The Tour Begins

No time was spared from the first concert to the planning of the next. By the time the sun rose the next morning, every sacred instrument was already packed in transport carriers. Guards and revolutionary warriors were assigned to escort the tour, led by Erosc. It was decided that the Psephos homeland would be first, as it was furthest away. From there, they would head to Akna, which was near the coast. Coastal tributaries led them to the tunnel systems of The Silence’s imperial stronghold, where the final great Harmony Shard would be waiting.

After such a chaotic and life-changing week, exhaustion finally caught up with Sayane, who had proceeded to sleep for thirteen hours once the tour caravan had set out. To her great relief, The Revolution had moderately comfortable transport ships. Erosc had explained that the vessels were once imperial chaperone craft, so they were furnished with actual padded beds and seats. Sayane was given her own small sleeping cabin, which was barely larger than a water closet, but it gave her privacy to collapse into fatigued slumber.

Azag, Attis, and Echo were right beside her the entire time, unless engaged in stepping into new leadership. It had taken a moment, partially due to shock, but Azag had eventually agreed to Erosc’s proposal. He and Sayane were anointed as the new leaders of the coalition of the oppressed. Revolutionaries, refugees, fans, and formerly indifferent followers all now looked to those two for guidance in the conflict.

It wasn’t a role either was looking for, or even felt qualified for, which was perhaps why they were perfect. Neither had a desire for secret councils hidden behind locked doors. Both felt most comfortable in informal rooms, having regular conversations. For Azag, he found himself moving through a form of grieving joy. A lifetime of never being trusted, respected, touched, or listened to, and now he had thousands sincerely cheering his name and looking to him for comfort.

Life, it seems, was truly strange. If one gave it enough time, it would never cease to surprise.

For his part, Erosc had turned a leaf and fully devoted himself to listening to orders. He still had autonomy to organize the guards and escorts for the caravan, but he held respect for Azag and heeded his orders.

They had decided to return underground for the best hope of secrecy. Even though The Underworld had been destroyed across every district, its tunnels and unseen paths still offered safety from The Silence’s gaze. Thus, that afternoon, Sayane bid farewell to the sun for a few more days and joined the caravan as it entered the damp darkness of The Underworld once more.

When she finally awoke, the darkness around her showed no hints as to what time it was. Exiting her cabin, she found Azag sitting in a large chair nearby as he read over notes. His glowing eyes peered up over the edges of the scrolls to watch Sayane approach in her flowing gown.

“So, what exactly do we call each other now? President? Prime Minister? Clearly not Primarch…” Sayane asked with a smirk.

“You can still just call me Azag, please,” Azag replied in a gentle voice.

By now, Sayane was growing familiar with his tonal fluctuations. In the absence of seeing his face or expressions, she had to hone in on his tone and delivery. That moment sounded like a smile.

“Well, Azag. I suppooooooose I’ll let you keep calling me just Sayane. But I am quite attached to Dear Leader, so feel free to mix that in whenever you wish…”

“Yes, Dear Leader Sayane,” he said with a chuckle.

A soft touch woke Sayane fully and she looked down to see his hand had subtly reached out to be against hers as it hung absentmindedly off the edge of the chair. Once more, feminine howls screamed in Sayane’s stomach, but she contained herself and gladly returned the touch before sitting beside him to start brainstorming her next song.

She had no knowledge of the realms they were heading towards, beyond their two guests. So she would have to lean on them. With that in mind, Sayane picked up the nearby Voice Carrier crystal.

“Saxum? Are you available? It-It’s Sayane…”

Sayane laughed to herself. She had no idea if she was supposed to present herself more regally or rigid now, but that would be all but impossible. She could only be herself.

There was a pause, then an out-of-breath voice responded.

“Songstress? You called for me?” Saxum replied.

“Yes! How are you?” Sayane asked.

“I… I…….. I am…. wellllll?....” Saxum replied.

Even Azag snorted as he held back a laugh.

“Kind of you to ask how he is,” Azag whispered.

“You hush,” Sayane mouthed.

