Dancing Into The Fog

Sayane had managed to sing four more songs after that before exhaustion’s familiar heaviness began to overpower her. It began in her throat- a burning, strained sensation at the back contours every time she inhaled. Then it moved to stiffening, aching legs. By the time she finished the fifth song, she was drenched in as much sweat as the Ether rain, and it felt as though a small knife was being pressed three inches into her side every time she breathed.

Then her nose began to bleed.

Once the fourth song was done, the ball was announced to be concluding.

A last, slow, instrumental song would be what lulled them all to bed.

Though she had no way of seeing it, thousands more had listened in through the voice carriers. All across Illarios, disparate, different, distant ears had heard her sacred music. Many had danced in their homes and caves. Even in the Silence prisoner sanctuary, a handful of parties had allowed themselves the curious fun of hearing something as taboo as music for the first time.

Soft, slow piano notes tapped out in a high, soothing key. Each note seemed to summon some long lost emotion from deep within every listener, and many stopped dancing to stand and let the sensation move through them. Deep toned cello and violins joined into the harmony, and the Great Harmony Shard dimmed in understanding.

Ether rain had pooled into a small layer of liquid that now flowed and sat along the walkways of Haven, slowly turning from its rainy form back into a foggy haze that rose back to the ceiling and filled the space with mist. Shining energy continued to emanate up from the pools, casting surreal light onto all that stood within.Bodies became little more than abstract silhouettes.

But it was easy to see where the titanic Xentros was, as his massive spectre awkwardly spun while letting Erosc guide him.

Erosc had of course protested at first, but after a minute, he’d given in to the incessant demands. Now, the two enormous warriors were hilariously turning in off-beat disharmony not far from Azag and Sayane, who were trying their best not to burst into laughter as they shared their wedding dance.

“Erosc. I do not believe we are in sync. This does not seem to follow the instrument of the blasphemous sounds.”

“It’s called music, Xentros. Music. And yes, we are not in sync…” Erosc growled in annoyance as he tried to spin the massive beast.

Sayane sighed a laugh as she rested her head on Azag’s chest. Glows from the newly implanted shard sent pale light onto her nose and lips. Sounds of humming machinery and focused crystal told her his new exoskeleton were working to support his attempt at dancing. Every slide of his feet and shift in his hips sent out a chime of life that began to blend into the melody, and Sayane found herself listening to it as much as the song.

Sayane’s reflection contoured and shined back to her from the blue glass of his new faceplate. Vibrant cyan glowed out from within and she marveled at the beauty of his eyes once more.

Slow, patient steps turned them counter clockwise and she felt him hesitate. Subtle pressure from her palm guided them through the rotation, and Sayane smiled.

“We’re dancing,” she said.

“I’m grateful Xentros is here. I’m no longer the worst dancer,” Azag replied.

“Give me time, young Guardian! I shall overtake thee in rhythmic superiority soon enough,” Xentros challenged with glee.

Erosc shook his head just before Xentros spun him under his remaining arm. Beside them, Attis returned from the mist with several guest- Councilors.

“Join us, dear friends!” Attis called over his shoulder with a bow.

Another small creature returned his curtsy and moved to him.

“Shall we, old friend?” she asked.

With that, she and Attis began to rotate in unison. Others joined them, sending an air of relaxation into the vicinity that was always absent in the council chambers. To Sayane’s surprise, their Revolution guards approached the three former Silence guards and extended their hands. Calm piano sounds echoed from the stone walls as the six guards joined together to twirl and drift through the unrefined night.

“Look at that,” Sayane said.

“I think the ball was a success,” Azag replied.

Xentros dipped awkwardly and let out a bellowing laugh of approval.

“You are still strong, Erosc. Truly, you may have been able to overpower me in combat yet.”

“I guess this will have to suffice,” Erosc jested.

His eyes were distracted and locked on the unseen horizon. Once again, Sayane noted how much older he seemed than when they’d first met.

“What’s wrong?” Sayane asked.

“There’s still a missing piece… Surprising as it is, I wanted to rest. But something is keeping my mind in turmoil,” Erosc admitted.

“Vraxlyn?” Attis said.

Erosc shook his head.

“No, not her. I imagine she’s too broken to be much of a threat on her own.”

Xentros agreed and turned to Sayane and Azag.

“The Unwell One is a terror. But without her masters, I do not believe she will be able to survive. With luck, her wound overtook her, or she will simply waste away.”

“Wasting away is what is haunting me,” Erosc added.

Sayane assumed she knew what he was referring to. She’d done her best not to think about it, but they were running out of food. The cold months were coming so nothing would grow. The surface soil was still poisoned from The Silence’s scorching at its end.

“All those stories of vast, well supplied Silence vaults filled with grain and green. But we never found anything.”

“Blood Father Xentros, did they not tell your armies where your supplies were stored?” Attis’s dance partner asked.

Xentros shook his massive head.

“I am sorry little one. The Annihilation Acolytes handled all feasting. They would appear without request or notice, deliver their supplies, then vanish without a word. We never knew where they were, but they always knew our location. That was the way. I believe the empire did it so that none in the military could seize the stores and try to overthrow the judges.”

In a strange way, it made sense. Sayane imagined Xentros at full power, with an entire army at his aid, holding food supplies hostage to make the Silence leaders do his bidding. It was a terrifying idea. Still, it now meant that the empire’s personal hoarding of food was out of reach, and they were left with dwindling rations and tainted soil.

