Deep within the oceans of the Earth, there were nurous coral cities lit with luminescent orbs. A thin barrier seed to spread in a do around these cities, ensuring that they were disturbed by neither the underwater currents nor the great beasts that dwelled in the depths, while also relieving a great deal of the underwater pressure. These cities were populated by an ancient race that has existed within the water for countless years, yet had only recently begun to truly enter the great stage that was the world.
Through nurous trade agreents conducted with traveling rchants, the rkin had been able to obtain a communication crystal, allowing them to begin their communication and trade far beyond their normal scope. They learned of the gods, and the special abilities that one could obtain through their belief. Although the rkin had never believed in such a thing as a ‘god’, they were a race that was rather easy to persuade, so long as you could keep their attention long enough.
Thus, each underwater city possessed a temple dedicated to a different god or goddess, and there were nurous rkin that had joined these religions. The ‘grace’ of the gods began to shine beneath the waves, and the Boundless Caravan soon made its natural debut among this new race.
Now that they had access to the global trading platform, it was a given that new items would begin to appear on the market. Deep Ocean Pearls cultivated at depths of fifteen thousand kiloters, ancient heirlooms that had been resting at the bottom of the ocean for thousands of years, even the blood and bones of a Sea King were being offered for sale.
At this point, those who were aware of the rkin were still a minority. Thus, these items began to raise a stir. New types of blood, bones, and plants were all hot commodities among alchemists. Especially ancient materials that contained hints of spiritual energy, these made for the best ingredients for high level recipes.
With the new ingredients on the market, and their supplies not dwindling, it quickly beca clear to those interested buyers that soone had managed to cultivate a stable underwater farm. Purchase requests changed into passing ssages through the trade platform, and from there they learned of the existence of this underwater race.
Of course, those rchants who had long monopolized trade with the rkin were not happy to have their business taken away from them, but they had not been given many alternatives. The god which had been protecting them when they went out to see had long since left for Sanctum, so they were no longer able to make their regular voyages with any degree of safety. In order for them to preserve any of their business transactions at all, they could only encourage these trades over the Boundless Caravan.
Within one of these underwater cities stood a lone rkin, his body resting before a coral structure. Nurous individuals had expressed their desires to et in person, going so far as to place materials for a transport gate on the market, along with instructions on how to assemble it and a spell to allow one to breathe underwater.
The rkin was particularly interested in the spell, hoping that there could be so way to reverse the effect and allow one of his kind to breathe the open air. For now, however, he found himself content with what his people had already achieved. After thousands of years of wandering through the dangerous trenches, carving a path with their song, they had beco their own, proper civilization.
A sound like water churning could be heard from the building before the rkin, who tilted his head ever so slightly, his large eyes blinking. According to the instructions, this would be a sign of the gate being triggered. Once the occupants were through, they would need to use their own thods to enable them to breathe. The spell that had been given to the rkin was properly inscribed around the gate, but it would not protect them after they had left that coral building.
Unfortunately, the spell also prevented the rkin from entering to receive them personally, as being in its area robbed it of the very breath it provided to others. So, he waited for them outside, his webbed hands at his sides. When three little figures erged, the rkin let out a low coo of greeting.
Blessings of the Divine be upon you, travelers of the surface song. The rkin transmitted its thoughts directly into their minds, having received practice in such communication through years of trading with various rchants.
“Surface song…?” One of the little fellows, an elderly figure with greying hair and wrinkly skin spoke in surprise. “I suppose you must an the land… yes, well t. May I know your na, kind sir?” This little one appeared to be the leader of the others, and the one who wished to et at this ti.
The children of the water do not bear a na as those on the surface. We are us, and we know one another through our thoughts and actions. However, my position within the city is High Singer. I am told that it is similar to what you would call a ‘chief’ or ‘mayor’.
“Oh? Is that so?” The man squinted, still growing used to his body moving through the water. He wore a number of enchanted items, each one serving a different purpose to enable him to survive in such a deep city. “Very well, then… I believe I asked if you would be willing to show around?”
The rkin nodded his head, turning and kicking lightly to propel his body upwards. Please, this way. The others are eager to et you.
The halfling elder nodded, his body hovering off of the surface before it began to fly after the rkin leader. Behind him, his two younger assistants were able to keep pace with seemingly no effort at all.
Soon, the rkin leader led the three of them out to the edges of the city, where the thick, bubble-like barrier greeted them. This is the great city shield. It keeps us safe and allows us to remain in one place. Please be careful, as the weight of the water outside may crush you if you are not prepared.
“Your farms are not within the city?” The old man asked in an intrigued tone, looking at the barrier. However, the rkin shook his head.
Not farms. We may shape coral with our song, but we have not yet learned how to grow pearls or rear beasts. After saying that, he stepped through the barrier, his body floating in the water as he waited for the elder.
“So, they hunt for all of their materials? Seems a waste, really…” He muttered, moving to follow once again. He knew that he would be journeying to the depths of the ocean, so his body was naturally adorned with a trinket to resist its pressure. What originally started as a trip to see the other party’s farming facilities had turned into a hunting and gathering expedition. “Then, who are these others that you ntioned?”
The singers of the treasured songs. The rkin answered, turning and kicking his slippery feet. His body shot into the distance at a surprising speed, forcing the halflings to match his pace. They are the ones who listen to the depth of the song, and can find hidden treasures.
