Of Gods and Songs
Things were not alright!
"You mean to tell me," Kamvex started, "that I have three days to get ready to perform for this country's acting ruler!?"
"Um... yes?" Louise answered. She wasn't sure what the big deal was. She knew he had talent for swordplay, all he had to do was a short routine. He groaned and put his face in his hands. "Are you alright?" She asked, concerned. This... was new.
Kamvex sighed, plopping down on the ground before laying flat. "Not in the strictest definition."
"Kamvex, you'll be fine. You don't have... what is it... stage fright do you?"
He looked at her annoyed. "Hells no."
The pinkette sighed in exasperation, "then you're fine and are near throwing a tantrum. Just show your swordplay an-"
"Swordplay?" He asked.
"You want me to do... what exactly!?"
She took a step back, not expecting this. "You're very good with a sword, can't you use that?" She questioned.
Silence fell for a few moments. She stared down quizzically. What had her familiar so upset about this? The body language she was picking up was obvious in a way of tension and stress. With nary a grunt, Kamvex kipped up to his feet and began stalking about to his things.
"I am an artist," he began. "Swordplay is NOT my talent, and I REFUSE to to do so to entertain the ruler of an nation!" He turned back to her, an intense look she'd not seen on his face before, the violet of his eyes almost looking sharper. He held that gaze for a few moments before closing his eyes and exhaling deeply. "Oh, by Shelyn, give me the strength to get this done right in time."
Louise quirked her head to the side. *Shelyn?* "Is that another of your gods?" She asked in ernest. If she was going to learn about the magic of his world, she could at least extend the same courtesy to his beliefs. Especially since her familiar was very respectful to The Founder and her own beliefs. That, and maybe it would calm him down.
Kamvex rubbed his forehead before turning softer eyes back to Louise. "That She is. Shelyn is the goddess of Beauty, Music, Art, and finally, Love. If Desna is the goddess of my ancestry and path in life, then Shelyn is my patron for my beliefs."
Louise shook her head. "This is what I don't understand. How can you worship separate gods?"
He shrugged. "There may BE other gods here that are worshiped. But from what I've read, the Church of Brimir is very harsh with its religious dogma." Before she could open her mouth, Kamvex spoke louder. "I've read about the Protestants, and how humanity has tried time and again to drive the heretical elves from The Holy Land. Different gods stand for different things. Brimir is your god because he is a God of Humans, Magic, and Nobility. So then tell me, Louise. What reason do the common folk have to make Brimir their primary god?"
The girl withheld a biting remark to think. Any time Kamvex challenged her like this, it was to teach. So she thought a moment before it clicked. "They have no need to worship Magic. They don't have it. So they reject that portion of the teachings..?"
He pointed at her, "Bingo. Now let's try a different thought. The elves are just as regal and magically gifted as you. Why don't the-"
"Because they are elves, not humans."
The Captain smirked. "Two for two. Now for the big one? Why do you worship Brimir the Founder? For what reason other than you were told?"
Louise opened her mouth... to promptly shut it and looked down in thought. The key word in his question was 'told'. She was told that the Founder was her savior, that all should be thankful for him. That he delivered humans from the evils of the elves. That he developed the system of magic that all His Children could use, tying mages to him and creating the noble class.
Her answer clear, she lifted her head. "Brimir is the founder of magic here, thus his title. He saved the human race from the elves and formed our class system from his blood and blessing. All feats worthy of worship. I'm thankful for the world He's given me."
Kamvex looked her over with a critical eye. "And if, in our time, we were to find some... unflattering things about Brimir?"
"Then I will judge his actions against the good that I know of and was taught to me." A firm nod from him was acceptable as an answer, but now, "what did any of that have to do with my question?"
The adventurer chuckled. "Well, I asked about your ancestral religion. Mine comes in the form of The Wandering Star: Desna. She has been the goddess of the Varisian* people for as long as her life has been in existence."
"Her life?"
Another nod. "Gods live and die as we do, though we may not see it." He explained. "The Last of the First Humans, Aroden, shares a similarity with Brimir, both Men to rise to God like status. Though, one in life, and the other in death."
"I see..." Louise said quietly. "Is... there a way to tell?"
