To Sing For The Silence

Bodies huddled in rooms, afraid and confused. Explosions had sounded around them for hours, then fallen silent. Then the broadcast from the one known as Xentros told them that their empire had fallen. Tears of shock and uncertainty had flowed without ceasing as regular beings cloistered together for comfort. None of this was what they wanted. Some of them had despised their empire. Some had worshipped it. Some had tried to hold their own forms of quiet rebellion. Some were content to simply exist in the realm they had been born into.

But now that was all changing in the blink of an eye. One minute, they had been imperial citizens, and now they were left alone, full of questions. Across the realm, many braced for the retribution and violence that would likely come for them soon. Their empire had been cruel to many, and now those victims were victorious, so it was to be expected that cruelty would be returned.

So they clung together in desperation and prepared for malice.

Then their mandatory broadcast receivers activated once more, and an unknown voice spoke. It was gentle, yet powerful, full of conviction and righteous fury.

“My- MY NAME IS SAYANE!” the voice shouted through trembles that were noticeable even in audio form.

Yet it continued.

“My name is Sayane, and I am the last songstress! I know some of you have heard rumors of me, but I don’t want any more rumors, so I am speaking to the citizens of the empire directly!”

They paused their fear long enough to listen to the feminine voice calling out from the broadcast. She sounded young. Yet strong.

“I am an ethereal!” she said.

They gasped. All across the realm, they gasped. Ethereals were said to be myths. Many refused to believe, yet something in their hearts told them it was true.

“I died in my realm and awoke here. I was lost and afraid. Your empire tried to harm me, but I was taken in by regular people in The Underworld. I was once a singer, but I had lost my song. But this realm, this goodness that I’ve seen every day, it woke that song in me, and I became the only songstress to still live.”

Sniffles from her voice told them she was crying. Once more, they all found themselves believing her. Some were already feeling the gentle stirs of empathy. Some mocked her. Others hesitated. Yet none turned the broadcast off.

“Long ago, your empire slaughtered every one of my kind and used their magical voices to create a great evil that left this realm covered in dissonance and muted emptiness. But I have destroyed that Dissonance. The four Great Harmony Shards are free, and magic is returning to the world.”

More gasps rose. Some rushed to their windows to look up to the sky. Cries of shock and, in some cases joy, sounded out as thousands saw the unfiltered sky for the first time. Some looked up in rage, cursing the girl for destroying the glory of their nation. Others sat in quiet reflection as the reality of it all began to settle in.

“Now, your leader has ordered you to surrender. I have learned that this means that many of you are expected to die, BUT I DO NOT WANT THAT! Neither does Azag the Guardian, my partner and my love. He is the one who saved me… and… and…”

Her voice cut out. All of them were shocked by her words. They had prepared for threats, but instead, her softly shaking speech had told them they would be spared. Now more began to listen.

They heard her crying as she sniffed sobs into control and inhaled deep, slow breaths.

“And now he is fading before me. Just like so many of your partners, loves, children, and parents. I look out at this broken world, daring to be reborn, and all I can see is hurt, and pain. And I’m so tired of it. I don’t want any more hurt. I want healing. I want to heal him. To heal your wounded. To heal our wounded. To heal this place that I love so much." 

"But… I… I need your help…”

Bit by bit, every new word undid decades of harshness. Many dared to be moved by her plea and heartbroken sobs. Taverns, meeting halls, households of all means, and even remaining military bases all fell silent as the Silence listened to the sobs of the songstress.

“Please… please help me. I am not your enemy. And I don’t want you to be mine. I’m going to sing…”

…

“And I want you to sing with me…”

Now the gasps were audible. Song had been banned in their empire. The very discussion of old music was forbidden and punishable by hard labor. To be found with a lost sacred instrument was punishable by death. Silence had been all-encompassing, and now this girl was asking to bring it back into their lives. Though their leaders had robbed the world of such things and put her kind to death, she was asking, pleading for them to now sing with her.

Pulses intensified. Nerves tingled with curiosity. Wonder dared to build in the hearts of those who should have been hateful. Even those who remained unmoved could not help but be intrigued by the prospect of hearing something many of them had never known. Especially from someone seemingly as powerful as this magical ethereal songstress.

Across Illarios, thousands upon thousands of former citizens of the empire allowed their hearts to open to the prospect of hearing this girl’s song. And deep in the hearts of many, they hoped to help her.

That was when the sounds of music began.

“I need you to sing with me. Even if not yet for me, or for my love, or even this world, do it for those of your own who are hurting… That would be enough.”

The speakers hummed, and something beyond any recognizable sound drifted out. So many had never heard music before, yet they knew this was it. To be born after The Silencing meant they’d never been exposed to any single note from an instrument or harmonizing melody, yet the faint pings and chimes that were now growing from the broadcast had to be what they called music. Some clambered forward for a better listen. Some wept in shock. Others turned the broadcast off in shock at the taboo display. Yet all of them had at least heard those first notes.

Sayane the Songstress was returning music and song to all, including them.