“ANYWAYS! Saxum! Please come to my tour bus, I mean, escort vessel, when you are available,” Sayane asked.

“Yes! Right away, songstress!” Saxum replied.

With that, Sayane set the crystal down and stood to return to her cabin. Obviously, she had no intention of receiving Saxum in a gown, so she moved to her room to change into another outfit of Can-Mo’s design. When her door closed, she slid the light fabric from her body. Something about the feeling of the air on her exposed body sent a wave of desire through her being. Her longing drifted outwards, towards the being sitting only a few meters away. The idea of him being so close as she stood there undressed caused her to blush once more.

What would happen if she opened the door right now? Was he thinking about it too?

Sayane had to quietly slap her face to bring herself back to reality.

Minutes later, she was changed into a flattering tapered top with floral sleeves and a pair of billowing pants that tapered at her ankles. Attis had joined them now. Minutes later, the doorway opened, and Saxum was there, nervous and enormous. Every step he took seemed to cause the hover vessel to tilt subtly to its side.

“Would you like to sit?” Sayane asked.

“I fear I would break the chairs. I shall stand,” Saxum replied.

He was awkward, bookish, and introverted. Thankfully, years of training and fan engagements had afforded Sayane the ability to navigate such things. Plus, her genuine interest in learning about this world meant she wanted to hear about his people.

“My people?” Saxum replied after she had asked for perspective.

Azag and Attis were silent but attentive. Sayane nodded in anticipation and gentle encouragement.

Saxum inhaled.

“It is an honor to be before a Rabal, kind Azag. Your kind are familiar with the suffering and humiliation of society much like mine…” Saxum said quietly.

Azag sat up and nodded. It seemed Azag and Attis knew about this race, but Sayane wanted to hear it from one of their own.

“What do you mean?” Sayane asked.

“We were once a noble people. Our ancestors were some of the first stones to receive the light of life. We have been alive since the beginnings of civilization. But we are a slow-changing people. Rock is not meant to change with the seasons, like a tree that blooms and fruits and dies, or a being that feasts then sleeps the winter. Because of that resistance to change, we were left behind by the world. Then, we were humiliated.”

His voice was gentle, but sorrowful. As he spoke, Attis listened and nodded.

“Long before The Silence, other empires existed. And those empires needed stone for their grand towers and statues. And they realized my people were vulnerable...”

Sayane did not like the tone of this sentence or the direction she feared his story was taking.

“So, for hundreds of years, those empires harvested our corpses. When we died, we were denied death graces. Their militaries would confiscate our lifeless bodies and grind us into the very walls of their buildings.”

Such an idea was beyond horrifying to Sayane. So much of the realm had been made of stone, but it was always living stone with pulsing lights of life. Or, so she thought. Now, she was afraid she had been in the presence of desecrated corpses without realizing it. Azag seemed to notice her fear.

“There was no such wickedness in The Underworld or The Shattered Stone. I would never live in such a place, even in desperation,” Azag explained.

Saxum agreed and lowered his head.

“Thank you for your compassion, Rabal. Peace upon you and your understanding of sorrow,” said Saxum.

“Peace back unto you,” Azag replied.

“So, songstress, please understand, The Silence has been very cruel to my people, massacring us to expedite the supply of bodies for their grand halls. But we had suffered long before they had arrived. Yet we do not lose our dignity. We may be slow and cumbersome, but we will not fade from this world in humiliation. Even if The Silence kills all of us, we will die standing like their statues.”

His statement was calm, yet frighteningly certain. All Sayane could do was nod.

“Thank you, Saxum. I had no idea.”

“You are welcome. Thank you for being interested. I know this is not your first world. I am honored you took the time to learn about my people.”

Sayane felt moved to continue speaking with him, but he still seemed nervous. An idea led Sayane to move from her chair to the floor.

“Would you like to sit on the floor with me? There’s nothing for you to break down here?” she asked.

Saxum smiled, and his coal eyes reflected the light as he slowly lumbered to join her on the floor where they both crossed their legs. Once his hulking body was settled, Attis joined them.

“Now, do you know anything about your people’s music?” Sayane asked.