THE MOMENT
It was hard to feel okay watching the battle footage from the comfort of his own bed. Dougan knew there wasn't anything he could do without his voice, and that wasn't his fault. But the guilt kept a single thought alive in his mind as he sulked.
“That should've been me,” he thought. A soldier in green formal regalia with polished silver epaulets that kept his flowing golden cape attached. The Major lead held a long, slender, violet-crystalline rod in his hand. The thin artifact glowed with vibrant purple light as the Lead held a powerful note. When it ended, the hundreds of soldiers on either side cheered and charged forward as Dougan slid and his shoulders sank. He was still upright enough against the wooden bed frame and could still see the battle play out. It was supposed to be his story. His day in the sun, leading the troops. Battles were fought using a soldier's voice, singing to amplify a sonic weapon in the hand. The day he was to lead the charge was the day he woke up mute.
Musical magic was embedded in his world and culture, and natural magical troubles were part of the world too. He’d gone Mute, and it was his own fault for practicing so much to the point of straining his voice. The weapon was built was a magical resonating crystal that empowered frequencies vibrating through it. Over time, its properties were harnessed and militarized. Holding a specific shape of crystal, and supported by enchanted metals, a properly trained soldier could increase his strength fifty-fold by singing at it. It enhanced the user, and the metal enhanced the rod to the same deadly levels.
It also worked like a tuning fork and didn’t require constant singing. It actually did better with a variety of notes and pacing. Its worst property was also the reason armies existed. Ambient noise could hamper the effect, or bolster it to precise degrees. He made the simple mistake of forgetting how it worked. He’d never before practiced enough to damage his vocal chords, but he was excited. And, the magic had an adrenaline like effect on him. It didn’t do any actual regeneration or healing, but he didn’t feel anything until after practice. He would recover in a day or two, and he knew he’d have another chance to lead the charge. Still, no matter the details, in the end, he’d missed this chance due to his own eager mistakes. That was what stung the most.
Dougan had felt important knowing he would be leading the next charge. And yet, the very moment he couldn’t do it, the opportunity moved on without him. The Lead’s song was meant to synchronize and unify the army’s strength. And since everyone could sing, he was replaced within a couple of minutes; he’d been staring at the screen patiently waiting for an answer, but didn’t expect it quite that soon. It was deflating in the moment, and he’d decided to stay in bed while he recovered.
“What else is on?” He considered the new question as he changed the channel. He’d been to enough battles that he didn’t need to watch it play out. And, he didn’t want to be reminded that he should’ve been there. He’d be okay, but it would take time to get there. And, he’d probably have his voice back before then.