—— ? ——

  I should have known the solution was going to be related to combat. Dr. Melo thought to himself.

  The avatar was sitting in his quarters watching the mortal sleep through one of the many magical windows. That was something he was glad his immortal body did not require. It had been three weeks since the mortal–no, Simon–had demonstrated the first form of the echoing steps.

  It had seemed hopeless for so long. Dr. Melo had to admire Simon’s resolve. Of his many students over the years, most would have given up already. There were exceptions, but even among those, Simon was rising through the ranks. Not through skill, by any measure, but through pure stupid determination.

  It had paid off for the untalented human. He was finally improving. It was slow and painful, but it was happening. His first attempt hadn’t been good. But it didn’t make the god want to gouge his eyes out and forsake his immortality.

  Every journey begins with a single step. Simon just needs to learn that he has feet.

  A nagging feeling was bothering the god. Ever since Simon had performed the first form of the echoing steps, it had continued to grow.

  What have I forgotten?

  The god sat and puzzled over the problem. Was this feeling coming from his insecurity surrounding Simon? The god was always able to find the hidden abilities in his students. He was confident that given enough time, anyone could engage in the bardic arts.

  Simon had thrown his patron’s confidence into the trash, soaked it in accelerant, and lit it on fire.

  But after all these months, they had finally found something Simon could do.

  The key turned out to be the book by Kaelen Stridebreaker. Dr. Melo remembered his first meeting with the bard. It had been during a festival at the Steel Steps. Melodian had disguised himself as a mortal and was enjoying the events of the festival. He was busy tasting wines made from local insects– which, despite their source material, were quite delicious– when he noticed Kaelen.

  She was tall, with toned muscles, and had braided her hair into functional elegance. Scars laced her arms and shoulders like a woven tapestry, declaring her prowess. Each step she took was silent yet sharp, deliberate, every breath in rhythm. Her piercing gaze could cut through steel, and felt eerily omnipresent. As she moved through the crowd, Melodian watched as her demanding presence shifted to fade into the rhythm of the city surrounding her. She flowed past members of the crowd, changing her movements to either attract or deflect their attention as needed. People seemed to naturally move from her path or pause briefly to let her through, unaware. Her style was intent and movement married in harmony.

  Melodian stood up, threw a few coins on the table for his wine, and stepped into the crowd to follow the woman. After a few minutes of casual tailing, he realized he had lost her for a moment. Melodian detected that she had walked down a side street and hurried to follow her.

  In the dusty alleyway, the woman was sitting on a barrel checking her fingernails.

  “It is quite rude to follow a stranger. Did the wine not suit your divine tastes?” The woman asked while crossing her arms. Her voice was low and measured, but held sharp undertones that threatened violence.

  Melodian was stunned.

  Perceptive and unwavering. What an interesting mortal. He thought as he took a seat on a nearby crate.

  “The origin of the wine is unappealing, to say the least. I cannot argue with the results. It’s… unique.” Melodian said.

  “I find the flavor to be a little earthy for me. The cheaper versions can have a gritty texture, which are normally the ones I can afford.” The woman raised an eyebrow at Melodian. “I don’t think you followed me to hear my opinion on wine,” she said.

  “I was merely curious. The way you move is unique, just like the wine.” Melodian said with a smile.

  “I see the gods still view the non-divine as bugs,” she replied dryly, then laughed at Melodian’s expression. “Oh don’t worry; it was just my attempt at humor, stranger. I take it as a compliment that you compared my art to the drink you came to test. Perhaps we should give each other our names? I am Kaelen Stridebreaker.”

  “Melodian the Magnificent,” he replied.

  Kaelen’s eyebrows raised. “Oh? The god of bards and performance? I will definitely take the comparison as a compliment now.”

  “What can this young mortal do for you?”

  “Shall we find a more comfortable location?” Melodian said, looking around the dusty alleyway they were still sitting in.

  Kaelen laughed again. “I guess this isn’t the best place for a divine interview. Hmmm… From what I know, you aren’t usually put off by a shabbier venue.”

  “There is a hole-in-the-wall near here that I know of,” Kaelen said as she hopped off the barrel, flowing forward towards the god.

  “The grimier the better. I was drinking bug wine.” Melodian replied, eyes never leaving the fluid motions of the mortal.

  “Right this way,” Kaelen said as she disappeared into the busy street.

  Fascinating, Melodian thought as he hurried to keep track of the elusive woman.