This wasn’t what she’d wanted to think about on her wedding night, but it was the reality of their situation. All she could do was try to balance the pressures of pressing existence with the joy of the moment.

“Azag, by the way, how did it go with the Silence prisoners?” Attis asked in an intentional tone.

Sayane suddenly realized Attis’s cunning trick- he’d lured the other Councilors into the dance to put them at ease. Now, as they all moved through the foggy melody’s guidance, he was holding an impromptu Council session. She did her best to hide her smirk when he winked at her.

“It went well enough. I offered them the option to appoint representatives, and to relocate to a safe district under our control if they so wish,” Azag replied as his grip pulled Sayane slightly closer to him.

A few councilors scoffed and sighed, but none overtly challenged.

“I believe that is wise. Removing them from our immediate proximity might calm the tension in many on both sides,” Attis responded.

“We’ll just need to find somewhere for them to be placed if they choose that path,” another councilor chimed in.

None spoke for a moment while the idea was processed. Then Erosc paused his dance with Xentros.

“What about the base? We no longer need to hide in the mystery of the Shores of Time, and we no longer need to hide. That base can be decommissioned and repurposed for them.”

His proposition was met with a surprising amount of approval. The logic was sound- it was far enough away that the remaining bitterness could be cooled if properly guided. Sayane remembered it being brutalist and minimal, but still safe and livable- far better than prison cells or concentration camps which were likely expected. She knew Azag would do his best to make them feel safe, even if he quietly loathed so much of what they represented.

“It’s a great idea,” Sayane replied.

Many nodded in agreement.

“Only main challenge- what do we do with the Revolution Shard?” Azag asked as he slowly spun Sayane.

Attis’s large ears tilted back as he thought.

“Songstress- you commune with the Shards and Ether the most. Do you have any idea or preference?” another councilor asked.

Everyone looked to Sayane for guidance. True, she was the most connected to the massive ethereal stones and had liberated the Revolution Shard at the beginning of her tour. But she had no idea if it needed to go anywhere in particular. The Violated Shard moved closer to her as though sensing her thinking on its kin.

Sayane watched it float and move. It and the Revolution Shard were different from the Akna and Psephos Shards. Those two had been a part of the realm- massive rocky formations that jutted out from the earth itself. But the Revolution and Violated Shards were free to move- free to be wherever. That gave her some comfort, because if she made the wrong decision, the Shard could always be moved again.

Gentle chiming keys guided their steps. Every unclear body drifted through the haze like ghosts dancing towards the end of time. Images of everything that came before flickered in Sayane’s mind as she debated where the Shard should be placed.

Slow, diffused pulses of bright purple light sprayed from the massive Shard as it reached Sayane and Azag.

“Any recommendations?” Sayane asked the towering crystal.

She and Azag paused their dance, and the Shard drifted closer still. A single pointed crystal moved closer and closer, until it touched Sayane’s chest.

“Me? Do you want it to follow me like you do?” Sayane asked.

To her surprise, the crystal shook ever so slightly.

“Maybe… it’s implying something about you related to this world?” Azag offered.

Azag’s words guided her thoughts as she tried to think of where the Shard might be hinting. It felt like the mysterious stone had a specific location in mind. Memories from her entire journey raced through her mind, from that day backwards. So many locations and moments had left a lasting impact, but so many were now destroyed or different. Images summarized her second life in reverse, giving her option after option, until her life concluded at the starting point where she’d first arrived.

Then she let out an audible gasp.

“What?” Azag asked as the rest of the party stopped dancing.

An epiphany had reached her. Not just for the Shard now. But for so many other things. She’d wanted to honor Echo but didn’t know what to do. She’d wanted to learn more about how she’d arrived in Illarios.

Now she had an answer.

Just like her outfit and her song were honoring aspects of her first life and second life, she could set Echo’s remains at the place where they first met- the place where she’d arrived after dying. That site could host the Revolution Shard as testament to the Ether bringing her here and helping her liberate the Great Harmonies.

“I know where to go. Where to take the Shard, and where to take Echo’s remains.”

Everyone moved closer.

“Back where it all began…” she said.

Azag and Attis both processed and realized what she was referring to.

“The Vault of Celeski,” Attis said.

The Violated Shard sent out a pulse of approving light that blanketed the mist in silvery pink. More excitement swelled in Sayane’s ribs as she imagined returning to the place she’d first arrived, only to truly know it for the first time. When she’d first appeared in Illarios, she was delirious and in shock. Details were nothing but smudges. This time, she could process it all, and finally say goodbye to Echo’s remains.

Azag’s hand found her waist once more and she blushed back to reality at the feeling of his thumb softly resting along her ribs.

Damp hair clung to her face.

His skin was glistening and smooth.

Wet fabric clung to their bodies, barely hiding the rises and falls of their breathing.

“My hair and makeup got all messed up. I wanted to look all sexy, and elegant, and pretty for you,” Sayane pouted as she shivered from her soaked clothes.

“You did. More than ever. We should get home and take a warm bath. I’ll bathe you again, if you’d like,” Azag said as he brushed some stray hairs from her eyes.

“Please. Then… make love to me?” Sayane asked.

So much had happened since the liberation of the Akna Shard and Deflowered. They’d shared a bed for weeks and weeks. Life had continually threatened them with finality. Closeness built with every touch and memory. But they had not been intimate again since that night.

Sayane wanted nothing more than to change that once they were alone in their room.

His lips met her neck then softly moved to her collarbone.

“I’m yours,” he replied as his fingers subtly grazed along the edge of her breast as color and shape melted around them in the clouds of illuminated fog.