Melody of the Builders 1

From the sea of stars or even just the celestial rings known as Yg’fe there was no greater sight in the world than that of the Builders’ Tree, a massive tree with a canopy that covered a sizable portion of the northern hemisphere of the planet. It rose up and took form from the world shaping song of the mysterious beings for which it was named after. Such a tree though blocked out nearly all light beneath its boughs but a god in the form of a great bird of light known as Sol flew under it bringing a cycle of day and night to those who lived beneath it. Brilliant as the sun, Sol was a god who was worshiped by the people of the Northern Kingdoms of the Five Great Theatres of Civilization but one day in spring a light appeared that outshone the divine bird.

Stretching from where the Central and Southern Kingdoms met at the joining of inland sea and southern ocean to the distant Vanished Sea at the meeting point of the Eastern and Northern Kingdoms the Stormroot Mountains cradled the Central Kingdoms. Towering high above the land the black rock mountains served as the natural border between the Central and Southern Kingdoms with only the nation of Highroot being south of them and considered part of the Northern Kingdoms. But one did not need to be in Highroot or its capital city of the same name to have seen the light that shone from within the peaks and valleys of the Stormroot Mountains. Brilliant as the light was even from distances from which the mountains could no longer themselves be seen was the light visible. To be within the Stormroot Mountain’s themselves when the light appeared was to risk being blinded as all was engulfed in the white brilliance.

“KYA~!”

The musical scream of a girl who was so unfortunate as to be witness to the light rose up in surprise at the moment it filled the mountains. As the light faded out however it revealed that the girl who screamed was most unusual upon further inspection. She was only about fourteen springs of age and was curvy yet very slender though perhaps short for her age. Or she would have been if she did not possess stilt like feet as long as her shins that ended in a four-toed talon akin to an eagle that was large enough to easily crush a man’s head. Her feet were not the only bird like features of the girl with long, straight banged red haired tied back with a blue scarf and locks on the side of her face decorated with a large blue bead each. From the base of the custom white leotard she wore a white feathered bird tail protruded and was matched by the pair of identically colored large white feathered wings that she had instead of human arms and hands. Lowering a wing she had raised to shield her eyes she opened the large blue orbs and stared out into the mountains beyond where she stood.

Compared to the bridge made of smooth stone carved from the mountain itself and light bleached white by some unknown manner the grass covered nearly sheer cliffs of the mountain range gully were of little interest. The bridge itself was as much a tunnel as it dangled from an overhang of rock by smooth columns with painted red bands that descended into the abyss below. More interesting than the bridge itself were the people who joined the girl upon it.

“What was that?”

“I don’t know, but the Builders are singing.”

It was a strange thing for the girl to say since as she turned to face the young man who she answered the question of she could clearly hear a voice no mortal could possess rise up in verse.

♪~ Gentle prince with golden mane ~♪
♪~ Knight of crown and goddess loathed ~♪
♪~ In silver plate and azure cloth ~♪
♪~ With gifts of man, god, and Builder all ~♪
♪~ From emerald eyes he views a dream ~♪
♪~ With sword of hope he strides undaunted ~♪
♪~ Ever noble the vanquisher ~♪

The verse itself belonged to the song of the Builders and to those who could hear it, it marked the young man as a Hero; one elevated in song by the Builders. The girl was not the only one in the small group who could hear the Builders’ Song as a strange ball of grey fur no taller than a man’s knee and dressed in red robes spoke up from a short snouted mouse head.

“Singing is quite the understatement harpy. They are not just singing, but of their own volition. There are no Tuners in use or mages who can coerce them into singing a verse of magic. No, this song is pure and spontaneous.”

Adjusting the spectacles that rested on his snout the ball of fluff strode over to the railing of the bridge on long, curved, bare feet that protruded from his robes. Looking up into the blue sky beneath the boughs of the Builders’ Tree his long smooth cat-like prehensile tail twitched as he studied the song.

“What bothers me most though is the song reminds me of the legends of the Goddess Cardinal and her battle with the Dark God Cometia.”

“That makes little sense Master Rattama. Does legend not tell us that Cardinal did battle with Cometia before the Builders arrived on this world?”

The question directed at the ball of fluff known as a Rattama was spoken by a plain maid with short dark hair and violet eyes who was dressed in a blue military uniform.

“That it does Lady Mail, which does naught more than further pique my curiosity about the Libraries of Automina. According to what my fellow Rattama have discerned from the ruins of Automina’s once great empire the complete library would surely hold the truth to such.”

“Unfortunately Master Wherks no Rattma has access to the full library.”

“The entire reason for me offering my knowledge and expertise to Raptoria. Should you get me there in one piece Sir Elliot I will be the first Rattama Song Smith to ever have access to the whole Library.”

“Only when, if not if, they grant you access to the Tear of Automina they have taken possession of in the Vanished Sea.”

Offering Wherks a kind smile the young man and Hero, Elliot, countered the Ratamma’s enthusiasm with unkind reality. Obviously shocked Wherks looked upon Elliot with mouth agape before catching himself and turning his gaze back to sky with pompous huff. Elliot had to fight to keep himself from laughing but quickly turned his attention to other matters.