  Kaelen explained her art to Melodian in depth. He had followed the bard down another alley and through a literal hole-in-the-wall that led to a private underground restaurant. It had luxurious alcoves that were cushioned and dimly lit. Each was magically enchanted to keep conversations and noise suppressed. The establishment’s staff would only approach if called through runes etched into the tables. It was a place to negotiate deals, conduct covert meetings, and perhaps more… The food was fantastic, the drinks were strong, and Melodian found the company entrancing.

  Kaelen’s movement was built around intent and focused on combat more than performance. It was purposeful and direct, but could become subtle when needed. The goal was to shape tempo, misdirect, and break the flow of a fight through movement alone.

  Kaelen summarized her technique: “Every breath is a cue. Every step a choice. Each should be filled with your intent, or you will find yourself moved by someone else.”

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Melodian knew he had to convince the battle-focused bard to teach and record her art.

  The first of her books was Steps of the Shifting Echo.

  The shape of her tome in Simon’s hands brought Melodian’s thoughts back to the present day. Yet there was a nagging feeling he had forgotten something. Though he knew it couldn’t be about the book or its author. He remembered those encounters in great detail.

  He sighed. It was about time to wake Simon up for his performance. Dr. Melo could not wait; This would be what Simon needed to leave his realm.

  Dr. Melo needed a break after this student.

  He was going to let the main avatar know as soon as Simon passed.

  Simon woke to a soft chime sound coming from the walls.

  “Time to get up, Simon!” Melodian’s chipper voice sounded out among the chiming sounds.

  Simon groaned. The past three months had been non-stop practice and reading. Every day was filled with repeating the moves from Kaelen Stridebreaker’s books. It was slow progress, but with every day Simon could see that the previously sullen god was getting more and more excited.

  I guess he is just as happy as I am to part ways. He thought to himself as he stretched and got up from his comfortable bed.

  The living arrangements in this realm were far nicer than his place on Earth. He stumbled over to the bathroom while calling out to the overly excited deity.

  “Yeah, yeah, I heard you. You know, I still think it’s a bit weird that you can just talk to me anywhere in this place. Thank the stars it’s going to be over soon. “

  “It may seem strange to you, but for the people who trust their mortal followers, it’s a necessity. If they aren’t under my gaze, how would I be able to guarantee their safety?” Dr. Melo replied from seemingly nowhere.

  “People willingly come to this realm? “You never told me that before,” Simon said as he washed his face in the ornately carved bathroom.

  He heard the god chuckle. “Not everyone is as… unique… as you. Melodian the Magnificents Zero to Hero? Training Regime is well known throughout the integrated realms. People pay a pretty enormous sum to have their musically focused members train here. It is unmatched in its ability to train even the most untalented bards. ”

  There was a heavy pause.

  Simon sighed. “I assume I am high on the list of untalented students,” he said.

  “It is the one thing you seem to excel at.” Dr. Melo replied.

  I cannot leave this place fast enough. Simon thought to himself.

  The god was silent throughout Simon’s preparations. He washed, ate, and then stretched. Simon chose a shaded location behind the Stage of Eternal Auditions. He began warming up and stretching while reading Kaelen Stridebreaker’s book. The book had become his companion in the last three months of training. It had basically never left his side. It was his lifeline to escape this hellhole of a realm.

  The words from her book encouraged and pushed him forward. One passage in the book had stood out, and he had read it countless times over the last three months.

  “Your first steps will be wrong. That is the cost of learning. You will trip on habit, stumble on doubt, and fall into rhythms not your own. Do not fear this. Listen to yourself. Even the wrong step teaches timing. Remember, your movements are not for you to impress; they are not for you to perform. They are what will help you endure. “

  Simon reread the passage as he finished his stretching. The words echoed in his mind, and he steeled his resolve.

  It was time to finish this.

  He looked across the path where Dr. Melo was sitting on a bench in a meditative pose.

  “Ready?” The god spoke, eyes still closed, seeming to know Simon was looking at him.

  “I think so,” Simon said. “Guess it’s time for me to break a leg?”

  “No? Please do not break your leg.” The god looked horrified. “Even with the healing capabilities of this realm, it would take days for you to recover!” he pleaded.

  “Wait, do you not know that expression? I think it’s a pretty common one from Earth. It’s used when you are about to go on stage; basically another form of ‘good luck’. If you don’t know that, then why does The Chambers of Sound and Silence seem to have every musical track from Earth?” Simon asked as he stopped walking towards the building.

  “Ah, it’s slang from your planet. The simple answer to that is the System supplies those songs because of an agreement.” The god replied.

