Chapter 4: The Silence is Deafening
In a world where a mermaid with a stick can heal your wounds in the blink of an eye one has to wonder if people who spent four years and thousands of gold for medical school feel as though they were cheated, I'll have to ask the next non-mermaid doctor I meet.
"Jeez Vi could you have hit poor Mora any harder?"
"Probably; she doesn't have any bones for me to break."
I could hear Nami arguing with Vi in the next room; I wanted to go and tell her it wasn't entirely Vi's fault as I did technically resist arrest and was in a compromising position at the time we met but she insisted I stay in this bed and keep drinking, it hadn't occurred to me not drinking anything for about two days and copious physical exertion was bad for my health.
That wasn't me trying to be humorous; I really didn't know I would be effected by dehydration, I don't have a digestive tract as anything I eat just dissolves inside me and the matter is used as fuel so I understood I needed to eat but why do I need liquid too? I guess I would just have to add this question to the list of things that I won't be able to ask father about… I distract myself quickly before I get emotional and reflect on what had happened after Ezreal helped me out of the tunnels; he had brought me to his house where Nami and the two officers were waiting for us for a number of reasons: one of them being the Sheriff Caitlyn asking me about who I was and what I was doing in the city… that was a bit of a hard conversation to go through but thankfully despite her stern demeanour and… unique fashion choices she was a very kind and understanding woman and apparently I wasn't the first person to be wrongly accused by Vi; I honestly wonder how the two can be in the same room let alone partners given their conflicting personalities but I still had a lot to learn about human interaction I suppose, once all of the paper work was put aside and I got an apology from Vi they let Nami continue to look after me as I was still somewhat dehydrated so Ezreal let me stay in the guest room, I would have to remember to thank him again for his help and hospitality.
I'm pulled out of my flashback induced stupor as I hear someone enter the room; it turns out to be Vi and she's holding a strange looking bottle in her hands, now without massive gauntlets;
"Soo… hey," Vi awkwardly begins; probably still embarrassed she nearly killed me over a misunderstanding.
"Hello officer Vi."
"Yeah you don't need to be so formal, I'm not like cupcake with her big fancy vocabulary and posh accent," Vi grabs a chair and sets it down beside the bed and sits on it backwards… I'll never understand why some people prefer sitting like that.
"So look, I just wanted to make sure there weren't any hard feelings and I brought ya' something;" Vi holds the bottle in front of my face and I can see a dark bubbly liquid inside it, I assume its soda.
"That's very kind of you Vi and no; I don't harbour a grudge with you, I'm sure most officers would do the same given the situation, but as for your gift I don't think I can accept; soda has sugar in it and that could actually hinder my healing as it can make me dehydrate more." I won't lie though, if not for the fact it would disappoint Nami I would chug it right here; father bought me a soda a few times before and I loved them so much; from the sweet taste to the fizzy feeling you get when you drink it…
"You know Nami isn't here to get mad at your right?" I grab the bottle from Vi and snap off the cap in a single swift motion and tilt my head back as far as my metal spine will allow and let the sugary sweet nectar flow down my throat, by the Starchild I love this stuff.
After a few seconds of chugging the contents of the bottle I look back to Vi who was counting her fingers… did I really snatch the bottle that fast?
"… and ten," Vi sighs in relief but quickly regains her composure; "So yeah, Nami left a little while ago after making me promise not to hit you again, why does she care about you so much anyway… uhh no offense."
Vi's question caught me off guard; why did Nami get so concerned for me? We had only known each other for a few hours when we got separated but once Ezreal brought me back here and Caitlyn finished talking with me she practically clung to me…
"I don't know honestly, we've only known each other for a day at this point, maybe its just in a Marai's nature?"
Vi shrugged and adjusted her chair by spinning it around and tilting it back to continue sitting,
"Huh maybe, she is a support after all… anyway she left because she said she needed to get something to help you heal psychopathically or whatever."
"Do you mean 'psychologically'?"
"Yeah that sounds more like what she said, any idea what it meant?"
"She probably thinks being pummeled by a tall, well built woman would lead to some mental trauma; that or she thinks you hit my face really hard, which you did a few times."
For a fraction of an instant I see Vi blush but she spins while sitting in the chair probably trying to hide it,
"Hey wait a sec; you two came over here to see the concert didn't ya'?"
