Beckoning Song

✧₊⁺

The energy was palpable as the three of us—four including Archie—made our way into Castella to see what the commotion was all about. I got the feeling, however, that Yuna and the young Shizuka already had a pretty good idea of what was going on.

The parade had beat us into town, so I didn’t get to see what the two of them had noticed, but they insisted I come along with them to experience whatever it was for myself. The overworld music was overpowered by crowd noise as we approached the source of the raucous.

A huge parade float sat in the town square decorated with blue flowers of all kinds, and a live band was playing a rhythmic tune on the sitar, tabla, and bansuri, all instruments of Indian origin. The spectacle had drawn quite a group of onlookers and we had to push our way past a few people just to get a good view.

“What is all this!?” I asked Yuna loudly to beat out the noise.

“Every three months, a festival is held in the outer rings to celebrate our newfound lives here, and the Hunters that keep us safe. There’s music and food, but the best part is the entertainment…”

All of a sudden, the crowd hushed to only a murmur. Every eye was trained on the parade float, and I looked around to see what exactly was going on. It felt like I was the only person who wasn’t clued in as Archie also focused his attention on that spot. The bansuri played a single drawn-out note as the audience began to slowly clap their hands.

Though I struggled to see past the ones in front of me, I could just make out a figure that emerged from the parade float to a collection of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’. Her royal blue ensemble was stunning.

“Momma, up please?” Shizuka hopped with her stubby legs to see, but it was no use.

“Here, sweet pea.” Yuna gave her a boost and let her sit on her shoulders.

Meanwhile, someone finally moved to the side enough for me to get a slightly better view.

She wore a robe with an open midriff and cape that feathered at the shoulders. It included a pointed hood that covered her entire face besides her cherry-red lips.

“It’s the Songbird of Memoria,” Yuna exclaimed, wonder in her eyes.

“The end of our days, our hearts were submerged. Our cries went unheard, but a new hope emerged.”

True to her name, the woman began to sing in a voice that I could only describe as angelic. The music took on a somewhat somber tone as she gracefully twirled in front of the parade float on the tips of her toes like a ballerina.

“We loved and we suffered in the blink of an eye. But our lives will carry on from the moment we die...”

“Me-mor-i-a, Me-mor-i-a… a light guiding you and me. Me-mor-i-a, Me-mor-i-a… for all eternity.”

Perhaps it was just my imagination, but I could swear I saw the woman look in my direction with a wry smile as she finished her performance. Though I couldn’t say for certain since her eyes weren’t exactly visible. The crowd broke into rapturous applause as she bowed to all in attendance.

“Wasn’t she something, Jiro-bo?” Yuna asked me.

“I’ll say, and the way she was received here almost feels like she’s royalty or something.”

“I guess you could say the Songbird is the closest thing we’ve got to that, at least in spirit. She lives in that big fancy tower in the capital. She’s as famous as the Director and his inner circle these days.”

“She’s so pretty!” Shizuka beamed.

“Is that right?” I watched as the Songbird greeted her many adoring admirers in the crowd. “And what do you mean by Barnes’ inner circle?”

“They are a group of moderators that doll out orders to you Hunters and keep things moving at peak efficiency within the Digiscape,” Archie said. “They send a message to us Supporters when a threat is detected nearby.”

“Just so. And like them, the Songbird rarely leaves the city, so just hearing her voice like this is a great privilege.” Yuna said.

I had to admit, I was impressed with the showmanship of it all. The spectacle was almost enough to make me forget my first hellish day within the Digiscape. Almost. And I began to understand why distractions like this had their own merit.

Shizuka, barely holding her eyes open, yawned widely.

“I think I’ll get this little one home for some shut-eye now.” Yuna giggled. “And what will you do, Jiro-bo? You’re welcome to come stay the night on our couch if you’ve got any reservations about patrolling in the dark.”

“I appreciate it, but I’ve slacked plenty.” I stretched. “But thanks for the bath, and dinner though. It was a touch more satisfying than I was expecting, truth be told.”

I’d prefer holographic meatloaf over questionably sourced food from the cafeteria any day of the week, ignoring that it wasn’t real.