Kamvex hummed. "Other than me stepping into a church to see if it hold any power, not really. And even then, that's a guess on a feeling." He then started mumbling, "maybe if Sal were around... hell she'd get a kick out of this whole place."
"Kamvex."
"Right! On track! So, Desna is the Goddess of my people, and my family. I'd say a prayer to her whenever my crew would go out. But The Eternal Rose, Shelyn, is the patron I follow for one simple part of her code. I actually came across it looking into family history, and found that an ancestor of mine, Beryx Zamfi, was a Champion of hers. And on him were tattooed the tenets of his faith."
The man took out his datapad and scanned through it, before a hologram of words Louise wasn't familiar with started to materialize. He then, purposefully spoke in a language she couldn't understand. "What does that say?"
Kamvex smiled. "I lead by example, not with my blade. Where my blade passes, a life is cut short, and the world's potential for beauty is lessened." With that, he shut down the device. "That is the tenet that stuck with me. Beauty is in everything. You just need to look. Be it nature, art, music or people. Remember what I had said the first night I was here, in regards to Kirche?"
Louise thought back a moment before it hit her. *I appreciated the view yes, but... ...I'm more attracted to personality.* The girl nodded in understanding, a light blush adorning her cheeks, before looking at the communicator. "And the tattoos? You said he had the... tenets etched into him."
"Hmmm... family legend says that each time Sir Beryx defended Beauty in the name of the Eternal Rose, he would have a new tenet added to his body, as an example of scarred skin revealing inner beauty."
"His final task was to slay an evil dragon that defied one of her temples, stealing away the arts and ruining them. Though successful, he was mortally wounded. Before The Lady of Graves came for him, Shelyn appeared before him, and wished to grant him a boon. All he wished was for he and the ancestors to sing till our family lines end. To join us in song, but only one."
Louise listened, enraptured by the tale. It sounded like he was a man of great faith. So great it seemed that he even met his goddess. So she could only wonder... "Did it work?"
Kamvex smiled fondly at her. Then he brought up the Chamber and began fiddling with it, before what looked like an instument came to his hands. A wide body and long neck, it looked like a lute. He fiddled with it a moment before playing one full, beautiful chord.
"Wanna find out?"
[In The Forest]
A guitar, she was reminded. She had heard the name of the instument before, though her father preferred the lute. As her familiar explained it, the lute was nearly just an antique that some fiddled with where he was from, and the guitar had become more popular as it evolved. The one he carried and casually strummed was what he called an acoustic guitar, passed down from his great grandfather. Most of the instument was plain and wooden, but well taken care of for its apparent age.
While the soft playing was appreciated, the two had been walking for some time. They had been chatting as they left the Academy grounds, but upon entering the nearby woodland Kamvex had stopped talking and only hummed lightly to songs only he knew. The little mage had called out to him several times now, but Kamvex seemed to walk in a trance. It had been nearly an hour now, and her feet were hurting from the uneven terrain.
Then, the music began to slow, as a fog drifted in. Louise latched herself to the long coat so as not to disturb her familiar's playing. After a few more moments, she heard a bit more noise. The chirping of a small bird. She looked above to see it perched on a branch where it trilled musically, its pearl white wings contrasting beautifully with the light gold of its belly.
*Is... it singing?* wondered Louise, listening carefully. Without a doubt, the small bird matched its melody in time with the light strumming of the guitar... no! It was Kamvex that was matching the bird! Then she heard the percussion of a small stream as they walked further, till finally Kamvex stopped at a clearing. In it lay the stump of a large fallen tree, and the log of the tree itself, newly fallen.
"Here," the man said quietly. "This is where I'll play." He then made his way to the log of the tree, first setting down his instrument before pulling the log to face the stump.
Louise was puzzled. "Kamvex, why did you bring me out here? How did you know of this spot?"
With a grunt, he finished moving the log into place before turning to her. "I... don't know." He replied. "I felt a pull. A need to play as we walked." He turned his eyes upward to view the songbird, but it was no longer there. "But, this is perfect. No eavesdroppers, no curious bystanders. Just you and me." He then motioned to the stump, gesturing his mistress to sit.