"Oh yeah, Nami wanted to take me to a Pentakill concert in the city, that's today isn't it?"
Vi nearly falls from her precariously balanced chair while laughing;
"No wonder she was so worried; she was afraid I'd squish ya' before you had a chance to see 'The best band in the world'." Vi continued to laugh, a bit less violently this time, and then continued;
"She's obsessed with the band for whatever reason, I mean don't get me wrong they aren't bad but I don't personally get the appeal; I'm more of a techno girl myself."
Vi began to make some odd noises and tap a rhythm on her chair which I assume was supposed to be a song but she's interrupted as Nami walks er… floats into the room with an excited look on her face, I quickly shove the soda bottle beneath my pillow before she gets closer.
"Good news Mora; you get to see the one thing this city doesn't have: Metal!"
I give a sideward glance to Vi in hopes of an explanation but she's busy trying to suppress laughter, much to Nami's discontent as she makes a cute pouty face towards the enforcer;
"Oh you know what I mean Vi… anyway; I got us great tickets for the show later, and I managed to get a backstage pass from Olaf so you can meet the band after the show, isn't that awesome!"
As Nami spoke a smile drew across her face growing wider and wider until her jaw resembled the mug of the small sharks she can summon, she was obviously excited but she quickly reigns in her enthusiasm and with a short cough her composer is much calmer;
"Uhh of course that is if you fell well enough now, given yesterdays events." She shoots a quick glare at Vi who just rolls her eyes and continues to sit in confusing and impractical ways.
"I believe I have recovered well enough thanks to your help and Ezreal's hospitality, so I would be happy to go, thank you Nami." Her face lit up with joy as she swooped closer and started to hug me tightly while frantically speaking to the point I couldn't understand her but I decided to just go along with it; I like her hugs.
"Alright I'm gonna leave you two to listen, or make music… oh right actually I had one more thing for ya kid;" Vi pulls a ball out of the small bag and shakes it out revealing it to be a t-shirt with one of the band members on it, the woman with the long red hair and black dress, "I got this from Mord' once after we worked together in a match, but it's a bit small for me so I figured you might like it; it should fit so long as you don't do that thing with your… cupcakes again."
I can feel my face flush red for a moment but thankfully Nami didn't seem to be paying attention and didn't ask what Vi meant which is nice because explaining would be awkward, Vi laughs for a bit as she closes the door behind her leaving Nami and me alone to get ready to head out to the concert.
"Nami I hate to say it but I don't think I'm a fan of this kind of music; it just sounds like a lot of people shouting over each other…"
"Uhh the band hasn't started playing yet, that is actually the sound of a lot of people shouting over each other, you really haven't heard metal before have you?"
"No, Father told me it would be better to listen to classical music or free-form jazz."
Nami's mouth takes on an odd curve and raises an eyebrow which looks both confused and adorable, but it was quickly replaced with a look of awe as the lights went dim and the crowd's roars fade slightly and smoke starts rising from the stage, five silhouettes rise from the shadows and a deep booming voices sounds out;
"I like my weapons how I like my music; heavy…"
"AND METAL!" The crowd roars in near unison as cryptic dissonance begins and halts for a single moment its is near silent before suddenly become a polyphony of incredible sounds, I find myself so lost in the instrumentals speed and power I nearly miss the lyrics until the skeletal vocalist roars out:
"Now there's nothing in my way; You'll feel my Deathfire Grasp!"
As the intensity of the music continues to rise I find myself bobbing my head to the beat, the air around me was electric with the excitement of the crowds as the song continues on, somehow I get caught up in all of it and end up considerably closer to the stage and I can finally see the band past the smoke and spotlights and get a chance to actually see the band, up until now I had only seen the band on paper in some ads but seeing them in person was a spectacle; I had believed them to be wearing costumes but now that I could see that the lead singer Karthus had no skin or muscle tissue on his face, in fact by the looks of it he had no real flesh on his body… that's a bit unusual.
