone else from birth due to being destined to be the Warlock of Fire, she is taciturn and inexpressive, and doesn't know how to convey her emotions. Her name "Flare" wasn't even something that was given to her by her real parents, so she doesn't even know what their faces looked like. She firmly believes that she must carry out a certain mission alongside the Warlock of Water to fulfill her own purpose. That is why she chases after Rudess and why they frequently end up meeting each other.

Karbell Linarie

"You know it, right? ...The pain you get from having lost something precious because of powers you never wished to have."

Female. 16 years old.
The girl that was chosen to be the Warlock of Wind. As she was raised alongside her older sister in the Temple of Wind to become Warlock Candidates, she has always admired the world she could see outside her window. She is a girl who hates conflicts and lives wishing for peace, and while she wished that her excellent older sister would be the one chosen because she earnestly wished to become the Warlock, Karbell was the one chosen against her own wishes. It is due to this she has lost several precious things.


Works Explanation

Here we will explain the works that Maple Leaf has released previously from the viewpoint of the [Sacred Doors] world setting.

Sacred Doors Vol. 1 / December 2001

Tracklist

01. Legend (Opening Event BGM)
02. Sacred Doors (Main Theme)
03. Water Capital Repthys (Water Capital Repthys BGM)
04. Through the Wilderness (Field BGM)
05. Clash (Normal Battle BGM)
06. Victory! (Battle Won BGM)
07. Covered in White (Snow City BGM)
08. Awakening Morning (Rest at an Inn BGM)
09. Snow Grain (Snowfield BGM)
10. The Great Sekirei Search (Event BGM - Meeting Celsior)
11. Sadness and A Single Teardrop (Sad BGM)
12. Lain's Bar (Lain's Bar BGM)
13. The Monsters' Nest (Dungeon BGM)
14. Confrontation (Midboss BGM)
15. Mysterious Forest (Vocal Version for the Lost Woods BGM)

For the main story, at the start I decided to somehow make it as the soundtrack for an imaginary RPG. So, I tried making RPG-like standard BGMs while imagining how [Sacred Doors] would be if it were made into a RPG. So as for how the story goes, we could break it down (?) into Rudess departing on a journey, meeting Celsior, and sub-events triggering while he temporarily stays at Lain's bar.

Yuragu Sora -Sacred Doors Vol. 0- / December 2002

Story

There once was a boy who, could listen to the voices of the Elementals and see them when normal people couldn't even see them, and even had the mysterious power of making flowers bloom, all because he received a strong influence from the powers of the Elementals at birth. Having these extraordinary powers made people to give him weird looks and soon enough, they caused him to be ostracized from everyone else. Fearing this could bring harm to his loved ones, the boy turned his back on his hometown and left on a journey. His heart eventually was set upon living as a Bard that knew the truth about the world and who would convey these truths to the people in song. During his journeys around the world, he met all sorts of people and Elementals, and he walked while making into song the legends and cultures he came in contact with.

And a certain day during his journeys, rain started falling when he was setting up camp in the forest near the Temple of Water in Repthys. As he tried to shelter himself under the trees' shades, two little boys (Rudess and Eriu, who were four and five years old at the time respectively) noticed his presence and guided him to the orphanage where they lived. Once they were before the hearth's warmth, he started singing to both boys in gratitude for allowing him to spend the night at their home. His song was the truth about this world, and about the destiny that awaited them...

Tracklist

1. Song of Beginnings
2. Trembling Sky
3. Festival of the Spirits
4. Mysterious Forest
5. Vestiges of the World
6. To You, Small Ones

This is a CD that touched upon the world setting of [Sacred Doors], as it is the songs that Rudess and Eriu heard from the Bard. The [Vol. 0] means this is a work that depicts the world itself, and that it serves as a prequel to the story proper. Tracks 1 to 4 are folk songs the Bard came to know, as well as also being truths and consciousnesses he felt during his travels, while track 5 is a song in which the Bard sang out his own feelings, and track 6 is a song that the Bard sang for Rudess and Eriu, in which he prophesied their destiny. By the way, while the Bard that made an appearance on this CD also makes an appearance in the CD jacket for [Maple Leaf Box], the girl with the chestnut-colored hair that appears on the back cover is his childhood friend, who accepted the powers he had back when he still lived in his hometown. As painful as it was to him, he couldn't let a girl who smiled as kindly as she did be hurt any more than she had already been, so he resolved himself to leave his hometown without telling anyone and never return to it. It's possible the Bard may end up meeting again with Rudess and his friends at some point in the main story of Sacred Doors.


Wyrdrad no Shirabe -Sacred Dors another tale- / August 2008

Tracklist

1. Into the Sunny Place
2. Wings of Oblivion
3. The Day Winter Ends
4. A Song Played in the Empty Sky
5. Geofu
6. Two Roads

There once was a girl called Rose Alicia, who had a mysterious power (perception) due to having received a very strong influence from the Elementals' powers at birth. As her overly strong sensitivity caused her heart to be hurt, not to mention she was also hurt by the people, she was always alone. She was a person who could touch both the memories of the lost world and the voices of the Elementals, but she just kept on living while covering her ears from the words that were always coming to her.

However, things changed for her when she met a music troupe. It was then that she realized that she could bring enjoyment to the people by making the voices of the world she had kept hidden into fantastical stories. At times, her songs brought out nostalgia, at times they brought out sympathy, and at times they inspired the imagination of her listeners, and so she gained the acceptation of many as an entertainer. Thus, was her heart saved. She had been saved by the music and by her companions, and while she never considered herself as a person who had the mission of transmitting the memories of the world to others, she still allowed these memories to ride into the music and become songs.

