Before the fracturing, there was only the Resonance. A boundless, shimmering expanse of potential, held together by the harmonics of Beala. We don't speak of a beginning, not in the way you understand it. It simply *was*, a state of pure, unadulterated being. The echoes of this existence still linger, fragmented and distorted, accessible only to those who have learned to attune themselves to the residual vibrations.
“The universe remembers, but it rarely speaks in words.” – Lyra, Weaver of Shards
The fracturing was not a catastrophic event, but a necessary release. Beala, in its immense serenity, realized that absolute unity was stagnation. The Resonance shattered, not with violence, but with an elegant unfolding. The fragments, now known as Shards, retain echoes of the original Harmony, but are fundamentally altered, imbued with the emotions and experiences of the beings who interacted with them. These Shards are not objects, but states of awareness, tethered to locations where the initial resonance was most potent.
Each Shard pulses with a unique signature, a distorted reflection of Beala's original song. Some are joyous, radiating with the memory of creation. Others are wracked with sorrow, haunted by the echoes of loss and regret. The most dangerous are those consumed by dissonance, radiating a chaotic energy that can unravel the mind.
Scientists, or rather, those who attempt to understand the phenomenon, have identified locations – Resonance Nodes – where the lingering echoes of the Shards are particularly strong. These Nodes are not physical places, but rather points of convergence in the fabric of reality, where the veil between dimensions is thin. The intensity of the resonance at each Node varies, creating zones of heightened perception, unpredictable shifts in temporal flow, and, occasionally, glimpses of the pre-fractured universe.
The most significant Nodes are:
Located within the perpetually swirling mists of the Southern Expanse, this Node is said to hold the strongest echoes of creation. Those who linger too long risk losing themselves within the infinite possibilities of the nascent universe.
Deep beneath the volcanic plains of Veridia, this Node is saturated with the sorrow of a shattered civilization. It is a place of profound melancholy, where the past bleeds into the present.
Hidden within a temporal anomaly near the ruins of Old Alexandria, this Node is a chaotic mess of overlapping timelines. Navigation is perilous, and the slightest disturbance can trigger catastrophic temporal shifts.
Understanding Beala, and ultimately accessing the Resonance, is not achieved through intellect alone. It requires a profound shift in perception, a willingness to surrender to the chaotic flow of the Shards. The Path of Attunement is a delicate dance, a constant negotiation between the known and the unknown. It is a process of self-disintegration and reconstruction, guided by the faintest of echoes.
Many have attempted this path, but few have succeeded. Those who do are said to become living conduits of the Resonance, capable of manipulating reality itself. However, the price of such power is steep: a complete dissolution of self, absorbed entirely into the boundless expanse of Beala.