control or beseech the elements held power over man. The appeal of power brought many frauds, but eventually they would be found out and exiled or worse.
The most brilliant minds in the ancient world decided that the true possessors of such power could rid the world of hunger, disease and usher in an era of peace, prosperity and learning for all human kind. They sent trackers out across the land and found four individuals with demonstrated influence over each of the elements: earth, air, fire, and water. They were called Cantors or Singers. Gathered on an island in the Mediterranean, they worked to keep the seasons mild and the winds calm. Governments sent ambassadors to make requests on their behalf and an era commenced of learning and goodwill. But as history has shown, even the purest intentions can be corrupted. People manipulated the four Singers and a struggle for control divided them. A battle for supremacy placed Air and Water against Earth and Fire. War between the elements brought civilization to its knees. Volcanoes covered cities with ash and fire. The earth shook and cracked beneath men’s feet. The ocean swallowed islands and flooded the shores, while tornadoes and thunderstorms terrorized the inland civilizations. Fierce winds covered everything in dust and debris. The same governments that praised and revered the Cantors for generations now organized armies to terminate them in order to stop the destruction. Three of the four Cantors were captured and killed, ending the cataclysmic terror. A coalition formed dedicated to the eradication of any new Cantor before his power became a threat. This group became known as The Spina.
The Earth Singer, the only Cantor to survive, escaped across the known ocean with a few teachers and warriors swearing never to allow the leaders of mankind to ma nipulate the Cantors for their own benefit again. This new order called itself The Cadence and dedicated themselves to the maintenance of the natural rhythm of the planet and the protection of the Cantors. Over the next thousands of years, warriors for the Cadence calling themselves paladins found and protected Cantors for each of the elements. Though wars ravaged mankind, the Cantors remained unbiased. The Spina however, raced against the Cadence to find the Cantors and destroy them before they became a threat. Tally was the latest Cantor discovered and both the Spina and the Cadence had found her. She was the Air Singer.
Tally dropped her bags on the floor under the booth . Her skin began to numb as Roland pulled his energy back. As soon as she remembered where she was, she looked around the restaurant and saw that everyone was continuing the day as if nothing had just happened. Roland’s hand gave her arm a gentle squeeze and she looked up to meet his eyes. “How did you do that?”
“Paladin’s have special gifts that can only be used to protect a singer. One of them is the ability to share knowledge or memories with you. It is an old power originally developed for use in battle when communication was difficult. I just thought after everything you had been through, it was the only way to make you believe me.”
“So what happens now?”
Roland slid his hand from Tally’s wrist and grasped her hand. Offering her a reassuring smile he answered, “We begin your training. We have a facility about four hours from here that can keep you safe while you learn how to hone your new powers. We can leave now if you like.”
“We?”
Roland smiled, “Well yeah, I think it would be easier for you to find if I tagged along.”
“No , you said we have a facility. It’s not just you?”
Roland flagged the waitres s and signaled that he wanted the bill. “No, it’s not just me. You will be under the care of the Cadence; specifically me, my friend Oliver and our teacher, Anna.”
The waitress dropped off the bill and Roland placed cash into the black vinyl folder before getting up. He grabbed Tally’s overnight bag
The most brilliant minds in the ancient world decided that the true possessors of such power could rid the world of hunger, disease and usher in an era of peace, prosperity and learning for all human kind. They sent trackers out across the land and found four individuals with demonstrated influence over each of the elements: earth, air, fire, and water. They were called Cantors or Singers. Gathered on an island in the Mediterranean, they worked to keep the seasons mild and the winds calm. Governments sent ambassadors to make requests on their behalf and an era commenced of learning and goodwill. But as history has shown, even the purest intentions can be corrupted. People manipulated the four Singers and a struggle for control divided them. A battle for supremacy placed Air and Water against Earth and Fire. War between the elements brought civilization to its knees. Volcanoes covered cities with ash and fire. The earth shook and cracked beneath men’s feet. The ocean swallowed islands and flooded the shores, while tornadoes and thunderstorms terrorized the inland civilizations. Fierce winds covered everything in dust and debris. The same governments that praised and revered the Cantors for generations now organized armies to terminate them in order to stop the destruction. Three of the four Cantors were captured and killed, ending the cataclysmic terror. A coalition formed dedicated to the eradication of any new Cantor before his power became a threat. This group became known as The Spina.
The Earth Singer, the only Cantor to survive, escaped across the known ocean with a few teachers and warriors swearing never to allow the leaders of mankind to ma nipulate the Cantors for their own benefit again. This new order called itself The Cadence and dedicated themselves to the maintenance of the natural rhythm of the planet and the protection of the Cantors. Over the next thousands of years, warriors for the Cadence calling themselves paladins found and protected Cantors for each of the elements. Though wars ravaged mankind, the Cantors remained unbiased. The Spina however, raced against the Cadence to find the Cantors and destroy them before they became a threat. Tally was the latest Cantor discovered and both the Spina and the Cadence had found her. She was the Air Singer.
Tally dropped her bags on the floor under the booth . Her skin began to numb as Roland pulled his energy back. As soon as she remembered where she was, she looked around the restaurant and saw that everyone was continuing the day as if nothing had just happened. Roland’s hand gave her arm a gentle squeeze and she looked up to meet his eyes. “How did you do that?”
“Paladin’s have special gifts that can only be used to protect a singer. One of them is the ability to share knowledge or memories with you. It is an old power originally developed for use in battle when communication was difficult. I just thought after everything you had been through, it was the only way to make you believe me.”
“So what happens now?”
Roland slid his hand from Tally’s wrist and grasped her hand. Offering her a reassuring smile he answered, “We begin your training. We have a facility about four hours from here that can keep you safe while you learn how to hone your new powers. We can leave now if you like.”
“We?”
Roland smiled, “Well yeah, I think it would be easier for you to find if I tagged along.”
“No , you said we have a facility. It’s not just you?”
Roland flagged the waitres s and signaled that he wanted the bill. “No, it’s not just me. You will be under the care of the Cadence; specifically me, my friend Oliver and our teacher, Anna.”
The waitress dropped off the bill and Roland placed cash into the black vinyl folder before getting up. He grabbed Tally’s overnight bag
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