Goodbyes

Cool metal sat into place as Anahita slid Sayane’s crown over her head. All around them, the sacred instruments rose into position. Thunderous bursts of dreadfire tore through airships beside them and above them. Fiery wreckage crashed into towering skyscrapers, hurling danger all around them. Through it all, the Great Harmony Shard floated silently near Sayane. In her heart, Sayane could feel a familiar brokenness and meekness. The Shard was too hurt and humiliated to sing.

More explosions roared nearby as multiple ships continued to engage with one another. The bursts shook Sayane and her companions back to attention. All of the ship's guests looked to her in waiting. Azag was silent.

Sayane knew this was goodbye.

“It is not safe up here, friends. Please, return to the surface,” Sayane said.

“But Esca is too damaged to fly. How will you get down from here after your song?” Attis asked.

Melancholy acceptance caused Sayane to smile. It was sincere, but it didn’t reach her eyes. A subtle shake of her head allowed her hair to drift to the side as she gazed out at her advisor and friend.

“...I do not think there will be an ‘after’ for me, dear Attis.”

Her words were understood by all of them. A collective gasp greeted her as Attis shook his head in denial.

“No... Sayane…”

Sayane could only nod.

“The Ethereal's journey. Gone as swiftly as they appear,” Attis whispered as tears formed in all four of his opaque eyes.

“I am so grateful to have known you, dear friend. You have been the most wonderful companion and confidant.”

Attis wiped his eyes and nodded with a laugh.

“I did my best for you, dear child. It was my first time being a hip- hype man. I hope I made you proud.”

“More than you know. Goodbye, dear Fuzzy.”

Sayane extended her arms and Attis leapt across the chasm to feel her embrace one last time.

“Goodbye, dear Songstress.”

His fur was prickly and soft as it grazed her face. After all this time, his musky scent had become comforting. As his face nuzzled into Sayane’s chin, she let her tears fall freely and breathed in the moment.

Attis’s tiny paw patted her arm one last time before he leapt back to the ship. Can-Mo was there waiting. His trunked, bobbing eyes were already glassy from weeping.

“Oooooh, your t-t-top is torn. If only I had some thread and a needle,” Can-Mo stuttered as its tentacles patted its vest.

“It’s okay my friend. I’m sure I look wonderful,” Sayane chuckled.

Can-Mo’s tentacles reached out and Sayane’s hands met them. Once more, a subtle, gracious squeeze pinched down with soft acknowledgement.

“You have always looked wonderful. Truly radiant. We shan’t know a she-hume of equal beauty for the rest of our days,” Can-Mo whispered.

“Thank you. I had a great tailor. The best in the world.”

Beams of rage tore through a pillar not far away.

“Azag? You are staying?” Saxum asked.

“Yes. I will not let Sayane face her end alone. I will keep her safe until her song is complete. Then I shall stay with her. Come what may,” Azag said from within Esca’s chamber.

There was another collective sigh, but none fought him.

“Do not mourn me. I have finally found some semblance of peace in the company of you all, and in the wonder of Sayane. I was never meant to be a leader of the free people. I leave that to you.”

“As do I,” agreed Sayane.

Esca’s head creaked to face them.

“Attis, I entrust you with guiding those who lead from here on. Help them not fall into monotony and bureaucracy while the regular people suffer. Help them not worship the old world that was cruel to so many even before The Silence.”

Attis bowed in understanding.

“Saxum, be a voice for the truly oppressed and forgotten. Those who time left behind. Let their struggle not be lost to noble visions.”

Saxum slammed his chest.

“Anahita, help let them all remember that even the soil and trees need nurturing and support. Let them not forget to be connected with the world that holds them while they try to imagine a new one.”

Anahita’s wings fluttered slightly as a small glow emanated from her body.

“And Can-Mo. Help all of them remember that every person has a place in revolution and building a better world. We do not only need warriors and theorists. We need tailors, and friendly embraces, in equal measure.”

“I… I shall, dear Azag,” Can-Mo replied with a bow.

“And lastly, please, take Echo’s body from this place. Bury him with dignity and recall his story for all days. The imperial whose motives were once selfish, but he became more. Without him, none of this would have happened. And he gave his life to defy those who would do us harm. Honor him accordingly.”

Can-Mo’s tentacles extended and slowly lifted Echo’s limp corpse.

There was a collective weeping inhale as the quartet faced Sayane and Azag for their farewell.

Metal brackets popped into place and Sayane stepped into the center of the first instrument she’d learnt. The yellow glowing strings rose up and bound themselves to her body. Down on the surface, the battle was still continuing on. Looking down, Sayane knew she could stop it, even for a moment.

“I don’t think they’ll be open to stopping their bloodshed to hear your last introduction, Attis,” Sayane said as she observed the tiny dots ripping each other to pieces.

“No, but they will listen to you. Bring an end to this,” Attis replied.

“One last personal hype session before you go?” Sayane smiled.

Attis fanged mouth grinned back to her and he bowed fully before clearing his throat.

“...Silence means many things. It is an absence of music. It is an absence of sound and song. But it was also an absence of voice. Of purpose. Of vibrance and life. For so long, we were all silent and silenced. Life had told us to be so. But then one day, for whatever unknown reason, you came to this realm, dearest Sayane. And you dared to help us end that silence. For all time, you will be known in this realm and celebrated. Honor to Azag the Guardian! And Honor to Sayane, the greatest Songstress to have ever lived!”

“Honor to Azag! Honor to Sayane!” the others cheered in victorious acclaim.

Now Sayane was weeping fully. Attis’s words were spoken true. Life in her first reality had been nothing but failure compounding upon failure. Disappointment and stifling existence had broken her before she was fully shattered. But here, in this brutal, tragic world, she had been allowed to be remade. Like pieces of broken pottery sealed with lacquer and adorned in gold, her soul had been healed. In doing so, she had helped heal a world she had grown to love.

The quartet bowed a deep, reverent bow of goodbye, and the ship drifted down from Sayane’s sight. It was only her and Azag now. Tears ran once more as she nervously turned to Azag.

“I don’t want you to die…” she cried.

“You can go. I’ll be fine,” she tried to convince herself.

“No. I will never leave your side. I will be here. Right here with you,” Azag whispered as haunting, somber strings began to play.

Sayane cherished his words and knew he was at peace with his decision. They would meet the end of all things together. If she was to die a second time, at least her heart had found peace. At least she would not be alone.

Beside them, the Shard drifted forward a few inches, as though asking Sayane to begin. The sounds of the strings rose, and quiet piano notes chimed in the air. Sayane inhaled and filled her lungs with the cool air as the first note of her last song moved through her throat.