She hesitated a moment, inspecting the stump. She was surprised to find it pristine in some way. Was this another of one of Kamvex's God's power? Another of their machinations? The surrounding was surreal as Louise gingerly took her seat, and her Envoy plopped onto the log across from her. He then picked up the instument, and waited, breathing deeply.
Louise waited with baited breath. This, too, was a side she'd yet to see in the young man. He was tense. Focused. As if waiting for a cue. His breathing slowed, and he relaxed. A weird, powerful sensation swept through the area, and she felt it in her bones. But instead of what should have been the chill of the cooling spring night, there was warmth.
(The Bard's Song - Blind Guardian)
And then, he began to play. The slow trickle of a few notes coming together, and then... was that a second set of strings she heard. Then, eyes closed, he sang.
*~Now you all know
The bards and their songs
When hours have gone by
I'll close my eyes
In a world far away
We may meet again
But now hear my song
About the dawn of the night
Let's sing the bards' song~*
It was beautiful. Every note plucked and sang filled with pride. Louise heard more instruments. A Lute, a violin, a flute, and more. Humanoid shapes formed round them in various states of dress: a knight, a gypsy, a soldier and mage. Too many to count formed in the clearing. And they sang.
*~Tomorrow will take us away
Far from home
No one will ever know our names
But the bards' songs will remain
Tomorrow will take it away
The fear of today
It will be gone
Due to our magic songs~*
The spirits and specters clapped, urging their descendant forward with urgency, his strings dominating the music as they played. The fog coursed around him, and six figures appeared, two large and four small. Their difference from the rest was a color to them. A soft, but wise looking woman; a kind but powerful man; and four children. The Envoy swayed his head to their sides as they sang in turn with him.
*~There's only one song
Left in my mind
Tales of a brave man
Who lived far from here
Now the bard songs are over
And it's time to leave
No one should ask you for the name
Of the one
Who tells the story~*
*~Tomorrow will take us away
Far from home
No one will ever know our names
But the bards' songs will remain
Tomorrow all will be known
And you're not alone
So don't be afraid
In the dark and cold
'Cause the bards' songs will remain
They all will remain~*
He sang with pride and passion, throwing his head back, showing now that his song and the experience had moved him to tears. But as the song wound down, his voice grew more powerful, and the spirits began to dissipate.
*~In my thoughts and in my dreams
They're always in my mind
These songs of hobbits, dwarves and men
And elves
Come close your eyes
You can see them too~*
As the final note left the clearing, it was bathed in silence, broken only by the hard breaths of the player. This experience... it was once in a lifetime. His heart was pounding, having poured his soul into the song. He could feel the pride and joy of the surrounding spirits that traveled to meet him here. Their love for the art, and the appreciation for his play.
And then there was the relief, joy, and sorrow... the month... a month had passed so quickly he'd nearly forgotten. He was having fun, he loved the people here. Louise and Siesta and all the others he was close to here great... but...
He was openly weeping now...
"Kamvex..." Louise asked, concern evident in her gentle eyes. As she came to him, he fell from the log to his knees. The mage caught his shaking form in an embrace, his watery eyes staining her shirt.
But for all her care for appearance, it flew away as she felt the heartache from her familiar. Louise remembered the few times she had been caught this upset by Cattleya, and tried her best to emulate her. She placed her hands at his back and behind his head, petting his hair soothingly. "Kamvex, my Envoy, tell me what happened..."
He sniffed, tears still leaking as he tried to hold together. "I'm sorry, Louise... I'm supposed to be stronger than this... I..." he withdrew breath quickly, taking the moment to compose himself further. "I knew what I was doing... when I decided what I would do just a month ago. But... those six. They were my parents and younger siblings. And that... " he couldn't finish.
But she knew. She could tell his thoughts. That may be the last time he sees his family. She couldn't bear if she'd been separated from hers, despite their thoughts on her. To be so lost, and to have that reunion for but only a second before it was taken...
She drew a shaky breath and pulled him closer, pressing him into her. There was no embarrassment, no blush or ulterior thoughts. Just a different kind of strength Louise didn't know she had.