It was then that she heard rumors about the Bard. Having learned he was a person who could feel the same memories she did, she ended up meeting him. It was the first time she had met someone who knew the same pain and loneliness she had known. However, for some reason he chose to keep singing alone and by himself. As Rose had been saved from the loneliness by the songs, she invited the Bard to join the music troupe she was part of to save him from his own loneliness. The Bard refused, and left these words with her as he walked away smiling:

"...For your songs to imprint the truth upon this world."

Characters

Rose Alicia

"I... want to keep singing here."

Female. 14 years old. Vocalist.
A girl who has a mysterious power (perception) due to having received a very strong influence from the Elementals' powers at birth. While this caused her to lose a variety of things and made her close off her heart, thanks to having met the music troupe, she became able to accept her true self, she found the place she belongs to and she started regaining her own natural brightness little by little. Singing itself was what saved her... Her happy and gentle singing figure has filled the hearts of many with warmth.

Edilea Nopsys

"Hey you guys! You've got to join your hearts more as you play! Goodness..."

Female. 45 years old. Percussionist and chorus singer.
The original vocalist, and the person who invited Rose to join the troupe. She is the founder and the leader of the troupe. While she was a popular singer, known around the region when she was young, a certain incident caused her to be unable to sing, and only Grand kept playing the piano at her side while the other members left them.

Grand Nopsys

"...You're the new kid, right? Well, welcome aboard."

Male. 48 years old. Cembalist.
The husband of the troupe leader, and its first member. A seriously taciturn man. While he always obeys the troupe leader's orders without complaining, he never seems to be displeased about it. (Because he has an absolute trust and love for her.)

Julie Alpha

"I believe that music connects the hearts for sure"

Male. 16 years old. Accordionist.
He originally was the child from a notorious family in the High Residential Zone of Nardie. But after his parents died five years ago in a certain incident, he left his home and ever since, he has worked as a performer alongside his twin Merrie to make ends meet.

Merrie Alpha

"I don't want to be a burden for anyone. I want to keep walking with my own feet."

Female. 16 years old. Violinist.
She decided she wouldn't cry again ever since she left her home with Julie, and she has firmly kept this resolution. During their travels, they happened to bump into Edilea and her group, and after opening their hearts to them, Edilea welcomed them into the troupe.

Tule Macrode

"Me? Well you know, I play so I can bring some brightness to this daaark world!"

Male. 27 years old. Contrabassist.
Having "Smiling's gonna bring good luck to ya!" as his motto, he has a bright personality overflowing with optimism. However, he lost a precious one to a sickness, and he keeps playing the contrabass because she really loved music.

Acqua Pulse

"Musical instruments are really honest, you know? The hearts of their players are reflected in their sounds."

Female. 32 years old. Guitarist.
She applied for a position at the troupe and joined because she was captivated by the gentle sounds that Edilea and Grand played together, saying she wanted to make music alongside them. She is the third member of the troupe.

[Wyrdrad], a music troupe that lives in the world of [Sacred Doors]. A traveling music troupe that has gathered fresh members, each of their feelings entwining to make up a story. "another tale" merely means that this is a work that takes place outside the main story, and the setting for the CD is that the songs recorded in it are played by the troupe themselves. Track 1 is a song Rose herself sings about her feelings for the troupe, tracks 2 and 4 are the world's truth and future she has felt, track 3 is sung from the viewpoint of Julie and Merrie, track 5 is the combination of Edilea and Grand's feelings, and track 6 is the song that the Bard that Rose met sings while thinking of her. The Bard that appears here is the same person that previously appeared in [Yuragu Sora]. Additionally, what tracks 2 and 4 are singing about are fragments from the story of Rudess and company. As for whether Rose is predicting these events, she is singing them as fantastical stories without realizing they are the world's words, but the truth is hidden in them.



Hello everyone. I'm Hiyama Nao, and I'm the one in charge of the projects and original stories for tieLeaf.
The tieLeaf side is called the [Neji-Book], and here we will give an introduction the works and world of the [Nejimaku Tsuki] series.

First things first, [Nejimaku Tsuki] is an original story I made back when I was still a student, and it finally became an actual work when I had the chance to start working alongside Sorano-san. Based on that, we started collaborating with Shimotsuki-san and we put out stories for it in a variety of ways under the tieLeaf name. While there were times where I had to stop working on it due to personal circumstances, I still want to keep writing for this world for a long time, so I'll keep creating material for it from now on. Even if it is in this way, that's how precious a work it is to me.

Its setting is a fantasy world called [Lag-Quara]. While we have a detailed setting of how the world is made up, unfortunately we couldn't explain it in full due to the number of pages in this booklet. But as I plan to keep creating material for it from now on and wherever I might be, as long as I keep doing so, there might be a time in which I'll reveal them to the public even if tieLeaf disappears. Those interested in the setting, please go to my personal website, or to the tieLeaf site.

Also, there is a possibility the setting and story may suffer from several changes when they are combined with the media whenever we develop something new. As this booklet is in the end is an initial setting draft, if you can enjoy to the point it makes you treeeemble, that would make me happy. See you!

Nejimaku Tsuki (Main Story): Still unreleased by this point in time (2009). This is a preview to its story and characters.
Tsukioi no Toshi: Announcement version released in 2004, collaboration CD released in 2005, special edition released in 2008.
Hanahiraku Souten: Manga released in 2005. Currently being made into a game.
Tsuisou no Mado: Short novel and CD released in 2009.

