Chapter 2: Songs’ Fault

Light mist from the waters rose up and shrouded Ataraxia. On one of the islands, above the Blacksmith's, two figures sparred with wooden swords. One blue, and one white. The white Ardoni was trying his best, and the blue one, older by two notches on his antlers, was keeping up with ease.

"Good Senn," praised Galleous, "Good." They locked swords, and Galleous flew a gentle kick at Senn, who fell backwards onto the grass.

"Not good enough." Senn grunted and started to get up.

Galleous stood his wooden sword in the dirt. "With time and training, I will teach you as I have taught others." He said, leaning forward. "Now back on your feet."

Senn supported himself with his sword, and rose, his legs shaking slightly from the tiredness. For the past six months, he had been training hard. He did timed laps swimming in Ataraxia's waters. He jogged and sprinted up and down the hills. In the evenings, he buried himself in the library and studied Songs, monsters, craftsmanship, the world, and so much more. But something was nudging him in the back of his mind.

"Galleous," Senn started after another round of sparring.

"Yes?"

"When will you teach me to wield my Song?"

Galleous's face twitched. "When you are ready." He slowly replied.

"But we started training six months ago, Galleous." Senn complained as they started a fresh round of sparring. "The Voltaris could attack and I need my Song."

Senn thought he could see sorrow, anger, and remorse flash through his mentor's eyes. "Why, why do you wish to learn your Song?" Galleous asked, barely hiding the turbulence within.

"Because we have the unique ability to harness their power." Senn said. But Galleous was no longer listening. "To deny their usage is…" Senn's image faded into Thalleous, who faced Galleous with his broad diamond sword. "To deny the very thing that makes us Ardoni!" Thalleous slammed the ground with his Song, knocking Galleous back into a rock.

"Galleous? Are you alright?" Senn's words slapped Galleous back into reality. His eyes focused, yet his face was grim, he stated, quite coldly,

"That is enough sparring for now." He took the sword from Senn. "Practice your balance. we will reconvene at sundown." He instructed.

Galleous descended into the blacksmith. "Merlin?" he called, but no one showed up. Annoyed, he hollered again. "MERLIN! I have a message to send!". Still no reply. Where is he? "MERLIN! THIS IS IMPORTANT BUSINESS!" Galleous hollered a third time.

"Aha!" A squawky little voice responded. "Finally, something worthy of my time."

The sun sunk beneath the horizon. Senn stood on a tall post with one foot, gazing toward the giant orange orb. Somewhere out there, the Voltaris swarmed, the murderers of his parents, Osivian, Ria, and Thalleous. He must learn to fight them with Songs, as a proper Ardoni should.

"Senn," Galleous called at the edge of the forest of balancing posts, "Come Senn, walk with me." Senn leapt down from the posts and joined his mentor. Was this about the messenger bird that flew out a while ago? Galleous said he had a "specialty" of gathering information, but it was uncommon for him to send a bird out by this hour, especially when Senn had not seen one fly in.

They roamed towards the main island. There, they entered a small garden. Galleous, after the long silent walk, finally spoke.

"Senn, I have not been entirely forthcoming with you." He hesitated while Senn looked quizzically at him. What is Galleous talking about? "I have let my feelings cloud my judgement and thus hindered your training." He turned to look at Senn's white eyes. "For that, I apologize."

"Galleous," Senn began. He was very confused. Where did all this come from? "you have nothing to apologize for. I've learned so much from you."

Galleous smiled, a weak curve in his lips that could not mask the regrets underneath. "It has always been my privilege and joy to teach others what I know, but," he avoided Senn's eyes, "I am afraid that our training may be coming to an end." They walked together onto a pier, overlooking a small pond.

Algae and lily pads dotted the surface. The shimmering waters reflected the pale moonlight spilling from the heavens. A frog jumped onto a lilypad. It made a lout croak, breaking the still air. For the first time, Galleous looked old, worn down, tired, unlike his usual vibrant self.

"How do you mean?" Senn asked. Do they have to part? Is he sending Senn to somewhere else? Galleous looked around the pond. The frog lashed out its tongue and caught a fly.

"I have not used a Song in nearly two hundred years." Galleous said. He seemed to find peace with his mind. "I cannot, and will not, train you to wield yours."

He took out a green, pulsing cube, the same cube that Senn had seen lying on a shelf in his living chambers.

