Chapter Text
A knock on his door jolted Achillean out of his sleep. Even though he was quite the early riser, the fact that someone else was bothering him this early in the morning surprised him. The sun had barely risen.
"Come in," The door opened and an Ardoni, about the same age as Achillean, practically fell into his room. Even clad in Nestoris colours, he recognized the Voltaris.
"Ingressus? What are you doing up so early?" Achillean asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he slowly sat up. As his vision cleared, he noticed that Ingressus was bouncing ever so slightly. "And why in Ardonia are you so excited?"
"Don't you know?" As Achillean shook his head, Ingressus sighed. "It's the day where we choose our songs. I'm getting one, you should too!"
"Gress, you know how I feel about Songs, I'm not getting one if I can avoid it,"
"Oh come on, also yes I do know how you feel, you have WHINED and BOTHERED me about it ever since I mentioned it. 'Ingressus, Songs can corrupt people, Songs are so bad blah blah blah.' If you don't want to fight with a Song, you can chose something other than an Aggressium, like a Protisium Song or something,"
"Don't ignore it, Songs and just power in general can corrupt. You have to be careful. Also, I don't talk like that,"
"Uh, yas you do. Your voice gets really high-pitched when you're angry, it's funny to watch," Ingressus snorted as Achillean protested and proved his point. "It's really only the Prime Songs that can corrupt, and you could use your Song to protect people instead!"
"I still wouldn't risk it…"
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But as the time neared for the Song choosing ceremony to start, two almost- latecomers sprinted to the beach where the Ardoni Shrine was. A huge cheer went up from the Nestoris gathered on one side of the shrine, and a disappointed noise went up from the other side as both noticed the duo.
"Thanks Ingressus!" Called one of the cheering Ardoni. "I get to push Lithaeus off the pier because of you!"
"What- Ingressus what is this?" Achillean asked, confused.
"I wouldn't know…" Replied Ingressus.
The Ardoni who had thanked Ingressus answered his question instead, "So we had a bet-"
An Ardoni on the other side interrupted, saying, "ITHALIA, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL THEM THAT!"
Ithalia just laughed, and continued. "Don't be salty just because you lost and will soon be very wet, Lithaeus. Many of us were sure that Achillean wouldn't come to the ceremony, but the rest of us were very confident in your persuasive skills, Ingressus. So we said that whichever side is correct gets to push anyone from the other side into the water without getting in trouble or any whining or complaining. As is evident by your presence here, I won,"
At this, another cheer rose from Ithalia's side of the beach.
Suddenly, silence fell as Aegus Nestoris, master of the Nestoris clan walked in to stand in the centre of the shrine, Nestor held out in front of him and planted firmly in the ground.
"Oh, don't stop because of me, go on and enjoy your victory while you can because I believe you may have trouble doing so after you get your Songs,"
"You- you knew?" one of the assembled Ardoni asked.
"Of course I knew," Aegus said, and smiled. Turning to Lithaeus, he said, "Ithalia can be quite aggressive with pushing people off things, I suggest you get a Protisium song for your protection,"
"Master Aegus! Why are you taking his side?" Ithalia protested jokingly. Aegus just laughed again and turned to the assembled crowd.
"Today marks a very special day, for all of you," The crowd of 20-or-so young Ardoni fell silent at his voice. "Today, you choose your songs from either of the four categories - Aggressium, Mobilium, Protisium, and Supporium. They can all be used for good or for bad, but I trust that you will use them for good. Each category has a different purpose, and each individual song bestows a different ability in their recipient," Here, he paused, and gestured to the trees that lined the edge of the beach. A large table was carried out, songs of different colours laid out on top. A collective 'ooh' went up from many of the Ardoni, but Achillean was not one of them. Aegus picked up a red song, and held it out in front of him.
"Aggressium - this type of song is used as a weapon, and enables one to attack their opponent with structured Aggressium energy. While Songs themselves are neutral, Aggressium songs are often used for violence. But they can also used to restore peace," As he said this line, his gaze seemed to drift through the crowd, and, strangely, landed on Achillean. But before anyone else could notice, Aegus turned back to the table and switched the Aggressium song for a pulsing, blue cube.
"Protisium. These songs are used for protection - to create a barrier or a shield. They can protect you, and protect others, from harm," He placed the Protisium song down and picked up a yellow song. The yellow energy inside it seemed to streak through its casing, centering around its glowing core. "Mobilium - these songs can be used for increased movement or agility," Finally, he grasped a green song with little bubbles inside. "Supporium. Each supporium song varies greatly - choose one of these and you can be pleasantly surprised,"
"Please form a line, in order to receive your songs," At this, many of the Ardoni started pushing around, trying to get first pick. Achillean and Ingressus managed to grab a spot around the middle of the line, and eventually everyone else settled for their spots.