“Still, what could make the Builders sing of such a battle now of all time and in a mountain range so far removed from the Kingdom of Lumirest?”

“Well you and Varen are both from Lumirest aren’t you Elliot?~♪”

“But Varen is no Hero Melody, so the Builders should have no reason to sing of him.”

Elliot found himself quickly shooting down the suggestion of the harpy maid though Melody’s words did rouse his thoughts. Melody’s next words though brought a dark thought to the Hero and Wherks.

“Well, maybe something happened and Varen gave the Builders a reason to sing about him~♪”

“Harpy, do you realize what it is you are suggesting?”

“Well, Link and Varen should have been on the main road to the gondolas up to Misthead by now…”

The melodic tune in Melody’s voice faded away as her own thoughts caught up with what she was suggesting.

“Wait… You don’t think something bad happened to Link and Varen do you?”

“The Builders are singing of battle harpy, and as you yourself have pointed out only Varen is known to us as someone with an affiliation to Lumirest and by extension the Goddess Cardinal who could be in these mountains. Much as you likely do not want to hear of such a possibility harpy it is possible that the Chainmaid and Varen could be mixed up in whatever caused that light and tempted the Builders into free song.”

“No…”

Melody breathed in quiet denial and took a step back away from Wherks. Shaking her head Melody put on an expression of determination and suddenly jumped up onto the railing of the bridge and spread her wings as she declared her intent.

“I’ll just have to go and find out!~ ♪”

“Melody, wait!”

“KYA!~ ♪”

Melody yelped out in surprise as her feathers were ruffled, though unintentionally, by Mail as the plain maid grabbed the harpy in a full nelson and lifted her off of the railing.

“You can’t! You’re still wounded and we’ve already seen that any attempts to fly will only reopen your wound.”

“Not only that Melody, but Chain would not want you abandoning your duty as an adventurer who is tasked with seeing us to Raptoria.”

“Ah…”

Melody could offer Elliot no argument and slumped helplessly in Mail’s arms. Wherks was not as kind as the Hero though and added in an undue insult and complaint.

“Of course leave it to a harpy to not be intelligent enough to figure that out on her own.”

“Master Rattama, that’s uncalled for. Melody is the only one who knows how to get us to Misthead through these ancient tunnels and ruins and we’d be lost without her or in the gods know what kind of situation.”

“All the more reason for me to call her out on her foolishness. Had she just taken off not only would she have likely crippled herself and left herself for dead but she would have done the same to us.”

“You know, most Rattama are just adorable but you say so many mean things it’s hard to remember that.”

“I’m not being mean harpy, I’m being realistic.”

Wherks took obvious insult at Melody’s comments on her viewpoint of him which was ironic as he had no problem insulting her. Elliot quickly stepped in to play arbitrator for the two parties and offered Melody a sliver of hope.

“I understand your concern Melody, but not only is Chain a brilliant swordsmaid and spell caster, but if the Builders are singing of the battle between Her Eminence, Lady Cardinal and the Dark God Cometia then there should be nothing to fear. Her Eminence, Lady Cardinal was victorious in her battle with the Dark God so surely Chain and Varen would be as well, and against a great foe if the Builders are spurred to song.”

“Yet the Dark God returned on a number of future occasions according to the legends Sir Elliot, and the goddess herself has supposedly not graced her worshippers with her presence since.”

“You’re not making things any better Master Rattma.”

Mail found reason to intercede as Elliot’s attempts at arbitration seemed to fail and Wherks continued to imply the worst. Realizing he was indeed failing, Elliot offered another suggestion.

“Perhaps the best thing to do then is press on for Misthead. By the time we arrive surely there will be more news and perhaps Chain and Varen will be waiting for us. At the least though Melody it would be surprising if a town which supports the training of adventurers with the Soarmont Adventuring Company did not have people on hand who can properly tend to your wounds. At that point if Chain and Varen are absent you should have no problems seeking them out. If need be I should be able to contact the Junk Birds by radio phone and request a ship to take us directly to Raptoria to avoid any potential conflict between Highroot and Bright Rift.”

“She is still a minor Sir Elliot and would likely not be allowed to engage in such a search on her own.”

Again Wherks brought his realist perspective to the group and defeated Elliot’s attempts to cheer up Melody. Mail gave the Rattama a dirty look but Wherks paid the maid no attention. It was Melody who forced the melodic tune back into her voice who finally got the group on the go again.

“Well, we’re not going to figure anything out or get anywhere if we just keep standing here arguing~♪ So come on, I’ll get everyone to Misthead and then we can figure out what to do from there~♪ I’ll just hope that Link will be there when we get there~ ♪”

Stepping away from Mail as she was released from the maid’s grip Melody turned and offered the group a smile. It was a strained smile which would be of no surprise if anyone could hear the harpy’s thoughts.

(You better be all right Link. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you. But nothing should right? You have a Relic so the Builders’ Song can’t affect you directly… I’m sure right now even you’re trying to figure out what the Builders are singing about.)

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater