The Music Speaks

As I take in all of the information, it becomes clear to me what it is that Rowan has been doping himself with.

‘He’s taken the new iteration of the tuning pill.’

Briefly, I recall Soulweaver’s words. As they mentioned, this new version is not taken to increase the chances of succeeding in the [fracture] ritual. Instead, its purpose is to provide the user with an immediate, and potent burst in strength. Though, what bothers me is that Soulweaver did mention that they had managed to perfect their concoction. However, it doesn’t seem like it to me. Looking at Rowan,Soulweaver was either lying or we do not have the same definition of the word ‘perfect’. Evidently, Rowan’s condition is far from ideal. I cannot say for certain, but I suspect that this pill is currently inflicting severe damage onto his soul and body, perhaps even irreversible damage. Sylvia, who stands besides me, speaks to me.

“He’s taken it, I’m sure of it… Should we alert the professors?”

I reply, unsure. “I don’t know… That guy's ability… There’s no telling just how deep Soulweaver’s roots run, even here. For all we know, That person has eyes and ears everywhere. The Maestro should be fine to talk to but… I’m really not sure about anybody else…”

She frowns. “Hmm… that’s a fair point… Plus, if we consider that the pill made it through DaiKair’s impregnable security, the possibility of them having one, or multiple insiders is rather high. Indeed, this is… problematic. Do you think maybe, some of their avatars are hidden within Daikar?”

“.... No, it’s complicated but I’m confident I could tell if there were. However, someone has to be distributing them. But wh-”

I am interrupted by an enraged cry, and my attention shifts back to the battlefield. Upon his consumption of that third pill, I notice Rowan’s demeanor has further degenerated. If before, he at least had a semblance of sanity, he has now fully lost it. Slowly, he stands up, and grips his sharpsong with enough strength for his palms to start bleeding. He mutters a series of words that I cannot understand and adopts his battle stance. His body begins to flicker, rapidly switching from visible to invisible. He locks his crazed eyes onto Violet, and prepares to launch himself at her.

In response, the small woman’s smile is quickly wiped from her face. Her expression turns sour, and she readies herself, raising both of her fists to her chin. I suspect that she has felt the shift in Rowan’s behavior, and that she understands he is now seriously aiming for her life. This is made evident by the dissimulated murderous intent in her eyes and the now deafening silence between the two of them.

Rowan raises his sharpsong in the air with a single hand, and places it in front of him. Heavy breaths escape his mouth, and his face grows increasingly pale. His usually neatly kept hair is now disheveled, and his bloodshot eyes make him appear as some sort of starved beast.

From the corner of my eye, I notice Maestro Lauren’s stance shift. A few of the other trainees also seem apprehensive at the current situation. Most of us are able to feel that something is clearly wrong. Before anyone can do anything however, Rowan disappears, and in a flash, his sharpsong is a mere inch from Violet’s throat. She, however, is not unprepared, far from that. Before Rowan’s efforts can come to fruition, she opens her mouth wide, ready to release a devastating howl.

This single scene makes it clear, this is no longer a friendly spar. Understanding the urgency of the situation, I manifest my aegis and begin running toward the two. Others may not be able to tell, but I can. No matter how strong Rowan has become because of the pill, if he is to receive this attack at point blank range, he will die, there is no doubt about it.

The same goes for Violet. She may be incredibly strong and skilled, but she is not invincible. I can see in Rowan’s eyes that he has no intention of evading or parrying her attack. He will slice through her neck even if it’s the last thing he does, and there is no telling whether Rowan’s stab or Violet’s scream will hit its target first. If this continues as is, this battle will end in one the two’s death, or in mutual destruction.

I take a step forward to stop it, and immediately realize that my efforts are futile. There is no way that my shield can reach them before the clash when they are a mere inch from each other.

‘I-I won’t make it in time!!’

My heart sinks, but just as I’ve lost all hope, I hear a soft female voice near me.

“O dearest, listen to my inner song, hear my plea, and quell this young man's rage.”

Strange, long and black tendrils erupt from the ground. They instantly bridge the gap between the spectators and the combatants, and wrap themselves around Rowan. At a frightening speed, they cover the entirety of Rowan’s body as well as his sharpsong, immobilizing him, and preventing his attack from reaching Violet. In that same moment, Maestro Lauren appears behind Violet. The Maestro covers her mouth with her hand, preventing her from releasing any sound. Just like that, both attacks are instantly neutralized, and I once again understand the vast difference between the first and second stages.

The now immobilized Rowan struggles from within his bindings, attempting to break out.

His resistance is met with a swift response. “O dearest, I beseech you, put this young man to sleep.”

The tendrils raise Rowan into the air, and placate him against the ground with a deafening thud, instantly rendering him unconscious.

