The days that Sonata spent on top of Echo, waiting for news of her siblings were also days of worry for the Walasye people of Ecchr. The Walasye had come to great blessings and wealth under the guidance of Sonata, and the creation of their city itself was a blessing. In the middle of Lake Madako it stood, the three levels of Ecchr. Highest there was the Moon Viewing Square, in the center of which the great monolith carved by Sonata herself, with the words of [Ar Maen], and stories about the White City of the White Moon, in song. Here the more skilled people sang and practiced [Ar Maen] or learned from the priestesses Sonata had taught. And the square was surrounded by the four ziggurats to the East, West, South, and North. Above them, the gentle rain clouds hung and crowned them with rainbows, and the waters flowed down the terraced gardens around the Moon Viewing Square, and into the canals of the four districts of the second level.
Here the canals were busy with markets and life, as people went from houses to work or trade. Children ran along the edges of the canals, while lazy foxes slept in the sun, or ran quickly in the shadows on their errands. The bridges across the canals were painted as rainbows, and little boats were used as often as feet.
But the water of the canals flowed on, down again into the terraces and farms of the first level, where the farmers and fishers worked in the lake, trading words with the servants of the dragon lord who ruled below. And four great bridges connected the city of Ecchr to the lands around the lake, where trades from the five lakes and villages came and lived, and shared in the bounty.
It was on the Moon Viewing Square that Aria stood now, wearing silk bands around her waist and over her skirt. Today she wore only one lily flower in her blond hair, a look of concern on her face as she listened to Shi
to, one of the three Lequera, tell about the actions of Sonata for the day. The rain had been lacking for some time now, it was explained, because Sonata had gone to Echo peak on Kodama to wait for news of her family.
How many days now, she had waited, and in the early summer, a growing concern was coming. The waters of the canals were low, and only would become lower.
The priestesses and chief officials had gathered to ask what could be done to return the lady's favor. But the three Lequera had disagreed and argued what should be done, and the mood had become stressed. No songs of [Ar Maen] were sung today. But as the tension increased, and a mood of waiting became unmanageable, cruel words were used and thrown, and accusations of greedily stealing water began.
Before a fight could occur however, the foxes arrived- always in swift timing. And Aria looked and saw the gold and silver fur of Renard, who was the chief fox and of fair voice. He came to sit in front of the great monolith.
"Be quiet and listen! I know our Lady Sonata is worried about her family, just like you are all worried about yours! So, be good and remember all she has done for you. Do not turn against each other, like greedy siblings! Do not be afraid, for Renard has a cunning strategy to win back the lady's attention. But I need a volunteer!"
Perhaps it was fate, or an earnest desire to help. Maybe it was the silver tongue of Renard, or a song waiting to be told. But Aria raised her hand first, and answered.
"I will go!"
And immediately a fox was beside her and pulled on her skirt gently to the front. Renard wore a big fox smile.
"And here is the one, we will offer to her! Let this girl be dressed finely like a priestess, and we will escort her to Echo peak. There, you will attend to the Lady Sonata, and remind her of Ecchr. You must be cunning, and sing gracefully for her, as a good handmaiden."
Aria agreed to these things, but still had doubts as she was dressed and her hair styled and set with chrysoprase.
She looked at Renard, who watched her mysteriously.
"But how can I, even as a handmaiden, be of use to my lady?" Renard laughed.
"The Lady Sonata has worn the coats of dragons and foxes, but never the coats of humans! So it should be no surprise that she doesn't know about you, or understand. Her eyes look far away, but she doesn't see what is near. She yearns for companionship, but not the love of foxes and dragons!
So you must show her what is close. You will never fulfill her yearning for her family, but you can show her that she has another family here. Waiting on Echo peak is lonely! So bring some warmth, and we foxes will do the rest."
So it was that Aria was brought by Renard to the peak of Echo, where Lady Sonata looked out and listened for her family. And Sonata turned to look upon Aria and Renard, and asked.
"For what purpose did you come here?" Aria responded.
