Songbird: What it Means to be the Hero

{-Vaeri-}

The other rulers, in the limited communications they’d had with each other since this started, had no idea what was happening. To them, it was just random monsters—things that weren’t supposed to be here, but were. Among those aware, some thought that, perhaps, they’d enter a new stage of history; one similar to before the spirits guided them here. Others wondered if this was going to be something like the end, or the arrival of something that they would not be a part of. A kind of divine retribution, perhaps, for some deed they never thought important.

She understood what it meant, though. The monsters were familiar to her, from their appearances to the commands they were given, even to the means by which they might have been created. She knew that only one person could be behind this, yet she said nothing. Fear could make the mortal soul quiver, and a once-built resolve would quickly crumble at the idea. So all she told her nobles, and the other nations’ leaders, was that they should be careful.

Vaeri walked from one side of the room to the other, gathering up a couple of things. Admittedly, she didn’t need them. It only kept her occupied, giving her something else to focus on aside from her steadily growing weakness.

“Any news of the location of Rennyn and the others?” she asked, glancing at a servant who’d just walked in.

The kids were late; she never expected them to take this long. Had Dhymos gotten to them? And had it been because she’d asked, or because of their own special connection to him?

“The guards have seen them returning to Zaitha. We’ve sent someone to escort them the rest of the way here.”

She let out a sigh of relief. “Did it seem like they had everything?” She didn’t really want to know the answer, but a thought ran through her mind and she couldn’t help but add, “Are any of them hurt?”

“They might’ve gotten into a fight but the guards didn’t mention anything else. They seemed to be returning urgently, but if there was a specific reason why, the guards reporting didn’t know.”

She nodded, if not just to herself. That gave her a little bit of reassurance about the situation. Though, she supposed, half of the worry could’ve been prevented if she’d asked someone Dhymos didn’t care for to do it. Actually, perhaps not—then she’d just be concerned about someone completely unprepared and unskilled running across one of his “toys.”

“Make sure you’re ready to greet them as soon as possible,” Vaeri commanded, drawing her attention back to the servant. “I’d like to speak with them immediately.”

He bowed. “Of course, Your Majesty. I will see to it.”

Maybe it was only a couple of minutes between his departure and his return, but it was one of those times when she couldn’t tell the difference. She moved around pointless things to keep herself occupied, though the moment before they entered was forced to sit down.

She was especially grateful, then, to see the kids return what seemed to be safe and sound. “It’s good to see you back. Did you get everything?”

Kaylin nodded, and pulled out a bag. “They should all be in here.”

Vaeri glanced at a servant and asked, “Could you take those from her? You should know what to do with them.”

The servant nodded, gently took the bag, and left again.

“Did anything happen?” Rennyn seemed nervous, and it looked like seeing her in front of them didn’t do much to quell whatever fears he had. “We ran into one of Dhymos’s minions—Viragi. He’d mentioned you and it sounded like he knew something. I thought they might have tried to do something to you…”

Vaeri shook her head. “No, nothing’s been done to me. Not… directly. Though I can’t say I’ve done any better since you’ve left. But hopefully that’ll change soon thanks to all the items you brought back with you.”

“Can you tell us what they’re for, then?”

“Perhaps a little later, but not right now. I know I promised to explain it to you, but… could it wait a little bit longer?”

“And why’s that?”

“I need you to tell me what took you so long. Did you run into any trouble? I’ve been hearing reports of the sudden appearances of monsters. It doesn’t seem like any of you were hurt, but did they delay you..?”

“I… guess you can say that.”

Rennyn went on to explain what had happened since they left. She hoped her feelings on the matter weren’t too obvious; how nervous she was to acknowledge the monsters, or that it seemed that Dhymos was targeting her and the kids. Then again, the latter should’ve been evident to her the moment she heard about them. Though that didn’t mean it made her feel any better…

There was something all too familiar about his story, however. When he finished, she cautiously dared to ask, “Did you say they were summoning beasts?”

Kaylin nodded. “We don’t know how, though. We’ve encountered things like these in our other lives—some with vaguely more reason than others. When we found them, we did what we knew we could to try to stop them from summoning more.”

“I presume, then, that you stopped them by trying to alter it?” Vaeri asked. There were many things she’d seen and done over her countless years alive; there was nothing, though, that seemed as much of a dire situation as this.

“Yeah,” Rennyn mumbled in response. “We did it to the ones we came across, but they must’ve had a lot more rituals set up than we were able to find. We saw them gathering materials once, so at least we know they’re not just creating them out of nothing…”

She thought it over for a moment, then shook her head. “There’s more to it than that. I’m not exactly sure how these rituals worked in your previous lives, but they’re a bit different here. Just altering it isn’t going to make a difference—and the materials are likely easy enough to come across as to not be a setback to them. It doesn’t take long for them to restore it and start summoning again.”

“Wait, so if you know that, has something like this happened before?” Lyrei asked. She was far too enthusiastic for likely anyone’s comfort, given the situation. But… Vaeri found it endearing, in a way, that a child would ask such questions with no real acknowledgement of their meaning. “I’ve never heard of something like this happening.”

Vaeri shook her head. “Not exactly, dear. We’re still facing a threat that the world has not seen. But just because the world has not seen it, does not mean it is unknown to every individual. I’m… unfortunately acquainted with the means Dhymos is using. And I know that your power alone is not going to be enough to stop it.”

Rennyn frowned. “You’re not going to tell us specifically why you know that?”

“I’ll explain in due time, child, but I don’t believe it’s the most important matter at the moment.”

“Fine. Then what do you mean, that what we’re doing isn’t enough? Do you know how to stop it permanently?”

“I already mentioned that there’s more at play here than what you might’ve experienced in your previous lives. I admit, I’m… still not completely sure of all of the details myself, but I at least know what their influences are. And just telling you isn’t going to solve anything.”

Vaeri moved away from her desk, and casually started walking towards the door. “I know how to disable them permanently. Once you’re all ready, and the servant comes back with what he made from those herbs, I want you to show me where one of the rituals took place. No arguing—you’re not getting the Goddess’s Ring until this is done.”