  He seemed satisfied with Simon’s explanation and had continued to walk into the Stage of Eternal Auditions.

  Simon stood for a few moments. He breathed and centered himself like the book had shown him.

  His intent was clear. He would move to free himself from this stupid realm.

  No matter how many tries it took.

  It took one.

  —– Notice —–

  > BARDIC TRAINING PROTOCOL: FINAL STATUS

  > Source: Melodian the Magnificent

  > Target: [Subject] Simon “of the Broken Oath”

  > Objective: Demonstrate basic competence in any bardic art.

  > Result: Pass

  > Recognized Discipline: Dance (Intent-Driven Rhythmic Form)

  > Performance Rating: Barely Acceptable (but technically admissible)

  > Audience Reaction (Simulated):

  - 67% Passive Observation

  - 22% Mild Approval

  - 11% Confused but not hostile

  - 0% Projectile engagement

  > Conclusion: The average tavern patron would probably let you finish.

  > Completion Time: 9 months, 6 days, 4 hours, 3 mins, 42 seconds

  ~ Congratulations!

  ~ You have officially survived Bardic Training?.

  ~ Please collect your baggage, emotional or otherwise, on the way out.

  … Checking conflicting conditions… please wait.

  —------

  Sweat dripped down Simon’s face as he read the prompt in front of him.

  Clap.. Clap… Clap. The avatar of Melodian the Magnificent stepped out of the crowd slowly clapping.

  Simon sighed in relief and slumped to his knees.

  He had done it.

  The god appeared on stage in front of him.

  “Congratulations Simon. I think it is time for both of us to have a much-deserved break, wouldn’t you say?” Dr. Melo said as he summoned two comfortable couches from his quarters.

  Simon gratefully took a seat.

  “I agree. Wow, nine months and six days. It’s crazy to think how long it’s been in here, but basically no time has passed outside. If only I had been here for the whole ten years, I would have missed Tuesday!” Simon said as he stretched out on the large couch.

  The god smiled. “Well, based on your Earth calendar… You said you came in here on the 4th of March?” he said with a thoughtful expression.

  “Yup, fourth of March. Although I guess it’s still the fourth of March technically.” Simon replied, shifting into the couch even deeper.

  Man, where did these couches come from? Way better than any of the ones I have found here. He thought to himself.

  “Based on my understanding,” the god continued, “if time had been running at normal speeds, today would be December 10th, so you wouldn’t have missed Tuesday.”

  Simon froze.

  He slowly turned his head to face the god.

  “Uh… what now?”

  “If time were normal, today would be December 10th. A Tuesday.” The god paused as he saw the look of dawning horror on Simon’s face.

  “What’s wrong?” He asked.

  No, no… relax, Simon. You are being ridiculous. Simon thought to himself.

  But he couldn’t help the growing feeling of dread in his mind. He hadn’t been keeping track of days. He had messed up.

  He shook himself from his dark thoughts and asked.

  “Um… It shouldn’t be a problem… right? It’s dumb. Also, why are we waiting right now?” Simon said.

  “The realm is currently checking any conflicting conditions with the performance. It’s just a routine check. Happens with every student. After a few minutes, the realm will open, and we will both leave.”

  “Are you sure you are okay?” The god asked, looking at Simon’s pale face with a concerned expression.

  Simon laughed nervously. “Oh, it’s routine! Happens every time, right?” he said, his voice cracking a bit.

  “Yes… It’s not something to be worried about.” Dr. Melo said, then asked again. “You don’t look good. What’s going on?”

  Simon was about to respond when a discordant chime rang out.

  A red prompt appeared between him and the god.

  —– Warning —–

  > CONFLICTING CONDITION DETECTED

  > Source: [Subject] Simon “of the Broken Oath”

  > Status: Cursed by Varrax - Martial God.

  > Condition: Origin of Instruction: Kaelen Stridebreaker – Disciple of Varrax

  > Explanation: Domain Overlap: [Combat | Rhythm | Intent-Based Motion]

  > Conclusion: Subject must pass the Training Protocol using a different bardic art. The subject has not performed an acceptable act. Time remains.

  > Acceptance Criteria: If the average tavern patron would let you finish your freely provided act without throwing something at you. You pass.

  ~ Remember, practice, practice, practice ?? There must be at least one OTHER discipline you can use to perform a passable act!

  —------

  Dr. Melo leapt to his feet and screamed.

  “YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING!”

  —— ? ——