■Neji-Book Side:
Original Idea - Text - Design: Hiyama Nao / Illustrations: Sorano Ao
■SD-Book Side:
Original Idea - Text - Design: Shimotsuki Haruka / Illustrations: Fujimura Ayumi - Hidari - Sorano Ao - Design: Hiyama Nao / Sorano Ao


Side [Nejimaku Tsuki]
Lag-Quara

I oular i neej rin ar lef su i Lag-Quara.
The Spiral-Coiling Moon Engraves the Moon's Waxing and Waning...

The general title to the [Fantasy World Lag-Quara]'s story.

When you close your eyes, and when you cover your ears, you will see and hear the world.

The [Symbol] that weaves countless fantasies.


Nejimaku Tsuki - Still Unreleased by 2009

Prologue

Upon the islands floating in the skies is the Kingdom of Celestara, which received the protection of the Goddess' Wings, and which connects and protects everything. Cielio, who was born from the current King and his third wife, Sacher, was estranged from the Royal Palace and sent to live in one of the villas owned by his mother's family, the House of Wisteria.
The Wisteria Region comprised a small floating island located to the west of the Royal Capital. While it was a backwater town compared to the Royal Capital, it had also become an estranged and peaceful island ever since it got involved in the kingdom's territorial disputes.
Cielio had the power to connect his heart with those of other people. He the power to absorb all their feelings without anything obstructing them, even their hatred and sadness. He was the sort of child that would be feeling all sorts of emotions deep within while showing a smile to everyone else.
Naturally, as he also spent most of his time all alone, he felt it was annoying to exchange words with others. It couldn't have been any different though, given his ability to sense others' emotions without even needing to converse with them.
A day when he was six years old, he was summoned to the Royal Palace to congratulate his sister from a different mother, Princess Soficia for becoming engaged, and it was then he saw his sister face to face for the first time. His sister was a kind and beautiful young woman. When he touched her warm cheeks for the first time, Cielio felt his heart melting away. A day when they were drinking red tea, just the two of them, his older sister started saying out of nowhere:
"Maybe I'm lying to my own feelings? Could my own arrogance be what makes me think I want to save that person? Or is it that I just want someone to save me...?"
"That person...?"

Without paying any mind to Cielio's question, Soficia placed a small box upon the table.
"This is called an orgel. It's stopped right now, but if you coil its spiral like this... Look, it plays a song. And it can do that as many times as you want it"
And as a sad smile formed upon her lips, Soficia gave the small box to Cielio.
"I'll give it to you as a birthday gift"
Cielio's curiosity gave way for him to make the orgel play its song many times. Just like his sister said, its song began many times, and many times it came to an end.
That night, Cielio had a very vivid dream.
He was in place where Lip-Aura flowers could be seen all over. And in the middle of that blue carpet, there was something that didn't fit with the rest of the place: it was a young man that had golden hair and golden eyes. For some reason, that made him feel uncomfortable. Cielio felt his intention was the complete opposite to his own.
And then, Soficia appeared out from nowhere and walked to the man, and as a happy smile showed on her lips, she extended her hand to him.
Having a bad feeling about this, Cielio tried to stop her. However, his voice didn't get through to her. He was unable to even catch an illusion.

The next day, Soficia suddenly disappeared. That was the last time he ever saw her.
Many years passed afterward, and Cielio never opened the orgel again.
No matter how many years went by, he kept regretting it. He wanted to go back to that day and see his sister once again. Even if he couldn't stop her, he wanted to make sure about what Soficia could have been feeling back then.
Why did she disappear like that without telling anyone? Why did she entrust him with this orgel? Who was "that person" she wanted to save?
He had the feeling that if he had asked his sister these questions, he could have saved her.

When he turned 16 years old, Cielio dreamt once again about the Lip-Aura flower field.
And in the middle of that sight that hadn't changed despite so much time having passed, he saw a little girl that resembled her sister, who was plucking away the flowers' petals as she sang a song.

A single truth is within countless lies.
Allow a different song to ride upon the same melody.
Allow a different story to ride upon the same world.
Coil the spiral as many times as you like.
Make the spiral play its song as many times as you like...

"What do you wish for?"
The girl asked when she noticed Cielio's presence.
"My wish is..."


Characters

Cielio W. Erceles

"Because I don't remember it, it's possible I was who killed my sister..."

Male. 16 years old. Prince of Celestara, and third in the line of succession for the throne. As his mother was originally a Song Priestess from a low-standing region, there are many that don't recognize him as a candidate to the throne, so he is constantly subjected to harsh criticism. While he normally lives in a small villa located in a faraway little island, he seeks the original owner of the orgel his older sister, Soficia gave to him prior to her disappearance ten years ago.


Atie

"Hey, what's the thing you want the most, Cielio?

Female. Unknown age. A mysterious lost girl who appears and disappears upon the island where the Lip-Aura flowers bloom. She really likes plucking the Lip-Aura flowers' petals to divine the future with them. Her face and voice resemble those of Princess Soficia, Cielio's older sister, and she is emotionally attached to him for some reason.


Fortiss Patin


"Hey Cielio! Remember I'm your pal!"

Male. 17 years old. A cousin of Cielio's mother. They are childhood friends because they grew together in the Wisteria Family's mansion, and he is the only person Cielio recognizes as a friend. As he is the third son to the current Foreign Affairs Minister, he has a natural sense for social life. He acts like an overprotective older brother to Cielio.