"I wish to serve my lady, and earn her love for Ecchr, and for the Walasye people who live in the blessings of Lady Sonata. You always have given us your blessing and the rains, and for these things we are your servants. But my Lady turns her attentions to the far lands, and we are worried. The feeling of loneliness here is like the drought on us. So, I come trembling, to become a song for you." To this Sonata thought quietly, while Aria preformed a song of prayer of [Ar Maen]. And even though Aria finished, Sonata did not move. So Aria sang again. And again. She sang all day. Her voice hurt, but she still sang.
And it was as Aria finished 101 times, that Sonata stirred. For a great song seemed to echo from the mountains. A heavenly voice, more fair than any Aria had heard, except only for Sonata's. And Sonata closed her eyes and cried tears that fell like jewels on the mountain.
For this song was Fayruz, her twin sister, who sang a song of worry and concern, but also of beauty and hope. And it surrounded Sonata, and sent her hair dancing in a hot desert wind. And Sonata fell to her knees in relief and joy. Her sister was safe. Her family would be reunited. A plan could come of this.
And then Sonata laughed freely, and turned to Aria and fixed Renard with a sly fox smile.
"Oh, fox chief, you did not think I would see through your plan? To bring this maiden, you are doing my work! And to have kept order in Ecchr with your plans, truly it is said that foxes are most cunning!" But Renard laughed and bowed.
"No! The most cunning must be the Lady Sonata, who turns all things to song." And Sonata laughed and returned to Aria, who was filled with hope, while also awe. And Sonata gently took part of her rainbow cloak, and with the chrysoprase from Aria's accessory, she touched Aria's head.
"I have heard your song, as well as my sister's. But you came here to serve me and to help your people. I will turn you to song, a song that is beyond any that can be heard in the human voice! You will sing a song of [Ar Maen], a song that will rival the greatest of the spirits of the white city when I was a child. You will sing with all of your heart and your passion, and it will consume you. Your life will be short, but it will not be forgotten. If you are willing, so I will make you my first Hymmnoi, and your songs will bring great blessing to this world."
Aria took these words seriously, for Sonata's words were heavy, and filled with determination, sadness, but also with beauty and joy. They told of an endless waltz, but also the promise of brighter days. For Aria, who could not know why she had been chosen, it was a choice made in a moment of bliss and turmoil, and so like the climax of a song, it was the perfect time for this action.
"I am be glad to become a song."
"With happiness for the purpose of lasting happiness, I turn you into song."
And the rainbow stone left it's mark upon the forehead Aria, who became the first
Hymmnoi of Sonata. And her name became
Aria Nel, to mean [the first Aria]. And her songs surpassed all of the other songs of the priestesses and Walasye, and shamed even the three Lequera dragon princesses. But Sonata was not finished with this, for she turned to Renard and spoke.
"Like how you have always been together with me since the fall, so also will my Hymmnoi have with them a fox, who will live as their companion and friend, so that they are most alike me in these people. They will sing nobly, until their death, though the true feelings of the [Ar Maen] will burn their life away. Let it be then, that their songs are remembered and passed down, so a legacy will record their history and deeds, and like a diary be passed to their successors."
And Renard for once had no cunning words for the mandate of Sonata, and bowed his head. So it was that Aria Nel, who was the first Aria, returned to the lake city of Ecchr singing songs of the rain bringing goddess, and Sonata followed with a procession of foxes, and the clouds gave forth their rain in joy to the voice of Sonata and Aria singing together.
When the ceremony was finished, and the people retired for the night, Sonata sat on the temple of Resplendent Song, and looked at Renard fondly.
"My sister is known to me now. There will be nothing that can stop me from going to her. And you must come with me, as always. Ecchr now has the Hymmnoi who will sing and keep order, and your foxes who will bring news that is needed. In the lake Madako, the dragon lord guards them. So now I must not delay, and go to my sister!"
Renard laughed and said.
"Always, so hasty you are
To go here and there quickly,
like a young fox!
But how far must you go?
Will you fly like a bird?
You will have to pass through the storm curtain
before you come to the south sea!"
And Sonata smiled a fox smile.
"What do you think
I did all the time upon Kodama?
I already know of this, and have a cunning plan.
It is said that there is the lightning wolf, who
plays from cloud to cloud
and is greedier than any fox.
So I will go tame him, and this is my plan!"
And Sonata whispered her plan to Renard, who was amazed. So the fox chief was speechless twice. Sonata's inspiration was becoming too much for him.