"This is the only one I have left, I gave all the others away." Galleous said, holding up the Song. His back hunched, as if in great grievance.

"Why?"

"Because we do not need them." Galleous steadied himself. "Songs give us power, but they also take from us in return." He said, firmly. "in most ways we do not see." Galleous turned towards Senn again. "Show me your Song."

Senn took out the blue cube Thalleous had given him. He had kept it close as a memoir, and as a reminder to himself to not forget his duty as an Ardoni. The song pulsated in his hand, humming its tune.

"A Protisium Song," Galleous observed. "Figured Thalleous would have given you such." He muttered. "This Song will protect you in some way, but you must remember it is not infallible." Thalleous stressed. "It will not always save you. You cannot let it control you." He put away his Song, and Senn slipped his back into his pocket.

"If you are not to train me with my Song, then… who will?" Senn asked.

"I have called upon a former student of mine." Galleous explained. "On the third sunrise from now, you will journey to the shrine above Ataraxia and meet your new instructor." He motioned Senn to follow him. "Come, we've both had a long day. Get some sleep, Senn."

Two days later, Senn got up with the sun. After a hasty but excited breakfast, he hurried to the Shrine to greet his new instructor.

Senn bounded up the stone brick steps, but found no one there. The Shrine was exactly like the one back in his village. Four arching pillars surrounded a small round platform. Each pillar had a hole in its side, small pockets for the Song. However, there was no one in sight.

"Hello?" Senn called. "I'm, uh, here for my training?"

Something swooped over him. A quick shadow flashed across the Shrine. "Good morning Senn!" A young Ardoni, whose markings glowed a pretty pink color, landed beside the Shrine. She had golden wings on her back, which vanished a moment after she landed. "Nice to meet you; I'm Val Mendoris, your new instructor." Her arms had two outwards facing blades strapped to them, which she unhooked.

"Hi." Senn waved, then remembered that this was his new instructor. "err…" He stammered, "Good morning, Ky'Val" He bowed.

Val giggled. "There's no need for the formalities, just call me Val." She walked onto the stone platform. "Not what you expected? Thought you'd be bossed around by another old man?" She giggled again. "Trust me, things are going to be much more fun now." There was a mischievous look that sprang something in Senn he had not felt since, well, he was with Ria.

Val walked around Senn, sizing him up. "I can see Galleous has been training you well." She observed. Val came to a stop facing Senn. "The first thing to know about Songs is that you must be fit both physically as well as mentally, as they will draw from all forms of your strength." She stepped back.

"Step on up at the middle of the Shrine." Val instructed.

Senn obliged and moved gingerly to the spot Val was pointing at.

"Do you know why there are four pillars?" Val asked.

Senn felt his body swell as his confidence replaced his nervousness. "One for each order of Songs." He answered. "Protisium," he pointed at the northern pillar. "Aggressium, Mobilium, and Supporium." He pointed each pillar clockwise.

"Good, you've done your reading!" Val replied. "That means we'll be able to skip the boring stuff." Her eyes twinkled. "This is where the fun begins. Now, put your Song in the Protisium Pillar."

Senn took out his Song and did as she asked. "Each Ardoni can only wield a total of four songs, one of each order, so you must choose your set wisely." Val kept on explaining.

"Unless you have a Prime Song." Senn interjected.

"Exactly." Val said. "A Prime Song contains all the Songs within that order. Wield all four Primes, and you will have every Song in existence."

"So every Song is casted from the Prime Songs?" Senn pursued.

"Well, it's a bit more complicated than simply duplicating a Song in the Primes." Val began, "but now's not the time nor the place to go into that. The studies of making Songs go way back. I don't think even Galleous knows how they are created." She concluded. 'Now, listen for your Song."

Senn did. For a moment, he heard nothing. Then, a faint buzzing came from the pillar in front of him. He reached forward, but stayed rooted to the spot, Then, a faint melody can be heard. It was strong, pounding, and steady, but somewhere in the tunes, he could feel a roundness that was hard to put a finger on. He listened closer. His fingers twitched. The melody grew louder, resonating with his heart. At the apex of one beat, the Song transformed into a blinding flash of cyan and shot into Senn's outstretched fingertips. A huge blue orb briefly surrounded Senn. He collapsed on the cold, hard ground, unconscious.