‘Yeah, that’ll do it.’

Similarly, Violet struggles within the Maestro’s grasp. Muffled screams can be heard as she tries to free herself. She kicks and wiggles her body aggressively, hoping for the Maestro to tire and let go, but even she must know how futile of an effort that is. When Violet tires herself instead, the struggling grows weaker, until she finally gives in. That is when the Maestro releases her.

Free at last, Violet leaps back, and lets out an angry shout. “What did you do that for!?”

The Maestro sighs. “Because you were going to kill him.”

“Yeah, because he was going to kill me!!” She says before turning away and pouting.

Seething anger wells up within the Maestro as she looks at Violet. “These damn kids… Just go to the infirmary before I get really angry.”

Instantly, most likely not wanting to push her luck, Violet salutes the Maestro and leaves the field, stomping the ground on her way out.

On the other end of the arena, the tendrils unwrap themselves from Rowan, revealing his now passed out figure. He lays on the ground, no longer grasping his sharpsong. I peek into his soul to assess its state, and notice that it has returned to its original state, well, almost. Its strength has clearly waned and returned to its original level, but it now seems… more fragile.

The way I see it, if we consider his soul to be an instrument, then taking the pill was akin to plucking the strings of that instrument much harder than it should be possible. Yet, that is done without making the instrument itself more robust. Hence, Rowan may be fine for now, but in the long term, this pill will cause the instrument’s strings to become weak and brittle, eventually leading to them snapping. If he is to take these pills again, then that is the fate that inevitably awaits him.

As the tendrils distance themselves from Rowan, I follow their course with my eyes, in order to witness their source. I watch closely, and the place where they return shocks me. I realize that these are not strange tendrils at all, they are in fact part of Tianna’s long ravenous hair.

“Thank you, my dear.” She says as her hair regains its normal length.

Her hands are clasped together in prayer, and her eyes are closed. Looking at her, I am rather shocked to learn the real identity of the powerful threads, but what piques my curiosity the most are those phrases she says before performing an attack. I would like to ask her about it this very instant, but this is probably not the best time to do so.

When she opens her eyes, her hands return to their usual posts, caressing her own hair. She then exhales with relief and speaks out to the second quarter students. “S-Someone should bring him to the infirmary… I tried to control its strength, but h-he might be hurt…”

Heeding her advice, once they’ve made sure the coast is clear, a couple of Rowan’s friends carry him to the infirmary, making him the second incapacitated second quarter student during this spar. If this was a case like Zora, I’m sure the sparring session would have continued, but I am certain the Maestro must understand that something strange is at play here.

As I expected, she lets out a long sigh and speaks to all of the trainees. “Well, I suppose it’s time to put an end to this. You’re all dismi-”

Surprisingly, Tianna interrupts her. “P-Please wait Maestro…!”

Our teacher raises an eyebrow and looks in the direction of the sheepish girl who seldom raises her voice in such a way. “...What is it, Tianna?”

Tianna, unable to meet the Maestro’s gaze, speaks in a very soft and quiet voice. “I-It’s not fair for the others who have yet to fight. I-I think we should c-continue.”

Ron backs her up. “Hahaha! Well said my friend! I am of the same mind!”

The Maestro waves her hand dismissively and looks away. “That won’t be possible, I cannot stay to supervise, I’ve got some things to take care of.”

Tianna, however, insists.“J-Just one last battle, so everyone can have the same opportunity. I-I’ll fight all twenty three of them. I-It won’t take long.”

The Maestro looks around, assessing her surroundings. She then places her hand on her mouth pensively while aggressively tapping the ground with her foot. She must be considering all of the possibilities in her head.

Eventually, her hand slips down slowly and unveils a smile on her face. “Why not! Let’s do it. And you know what, you're allowed to use a bit more strength since you’re fighting so many of them! Now, All of the second quarter students against Tianna, in three, two, one, fight!”

We all look at each other, slightly confused. The start signal was so sudden that we’re not sure if she was being serious. One of the trainees, with clear confusion in his eyes, lets his thoughts escape the sanctity of his mind. “S-she’s fighting all of us… by herself, like, right now…?” He says.

Tianna decides to answer his questions with actions rather than words. She once more places her hands in the prayer position. Her hair begins to emit a soft, azure hue and she says: “O dearest, I implore you, lend me your strength.”

Hair sprouts from the ground, breaking through the rock surface and burrowing through the dirt behind five of the trainees. It immediately incapacitates them with a quick while-like strike to the back of their necks. Without the opportunity to defend themselves, their bodies hit the cold floor, eliminating them from this contest. This happens with not a single one of them being able to react.

“N-now, raise your instruments, p-please. I-I won’t be nice much longer.”