“Well, you’re always welcome in our home, we’d prefer the company.” Yuna smiled, pushing some loose strands of her brown hair out of her face. “And we’ve always got cows that need milking. Don’t think I forgot about that wager, stinky.”

The wager I didn’t actually take, I might add.

“Spare me, please.” I flashed an exasperated smile, putting both hands up. “And who are you calling ‘stinky’!?”

Yuna chuckled, turning around. Shizuka, lying on her mother’s shoulder, waved goodbye to Archie and continued to eye me suspiciously as they disappeared from view. I wondered if that child would ever regard me without caution, but perhaps that was asking too much. After all, there was no guarantee I’d see them again any time soon.

“A nice little family, aren’t they?”

I was startled by a voice. The Songbird spoke directly to me, though surrounded by other people. She snapped her fingers and the entire world around us froze. I stood, eyes widened as she pushed past her frozen admirers and approached me in an elegant and deliberate manner.

“Hello, Jiro.” She said in a voice that cut through the atmosphere itself. It was as if she was speaking directly into my soul, but her lips were moving.

“How… how do you know who I am?” I took a step back as she got closer.

“I’ve known about you for a long time, but who’s to say whether I truly know you.” She replied in a riddle. “My name is Autumn. But many here refer to me as the Songbird of Memoria. I did not intend to meet you here so soon, but perhaps it is fate that has brought us together.”

“The last person who told me that trapped me here, and I’m not sure I understand… What do you mean by fate?”

Autumn, the songbird reached out and picked up Archie in her dainty arms. Though he was frozen as well, she stroked him gently with her pale hand, a light smile on her lips.

“They don’t make this kind of Supporter anymore, you know? I’m sure he’s told you, Archie. They opted for a more robotic source code with less personality, citing inefficiencies in his directive.” Without answering my question, she spoke about Archie. “Take good care of him now, and that family back there. They’ve been through more than you could imagine, as you have.”

“Wait, how do you know all that? And you didn’t answer—“

“—your question?” The songbird smiled. “That and more will be revealed in time, when next we meet, but… it is my selfish wish that drives me to speak with you now. Because… I need your help, Jiro.”

“Huh?”

Things are getting a little strange around here.

“The truth is, I’m being held prisoner in the control tower in the center of Memoria, the capital of the Digiscape. My real self, I mean. The woman you see before you is simply an avatar.” She continued, taking note of my surprised expression. “I’m sure you’ve realized this already, but this place is not what it seems.”

“Yeah, it didn’t take long to realize that this isn’t some paradise… And it sounds like you know that too.”

“The corruption goes much deeper than any one person can see, but if you want to learn more, come visit me in the cabaret club in the capital city. I’ll be there with some friends of mine.” Autumn released Archie, placing him back where he was before in midair. “It is your choice, of course, but if left unchecked, things may already be accelerating towards a bad end for Project Memoria.”

“A’bad end’?” I repeated. “If it’s such serious business then why are you telling me of all people, a rookie hunter? Certainly, there’s a better—”

“There is not. It has to be you.” She said frankly. “I cannot explain at this time. The Director may have eyes in unexpected places, and he and I do not always see eye-to-eye, you see.”

“You mean…”

Does Director Barnes know about all this?

“Remember, Jiro. A single man has the power to turn the tides of despair.” The Songbird placed a hand on my cheek running it down to my chin. “May the light of Memoria guide you for all eternity.”

As she snapped her fingers, her avatar and the parade float burst into a bunch of blue morpho butterflies. Additionally, the world around us once again began to move again and the people around me were confused at the disappearance of their idol.

“…”

I couldn’t find the words to speak, but I held the spot on my face she had touched. I was enveloped by a huge sense of deja vu all of a sudden, and her words kept echoing in my head.

“I need your help, Jiro. It has to be you.”

Archie flew in front of me, his eye flashing with a warning signal of some kind.

“Jiro, snap out of it. We have just received word of a level 34 threat in the next municipality in the ByteCoin mine. Several miners have already fallen to the corruption. All Hunters in the area are expected to join a raid party immediately to investigate.”

Her heartfelt wish would have to wait for now, as would all the unanswered questions I had. A new mission awaited us. A fight was about to start again.