Rowan continued singing well into the evening. A select few songs were originals like the first, but most of them were either classics or samples from her mother's repertoire. With that said, each one had purpose; they were playing into the notions of hope and a brighter tomorrow that Rowan was trying to cultivate.

Each song brought more and more people to The Crimson Drakiir. The atmosphere had changed completely. It wasn’t just hope; it was community. The people were no longer trapped by a broken shard of yesterday. They could finally start moving with the present.

Rowan could feel the energy in the air. It was love. It was understanding. It was vibrant and full of colour. It was wonder.

She didn't know how else to explain the feeling. At first, she had thought it was due to nostalgia, but she knew it couldn't have been the moment she stopped looking for the Næmyris in her memories. It wasn’t curiosity either. Not quite. Curiosity was focused. It needed to be satiated.

No. This was wonder, for wonder spoke of a place beyond truth. It was the beginning and the end. It was… impossible for Rowan to capture with words alone.

Even so, she was drawn to it. She could feel her potential. She could see the promise she had given to Næmyris. The flames would dance again.

*****

It didn't take long for people to start approaching Rowan after she concluded her final song. There were only a couple at first. A thank you here or there.

Once it became apparent that Rowan wasn't pushing people away, they surrounded the stage. There were a few familiar faces, but Rowan didn't recognise the majority. Fortunately, they didn't climb onto the stage despite it being only knee-height.

They were respectful for the most part. That isn't to say she didn't get a significant amount of proposals or courting attempts ranging from overly crude pick-up lines to waxing poetic, but the majority just wanted to express their gratitude and let her know the music had touched them.

When the crowd started dispersing, and Rowan finally stepped down from the stage, she was approached by the first truly familiar face. Master Idyr limped towards her with his daughter in tow. She could see the tears in his eyes.

"As I live and breathe," he half-exclaimed. “When you were sat on stage singing, I could hardly believe my eyes, but seeing you now, there's no denying it. You really are Rowan.”

“I am?” Rowan replied awkwardly. “I mean, aye, I am indeed Rowan.”

“You've grown up so much,” Idyr smiled. Then he did something completely uncharacteristic of the scholar she had known. He hugged her, and the tears started flowing. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." He kept saying it over and over again while his daughter kept back. Rowan could see the gratitude and adoration in her eyes.

"Um, what exactly am I being thanked for?" Rowan inquired. It was clear that the gratitude went much deeper than what everyone else expressed so far, but she didn’t know why.

"My daughter!” Idyr cried out. “Namiiri is alive and free, thanks to you."

"She is? I mean, she's right there, so obviously she's alive and free, but why am I the reason?”

“I was captured by the same raiders as you,” Namiiri, the daughter in question, explained. “When you ran off, some of us were able to escape in the confusion. We barely made it back, but without you, we'd never have had the chance. You're an Ardent, aren't you?”

“I am. They were going to kill Tehri. I'm glad some of you were able to use my Awakening to escape. Is the rest of your family okay?”

“My brother didn't make it. He was trampled in the stampede, and mother was scarred horrifically. She's barely left the house since then.”

“I'm so sorry."

“You need not apologise or offer your condolences,” Idyr said, still crying. “Saving Namiiri was more than I could ever ask for.”

“Well, you can have them regardless. Such is the way of compassion.”

Idyr released Rowan from his embrace and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Perhaps you are right. We shall not keep you any longer. I have no doubt you have people you want to get back to.”

“Thank you.”

Idyr stepped away, and Namiiri gave Rowan a quick hug before they both left. When no one else approached her, she started making her way to the table Tehri and the others had moved to after Rowan had left. In addition to the seven faces she expected to see, there was an eighth.

“Doctor Bræn?”

“Ah, Rowan, it's so good to see you! I was just talking to Tehri and her wonderful guardians here.”

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The doctor smiled brightly. Unlike many of the familiar faces she had seen, he had been treated well by the passing years. All that had overtly changed was his now shiny bald head.

Hana smiled warmly. “We were going to send him away, but when Tehri recognised him, we offered him a seat instead. He's going to give us all a free check-up tomorrow.”

“It's the least I can do.”

“Doctor Bræn has always been like this,” Rowan interjected. “He's a kind soul.”

“It warms my heart to hear you say that, Rowan. I realise the way I operate as a physician would be impractical at a larger scale, even with the subsidies from the Crown, but I find it far more rewarding this way.”

“I can see the logic,” Byrden opined. “We frequently did something similar back in Aran Village.”

“Favours are a valuable currency,” Doctor Bræn agreed. “Alas, favours can't buy everything. Fortunately, I know my limits, and helping a few refugees for free is, as I said, the least I can do.”

