• Memory • [Burhan] A Blessed Voice

[Valeria Burhan]

105 Vhalar 713

Valeria knew how different she now was. After she'd been marked, she'd been even more obsessed with gazing into the mirror at her own reflection than before. Immediately afterwards, she'd been sure that there was some outward sign of what had occurred to her and it had turned out that she'd been correct. Her appearance could be altered when she willed it, only small changes but it could be done. It made sense given the value of physical attraction in the art of seduction. It made sense that she could be made more beautiful or the correct sort of beautiful for whoever beheld her. However, seduction wasn't Zanik's only domain, which meant that the Burhan noblewoman had something else to test.

She could sense the trickle of power when she used her abilities and could sense her connection to Zanik but the true power of what she could do was external and felt by those around her rather than herself. Thus, she needed a test subject and that was a risky business. Only Ivy knew what had happened to her and it wasn't like she could tell anyone else. Telling someone that she'd been marked by the Immortal meant admitting that she worshipped the Immortal. To admit that she wasn't a Rynlist was a risky business. If she told her parents, they'd be disappointed in her but they'd probably also do all they could to try to stamp her devotion out of her. It seemed a little late for that, all things considered, but that wouldn't stop them. They were meddling bastards.

As for others, well... who could she trust? Who would keep their mouth shut but use the information to blackmail her? Who would be so horrified that she wasn't a Rynlist that they'd spread it near and far. None of them could know for any one of them could be an enemy who could turn on her. Yet the young woman knew that it was those people that she must test her abilities on. It was those unsuspecting humans who she must manipulate and work wonders upon if she was to see how Zanik had blessed her. She could not wait until she next saw Ivy to see what she could do, but would have to test things sooner rather than later.

So she'd decided that it would be a good idea to sing for someone who she'd known for many arcs: Ulyna.

It wasn't necessary for her to have a tutor anymore but the woman was still around the family home. She was supposed to be there for the sake of her brothers now but really, the middle-aged lady was at a loose end because she'd almost exclusively tutored Valeria. Given the number of arcs she'd been with the family and the things she knew about Valeria's early teens, it was better for the Burhan family to ensure that she was well looked after. Given the options that were open to her, Ulyna was the best person to test her abilities on.

So she convinced the woman to come into her bedroom, getting her to sit on the bed while the blonde stood before her.

"I really appreciate you doing this," the young woman cooed, favouring her guest with a sweet smile although her eyes didn't quite reflect her bright humour, a light green instead of a shade of brown. "I just really wanted to sing for someone rather than singing by myself."

The brunette nodded, eyeing the noblewoman a little suspiciously. "I don't mind. I enjoy listening to you. What are you going to sing?"

Valeria smiled. "I'm sure you'll be able to guess," she giggled. She stood up straight, forcing herself to calm her breathing as she laid a hand on her abdomen just below her ribcage. She thought of her connection to Zanik, considered what he'd want her to do. The Immortal had said that she was to do these things in his name and so she silently dedicated her performance to the god whose domain was music, willing Ulyna to experience the same emotions that she would.

She started to hum, a soft sound and one that she tried to put as much of a tune into it as possible, allowing the notes to move up and down as she felt her vocal chords vibrate, warming them for the main performance. She saw Ulyna nod in recognition, silently urging her to feel the music in the same way that she herself did. Without an instrument to accompany her, it was necessary for her to sing the wordless notes, making up sounds that would have been ridiculous if she wasn't singing a capella. Even when singing cantata, it was common for the opening instrumental to be sung rather than played and Valeria liked to think that it was something that she was good at, as it allowed her to weave a melodious pattern that earned her quite a bit of admiration. It was a sound that she liked to believe was enchanting and the other woman certainly appeared to be held rapt. The noblewoman knew that she managed to sing this part fairly well but even so, the other's reaction was unusual. She was reacting exactly as Valeria had hoped she would, or more accurately, as she'd willed her to do.

Musical Inspiration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7y19ED6Vrk

[Valeria Burhan]

The Burhan couldn't afford to dwell on the effect that she seemed to be having on Ulyna, although it added to her confidence as she shifted from the a capella instrumentation into the opening lyrics of the song. The shift from the nonsensical words to real ones was relatively smooth, her vocal chords sufficiently warmed up for the soft opening notes to sound as they should. She covered a short range, moving up and down in a sweet melody, taking a subtle breath at the end of the first line so she could begin the second on a higher note. She didn't push herself too high or allow her voice to grow too loud but softly crooned it, as if singing a lullaby to a child.

Valeria took the progression slowly and steadily, doing her best to drag certain sounds out, keeping her volume low if she didn't think she could manage to sustain the note correctly. It was a very pleasant, lilting ballad that was more than suitable for a young noblewoman to sing. It was the sort of song that was very courtly and romantic, and despite knowing that the beautiful Rose that she sang about was a Venora, she liked to imagine a listener thinking of her while she sang it. Perhaps it was the worst sort of vanity but it made the song have greater meaning for her and she was sure that it made a difference to the way that she sang it.

