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"A cursed melody"

By Patrick D. Lambert

Commissioned by Sanmer

"I've been following your steps since I was a kid, and now..."

His name was Requiem. Real name: Alphonse. A 20 years old white lion. Ranked #9 on the "Promising Rookies" list--and rising. Owner of a peculiar ability that no one believed could be used in combat: he can create music--well, more exactly, sounds. Alphonse could create a particular sound of any kind in a specific location, as long as he had memories of it. With some concentration, he could recreate a melody he knew. He was a one-man orchestra. And he wanted to be a hero.

Paladin was responsible for that dream, a hero Alphonse had been following since he was a kid. The unicorn saved him one day from a villain's attack. Despite the visible wounds in his skin-tight spandex suit, Paladin comforted him with a smile before going back to action. And when the fight was over, he came back to check if Alphonse was ok. That encounter lightened a flame in the lion's chest that would only get stronger, and he made sure to prove to everyone that his ability could save lives.

And now...

His suit was simple. Alphonse wore an elegant black suit made of a flexible and durable cloth, with a white shirt under it and a red bow tie that acted as a radio. To boost his ability he used a silver baton to point at the exact point where he wanted to produce sound--by doing certain gestures he could also create a melody. Due to not having super strength, Alphonse trained daily for a muscular body that not even the suit could keep hidden. To prevent the long mane from covering his vision, he kept it tied in a pigtail.

Despite being a lion, his suit and bearing lacked the "intimidation factor" other heroes had. It clearly didn't intimidate the robbers running from the police and who thought they could run him over. A cheeky smile appeared on the lion's face, and his fiery red eyes looked straight at the rat driving. A swift move from his baton produced a soothing melody that only the rat heard--he didn't know why, but his paw stepped on the brake and the vehicle stopped abruptly. Alphonse then cut the air with the baton and a thunderous tuba destroyed the windows and stunned the robbers.

The display impressed everyone around, and Alphonse replied to the claps in the same manner an orchestra director would do. Even if those were the cases he could work on at the moment, Alphonse was proud to be helpful.

"And people think brute force is what made a hero," a familiar voice said behind him.

Alphonse recognized it. A soothing voice that always put a smile on his face. His body froze as he struggled to deal with the fact that his hero was standing right behind him. A dream come true for which he wasn't prepared. But keeping that position was more offensive than stuttering in his presence, so he turned on his heels and found himself face to face with his hero: Paladin.

Dressed in his iconic blue spandex suit with gold highlights, the unicorn looked at the ruined vehicle and the group of delinquents.

"Even for a rookie, this work is impressive," he looked down at Alphonse. In his eyes was a pride so similar to a father's one when looking at his son.

He failed at hiding his emotion. The large tail wagged furiously and the fur around his neck bristled, details that Paladin found adorable, judging by the way he giggled.

"Pa-pa-paladin, it's an honor to meet you," Alphonse finally said after a huge struggle from his part.

"I'm the one honored. I can see the future is in good hands," with a pondering expression, Paladin scratched his chin before continuing. "Requiem, right? I've been following you, but I have a bad memory for names, sorry."

"D-d-d-don't worry! And yes, that's my name!" He was now holding both hands against his chest, clenching hard to the baton.

"He knows my name!" The lion thought. It was such his excitement that he had absolute awareness of his surrounding, looking for anything that could ruin the moment. When the rat driving came back to his senses and tried to escape, Alphonse sent him back to sleep by pointing at him without even looking.

"Damn kid, you're gonna become a pro at this rate," he laughed.

Alphonse couldn't stop from analyzing the notes behind that laugh. A harmonious sound now stored in his mind. His profound admiration for the hero made his heart race.

"I... I don't know what to say. You're my favorite hero. Listening to you talk about me like this is so..."

He couldn't find the word. He didn't need to. The smile on Paladin's face said he knew what the lion tried to say.

"I was young once. I also know what admiring someone is," Paladin then approached and put his hand over Alphonse's shoulder.

The difference in sizes was... notorious. Paladin was above the average height more equines had, and it didn't help Alphonse was slightly smaller than other lions. There was also the lack of experience he had when compared with the unicorn.