"Let me be your strength tonight, Kamvex, " she requested. "If you believe your goddesses brought you out here for a reason, then believe they allowed me to be here for you in this moment as well. You can be strong again tomorrow. But for tonight," she pressed her lips to the top of his head, "I shall be your shield. So you no longer have to hide anything from me."
She felt the slightest nod from the man before he released his emotions. His sorrow and regret, his hint of helplessness, all swirled around as he wept and wailed. His master sat back down and caressed him as comfortingly as possible, and shared in his tears.
All would seem hopeless in one way for now, but Kamvex knew he could get through this. But for now, he was glad that he didn't have to be strong. That he had found someone who could hold him up. If there was nothing else from this night alone, it was that he'd be forever grateful he had found Louise. And they both hoped this sense of familiarity would last forever...
AN: So then. Missed last week but I'm back for one more chapter in 2019... at least for most of you I think. Still, I do hope you've enjoyed this chapter, and its currently my favorite so far, and really the only one I asked for outside opinion before posting. I got the response I was looking for from friends, but tell me what you thought. Hopefully I pulled some heartstrings and-.. the hell? What is-!
TRANSMISSION INTERRUPTED
[Meanwhile - 90000 Light Years Away - Absalom Station: Fusion Queen Nightclub]
A year ago, the Fusion Queen was a stellar nightclub run by a dirty business. In the lower quarters of Absalom, this was usually just a hard truth. That was until a group of five new Starfinders stormed in and took down the gang that was using it as a base of operations. Any other night, the floor would be packed, the music pumping with neon and strobes flaring. Under any other circumstance, tonight would be a celebration and a party.
But this was a somber occasion, the club closed to all but a few people. A small gathering had been called to honor a fallen son and comrade. There hadn't been too large an attendance, just enough for family, friends and close contacts. The public announcement the day before had sent shockwaves to a certain sect of people. Though not old enough or lived out enough for a grand amount of support these days, fans of Kamvex had flooded social media and the inboxes of the Zamfi family with support over his loss.
The young starship captain, holo-logger, musician and gamer had gained a massive following of his adventures. It was after his arm had been taken, and many in the Pact Worlds that had some knowledge of him spread the love, that the Adventurs of the Sunrise Maiden series had kicked off. No one yet had blamed the crew as the audience had gotten to know them over the past year. They knew that they wouldn't leave him behind unless forced.
But this space wasn't about the mass populace and fandom that the boy had garnered. This was for his mother and father, his brothers and sisters. For closure of some kind for his crew. A time to grieve and celebrate life.
Until a miracle.
A song the older Zamfi family members knew came to them, and there, with an instument, sat their boy. *ALIVE*. At the end, the woman, beautiful in her late 30s, with tanned skin and dark tresses of hair, fell to her knees, her olive skinned husband by her side.
"Alive!" She cried. "Tavian, our boy is alive!" She clutched her husband close to her as she further ruined her makeup.
"Aye he is, my Jewel," the father said, arms tight around his wife. "Our little Vex yet lives."
"Papa! Mama! Did you see?" Their youngest boy of a set of seven year old twins asked. "There was a girl with him."
"She was very pretty," his twin sister exclaimed.
"Like a princess!"
Another little girl, around the age of nine clutched her father's suit. "Big brother didn't lie... he's coming home..." she looked up to her father, "right Papa?"
Tavian looked from his hysterical wife in his arms to his hopeful daughter. It wasn't something he knew the answer to. But then another answered.
"Of course he is Sis," their teenage boy expressed. "Kam wouldn't just leave us like that. And even then, look." He pointed near the exit. The Zamfi family calmed down just enough to all look.
Eight figures rose with determined looks on their faces. The lot of them marched toward the door, as if possessed. One if the other patrons asked the question.
"Where are you going?"
The large and imposing Vesk in heavy armaments stopped at the doorway, the last to leave. There were others higher on the chain of command, or of familiarity to the lost man. But a Vesk spoke only in absolutes of their intent. And their word ment more when speaking of those close to them.
The blue and green scaled head turned ever so slightly to address the room. It was powerful and obvious.
"We're going to get our captain... our friend back."
Or the crew of the Sunrise Maiden would die trying.
AN: See you all next time ^^