"First to choose - Ameina," announced Aegus, "Come forward," A rather tall Ardoni with long, pale yellow markings that streaked diagonally over her torso stepped forward confidently. "Please select your song, Ameina," Having apparently given her choice some thought, she picked up an Aggressium song from around the middle of the table.
"Now, place your song here on the Ardoni Shrine, as this is the Aggressium pillar," the Nestoris master directed, and the younger Ardoni obeyed.
"What do I do?" she asked.
"Just listen," Aegus replied, stepping back. A moment passed, and suddenly a bright light flashed, Ameina's yellow markings shining brighter to match the light's intensity. But as quickly as it appeared, the light vanished, and Ameina collapsed to her knees, panting slightly. Two other Nestoris who had been waiting to the side helped her off the Shrine's platform as whispers erupted amongst the remaining line.
"Ameina, you may now go," Looking embarassed and grateful, she walked off to where many other Ardoni had gathered, eventually finding two older Nestoris with similar markings and standing with them.
"Next - Ilieus…" But Aegus' voice was drowned out by Achillean's own fears. "Ingressus…that looked rather painful…"
"Ah, she'll be okay," Leaning into Achillean and whispering so that only he could hear, he said, "With the Voltaris, many of us received our songs at a much younger age, and we all survived. Well… mostly,"
"Mostly?!" Achillean whisper-shouted. Ingressus stifled his laughter at the panic on his friend's face, and clarified, "Sometimes the younger ones would steal songs that were family heirlooms and try them out. The songs didn't hurt them, but their parents certainly weren't happy, I can tell you that,"
"Next- Avourel! Step forward, Avourel," The Ardoni in front of Ingressus walked up to the shrine, and Ingressus began bouncing up and down. Achillean let out a small yelp as the energetic Ardoni in front of him accidentally stepped on his feet in his excitement.
"Ack- sorry, Achillean, I didn't mean to- he was cut off by a collective gasp as the young Ardoni receiving his song collapsed, sending Achillean into a panic.
"Is he okay?! Oh…I don't really want to do this…" He started to walk out of the line when Ingressus grabbed his arm.
"He's fine, its just sometimes the rush of energy renders you temporarily unconscious,"
"He's going to wake up, right?"
"Yas, he will- oh look, I'm up!" Ingressus turned back to the Nestoris master, who was beckoning for him to step forward.
"I called your name, twice, Ingressus,"
"I'm sorry, Master Aegus…" Ingressus said, looking rather sheepish.
"It doesn't matter. Choose your song, Ingressus," After hesitating a little, the Voltaris finally settled on an Aggressium song near the far side of the table. Placing it into the correct hole on the shrine, he stood - and vanished in a flash of light. When it cleared, yet another collective gasp from the young Ardoni and the bystanders went up as it revealed Ingressus - in his Voltaris colours.
"Oh! Um, must be some extra Aggressium energy - give me a moment, this energy can be potentially dangerous if left there," Aegus muttered, covering for Ingressus. He took Nestor and a concerned-looking Ingressus and hurried into the trees. After what seemed like hours, he finally returned, Ingressus trailing behind with Nestoris colours restored.
"Nearly thought you were a Voltaris, there!" A young Ardoni called from the line.
"Uh… haha…" Ingressus laughed awkwardly and then walked over to Achillean. "You'll do great, don't worry," he whispered, "Just choose a song that calls to you,"
"Achillean!" He jumped as the Nestoris master called his name. "Step forward, Achillean, and choose a Song." Trembling, the young Nestoris approached the table. A humming sound swamped his mind as the different tones of the different Songs echoed in his ears all at once, and Achillean squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to block it out. Just choose a song that calls to you. As he recalled Ingressus' words, a pleasant tune seemed to register above all the rest, and, opening his eyes, Achillean found his hand hovering over a Mobillium song with a colour that matched his markings. Picking it up cautiously, he found that it just felt right.
"Good choice, Achillean," Aegus Nestoris reassured the young Ardoni. "Now place it in the shrine, here," Putting the Song delicately into its dedicated slot, Achillean returned to the centre of the shrine. "And…listen…" The melody he had heard before grew louder and louder, and he focused his mind on it until it was all he could hear. Its sweet tune pulsed, and echoed… and suddenly faded away.
He felt… so… tired, but alive with energy at the same time. "Achillean! How does it feel?" Ingressus said, running over to the side of the shrine, but Achillean couldn't respond. The melody was replaced with a ringing sound, so loud it hurt- and suddenly everything faded to black.
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