Elea Amaranth

"My older brother is like a natural enemy for all of humankind. You should get it as soon as you see his face and sort of personality"

Female. 17 years old. The eldest daughter to the Amaranth family. She has a weak constitution due to an intractable disease, so she is a girl that has led a sheltered life to the point she has never set a foot outside her own house. However, she doesn't exude that sort of atmosphere when she speaks, so she has the sort of personality that would lead anyone to doubt her condition.
While she holds an uncommon hostility and distrust toward her older brother, the reasons for it are unknown at the moment.


Rizel Amaranth

"If you stare at me like that, it's possible you'll end up falling for me"

Male. 26 years old. Adopted by the Amaranth family and thus, Elea's older brother. Currently employed as a magician in the Edelia Kingdom's Royal Sorcery Institute. While he is always smiling, treats everyone kindly, and generally gives a good treatment to everyone he meets, there is something that feels off about his behavior. As for Elea, she felt he changed to a shocking degree after he broke up with his lover.


Tsukioi no Toshi -Sono Te ga Katadoru Sekai- (Side-Story)

The story of Rizel, the boy who inherits the Will of [Ecliss], and Princess Soficia.

Prologue

The name of that city is [Ecliss].
It is a world that had been sealed away for eternity
due to the sins that were committed long ago.
The City of Demise
where the ones that go to die are confined...

The City of Death Ecliss was a magical capital that fell into ruin many years ago. Rizel, who lived in a small village next to a forest, was a boy that was supposed to become the Protector of the city that sank into a lake, Ecliss, and that had been born as Sardine's son.
Whenever Rizel lied on his back and closed his eyes, every night he would dream about a girl called Elthia who sang curses from within his dreams, which meant he was trying to escape his fate.

On the other hand, there was the Kingdom of Celestara that was located on the skies.
Amecius, who was the crown prince and thus the first in the succession line to the throne, was found guilty of rebellion against the crown and sentenced to be locked in prison for life.
At the end of this secret trial, Amecius' younger sister, Princess Soficia heard that her brother had committed suicide within his prison cell, and believing in Amecius' innocence, she decided to find the truth that had been kept hidden through her own power.

Both would meet again at [Ecliss] several years later.

Action and Emptiness, Prayer and Curse, Future and Death.
As if they were unable to comprehend where both of their paths will take them,
The same night wears on again.

About This Work:
 
This is a work that we tieLeaf presented as a vocal collaboration album. While making this story the way we did, in which the information concerning it is limited to pictures, lyrics, sounds, a scarce amount of setting materials and a few short stories, is quite counterintuitive, on the other hand that seems to have allowed a lot of people to expand their imaginations.
As this is a story that serves as a prequel taking place ten years prior to the [Nejimaku Tsuki] where Cielio is the protagonist, it places the spotlight upon Soficia and Rizel when he was a teenager, as well as their feelings and the complex relationship they both share. Where and how did Rizel and Soficia meet each other? Why did Soficia disappear? How did it all end?
While of course this will all be answered in [Nejimaku Tsuki], these are also stories I'd like to write down using other media. (Hiyama)

Characters

Rizel Amaranth

"It's not weird I can't just smile indiscreetly. Smiling can only be done when you have enough strength for it."

Male. 16 years old. Student. First-person pronoun used: Ore or Boku. Hair and eye color: Golden hair, golden eyes. Hobbies: Part-time working, riding.

A young man severely burdened due to having been born as Sardine's son while also having the power of Ecliss flow strongly through his blood. He goes by his adoptive father's surname. He is always running late and at times even misses his classes at the Magic Academy. While his grades are excellent, his progress and graduation are in severe risk due to not having enough attendances in his record. And under the excuse of making up for his absences, the principal ordered him to undertake an absurd task. He despises everything that has the Ecliss name, even his real father, even more than he hates raw fish. He thinks that his father doesn't love him and that instead, he loves Elthia, the girl who always appears within his dreams.

Soficia R. Erceles

I think that my uncle knows I'm in love with Rizel.

Female. 17 years old. Princess. First-person pronoun used: Watashi. Hair and eye color: Black hair, purple eyes. Hobbies: Daydreaming, crossdressing her younger brother, dressing as a man

The Princess of the Heavenly Kingdom of Celestara. While she underwent an engagement ceremony with a duke that was also her cousin before ultimately rejecting him, said duke didn't mind it in the slightest and just thought the Princess had gone through with the ceremony only because it was her duty. Due to being inflexible and stubborn, she tends to rush into things without thinking. She isn't good at dealing with indecisive and effeminate men. She loves making her cute-faced little brother Cielio wear dresses. And apparently, she disguises herself as a man whenever she sneaks out from the castle.

Elthia

"...Leozet..."

A mysterious girl who appears within Rizel's dreams (the city of Ecliss) and allows him to listen to her songs. She is always smiling. It is due to her that Rizel is always suffering from sleep deprivation.

Cielio

"..."

Soficia's younger brother and a prince. 6 years old.

Cius

"Well well, aren't you too honest, oh master?"

Male. Unknown age. Deceased. First-person pronoun used: Ore. Hair and eye color: Black hair, purple eyes.

A fragment from a Will that saved Rizel when he was a kid, and who should have disappeared long ago. In simpler terms, he is a ghost. While he seems to be a Celestaran, he has lost almost all his memories due to being incomplete. He is always roaming around the place inside Rizel's dreams (the city of Ecliss).

Sardine Eclosse

"If everything were to remain here, letters alone wouldn't be enough for it, don't you think?"

A magician and Rizel's true father. His hobby is collecting rare items from around the world and recording any events that have happened. He personally hates the Kingdom of Celestara. While he dotes on his son Rizel in his own peculiar way, the distorted way in which he demonstrates it has caused Rizel to hate him.


