SWNOVELXO 93: The Lineage of the Thunder God
“It’s time, Lacey. Are you ready?”
“Yes, no problem.”
The theater was brightly lit, with tiered fan-shaped seating for about 500 people facing the stage. There were also some private viewing rooms on the second floor, prepared for distinguished guests. The theater walls were covered with velvet wallpaper to prevent echoes. The audience’s tables and chairs were all made of solid wood and cleaned daily, as those who could afford to watch operas were either rich or noble, with high standards in this regard.
“Now, the Wind Flower Opera Troupe presents ‘The Lineage of the Thunder God’…” The host briefly introduced the opera’s story and the Wind Flower Opera Troupe, then the performance began.
The crew had already set up the opera’s backdrop backstage. Several actors in various costumes took the stage as the backstage orchestra began to play. As the music rose, an elderly voice began to narrate the ancient legend.
[After the one-armed hero who saved the world died]
[A town was built where the chaos evil god was sealed]
[Taking on the task of guarding the barrier]
[Becoming the solid foundation for lasting peace]
At this point, several men in ethnic-style costumes took the stage. They were well-built, some holding spears, some swords, some bows, with lightning emblems on their arms.
[Proudly engraved on their right arms, the thunder emblem (proof)]
[Their name is]
[Children of the Thunder God]
[The mystery of inheritance]
[The path drawn by youth]
[The lineage of the Thunder God]
It was now Loranhil’s turn to sing. She took a light breath, and her clear, moving voice came from backstage. The audience unconsciously immersed themselves in the melodious singing, their thoughts seeming to return to that legendary era.
[The weak band together]
[Searching for a scapegoat]
[A childhood not knowing love]
[Painful like scorching pebbles]
At this time, a ‘youth’ with golden hair appeared on stage. His expression was determined, holding a sword in one hand, with a lightning emblem on his arm as well.
[Biting his lip alone]
[Curled up, silently enduring]
[Just endure, the rain will pass]
[Even storms are the same]
The golden-haired youth swung his long sword, battling monsters, but not successfully. Finally, he defeated the monster but was exhausted. At this point, a girl in a white dress wearing an iris headdress took the stage.
[But this brightly shining emblem (mark)]
[Where is its true power?]
[The girl reached out her small hand to me]
[Which seemed so wide to me]
Loranhil finished singing this line and temporarily put down the score, looking at the old man reciting the narration opposite her. It was the old man’s turn now. The old man’s passionate recitation began.
[In the silent hand of history]
[The story of the meeting between the youth and the maiden]
The music slowly rose.
[Ten years pass like a flash of lightning]
[Time flows in an instant]
[And now, black history begins to turn again]
The golden-haired youth was comforted and encouraged by the girl in the white dress. He also fell in love with her, but his status was low.
[Looking up at the distant sky]
[Heart burning with anxiety]
[Only her lovely smile appears]
[This love is unworthy of her]
[Even though I’ve long known]
The girl was moved by the youth’s sincerity, and they became lovers, but she still couldn’t marry him.
[Why are you so beautiful]
[The daughter of the tribe’s chief]
[Can only marry the strongest in the tribe]
[Such a marriage must be]
[An unshakeable rule]
The singing paused for a moment, then resumed, but much faster than before. The song was filled with anxiety and worry about the future.
[Ah ah]
[Without the thunder light (power) in this arm]
[Can I no longer protect you?]
[This will is not inferior to anyone’s]
[These shouted words]
[Scattered in the wind, becoming nothing…]
At this point, the singing stopped, and the young men holding spears, swords, and bows from earlier returned to the stage. They gathered together, competing in martial arts.
[The deadline approaches]
[The chief’s daughter’s wedding is set for her eighteenth birthday]
[Her birthday is coming soon]
[The tribe’s warriors rush to compete]
[The deadline approaches]
[Evil waves cover the entire town]
[Black clouds shroud the entire sky]
[Announcing the arrival of the “Third Storm”]
At this time, several villains in black robes wearing evil masks appeared. The accompanying music also changed from its previous style, becoming more urgent, foreshadowing the story’s climax.
[“Oh… what is that…!”
“I see those figures wearing black robes…”
“The apostles mentioned in the prophecy book,”
“Those people have entered the deepest part of the seal”
“They’ve broken the evil god’s seal…!”
“Now the Thunder God’s bloodline has thinned,”
“We only have weak thunder light left in our hands…”
“Ah, it’s too terrible!”
“Earth-shattering, powerful force…”
“It’s coming… ah, it’s coming this way…!”]
A black mist rose, and the lights flickered. A tall actor who looked very powerful appeared on stage, his face covered in red paint. His expression was fierce, with black wings decorated on his back, wearing jet-black armor, his steps heavy.
[Roars that shatter the earth]
[Claws that tear the sky]
[A pair of wings burning like raging fire]
[Those eyes harboring darkness, just a glance]
[And brave warriors fall one after another…]
The young people wearing lightning emblems were overwhelmed, falling one after another. Now only the golden-haired youth and the girl in the white dress remained on stage.
[Ah…]
[Humans before gods]
[Are we such weak and powerless things…]
[At the moment when everyone is deeply submerged in despair]
[A dazzling light pierces through the body of the youth without thunder light (power)…]
At this moment, the golden-haired youth’s eyes began to emit a faint blue light, and small sparks of lightning appeared on his body.
[“Awaken (wake up)…”
“You who possess a brave right arm…”
“You who inherited the direct thunder light (power)…”
“Once I sealed the evil god”
“Now if that thunder light (power) is released again”
“Perhaps the whole body will evaporate”
“Are you mentally prepared?”
“…Then awaken now! ‘Sword of the Thunder God’!”]
The opera entered its most crucial part. Loranhil took a deep breath, and at the same time, about ten accompanying girls also stood up to sing in chorus. The passionate and moving voices and music resounded throughout the theater!
[‘The thunder light (power) that one person cannot bear
If it’s two people, there’s no problem, I believe!’]
.
[Thunder light breaking through black clouds]
[The youth and maiden who met that day]
.
[Now… two emblems (marks) overlap]
[Weaving a brilliant future…]
The youth and maiden clasped their hands together, the youth holding the sword of thunder light, electric light blazing. A strong light flashed, and the enemy slowly fell.
The stage curtain slowly fell, but soft singing could still be heard from backstage. In the gentle narrative song, the opera came to an end.
[Things passed down]
[Things not passed down]
[Wings bear the thunder light that breaks through black clouds]
[That white raven spreads its wings and flies away]