“We really do appreciate it,” Hana replied.

“I would like to give you and your companions a check-up as well, Rowan. Again, at no charge, despite the princess’ objections.”

His remark was punctuated by Seres doing the very thing he alluded to. “We can pay!” she harrumphed. From the look on her face, it was far from the first time.

“I'm sure you can, Lady Seres, but your favour is worth so much more than coin. Furthermore, the opportunity to examine an Ardent outside of the capital is practically unheard of. The experience alone could pay for more than a year of treatment in some places. I also owe Rowan's family a considerable amount for their patronage over the years.”

“You're not going to change his mind, Seres. Even if you did pay him for his services, he'd just donate the money to help the town. He did the same thing to my mother.”

“I did indeed!” Doctor Bræn laughed. “Though I'm surprised you knew about that, Rowan. The last time it happened was before you were even born.”

“I asked her about it maybe six or seven years ago. I overheard her sigh when you told her ‘no charge’ after one of my appointments and I wanted to know why.”

“Ah! That makes sense. You were always a curious one.”

“Some things never change,” Rowan laughed.

“I'm glad. Anyway, I shall be off. My wife and two children are waiting for me.”

Rowan's jaw dropped, and her eyes went wide with surprise. “Since when did you have a wife and kids? Do I know them? The wife, that is.”

“Do you remember my assistant, Nadia? I took her in after the eclipse, and one thing led to another. I found out later that she had been hinting for years that she was interested.”

“Congratulations!”

Rowan only vaguely remembered Doctor Bræn's Ferran assistant. She was a little younger than Tyris, so it was surprising to hear she had been pursuing the old doctor. He must have been close to double her age at the time of the eclipse, and while he certainly had some attractive personality traits, Rowan couldn’t see it. Still, she was happy for him.

“Thank you. I shall see you all tomorrow.”

Without any further ado, he stood up and left, leaving his seat open for Rowan. When she had herself situated, the conversation resumed.

“You won't believe this, Rowan,” Hana started. “Tehri spoke! She actually spoke!”

Rowan recalled hearing her sister's voice amidst the silence after her first song, but she was sure it had just been her imagination.

“We all heard her,” Seres confirmed.

Tehri started signing. “She says that it just happened, and she doesn't know how,” Hana translated.

“I think I do,” Rowan replied. “My first song was meant to help people recover and move on from the trauma of the eclipse. I was using my abilities as an Ardent to give everyone the push they needed.”

Tehri stopped signing. Her eyes were glistening, and her lips were slightly parted.

“Thank you.”

She spoke again. Her voice was rough and weak from years of not speaking a word. It didn’t come naturally to her. Rather than continue, she started signing again.

Rowan didn't need Hana to translate to understand what Tehri was saying. She wrapped her arms around Tehri and whispered, “It's okay. I know it must hurt. Pace yourself. Take all the time you need. Doctor Bræn will be able to help you find the rest of your voice.”

Tehri hugged Rowan back. When they parted a moment later, Rowan started speaking again, only more audibly this time. “Tomorrow, after we've bought you some clothes and you've had your check-up with Doctor Bræn, I'll take you to see Da. I know it won't be easy for either of you, but I'll be by your side the whole time.”

With a brave smile, Tehri nodded.

*****

Several hours and a meal later, everyone retreated to their rooms. Seres had a serious look on her face as she and Rowan got ready for bed.

“I think Tehri's going to Awaken.”

“Is she now?” Rowan asked, not having yet fully processed what Seres had said. Then her mind caught up to reality. She looked straight at Seres. “Wait, what?”

“With all that she's been through and what you've told me about your family, are you really surprised?”

“How can you tell?”

“I can see it. It's a skill my Gift shares with Empaths, and I've honed it considerably over the past five years.”

“I knew you could see if someone had already Awakened, but knowing they are close?”

“It's the Resonance. It's like a vibrant cacophony of emotion waiting to be free of the echo chamber in Tehri's soul. You almost pushed her over the edge with your song.”

“I did?”

“I could see the cracks. It's only a matter of time, now. You have to be ready for when she can no longer contain it.”

“Should we tell her? If she stops holding herself back, she might have an easier time with it.”

“It's possible, but I wouldn't want to risk it. We don't want to overwhelm her before she's ready.”

“I dinnae think anyone can be truly prepared for Awakening. I'm glad you told me.

“You deserved to know and Tehri will need you to tell her everything is okay when it happens.”

“I appreciate you telling me all the same, and I will. Let's go to bed. From what you've said, tomorrow is going to be an experience.”

“Yes. Let's.”