As I continue observing the band I find my gaze quickly drawn towards the bassist with her flowing red hair; she had very delicate and refined features with pale skin, traits I had read that were common for Ionians, she was wearing a strapless black dress that left little to the imagination as it accentuated her slender figure and sizable… cupcakes, but what I found even more intriguing was instrument; it was some sort of string instrument that made both the cords and her hands glow as she played, I would have continued to observe the one I believe was names Sona but the song was wrapping up and the drummer, Olaf I think; had knocked over some of the pyrotechnics and set part the stage alight which only further delighted the crowd it seems… A man quickly walks on stage after the band steps backstage and makes a short announcement;
"We apologize for the inconvenience but we ask you all to move to the concession area whilst we deal with the fire and make some repairs to the stage." The man quickly hops off the stage as the fire slowly spreads, some security personnel begin to usher the fans out but I notice Nami over by the stage helping put out the flames with her tidecaller so I worm my way around the security and call upon my own tidecaller and do my best to help;
"Oh Mora there you are, I was wondering where you got to, so tell me; was that awesome or was that awesome!?"
"That seems like a loaded question given the options but I will admit it was awesome, too bad the stage caught fire though…"
Nami's cheeks puff out a bit as she poorly tries to stifle a laugh, "Are you kidding Mora? Lighting the stage on fire is like the bands signature, I've been helping put them out for a while now since I never miss a show, heck that's why they gave me an afterlife-time pass for there shows."
"I see… wait what's an 'afterlife-time pass'?"
"I'll get Karthus to tell you later."
With that the two of us and a handful of those small drones I saw at the docks the other day douse the flames, Nami takes me back out to the concession area and we grab some snacks to eat while they repair the stage;
"So Nami I must ask; how is it that Karthus can sing despite the fact he has no tongue… or lips… or vocal cords for that matter?"
"Probably the same reason I have a wave constantly beneath me;"
"Magic?" I ask before stuffing a handful of popcorn in my mouth
"Magic." Nami confirms with a nod.
We continue eating food that can't possibly be healthy but by the Starchild if it didn't taste wonderful, after about ten minutes the doors to the stage room open once again and the fans pour in and the band begins to play once again;
"My king my king how was I supposed to know that everyone will falter when you diiie…"
As the song went on I realised this song was named 'Thornmail' after the enchanted armor that Jarvan the First left to his son Jarvan the Second so that he could fight back the hordes of Noxian invaders after his death, I had read about this event a few times but to hear it retold in a way so metal... it was awe inspiring.
After the song had finished Karthus grabbed a bottle off a nearby stool and left the stage while taking a swig, I was going to ask Nami what was happening but before I got the chance the bassist Sona steps, or rather floats to center stage where Karthus had been standing just before and Pentakill begins another song...
"…"
I had a hard time following this song; it seemed to be referring to some enchanted item that protected the user from some sort of guardian but the lyrics seem disjointed, almost as thought there weren't actually lyrics and Sona was just making some up as she played, but the instrumentals were amazing like the previous songs so I was able to still enjoy this one, especially the solo near the end.
"Mora you okay? You haven't like, breathed since the song began."
"What? oh sorry, I've been… whoa head rush; I guess I really wasn't breathing, uh anyway I just kinda got distracted trying to hear the song."
"Really? I mean I know the crowds pretty loud but I can hear the music fine."
"No I hear the instrumentals fine but I mean I could hardly hear Sona."
I'm stating to wish I owned a camera because Nami makes another adorable face that appears to be a mix of confusion whist trying to find the right words to use,
"Uhh Mora, Sona is mute; she can't talk…"
"What?"
Nami puts her hand on my head and turns me back towards the stage holds up a bubble to my eye allowing me too see Sona a lot closer and her mouth wasn't moving at all despite the words I was hearing, the beautiful words seemed to flow through the air as if by… oh wait.
"Nami I don't want to be rude but first; could you please let my head go?"
"Oh sorry." Nami lets me go and the bubble she was holding floats off somewhere.
"Thank you; secondly I swear I hear her singing, and while I agree she isn't moving her mouth but if Karthus can sing because magic why couldn't Sona?"
"I… well… okay you got me in a box, look I'll explain during the after-party I promise."
I wanted to press further and get some answers but I didn't want cause any trouble for Nami so I remain relatively quiet for the rest of the show.
"Is it normal to taste metal after the concert?"
"Uhh not usually, I think you may have been to close to the pyrotechnics."
