Ballad of the Wind Fish

Here we are, the next part of Cironus’ story! Another long post so follow me!

Originally posted by marine-gifs

I briefly mentioned in an older post how the Ballad of the Wind Fish was an ancient magic that gave a bard healing powers. There’s no pattern or prophetic signs to explain how or when this happens. A bard with this power is just as mysterious and rare as the old songs of the zorca ancestors! So when Cironus discovers this talent in himself, he has no idea what it is. He simply assumes he’s just a loud boy, and that is why he was shunned by his pod.

With practice, Cironus finds that his voice can heal and boost those around him. He can stop monsters in their tracks, and at his loudest he can physically shove or break things. Since the elders of his pod don’t exactly encourage this talent, Cironus resigns himself to practicing his craft in private. At first, he figures this is probably the limit of his potential, and possibly a dead end…for what was a bard without an audience?

It’s during his travels with Link that Cironus begins to discover more about the Ballad of the Wind Fish. The stage is larger, people are in need, and his voice can carry across the chaotic sounds of battle. When he stops holding back, he discovers surprising new abilities.

🐋 Emotional insight, Spiritual connections ✨

Cironus develops an ability to absorb emotions thanks to the powers of the Wind fish. Similar to the zora’s electroreception abilities with which they sense electric currents, he can feel an individual’s emotions. The stronger the emotion from the individual, the more it affects him (think Alex Chen from Life is Strange 3).

Another mysterious ability he develops is sensing the emotions of the dead. If a place has a spiritual connection (graveyards, battle sites, etc) he can see the ghosts of the past, and hear the stories they have to share. Since Cironus worked on his bard craft in isolation, the first time he experiences these empathetic powers is quite jarring! Instead of shying away, though, he learns that opening up to these emotions and voices allow him to dive deeper into the secrets of the Wind Fish.

❤️‍🔥 Songs of Awakening ❤️‍🔥

If an individual’s resolve is strong, Cironus is able to create a Song of Awakening that will “inspire” them to unlock a level of their hidden potential. It’s a rare but special event when Cironus can write a Song of Awakening. While everyone has desires, only a few have the willpower to see it come to pass. During his journey with Link, Cironus has been able to play Songs of Awakening for Tulin, Yunobo, Sidon and Riju.

🫧 Songs of Healing 🫧

Similar to the Song of Awakening, Cironus can create a Song of Healing for those in physical and emotional need. This trigger does not need to be negative; joy and yearning can be just as valid as anger or grief. Instead, the catalyst is that the core emotion itself must be overwhelming. The song he creates for them can give closure or a sense of peace for whatever they’re feeling. 

🪈 Gales of Song 🪈

This is an ability Cironus still hasn’t gotten the hang of yet. He’s able to “share” the Ballad of the Wind Fish with others, giving their voices and music the same capabilities he has, if only temporarily. His voice is fairly powerful, but if there were more? Who knows what can be accomplished!

🪦 Songs for No One 🪦

Eventually, Cironus learns how to create songs for the dead. He realizes that many who stay among the living still have a story they long to tell, so he becomes their voice. Like a Song of Healing, Cironus gives closure and peace for his spiritual audiences. This ability becomes especially important to him, as he later realizes this could help him recover the lost songs of his ancestors.

There are times when all traits can work together. For example, a Song of Healing might be boosted by its connection to a spiritual place. A Song of Awakening can be amplified if an individual has strong emotions tied to their goals. All these factors can help Cironus’ musical boons reach their maximum, and anyone within hearing radius is affected as well.

No matter the type, by performance’s end, Cironus has a new song written. A Bard records history, they touch the hearts of their audiences, and he finally gets the chance to show what he’s capable of. Cironus learns more about himself with each person he’s able to help, and gains confidence with the music he creates in the process.

❤️‍🩹Who Heals the Healer?❤️‍🩹

There is a downside to Cironus’ musical talents. Despite being able to heal others, his own music cannot give him the same comfort (and he’s tried multiple times!) He’s not sure why, but like any pain he feels, he smiles and shrugs it off. Perhaps it’s for the best, since another downside is the physical toll these performances take on him. Singing as loud as he can while being subjected to so many intense emotions drains him physically and emotionally, and it can take a few days for him to recover after each performance. His “Hyrulian World Tour” has definitely tested his limits! Will his resolve be strong enough that he can find his own Song of Awakening? What does he have to do in order for a Song of Healing to give him peace?

By journey’s end, Cironus has created an impressive record of songs. He returns home to present them to the Pod Council, eager to see which can join the Archive of Hymns. He also hopes to petition traveling to sacred zorca sites so he can recover his people’s lost songs. With a better understanding of his abilities, he can finally help his pod as a respectable bard!

💀 A Bad Omen 💀

Instead of receiving any kind of hero’s welcome, Cironus is met with shock and horror. The elders of his pod react as if he’s performed a grievous sin. His personal path of discovery finally pushes the Pod Council to finally enunciate why he was so ostracized; according to them, the Ballad of the Wind Fish is a harbinger of death.

The news of Cironus’ growth reaches other pods. They gather to discuss what’s to be done. His grandmother and mother are judged for their lack of diligence on the matter. Grandmother Matriarch opens up about how she hoped their discouragement would get Cironus to abandon becoming a Bard. Lurona only regrets her own compliance in this. Both women apologize to Cironus and stand with his decision to be who he is, but it’s not enough. 

The Council of Matriarchs explain to Cironus how, in generations past, the last Bard “cursed” by the Wind Fish invoked the wrath of a terrifying sea monster who nearly wiped them out of existence. Everything they are now is all that’s left, and they cannot survive another encounter. They never expected the curse would appear again, and they beg Cironus to destroy everything he’s created: forget the past, erase everything.

But he refuses.

“I can use these powers to discover why this happened!” 

“If I can discover the history of the dead, who’s to say we can’t find our own people’s secrets?” 

“Erasing our history goes against everything I was taught!”

Cironus’ rebellion against the elders’ decision causes an uproar among all the zorca. Some voice opinions that side with his ideas, others are afraid of this mysterious sea monster. Panic and anger ripple through the members like a wave. In an attempt to prevent further dissension, the elders announce their final decision; Cironus is to be exiled.

His family objects, but even though his own grandmother is a matriarch, her opinions are overruled by the others. Before Cironus can be separated from his family however, his grandmother holds him one last time and recites the lyrics from a song of old. She tells him it’s one of their songs from the Archive of Hymns. Bards over the years could never puzzle out its meaning, but perhaps he could.

“The wind is my father, the water my mother
Wave and Wing entwined with one another
Where Kilse’s Gulf and Totori kiss
Brought forth the Ballad of the Wind Fish”

Alone now, Cironus chooses to put his focus on these lyrics. It’s all he can do to distract himself from his broken heart.

Next chapter: Origins of the Wind Fish, and Mother of Sea Monsters!