Aria of Sorrow

Aria Menu: Areas - Walkthrough - Weirdness - Opening - Ending - Foreign

Intro to Aria of Sorrow

The intro begins as Soma walks up the steps to the shrine.

The year is 2035. Japan. Crowds of spectators are gathering around in anticipation of the first full solar eclipse of the twenty-first century.

My name is Soma Cruz, and I am a high school exchange student studying abroad in Japan.

I live near the Hakuba Shrine, an ancient shrine with strong ties to Japanese mythology.

Mina Hakuba, the only daughter of the shrine's caretaker, is both my classmate and my childhood friend.

I started making my way to the shrine to see the solar eclipse with Mina. But for some strange reason, the stairway leading up to the shrine felt longer than usual, as if something was trying to keep us from our destination.

When I finally managed to get through the the shrine gate, and my senses began to dim...

The pitch black sun is holding chaotic darkness together, trying to rouse a sleeping sould as it looking for its missing other half...

The next thing he knows, he's at the gate of a castle with his friend Mina.

Soma: Oh...mmm...
Mina: Hey, looks like he's coming to.
Soma: Where am I...? WHOA! What...happened?
Arikado: So you've decided to join us...Did you have a pleasant nap?
Soma: Huh? Who the heck are you?
Mina: It's OK, Soma. His name is Genya Arikado...
Arikado: Skip the introductions. I have a few questions and I need answers now.
Soma: Go...go ahead...
Arikado: Why have you come here?
Soma: Why? Well, Mina and I...Hang on, where are we?
Arikado: We're in Dracula's Castle.
Soma: Huh? Dracula's Castle? Are you telling me we are in Europe?
Arikado: No. We are inside the solar eclipse.
Soma: Inside the eclipse?! You're insane! Do you think I'm a fool?!
Mina: Soma! Listen to him, he's telling you the truth!
Soma: What the heck are you talking about? Give me an explanation!
Arikado: Well, it's like this...Huh? Enemies!

A brigade of skeleton soldiers and winged skeletons charges forth from the castle.

Arikado: Damn! Protect the girl!
Soma: Yaaaaaaah! Go back to where you came from!

Soma kills one of the creatues. He ends up enveloping its soul.

Soma: Wha....what was that thing?
Arikado: So it has awakened.
Soma: What? What has?
Arikado: The spirit of the creature you killed has just entered your body. You have the power to absord the abilities of the monsters you kill.
Soma: Wh..why...why woild I have that power...?
Arikado: You have gained the power. Now you must go to the Master's chamber.
Soma: For what reason?
Arikado: Do you not wish to return with your friend to your own world?
Soma: Of course I want to go back.
Arikado: Go to the Master's chamber. Then, you will understand everything.
Soma: But I can't just leave Mina here like this.
Arikado: No need to worry about her, I'll put up a protective barrier. But death will most certainly find those who stay here too long.
Soma: The...then I...
Arikado: Yes. Only you can save her from a painful death.
Soma: And you, what will you do?
Arikado: I, too, have thigns I must do within these castle walls. Go. Set forth! Both your own life and hers are at stake.