Hanahiraku Souten - [Comic Enclosed with Tsukioi no Toshi]

The record of a certain magician who perished alongside the Ecliss (Girl of Death) that loved the demonic flower.

Prologue

[Elthia_Lag_Ecliss] was the Protector of Ecliss back when the city still existed in the outside world, and she also served as its final Protector.

[Ecliss] is one of the Wills of the Goddess of Creation, Artia, and it holds the meaning of [Release].
It is one of the grand elements that give shape to this world: Lag-Quara. It is fate itself: the force that puts the threads of life into motion and soon enough, brings death to them.
In other words, it has the power to bring destruction upon everything through the passing of time.

Those people whose bodies lodged the strongest manifestation of the power of [Ecliss] were the Protectors of Ecliss: they would be given the name [Lag_Ecliss] and despite being born humans, they would be treated as a part of the Goddess.
These powerless humans were in deep love with the Goddess.
There was a meaning to the mere existence of those bearing the Lag_Ecliss name. The mission of the ones bearing that name was to be treated as an object of reverence in the Temple.

A settlement expanded around the Temple, as if it were clinging to it, until its population increased into the order of the thousands and became a city.
The people sought even more power and desired the truth. They even crossed the boundaries of the taboo to approach the realms of the divine.

The city protected by [Ecliss].
In other words, as the city that controlled even death...
....Ecliss was truly prosperous.

Tsuisou no Mado

A story of sealed memories told by a former Singing Priestess.

Prologue

Even now, I'm having a confusing dream.

Was that choice the best course I could have taken? Or was I mistaken?
There are things you can never undo, no matter how much you worry about them. I can never go back to that day now.
While I knew that the pain caused by the regrets was going to be no more than an obstacle to me as I kept walking to a new future, for some reason my heart kept standing still.
What could have been waiting for me at the end of the path I didn't choose?
But still, I kept imagining and pondering many times the words [that person] kept silent about, and about what he could have said next. They should have been something leading from that room that was sealed away for eternity to a new path we are supposed to follow.
It is an unknown window that could have been open, but that I have already erased myself.
I saw the place illuminated by the lost moon being reflected even more vividly than it was in reality.

That was the day when some impossible memories were engraved.

Tsukioi no Toshi Liner Notes

Nota: una traducción al español vendrá posteriormente para estos liners.


Okay, it might have been a long time ever since the album was first released, but here are the liner notes for the first album released for tieLeaf's Lag-Quara series: Tsukioi no Toshi. Consider this as as a sort of preparation work for the upcoming translation I'll be doing for the Sacred Doors/Lag-Quara booklet that was released with the CD that included acoustic arrangements for Yuragu Sora and Tsukioi no Toshi.


tieLeaf Information Paper No. 02
[Sardine]
Released on C69, 12.30.2005
 
Pleased to meet you and hello! This is Hiyama Nao, writing the preface for the second issue of the tieLeaf Information Paper [Sardine]. This time, I want to thank you for having bought the original fantasy collaboration project CD & Book [Tsukioi no Toshi]! As this is a work filled to the brim with the fantasy elements I love so much, it would make me really happy if you enjoyed it.
Well then, I'll take advantage of this chance to introduce the page to the [tieL] I made alongside Sorano Ao. tieL (http://tiel.jp) itself is a doujin circle that we established in order to give form to our own original work called [Nejimaku Tsuki]. And we recently established the collaborative creation circle [tieLeaf] with composer Ms. Shimotsuki Haruka (MapleLeaf), so in summary, given I'm involved with all of those activities at the same time, if anybody out there is interested in checking out tieLeaf's activities, that would make me really happy.
※These pages contain both the liner notes and the postcript to [Tsukioi no Toshi]. They may contain spoilers and could possibly also shatter your image? of it. Please proceed with caution.

Tsukioi no Toshi (Nejimaku Tsuki)
Main Characters & Story
It might be redundant to say it, but these are the setting documents for it. (by tieL)

Story
The name of that city is [Ecliss].
It is a world that was eternally sealed away
due to the sins that were committed long ago.
The City of Demise
that ends the lives of those who are about to die...

Elthia
The protector of Ecliss from a thousand years ago. An especially created girl who can see Ecliss' memories and future. She is laid-back, gentle and is always smiling. But because Ecliss' power to cause internal hemorrhages was too strong, she caused the people around her to fall ill and die soon after just by existing. She loves dances and songs even more than eating, but she loves Ecliss more than anything else. She has waited, and continues to wait in Ecliss for a [certain something] she has never been able to obtain.

Sardine
Rizel's true father. As a relative of Elthia's, he is the successor to the House of Ecliss. He staunchly believes himself to be a genius magician. He is the only human that can maintain his own body and presence of mind even around Elthia. While he is saddled with a heavy dissatisfaction due to Elthia's care being pushed onto him, he never leaves Elthia herself alone. He has a hobby of collecting rare items from around the world. He personally hates the Kingdom of Celestara. While he dotes on his son Rizel in his own way, the slightly twisted way in which he demonstrates it has caused Rizel to hate him.

Ciel
A prince from Celestara. Sofia's younger brother from a different mother. However, there are many rumors being whispered about his origins, so the truth behind them is still uncertain. So while he lived outside the kingdom in his mother's house ever since he was born, he was recently summoned out of nowhere to a royal villa located near the Royal Palace. Ever since, he plays with his sort-of older sister. He was given an orgel through unclear circumstances. As he was ordered to take good care of it, he obediently treasures the orgel.