Aside from a few more powerful parts, the melody was one that was relatively easy for the novice to manage. Ulyna had always told her that she had a great potential range if she'd only practice it, although she could often hit surprisingly low or unusually high notes when she tried, even without the training. However, it was often transitioning to and from such notes that she managed to mess up, as her voice would crack or her voice would slip uneasily across ill-fitting notes, which could be unpleasantly jarring. Sometimes, she didn't get enough breath into her, almost gasping when she reached the end of a note, heaving in air like a bellows. Watching one's breathing was important when singing, which was one of the reasons why she kept her hand where she did, especially as its pressure reminded her when she needed to expand her lungs further. The breathing thing was something that she'd have to get the hang of, especially as she typically performed in a corset, which was an unpleasant constraint that she she didn't have to deal with at the moment. However, if she was going to go to Andaris soon and potentially be singing in front of more people than the occasional party she'd enjoyed in Burhan then she would certainly carry out the exercises that Ulyna had always tried to push upon her.

"Like a kiss from a Rose..." she finished, holding the final note and slowly letting it fade. She found herself close to tears, the emotion rising up powerfully raw within her, and as she looked to Ulyna, she found that the woman's emotions seemed to reflect her own. She'd wanted to cause the other to feel as she felt and she'd apparently gotten her wish.

It took the other some time to collect herself while the blonde waited patiently, hands clasped together demurely in front of her. "Kiss From a Rose," she gasped at last, a slight croak to her voice; she sounded as if she was ready to burst into tears at any moment. "I... Have you been practising? I've heard you sing it before but... never like that. It was so... so moving. Truly magical. I'm... I'm very proud," the tutor admitted, gazing at her wonderingly, while the blonde's eyes took on a honey tone. She watched the middle-aged woman shake her head, giving Valeria an odd look. "You had this sort of... glow about you. A proper glow about you while you sang but... it was obviously a trick of the light! Don't mind the rambling of an old woman."

Valeria laughed pleasantly although her eyes had taken on a bright blue tinge in her shock. She hid it by leaning forward to kiss the other woman on the cheek. "Don't be daft, Ulyna. You're not old, you're still very much in your prime," she complimented. "Thank you for listening to me but don't let me keep you. I'm just going to head into the washroom to freshen up."

Her guest rose and made a short curtsey to the noblewoman before she departed, leaving the young woman to move into her small washroom to peer wonderingly at herself in the mirror.

There was no glow about her now but obviously there had been, something 'truly magical' as Ulyna had put it. She'd sung better than she ever had or at least, had made the woman feel that she had. She'd made her feel as she felt, made her experience the music on her own terms and she realised that it could be no coincidence. Hadn't she called on the power that Zanik had given her through his touch just a few trials before? Hadn't she felt that tingle flow through her, moving through her as she sang? It seemed that when she concentrated on it, she could make others feel however she wanted through her singing. Apparently, it was something that was visible, which could be potentially dangerous as it was a sign that she wasn't a Rynlist but if nobody could recognise it for what it was then was she truly in any danger?

It had given the young woman a great deal to think about but for now, she couldn't deny that she was pleased with the effects that she'd wrought. It made her feel powerful, even though it wasn't a power that she held in her own right; she possessed it through Zanik.

Did you see what I did? Is this what you meant for me? she asked silently, trying to communicate with the Immortal although it wasn't a true prayer. She had no way of knowing whether he heard or not, but she liked to think that he had and that he had been following her performance keenly.

Note

Obviously, while I used Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" for inspiration, it was for the opening and overall melody as opposed to the lyrics. I really should see about writing appropriate lyrics for a Venora ballad because they seem like the sort of people that you write romantic ballads about. That being said, don't hold me to that development...

[Pegasus]

Valeria

Overview

This is the first time I've reviewed something of yours and I really like how you write! Your character is really well developed and I love how self-involved she is, and how well you write that in her thought processes. I can just picture her there, in front of the mirror, looking for the glow that Zanik's mark has given her. I like your portrayal of the NPC, too, and your description of the song is great. I have to admit, when I read your request I thought it unlikely to get devotional rewards, but this thread perfectly fits the next ability, which I have awarded you. Well done - a pleasure to review. If you've got any questions, let me know!

Points

XP: 10

Fame: +5 (gossip, performance etc)

Loot

New Mark Ability:
Mesmerize: Character is able to control the attention and actions of an individual (1 person) through song or instrument for a short amount of time. (This is not to be used as a form of god modding, the PC is allowed to decline and/or resist any commands given. This skill is used is to be used as a means of coaxing someone.)

Knowledge

Singing: Need to concentrate on breathing
Singing: Warming up the vocal cords by humming
Singing: Emulating instruments through a capella
Singing: Practice makes perfect
Deception: Kissing another's cheek to hide true emotions
Elithem - Musical Enchantment (Minor): Making others feel the music as you do

General

NPC Ulyna: Childhood tutor
NPC Ulyna: Can be trusted
Kiss From a Rose: Song about the Venora