Gaery reluctantly pounded against the wooden door, not wanting to be in the rain for a moment longer as the outskirts of the storm flooded the streets. Streaks of green, orange, and blue lightning painted the clouds as the bolts splintered across the sky. Cold anxiety stirred within Gaery as the weather persisted. He swore at the door's silence, banging against it harder.

Crack!

Gaery flinched at the magnificent bolt of lightning as it descended down from the heavens upon a tower in the distance. Stone and brick crumbled down from the building. Within moments the entire thing came crashing down to the ground, covering the streets in debris.

Finally, the door swung open.

"Gaery!" Alara exclaimed, "Come inside, quickly. What the hell are you doing out there!?"

"I was hunting in the forest when it appeared." Gaery explained, as he entered. "Barely got out in time."

"Did you sing to it?"

"No." Gaery responded, "But I wanted to. Desperately. Just being in its presence made me want to risk it all."

"I don't blame you," Alara said, placing her hand on Gaery's. "I probably would have been tempted too."

"Would you?" Gaery said, looking her in the eyes while removing himself from her touch.

Alara's gaze drifted down. "No. I wouldn't have."

Silence donned the room after Alara's last words while the thunder screamed from outside.

"The storm is more ferocious than I expected." Alara said, breaking the edged silence. "I fear it will swallow the entire city."

"The Chorus will seize it."

"I'm not sure they can this time, Gare." Alara responded, "It's too strong."

"Then we all die." Gaery said, plainly.

"Not if you help them."

"Brilliant idea. My hexed Voice will no doubt prove useful."

"Just talk to them. The Conductor will restore your Voice if you show that you care about this city and want to save it. I know she'll forgive you."

"I nearly killed everyone, Alara. I betrayed the entire kingdom for what I did. They aren't exactly going to take me back with open arms."

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"If you don't try, the kingdom will crumble."

Silence fell once more and the two sat in cold contemplation again. Minutes passed before anything else was said.

"Alright, I'll do it. Do you have the Mutestone?"

"Always." Alara said, producing a smooth black rock. Gaery took it, moving towards the door, but stopped before touching the knob. Gaery remained frozen for another minute before Alara approached.

"I don't think I can stop it." Gaery said, shakily.

"It's okay." Alara whispered, holding him tightly. "All that matters is that you'll try."

Gaery nodded, hugging Alara one last time before opening the door to head out into the storm once again.

~~~

Gaery sprinted as fast as his legs would carry him through the city in search of the Chorus of Storms. For half an hour he had searched without luck, but fortune smiled when he heard Voices.

Amidst the abrasive wind and rain, the Chorus of Storms stood tall in defiance against the tempest.

"Remain firm everybody!" The Conductor shouted over the booming thunder, adjusting her eye patch. "The storm is yours! Let your Voices be heard!"

Lightning struck another tower only much closer this time. Gaery lunged forward shoving the Conductor just before a shower of debris came crashing down from the tower.

"Gaery?" The Conductor questioned, "What are you doing here?"

"A 'thank you' for saving you from being crushed would have sufficed." Gaery responded.

"If you're looking to get your Voice back you can forget it. We can handle this ourselves." The Conductor regarded, turning back to the Chorus and adjusting her eye patch again. "Come on everyone, louder! I want to be able to hear you from the other side of the world!"

"Look around you, Remera!" Gaery screamed, "The storm is consuming everything! You need my help. My Voice is strong. I can handle it. I can save everyone!"

"You squandered the trust I had in you when you called the storm to this kingdom four years ago, Gaery!" The Conductor bellowed, ripping off her eye patch and revealing the empty socket beneath. "You are the reason the king took my eye when he found out it was one of my Vocalists who endangered the kingdom. He was my best friend and now he won't even speak to me!"

"I've made mistakes, but I've changed. Just let me make this right. I beg of you."

Gaery fell to his knees, uttering one final word.

"Please."

Remera looked down at her former pupil. He looked different now than when he did before. He looked strong and confident then, but now he just seemed...hollow. An empty vessel.

"Lift your chin."

Gaery obeyed. Remera placed her hand against Gaery's throat and sung.

Let the song of the storm be sung once more by this sore throat.

Gaery's mouth opened, producing a hum of warm vibrations. Gaery felt a surge of life as he regained what was lost for so long. Like a piece of his soul had returned making him whole again.

"I trust you to do the right thing, Gaery."

"You shouldn't."

The Conductor glanced at him in confusion but it was already too late.

Gaery pulled the Mutestone from his pocket and threw it on the ground near the Chorus's feet activating its magic. The Chorus descended into chaos as their throats produced only silence. The Conductor tried to sing but she had found that her Voice wasn't with her either.

"There's no point in trying to sing," Gaery explained, "It'll be another hour before you'll even be able to speak. But don't worry. You need not sing. Only listen."

Gaery turned away from the Chorus towards the storm, spreading his arms open wide embracing its cold, liberating rain and began to sing.

Mistress Storm I sing for you.

Please grant us the oblivion that we wish to view.

Let your rains breed bottomless lakes

And leave nothing behind in your wake.