Blessed Be The Bass

Faced with a freedom she had never known, Sayane sat on her bed a few hours later trying to formulate a plan. There was no formal stage or microphone. No instruments. No choreography. No dancers or chants. Just her, her voice, and the desperate attention of whoever showed up to hear the first true songs to be sung in over a century.

“No pressure,” Sayane chuckled to herself as her fingers toyed with the soft stitched edge of her new blouse.

Being able to see the clothes on her body and in motion had made Sayane fall instantly in love. Loose flowing folds draped from her chest and into the tiered skirt that split across her hips. Fitted curved braces gave her waist and hips definition, but did not constrict her. Wearing those clothes, she simultaneously felt soft and feminine but also agile and strong.

At the edge of the bed was the brace that Azag had made her, which Sayane intended to wear every day. Finally being out of her costume and its unpleasant fabric was allowing Sayane a sense of unrestricted freedom that was now flooding her mind with creativity. Even in the absence of instruments or structure, Sayane was excited to perform for once. The prospect of singing before others felt thrilling, not laborious. It had been quite some time since she’d felt such a way, and as she laid in bed brainstorming, she took a moment to be grateful for the change, even if it took dying and winding up in a strange new realm.

Silent melodies flowed through her mind as she crafted her lyrics. When she sang at the waterfall, it had come naturally, as though she was simply narrating her soul’s journey. She hadn’t really considered who else might hear. Now, she was faced with an audience of vulnerable, traumatized, hopeful attendees who deserved to hear something that spoke for them as well. Songs may have been Sayane’s talent, but they belonged to everyone else as much as her. Idea after idea drifted through her mind as she spent the next several hours preparing.

Time passed with swift rushes of excitement and nervous insecurity. Never before had a single performance felt like it carried such magnitude. Not even when Sayane had run away to audition. That was purely for herself. For the first time, she was driven purely by wanting to bring joy and peace to her audience. Even if it was only for a moment, that would be the most productive thing her singing had ever accomplished.

Beyond this moment, she wasn’t sure what the future held. Would the revolution show up? Would her music fail to draw any sort of impact being the initial shock? What was she even doing? What was the plan?

For now, none of those doubts mattered. All she could do was her best and hope that something in her heart and voice carried across the voids left by decades of oppressive silence and connect with those who would soon be entering The Shattered Stone’s central chamber.

With that, Sayane set her mind to finishing her lyrics. As she wrote, she barely noticed that the very walls around her began to shift in color and emanate a soft, purple-pink glow…

Hours later, the sun had vanished behind the enormous metal plates of the civilization that stood high above them. Sunlight’s hazy embrace faded across the cavernous cylindrical opening that fed into The Underworld, turning all to dark. Millions of neon lanterns activated in staggered clips as ancient flames crackled alive within stone lanterns. Streaks of neon light strobed downward from within the massive walls, leading all who dared to enter further into the depths.

Within those depths, in the deepest layers of The Underworld, Sayane was ready. A knock at the door told her it was time. Even from the seclusion of her room, Sayane could sense a new volume of attendees within the main room nearby. Flutters of nerves threatened to undo Sayane’s resolve. It was a strange, fearful sensation. She had never felt nervous when performing before. This was different.

Her door cracked. Azag and Attis were there.

“Sayane, it’s time,” Azag said.

“Yes! Let’s go!” Sayane clapped to herself as she slid her brace into position and hopped up from the bed.

Once she was in the hall with her companions, something told Sayane they should commemorate the moment.

“Do you all have any sort of saying to start new adventures?” Sayane asked.

Azag shrugged and shook his head.

Attis thought, then smiled.

“Nothing comes to mind, but I can say something.”

“Yes, please!” said Sayane.

Attis cleared his throat.

“Into uncertainty we step. If ever we stumble, may our friends and those who matter be there to catch us. May the silence soon be gone. Never to return.”

“Never to return,” agreed Azag.

“Never to return,” agreed Sayane.

She had a little more to add now.

“May the stage lights guide our way. May our fandom never fade. If we ever falter, let us remember our choreography. Blessed by the bass!”

“Blessed be the bass!” laughed Attis.

“What is bass? Is that a deity in your world?” Azag asked with a confused laugh.

Sayane held out her hand with her fingers spread wide as she looked to her two companions. She held out her other hand for Attis to jump up. Once he did, he placed his paw on hers.

“We do this thing, back in my old world. We’d all put our hands together, say ‘Let’s go!’ as we lowered our hands, then we’d throw them into the air with a cheer! Come on Azag!” Sayane explained.

Azag stepped to her and placed his large, gloved hand onto hers. With that, they lowered their hands then threw them up as they all cheered.

“Let’s go!!!”

They were near the door now. Azag stepped to open it.

“I’ve set up Esca in the corner. If anyone is remotely dangerous, I will use her to deal with them. But it seems like we know everyone, so we should be good.”

“Benefits of covert revolution are that we have had years to perfect sniffing out spies and turncoats,” said Attis with a smile.

“Thank you, Azag,” Sayane said with a bow.

Azag’s hand touched the door. A sea of murmuring voices could be heard on the other side. Sayane was ready, but she had one final request.

“Attis? Would you introduce me?” Sayane asked.

“Me?” Attis asked in shock.

“Yes! We called it a hype man. Or an MC. Say whatever you need to get everyone excited. You know their story far better than me, and you are a great speaker, and you have a booming voice when needed!”

Attis’s tail wagged with joy.

“It would be my honor, friend.”

“Ready?” Azag asked as he turned the door handle.

“Ready!” said Aatis.

Sayane breathed in and cleared her mind. Nerves dissipated as the purple glowing veins on her clothing pulsed with energy. Lights in the hall began to glow brighter. A mysterious, faint harmonic hum drifted through the air. Sayane exhaled. She was set.

“Okay! Ready!!” she said.

Azag nodded and opened the door, revealing the fully packed main hall. Hundreds had come. Sayane’s heart skipped a beat. Her first concert in her new life was about to begin.