Nami and I made our way backstage after the hall had cleared out a bit, it had been eventful show as the crowd raved on as the music continued and the stage only caught fire twice more; apparently a record low for the band.
"Uhh by the way Mora sorry if I seemed to harsh about the Sona thing, I tend to get a little exitable during shows."
"Its no problem Nami; for all I know I might have been hearing things, after all I might have brain damage from head trauma and dehydration."
Nami opens her mouth to respond but she stops herself and gets a confused look, probably trying to figure out if I'm kidding or not… which now that I think about it I am feeling somewhat off…
"Nami take my hand please."
"It's okay if you're a bit nervous Mora; but don't worry they won't bite… actually Olaf might if he's had a few."
"No Nami seriously I think I'm blacking out again…"
"Oh… Oh dear hang on just a touch longer then I have an idea!"
My head starts spinning as I feel my consciousness slipping again; I'm getting way too familiar with this sensation. I figure the reason this time is a combination of the excitement and the fact I wasn't quite recovered from yesterday but all I knew is it means I'm not going to meet the band… dammit.
Before I can fully slip into the dark abyss of unconsciousness I feel a wave of warmth and power wash over me like a melodic hug, I feel as though I am cradled in the bosom of love and life itself. I open my eyes and see I'm not too far off; I was lying atop Sona's body while her instrument hovered before us, I could only sit and marvel at the way her fingers played across the strings, the sweet and soothing tempo of her music rejuvenating me.
After lying against her body for an awkward amount of time I give a quick cough to allude that I was awake now and Sona pushes the Etwahl aside allowing me to stand, once I was off of her she made a few gestures I believe are a form of sign language and I heard her phantom voice again;
"I hope you feel better now, Nami has told me you've had a troubling time these past few days."
"Uhh yeah I guess I have, I think it was just the excitement and the fumes from the stage that got to me… oh pardon my manners; my name is Mora."
"It's nice to meet you Mora, I am Sona, though guessing by your garb you probably knew that."
I nod in reply as I remember the shirt Vi gave me, I'd have to ask her to sign it later.
"So umm miss Sona, this might sound odd but I think I can hear you, or at the very least hear your thoughts."
A light smile traces across her face as she motions as though laughing;
"I expected as much, when Nami brought you too me she mentioned you were saying you could hear me 'singing', I must apologize that the lyrics weren't quite complete; since I can't speak I haven't really felt inclined to write them in full."
"Well despite that the song is amazing… wait you aren't surprised I can hear you?"
"Not at all, I have met numerous psychics since I joined the league, its nice to be able to communicate so quickly, especially since the only member of the band who can hear me is Karthus but he listens about as well as a brick wall…"
Sona cocks her head to the side as a small pouty frown pull across her face and I can faintly hear her muttering in her head about how Karthus is a… whoa didn't expect that kind of language from her.
"Umm if you don't mind me changing the subject; where is Nami? Last I remember she was pulling me into this room when I started to pass out."
This bring Sona out of her funk and stand up and floats toward the door while gesturing for me to follow, which I do.
"She left you in my care as my magic is very powerful for healing minds, and given the symptoms it seemed like that was what you needed more so than Nami's waters, they are effective at healing wounds and cleansing your body, but not as powerful for your mind."
"I see, I think I understand but I'm not going to lie I still feel somewhat confused as I don't quite understand how magic works… but err, you still haven't told me where Nami was."
"My apologize, she went ahead after I said I could heal you as she wanted to warm the other members to go easy on you so as not to potentially cause you to lapse into unconsciousness again, they can get… rambunctious after a show."
"How so miss Sona?"
Before either of us could say another word a set of double doors burst outward as the body of Yorick Mori flies through them and crashes into the wall across the hall;
"HA! I TOLD YOU I COULD TOSS YOUR SORRY ASS ACROSS THE ROOM YORICK!"
"That hardly counts Olaf; you used and Elixir of Iron, that's cheating."
"NOBODY CARES MORD!"
A few bottles and miscellanies pieces of electronics fly out the door as more sounds of struggle quickly become evident and Nami flops out of the room with numerous microphone cables wrapped around her as she tries to struggle out of them.
"Honestly I think I'd prefer to pass put again right about now."
Sona presses her hand to her face and rubs her temples as I hear her mutter some more profanity in her head.
