Free Demon Singer by Benjamin Nichols Page A

at all.  Most who’ve heard of them dismiss them as legends.”  At this point she looked at Lyric who remained carefully neutral.  “soul singers are real Lyric; as are the monsters they face to protect the Composer’s Score.”  Aunt Bea got out a candy for herself and offered one to Acheron who shook her head.  “The Prophet Man became a powerful soul singer, full of Wisdom.  He did many wonderful things in service to the Composer.  The stories of his exploits have been lost, the only record destroyed in the second war of the Second Sighted.  Unfortunately, even after everything he had seen and done, his pride poisoned him. Pride is one of the deadliest enemies of us all, but perhaps more so for the soul singers than for anyone else.  Because of the tremendous responsibility they have to guard the score, as well as the power they are given to carry their duties out, pride is always at the door, knocking, seeking to come in and drown out the sound of the Song.  Sadly, the Prophet Man’s arrogance grew and he made a decision that had dreadful consequences.  In order to save him, his companion paid the price demanded of his pride and the two of them were separated forever."
    Lyric was stunned.  If what Bea said was true, someone had survived separating from their Verger.  The old woman continued.
    “Soon he had another dream.  The Voice stood before him and sang a song of sorrow.  The Prophet Man in his arrogance attempted to change the song but was unable to sing a counterpoint.  Instead, he unwillingly sang harmony to the Voice.  He struggled for a long time, trying to change the song, but the Voice remained in control.  
    Finally, the Voice stopped singing and allowed the Prophet Man an opportunity, which in his arrogance he seized.  Rather than humbling himself before the Voice and turning away from his foolish pride, he attempted a song to control the Voice.  Long in patience and mercy, the Voice did not destroy the Prophet Man, but instead reached out and touched him in the head.  Remember your lessons?”  
    Lyric nodded.  
    “The Voice sang creation into being.  He is one with the Composer and the Song and together they wrote the score that holds the secrets of our world.”  His mother, Aunt Bea and the Guild, had drilled this into him every day of his life.  Bea nodded approvingly.
    “Imagine the power contained in the finger of Voice.  Imagine what that power might do to the mind of a mortal.  The Prophet Man became crippled in the head where the Voice touched him.  From then on, he has been unable or unwilling to sing, some say he has no melody left but can only sing harmony.  Regardless, what most stories agree on is his wisdom remains, but it’s masked by his broken mind.  His power remains, but it is transformed into his ability to understand and interpret soul songs.”  Bea finished her narrative and gazed wistfully at her grove of fruit trees as they passed among them.  “The most beautiful place to spend a lifetime,” she said softly.
    “Do you know where I can find him?”
    “Find who, dear?”
    “The Prophet Man.”  Lyric said patiently
    “The Prophet Man?  Who’s that?  What an ostentatious title!”
    Lyric realized Aunt Bea was slipping into one of her confused states and that signaled time to leave.
    "Is there anything I can do for you, Aunt Bea?"
    Bea turned her eyes back to Lyric and smiled gently.
    "No, dear, you’re a sweet boy and I love you dearly, but our time is done.”
    “No!” Lyric protested in shock.  “What do you mean?  Where are you going to go?”
    “There is a time for everything Lyrical Sound of the Evening.”  Bea said fiercely.  “And as is the nature of time, it doesn’t come to last but it comes to pass.  That’s my last lesson for you, so learn it well.  It is important, now that you are a man who will face the sorrows of all men.  Time moves, and everything passes.  The only thing eternal is the Composer, the