Melody was dying. She had gathered her family in her bedroom, just in time for one last goodbye together. Eli, her brother, was stoically keeping as brave a face as he could, but his eyes were itching with repressed tears. Cadence, her sweet daughter, was clinging to her mother's hand, gently caressing her cheek to carry that warmth with her to her death. And Dorian, her beloved husband… was shattered. He was trying his best to be strong, but she could tell, in his eyes... he was desperate, and so afraid.

Dorian could barely keep the lump in his throat down and his eyes dry as Melody slowly and weakly said her goodbyes. He wasn't ready. He wanted more time… another life with Melody… why did it all have to end so soon? How could Melody cope with this? How could he cope with this?

He heard quiet sobbing, realising that Cadence was crying in her mother's shoulder, tears ceaselessly streaming down. "Mom… I'm gonna miss you so much…" Melody looked at all them, and give them one last smile. That's how she want them to remember her; happy to have spent her life with them. She laid back, eyes closed, and sighed a deep breath…

And then nothing.

She said no more. Smiled no more.

There was a moment of silence. It happened. Melody died.

"Mom…?" Cadence said with a shaky voice. "Mom…!" She said again, this time grasping her, wanting something, anything, to come out of her again.

"Cadence." Dorian said, desperately crying not to cry. He turned her to him softly and hugged her. He left her cry as she buried her face and her sobbing in his chest. Eli said nothing, choosing to take off his hat in mourning and respect. And despite his best attempts, Dorian couldn't stop himself from tearing up and holding Cadence as tightly as she was holding him.

Dorian looked up again, just to make sure, maybe Melody hadn't left, maybe she still had a little more…

Nothing. Nothing but a silent corpse. Not a word, not a breath, not a heartbeat.

Despair gripped Dorian. He didn't know what to do anymore… his whole life was his family, Melody, Cadence, and Eli... and now he felt like a broken man. A million pieces barely held together, wanting to shatter. What was he supposed to do?

He couldn't carry on without Melody. She was his life, his light, his whole heart was hers.

And now it was empty, silent. And in agony. Tears burst from his eyes, trying his best to muffle his cries, doing his best to comfort Cadence, but he felt too weak to do anything. He… he didn't save her. He failed her. He could've done so much more… and now… his family was torn apart.

How could he take care of Cadence with a mother? How could he support her without Melody? How could he keep on going without her touch, her eyes, her words?

"Dad…" Cadence cried in a trembling voice… "I want mom back... I want her back… why can't I have her back…? Why did she have to go like this?" Dorian held her even closer, but her body was holding too much grief to be calmed, to make the crying stop. "It's not fair… why did she… why did she have to go…?"

The answers never came. Dorian and Cadence remained where they were, in each other's arms, with Eli's strong arms giving them strength on their shaking backs, desperate to find comfort and reassurance, for anything to relieve the pain, until the sun came up, and they still couldn't let go, still beside their departed Melody.

~~~ A few days later ~~~

Cadence's soft, beautiful voice filled the air as she sang before the coffin. Several villagers had shown up to mourn and remember her. Nobody said a word, choosing to be silently moved by Cadence's comforting verses.

Many had given Dorian and Eli their condolences. The latter was politely thanking them all beside Dorian, who had remained mostly silently, dry tear trails still visible of his face, as he stared at the coffin.

He couldn't believe it. He just couldn't. Melody, she… she was so happy, so healthy… they were going to spend so many more years together… and now… he'd be without her. Cadence would be motherless the rest of her life… and he would never hear her voice, the cheerful songs she played for them… never, ever again.

He couldn't. It just… he couldn't live like this.

"I promise you, Melody…" Dorian murmured, barely above a whisper. "I promise you… I'll get you back one day…" He said, his heart already set in its way. He would see her again, alive and well, and so would Cadence.

Eli could only glance at him with a deep concern, unsure of what to make of his words.

~~~ A few hours later ~~~

Everyone had already departed. The grieving family members were the only ones by the coffin. Cadence idly stood by, watching the roses left on top shake and flutter in the cool breeze. Not too far behind her, were her father and uncle, talking over matters. She could barely make out their words.

"Dorian… I know you're shaken up, but… he have to figure this out." He said, trying to get a promising word out of Dorian. "He have to work it out. You have to take care of Cadence, and I'll have to work even harder to keep things afloat…"

Eli waited a second for Dorian to respond. "Actually…" He finally spoke. "I might need you to take care of her for me sometimes." He stated, finally look back at him, hoping for his consent.

"What do you mean?" Eli replied, sensing there was more to his words that was apparent.

Dorian was trying to figure out the best way to explain. "I'm going to go into exploring again. I might be away from time to time, and you'll have to take care of Cadence then."

"What? Why?" Eli asked, shocked to hear Dorian talk about leaving Cadence, instead of becoming closer to her. He frowned at him. "Don't tell me… you're planning to bring her back."

"Yes. I have to, Eli… I have to bring her back."

"You can't do that! She told you to not go looking for it!" Eli yelled, a mixture of anger and disappointment aimed towards him.

"Now I have no choice, Eli… I have to find the Golden Lute." It was the only thing… the only thing that could mend his heart, to give her life again.

"And abandon your child?" He exclaimed, incredulous that it seemed to matter so little to him.

"With these notes, it shouldn't take long to find." He said, referring to the scrolls sticking out of his pouch, strapped to his belt. They were Melody's old family notes, hidden away in the basement. He secured them as soon as he could… he couldn't lose these. He couldn't bear to lose anything more.

Eli had no words, only anger and scorn towards Dorian. Now more than ever, Cadence needed a good parent… and instead, he wanted to go off, chasing cursed contraptions lost somewhere far away, for only a tiny chance to see Melody again. Dorian needed to move on, not cling to these ridiculous plans.

Nearby, Cadence was listening in as best as she could. She didn't understand everything that they had said, but from she'd gathered, once thing was becoming increasingly clear:

There were going to be a difficult couple of years ahead of her.