"Listen kiddo. I've been looking to talk to you after all that noise you've been making," Paladin did a pause to snort, "heh, noise."

Alphonse also giggled at the joke, a gesture appreciated by the unicorn. He then continued.

"I'm part of a support group that seeks to offer guidance to new heroes. We know how hard things can be on the rookie rank. And since destiny brought me here, I wanna help you get to the top."

"... for real?"

Paladin nodded with firmness.

The lion couldn't believe what was happening, and yet, agreed to it without giving it a second doubt. Meeting his hero was one thing; having his talent recognized by him was another, but becoming a pupil to him was a scenario that never crossed his mind. And it was really happening. In a story worthy of being written, the promising hero had become the sidekick of a professional.

Alphonse began to work alongside Paladin after that day. The missions weren't that complicated and never went beyond what the lion was legally allowed to do. While he did an effort not to let his admiration get in the way, everyone saw how happy Alphonse was just by looking at his risen tail.

However, the emotion slowly faded when the hero Requiem took control and began to notice his mistakes. Small and harmless, yes, but as Paladin said, those would lead to a false sense of confidence in his skills that could harm others. And when he started to work on those details, his surprise was huge once he saw the difference in his performance.

The bond between professional and rookie grew closer, and Alphonse found in the unicorn someone which he could trust. They started meeting casually and during missions, with Paladin using this time to teach Alphonse new things. The hero always encouraged him to work harder on his powers so he could surpass his limits.

"I know a friend that could help you," he told him one afternoon.

It had been one month since the day Alphonse became his pupil, and the lion wanted to keep improving. He went from rank #9 to #4. Alphonse wanted to be #1.

His friend was a doctor called Sanmer A. Lemarre, an arctic fox attired in a lab coat and a fancy turtleneck black sweater. The affable look from his purplish blue eyes disarmed him from the moment Alphonse walked into the small interrogation room. Despite being presented by Paladin as a renowned specialist in the study of heroes, Alphonse was embarrassed for not recognizing him immediately.

"Try not to worry too much about it. My field is a little more specific than what Paladin says," his condescending tone flustered Paladin, who immediately abandoned the room. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Requiem."

"Thank you, Doctor Lemarre."

Sanmer nodded and took a seat on his side of the oak table, signaling Alphonse the chair on the other side. As the lion approached, he perceived a faint scent of lavender in the air.

"Paladin mentioned you wanna improve your abilities. Is that correct?"

"Yes. He told me you know a way to do so."

Sanmer took a look at the tablet he carried with him. As he went over what Alphonse assumed was his resume, the lion inspected the room. It was slightly bigger than the interrogation room used by the Police. A layer of white paint covered the walls and the only door leading out. There were no other windows, and the only furniture was the desk and the two occupied chairs.

"It's... uhm, it's a little claustrophobic, don't you think?" The lion dared to ask.

"You think so? I think it makes the room feel more open," Sanmer smirked. "Ok, this says you can recreate any sound you remember in the area you're looking at. Sounds amazing," in a gesture that someone felt too similar to one Paladin did, Sanmer chuckled at what he said. "Heh, sounds."

Alphonse giggled. As he continued looking at the fox, he noticed how delicate the features of his face were. The locks of golden hair falling over his brow gave him an innocent appearance that the lion found... curiously attractive.

"The city doesn't have any records of other heroes with your ability, so that makes you unique. But I read here you can only recreate sounds and melodies you know. Have you tried creating something of your own?"

"A new sound?" Alphonse frowned.

"Well, not a sound, but a song. Have you tried to create a song for yourself?"

"Oh, no... I like music, but I don't think I have the creativity for that," the lion replied, not trying to hide his embarrassment for something he tried many times in the past.

"Then you're at your first obstacle. You're not gonna grow if you believe there are things you can't do. But that's why I'm here. Take your baton and close your eyes."

"Huh? But... But I need to see where I-"

"Another obstacle," Sanmer interrupted. "You can do it without looking. You just need to try it over and over again. Powers require practice. Practice requires time. Paladin trust me because I helped him overcome his own limits. And I want you to do the same."

It was true the small fox offered a strange sense of confidence just by looking at him. Alphonse did what he said, holding the baton with his right hand.