When the halfling heard that, he was further surprised. He was starting to piece together how this race operated, although their nature seed wholly alien to him. A surprising truth, given that they had always been a part of this world.
Without anything further to ask, the elder fell silent, allowing the rkin to guide him. Although he detected nurous powerful presences, they all seed to perfectly avoid the small party, a demonstration that the rkin was used to navigating these waters. Soon, they ca upon a deep canyon within the water, from which four female rkin erged.
Among these four, three had an almost clear blue tone to their skin, while the last was far younger, and almost sickly pale. “Is there sothing wrong with the child?” The elder asked, a touch of concern in his tone. They may be of a different breed, but no elder, let alone one trained in healing arts would ever wish to see a child in pain.
She is Song-blessed. Although she is only newly born, her sight into the song is deeper than any other. When the rkin introduced her, the young girl swam forward, her large eyes seeming slightly pained from the exertion.
Greetings, uncle Kris. The rkin spoke in a strained, if slightly elevated, tone. The halfling’s eyes went wide at that, as he had not revealed his na yet. Ah, I am sorry… I did not an to pry. Please do not get angry… your song is quite deep. And your children… I could hear them before you arrived…
“It’s… fine.” The man shook his head. “You were looking forward to seeing ?”
Yes. The rkin girl nodded her head quickly, before bringing one hand up to hold her forehead. Our songs are connected. You seek the treasures to aid the blood and songs of others. Treasures you can find nowhere else in the world. That’s what my song tells . Why I asked the High Singer to invite you.
“I am an alchemist looking for quality materials, yes.” Kris nodded in agreent, though his eyes did look towards the girl’s hands, as well as the bar of life that appeared over her head. Although she had not taken much damage, it was clearly hard on her body to be moving around like this. “Is there sothing that I can do to help you?”
Not you, … my song… it tells to help you. To give you… I cannot explain with the words you know, I am sorry. I will give you a piece of my song… It is the greatest treasure I have. It tells that it can help you. As she said that, she extended her webbed hand, her fingers twirling in the water. Starlight seed to shine in her black eyes, strands of energy flowing down her arms and into the tips of her fingers.
These strands of energy ford into a silver bead resting in her hand, a hand held out in offering. As Kris looked at the girl, he noticed that the pained expression she held before seed to ease up slightly. “Is this, perhaps, a mana bead? No, it seems to hold so power of the spirit, as well… Still, if you were suffering from mana overload, that could explain so of your symptoms.”
Your words comfort , kind sir. The girl’s voice beca more gentle after creating the bead, though she still insistently held it out for him. I do not know for what purpose my song wishes to travel with you, but I feel at ease knowing that it is so.
The elder hesitated, taking the bead with a long sigh. “If your head begins to hurt again, you have to make another of these beads. That will help you relieve your symptoms… for a while, at least.” Most cases of Mana Overload within youths only beca more severe as the youth gained in age. It was a rare disorder, one which had originally made itself known in Fyor long ago, but there were still known cases of it occurring in the modern day. “I’ll try to bring sothing back during my next visit to help you. I’ve never studied your race before, though…”
Worry not, kind sir. I am aware of how my song shall end. The girl had a gentle smile, an expression that he had not seen from her race yet. With the passing of a new season, my voice will join the chorus. When that happens, the song I leave with you should reveal its purpose. At least… that is what I feel.
The elder’s hand clenched tight around the bead, his eyes opening marginally wider. “How… how old are you, little one?”
I am but a single note compared to your powerful presence. By asuring our songs, I am four of your years.
“Four years old… and you say you will die in a season… how can you accept this so easily?” There was a slight tremble to the man’s voice, his children behind him looking at him with knowing expressions. “At your age, you should be playing and learning, just starting to experience the world.”
The girl shook her head, floating forward to rest a hand on Kris’s shoulder. My song has touched the world you know. I have heard the voice of the mountains above, and listened to the midday sky. Everywhere it touches, I learn. And the more I learn, the further it reaches. I have heard the wingbeats of the clouds as the great dragon swam through the sky, and I have felt the sorrow that cos with the end of a song.
My song may be young, but it is deeper and brighter than any you have seen. It speaks to , telling of truths I didn’t know, of things from before I began, and things from after my song shall fade. That is why I know what I know. But as for the purpose my song shall serve… that truth alone has not revealed itself. Isn’t it a wonderful thing, not knowing sothing?
“But… don’t you want to live long enough to learn?” The man asked, having a hard ti understanding all of what the girl was saying. However, her smile only seed to brighten further as she shook her head.
The wonder does not co from learning the answer, but from the simple act of wonder itself. I wonder what the truth will be, but I will never find my answer. My wonders will never cease for this alone. However, allow to share with you a truth my song has taught .
The act of seeking knowledge is wondrous in itself, but being deceived is the betrayal of that joy. Your mother lives, kind sir, and she is watching you every day. But, she watches not with the eyes of a mother, but those of a patient hunter. Take note of the skies on dark days, lest she sweep you away.
Kris’s eyes went wide at that, unsure how to take her words. He had buried his mother nearly a century prior. Granted, there were so oddities about the circumstances of her death, yet nothing to warrant a warning like that. He harbored so natural suspicions, but seeing the unwavering black eyes of the young girl, he had to ask. “What is she after?”
A song without a singer, she awaits her call. She lives in darkened skies and shadowed halls, plotting to replace your song with her own. From that mont, the song of Kris will twist and screech, and your echo will be extinguished. That is what my song tells , at least.
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