Cius
One of the Phantoms that exchanged the Pledge of the Protector with Rizel at the city of Ecliss. His thoughts and wishes are mostly shrouded in mystery at the present. While it seems (according to Cius himself) that he had excellent sword skills due to having impressive reflexes when he was still alive, as he unfortunately does not have a body, he has no other enjoyment aside of mocking Rizel now.

Soficia
The Princess from the Celestial Kingdom of Celestara. Her nickname is Sofia. Due to being inflexible and stubborn, she tends to rush into things without thinking. Her favorite type of men are macho and easy-going ones. She seriously dreams not about being taken away by a [prince riding on a white horse], but by a [macho man who ran throughout the floating islands on his bare feet]. She hates indecisive and effeminate men. However, she loves making her cute(-faced) brother put on dresses.

Rizel
Sardine's son. A boy that has been saddled up with many worries due to having Ecliss' blood running through his veins. Due to his consciousness being pulled in by Ecliss, he frequently runs late for school and falls asleep during the classes. While his grades alone have earned him the top spot in the class, his graduation is in serious danger due to not having enough attendances on his record. In order to make up for it, he found himself in the predicament of being forced to study abroad in the Kingdom of Celestara with no other options available. Due to his fastidious personality, he is quite careless about the relationships he establishes with other people. He despises everything related to the Ecliss name, especially his true father, more than he hates raw meat and fish.

Tsukioi no Toshi Liner Notes
Tu zet ol nam o Ecliss. Tu o i quara einal lefs li i sis vi dir. Eca hu o sequa, lei ol zet...
 
01. Nejjmaku Tsuki -Sinal "ar ol "ir"-

A track that expressed a world in which the Goddess winding up the spiral coil served as its whole beginning, which incorporates orgel motifs. I also took into consideration the secret ambience given by the sound, as if the soundless world that existed until the orgel emitted its first sound was being washed away at the same time its song starts playing. I have the feeling that it was decided from the project's start that we wanted to start with Nejimaku Tsuki and thus we set it as the CD's first track. Having an orgel that plays a song I made myself is an once-in-a-lifetime treasure. After all, you can never have too many of the things like the delicate mechanical sounds and the like that you can only get from recording the real thing. (Shimotsuki)
 
The first Will that served as the beginning to the world and the story, which has joined with the act of [winding up the orgel's coil]. It is pretty romantic that the orgel plays predetermined sounds when its coil is wound up (what?) The subtitle means [You, My Precious]. By the way, [Nejimaku Tsuki] is also the title of [Tsukioi no Toshi]'s original work. As for [Nejimaku Tsuki] itself, there are many things we intend to unveil in the future, so while we can't talk about them for the time being (Sorry!), these have become tracks that will give you a lot to ponder about. Live orgels are the greatest! (Hiyama)
 
02. Tsukioi no Toshi -Leozet_Lag_Ecliss-
Lyrics: Hiyama Nao
Composition & Arrangement: Shimotsuki Haruka

The eponymous track to this CD. This song was filled with challenges for me, as not only did I arrange it myself, it was also the first time I made an arrangement using live instruments. While the melody is like always a full-throttle one made by me (*laughs*), given it got the tastes of several living people added to it, I wonder if that didn't introduce some liveliness into the melody or make it more exciting. Rather, it feels as if I had arranged it alongside the performers. It was really fun! The song ultimately has the viewpoint of the narrator, so I took in account the world's atmosphere and placed a special emphasis in a transparent feeling as I sang it. (Shimotsuki)
 
[Tsukioi no Toshi], and thus the eponymous song. We put it together while keeping in mind the announcement video, the manga and the story's setting. And while it would get too long if we were to talk about the lyrics, we can summarize them as them being as if they were talking about Leozet from Rizel's viewpoint, as if he were looking from inside to inside at himself from the outside (?). And it also feels as if we had included an entirely different atmosphere only for the hook part. This song is also filled with memories about impossible-to-understand requests I made to Haruka-san, like [make it feel as if we were awakening from a dream here] or [make it feel as if everything had vanished at once here], even though I had gone to the study just to learn by observation when we recorded this song. I'm sorry for all that. (Hiyama)
 
03. Sousei to Shuuen -"Lei" ol Lag-Quara-
Lyrics: Hiyama Nao
Composition: Shimotsuki Haruka
Arrangement: Shimotsuki Haruka & Takumaru

I wanted to musically express somehow the part of the setting that stated that the combination of Holy and Evil magic becomes Creation Magic, so I tried to combine two different melodies and singing styles for it. The clear hymn-like style represents the Holy side, while the Bulgarian voice-like style gives off the image for the Evil side. And a part which I personally obsessed myself with was how, from among all that chaos, at the end the highs and lows in the sound are inverted and they finish the song off with the same phrase. (*laughs*) (Shimotsuki)
 
A single Goddess' game, in other words this is the song for the world setting of Lag-Quara. While it is entirely sung in a constructed language, it doesn't include its translation to Japanese. For this song's setting, I requested it to give off a [feel of how light and darkness pull upon each other and ultimately combine with each other, becoming a great power]. By the way, I'll be posting a partial extract from a Japanese version of [Sousei] on the site in which the progress for the collaboration project [Nejimaku Tsuki] is going at a laid-back pace. (Hiyama)
 
04. Hikari to no Kaikou -Sef rin chi sef mie-
Lyrics: Hiyama Nao
Composition: Shimotsuki Haruka
Arrangement: Hosoi Soushi

A full-throttle song made by MANYO-san. No matter where you look, you can never have too many of the key changes it's loaded with (*laughs*) As this song is sung from Sofia's viewpoint, I kept girlish feelings in mind as I sang it. Basically it gives off the feeling of a blighted love and the light of hope that exists even within such an event, so for the second half I put special care into making it give off the feeling of a strong will. I especially love the lyrics for the hook. I love too how it combines with the choruses' meanings. (Shimotsuki)
 
Sofia and Rizel. The parts from the constructed language choruses are the words Elthia herself says. I really love using methods that combine different meanings, so I was really happy while I was writing it. Originally all the parts that say [world] had [you] instead, but as I found it was far too direct when I tried humming them to myself, I ultimately changed them to [world]. So we could say they have now a combined meaning of [(your) world]. The way the song develops after the second hook is something I really love too. The way Haruka harmonizes really makes for a moe song. (Hiyama)
 
05. Hitomi wo Tsugumono -Quara ol "Ecliss"- 
Lyrics: Hiyama Nao
Composition & Arrangement: MANYO

This is the sort of song that goes thundering... and boom! Men wet by the rain are really cool, huh? (What?) As Hiyama asked me things like a fierce battle-like song that gave off a feeling of a fate you can't fight against, I tried to make an eerie and aggressive song of the type that are so rare for me to make. The sprint-like sensation given by Hosoi-san's arrangement also contributes to make this a tension-rising song... And Hiyama's lyrics are erotic too. I think that lyrics that use difficult words are cool and I like them, but I got a bit downhearted from how no-good I was for reading the first lines so many times. (Shimotsuki)
 
The song I got made after I requested a battle song. Rather, we could say this is for the last boss. The burden that Rizel carries on his shoulders is the same one Elthia has. As it is something that is deeply connected with the world, they cannot defy their fate so the world may continue existing. The whispers at the beginning are a conversation they are holding with their own [blood], a soliloquy of sorts. As I wanted the song to strongly bring out not only the cool parts of the people, but also the disgusting parts they have to them, I tried choosing words that would resound in a vivid way. The choruses were pretty difficult for Haruka too. I personally like a lot the sound effects we used here. Having Rizel getting wet by the rain at the beginning was all Haruka's idea. (*laughs*) (Hiyama)
 
06. Seishou -Ar karrra-
Lyrics: Hiyama Nao
Composition & Arrangement: myu

A choral song in which I participated as a member of a wonderful choir. Regardless of how restrictive choral songs might be, I think that myu-san is really amazing, no matter how many times I listen to her songs. This song had the image of the bell of judgment and a chorus that raised their voices all the way up to Heaven. Thanks to the four wonderful singers I had as companions, we could make a reality the image of a large chorus singing inside a church! Thanks! (Shimotsuki)
 
This song has the following setting: [the bell of judgment that rings at the time of death/the weight of these ones' sins being determined by how many times it rings in the world/the bell of destruction, the bell of judgment, the bell of forgiveness/the scales of a Goddess that have different meaning depending on the person/drawing a signpost for those who die]. Again, this is completely sung in a constructed language with no translation to Japanese being published for it. This is the song that plays after reaching the answers to everything in the world. While for this song I also went to the studio to learn by observation, I was deeply moved from having all these singers I personally like so much singing that song for me. Really, thank you very much! (Hiyama)
 
07. Tooi Shoujo e -Jue i fel... sil-
Lyrics: Hiyama Nao
Composition & Arrangement: Takumaru

And for something completely different from the previous song, this is a one-game match song. When I sang it, it clicked (guided by the rhythm) on its own and thus I just submerged myself into singing it without even paying any attention to the melody. The melody and the production atmosphere that still remain in my ears were done by Mr. Ishida Takumaru. However, because (because?) this is Rizel's song, I ended up getting into a dark mood when I submerged myself into singing it and then when I linked it with the sound effects. V_V  So as we wanted to make the song give off such a feeling, let's make it emit that sort of feeling. Let's just do it. (Shimotsuki)

A song that has feelings for that beloved person who is in a faraway place, which you could reach if you extended your hands to them. I personally love a lot the phrases that begin with [A crack suddenly awakened~] For the lyrics I just joined my heart with Rizel's in an honest way and thus I just wrote down the things I felt as they were. In a certain way, this could be the ending theme to [Tsukioi no Toshi]. While I always get healed by Haruka putting so much emotion into the song when she sings, I feel this song could become dangerous if I listened to it too much. (Hiyama)
 
08. Hanahiraku Souten -Ci ol Lip-Aura-
Lyrics: Hiyama Nao
Composition: Shimotsuki Haruka
Arrangement: Takumaru

This song also became the title for the book, and it's the only song that Elthia herself sings. As I wanted to bring out her cuteness, air of mystery and danger, I tried making the melody as airy as I could. The lyrics for the choruses were terrific too. This song has a moe melody that fuses together two different lyric lines too. I also want to thank Mr. Takumaru for having arranged the choruses so many times. Please make sure to check out how it ties in with the manga. (Shimotsuki)
 
Elthia's song that links with the manga. While for the other songs we basically had the image of Elthia singing while looking at the future, for these lyrics it was the opposite: I wrote them down with the image of them being memories (songs) being seen by Rizel. This is also seen story-wise, as the songs going from [Tooi Shoujo e] to [Shiroki Souka] don't lead into each others' events in any form. The choruses (sung in constructed language lyrics) are especially Elthia-filled (?) too. The voice with which Haruka sang the parts that say [Even to me~] is really cute too. (Hiyama)
 
09. Shiroki Souka -Sefin io Ir zel rin ar rin el-
Lyrics: Hiyama Nao
Composition & Arrangement: Hosoi Soushi

As this song has an image of a somehow warm moonlight, it is the song that gives off the image of two people who wish for a brief eternity while they are bathed in the moonlight. As the violin's melody seems to be grieving about the painful and cruel fate, it really sounds like it is crying when you listen to the song. But you can never have enough of how it mysteriously brings about a warm atmosphere and amplifies further that pain. This was made by Hosoi-san too. When I sang it, I did my best too to feel that I'd have liked to be in their same place, sharing that same warmth and pain. (Shimotsuki)
 
Sorrowful memories are already in the past, and your current self isn't the same person your past self was. This song has the following image: while we can't stop the passage of time as it continues going by, we won't ever disappear, as our feelings themselves are eternal, and so they will continue gradually accumulating upon each other and weaving together. While I was trying to keep myself indifferent for the lyrics, I was already at the border of tears between the violin and the vocals. Thus I wrote them down so they would sound as if Rizel's feelings themselves, as if the memories that are being shown to him (Hanahiraku Souten) would both continue going on and on. (Hiyama)
 
10. Nejimaku Tokei ga Tsuki no Michikake wo Kizamu -I oular i neej rin ar lef su i Lag-Quara-
Lyrics: Hiyama Nao
Composition: Shimotsuki Haruka
Arrangement: MANYO

Most likely, this was the first song that took its proper shape in this project. This is the precious song that serves as the main theme to the [Nejimaku Tsuki] that was announced at the same time as this CD. As the melody gave me the feeling that something was coming up short when I tried humming it once I got the lyrics, I think that's why I ended up making a truly sincere melody for it within myself. The arrangement couldn't bring up the images any better than it does, and I really love from it the speedy sensation it gives off and the way it brings to mind the presence of the performers! I think it became a theme song-like piece I could sing without it losing its strength! (Shimotsuki)
 
I wrote the lyrics for this song in the summer of 2002, before Yuragu Sora was released. As these are lyrics into which I put a lot of effort to make a theme song for [Nejimaku Tsuki], I'm really happy they managed to gain this form. As for the song itself, I love too much the hook part, and I think I remember I said too many times "This is a great song!!" (*laughs*) We also included it as track 3 of the preview CD. By the way, [Nejimaku Tokei ga Tsuki no Michikake wo Kizamu] is a title that expresses the story of [Nejimaku Tsuki] just as it is. And while I was the person who gave it that name, I have to say its length caused us a lot of trouble when we were making the lyrics card. (Hiyama)
 
11. Tojirareta Sekai -Eclef ol ar-
 
That the CD ended this way was decided from a long time ago too. I really love tracks in which the sound effects bring out the atmosphere it is supposed to give off. That the orgel is closed out of nowhere and in such a rough way is because Rizel is the one closing it. As I was obsessed with the sound effects to such a detailed degree, I recorded all of them. It was so fun! And I apologize to the sound engineer! (Shimotsuki)
 
I obsessed a lot about the closing sound and the footsteps too. It says... because Rizel has grown this much as a person, he leaves the room quickly. I can't apologize enough to Haruka and the engineer for going along with my obsession for the details. But thanks to your efforts, the track matches the image I was looking for exactly! I even went and said [that sound was made by Rizel himself!] (*laugh*) Anyway, it was really fun. (Hiyama)
 
Hanahiraku Souten (Comic) -Ci ol Lip-Aura-
Original Idea & Scenario: Hiyama Nao
Manga, Illustrations: Sorano Ao

We originally planned this to be a manga of around 30 pages. ...But at some point, the amount of text for it grew to double the size. It's so absurd.
The package colored illustration and the design aspects took too much of the time we had reserved for its creation, so it got to the point where not even a whole month was enough for them... or better said, for over three weeks I was either half-crying or seriously crying as I kept writing and drawing. I'm such a slow writer that even if I kept working on it as if I were to die in the attempt, no number of days would be enough for me to complete something. Or better said, the amount of time we had expected was not enough. I was so deeply indebted to the other staff members that I couldn't allow myself to do it in a half-hearted way, and that only increased more and more the time. I'm really sorry... orz
When I first started sending the data for it to be print out, there were many things I couldn't get used to because of the book's structure itself having a special shape, so while I encountered multiple difficulties, making a spread landscape-format manga book was something I wanted to do for a very long time now, so I had a lot of fun whenever we were actually working on it. On hindsight, I could keep going because I worked while I listened many times to the songs we made for this work's CD part, so I feel it was like a joyful crunch time for me.
This time, I kept working with the goal of depicting a girl's... or better said, Elthia's cuteness, but looks like what ended up actually being cute was the sardine. Why did it turn out like that?
By the way, there is just one thing about this work I've got to play straight guy for, no matter what. I just had to say [at the least could you change into dry clothes, please?] at the part where Sardy pushes Elthia-tan... It would be okay if they were dry, right? Wouldn't it? (Sorano)
 
When I went to submit the script, I said [sorry, I tried to keep it to 30 pages, but it grew to about 40, ehe], when it actually exceeded 70 pages in length at the moment I finished sorting it out. Sorry... I usually focus on the internal part when I'm creating characters, so I mostly leave the visual part to other people, but as I had made a solid image just for Elthia inside myself from the beginning, I was seriously bothered that she wouldn't be this or that way when we got to the character design stage. I'm sorry about that too... But the part of her image I had solidified inside myself was what allowed me to write the scenario so easily. I actually like a lot the atmosphere we established between Elthia and the sardine. As this book serves more as an introduction to the world setting and characters than it does as a single story, I think that maybe it managed to accomplish its purpose quite well.
By the way, the subtitle [Ci ol Lip-Aura] can be directly translated either as [The Blessing of Lip-Aura] or [The Curse of Lip-Aura]. (Hiyama)