"Good. Now, I want you to listen carefully. You have memories of so many sounds, and you've been using those memories so far. But the sound can come up from other sources. What I want you to do is breathe deeply and relax. Your mind will clear off any thoughts as you exhale. Let it be clear, empty, as white as this room. And as you do, listen to the sound of your own breathing. Put your focus there."

Alphonse did what he said. It was a common relaxation tactic that even he had used in the past, so getting to that state wasn't really hard for him.

"Good. You're doing an excellent job. Focus on your breathing. Listen to it. Get rid of any thought. There's nothing here. The only one here is you and no one else. When you're ready, open your eyes."

Some seconds later, the lion opened his eyes and found himself alone in the white room. When Sanmer talked again, his voice came from behind his back.

"This room is a safe space for you. No matter what sound you make, it won't get out of here. No one else but you is gonna hear these sounds. Not even me. Because you are alone. This room belongs to you. Think of what makes you happy. Bring the memory of something you love the most and focus on the feeling. This feeling has a sound of its own, waiting for you to discover it. Study it in the same way you study any melody. Find the sound behind that feeling. Turn it into a melody."

A faint scent of sweat lingered in the air, one he knew very well. Inevitably, Alphonse thought of Paladin. The unicorn had become a role model for him, always there to guide and advice him so he could become a better hero. The lion couldn't explain with words how grateful he was towards the unicorn, so he allowed his hand to do so. By doing slow and meticulous movements in the air, Alphonse translated his admiration into a melody for his hero.

"Excellent. You are doing it. Don't stop. Continue. Turn your feelings into a melody."

Sanmer lowered his voice as the lion continued. During the first seconds, the melody lacked the harmony commonly found in his attacks. But as Alphonse embraced that admiration, it started to make sense. A romantic tune with touches of nostalgia and yearning. Melancholic but strangely hopeful.

"You're going great. This sounds beautiful, Alphonse. I'm so proud of you, just as Paladin is. We both know what you're capable of. Listen to the music you are creating. Listen to each tone. Each chord. The tempo. Focus on it. Sink into your own creation. This same feeling of relaxation you are experiencing is what others will feel when they listen to this melody. You can soothe the minds of others with your own creation. Bring them peace through a melody only you can create. But for that, you must experience that same peace."

The song was so relaxing that Alphonse didn't notice when Sanmer put his hands over his shoulders. The small fox massaged the broad shoulders as he continued his song. He was already whispering straight into his ears. And he felt so relaxed by it, despite not noticing how close he was.

"Paladin is so proud of you. We are so proud of you. I am so proud of you. I am so proud of what only you can create. And you wanna share this song with others. This melody is full of emotion. Full of the same pride I feel for you."

Alphonse felt a strange tingle all over his body as he continued listening to the words coming through his song. It was hard to ignore yet none of what he said made sense to him. The lion was focused on the song he made. And with each chord, he sank deeper into it.

The lion was oblivious to Sanmer's tactics, from the soothing voice to his skilled little fingers, and the mixed scent of lavender and sweat lingering in the air; even the bond built between him and Paladin was planned priorly so it could lead to that moment. The arctic fox knew the potential Alphonse had, but his intentions weren't exactly... heroic.

What a twisted irony was that, using his own powers to trap him in a white room--both physically and metaphorically. Alphonse couldn't stop his melody, and as he continued listening to it, he sank more and more, allowing Sanmer to set an idea in the zonked lion's mind.

"Now my voice is embodied in this melody. Whenever you listen to my voice, you will come back to this room and to the melody you created. You will fall into a deep trance during which you are gonna obey whatever I say. And whoever listens to this melody will fall into the same trance you are in right now. This is proof of what you can really do. This is proof of your potential. And I want you to feel proud of it."

Sanmer moved his hands over the chest of the zonked lion, slowly getting rid of that fancy suit. He was eager to feel and play with that new toy before putting his skills to good use.

"You are doing great. I am so proud of you."

Outside the white room, Paladin guarded the door leading into it. He did what Sanmer asked: met with the lion called Requiem, gain his confidence and bring him to Sanmer. Being admired by that white lion did everything easier. And now, the fine hearing caught the words Sanmer was saying.

"You are doing great. I am so proud of you."

Paladin smiled.

"I am doing great."