"Hello, Sona."
As Duke walked toward the young musician, he finally took the time to study her properly. Sona's long blue hair was tied with delicate ornaments into twin ponytails that draped gracefully down her back.
She was only thirteen or fourteen, about the same age as Lux, yet already carried the budding presence of the woman who would one day outshine countless heroines.
Some things are simply destined from the start, beyond anyone's control.
Jinx, no matter how hard she tried, would never match Sona's natural poise and graceful… presence.
Her blue dress matched the color of her hair, while her oceanic eyes held both the stillness of the sky and the depth of the sea. Just a single glance into them brought peace to the heart.
Through those eyes, one could glimpse her soul,
calm, gentle, utterly free of malice, holding only boundless compassion.
It was no wonder that, even back in the monastery where she had been raised, Sona was beloved by the other children for her thoughtfulness and care. Whenever someone needed comfort, they would always turn to her.
Duke crouched in front of her and gestured.
"Lift your head for me, I need to check your throat and vocal cords."
Sona glanced at Barrett, who gave her an encouraging nod.
"This man is a master artisan, second to none. Let him examine you, he may discover the cause of your silence."
At that, Sona tilted her head back, her slender neck exposed to Duke's touch. His fingers pressed lightly against her throat.
"Breathe in."
Obediently, she inhaled. Duke frowned. Normally, even the simplest breath should have stirred some vibration in the vocal cords. But hers felt utterly still, as if they didn't exist at all.
"Now exhale."
Again, she complied. Duke's frown deepened. It was the same: no reaction, no sign of life in her voice. He withdrew his hand.
"Try making a sound. Anything, an 'ah' or an 'oh'."
Sona shook her head. Even the simplest syllables were beyond her. She couldn't utter a cry, not even when in pain. All she could do was grit her teeth and endure in silence.
"Completely unable to produce sound…" Duke rubbed his chin. "This is going to be difficult."
Even most mute people could manage meaningless syllables. But Sona, she couldn't produce a voice at all.
And yet, this mute heroine somehow still had in-game voice lines.
What a paradox.
"Master Duke, is there a way?" Barrett asked anxiously.
"Please, just call me Duke," he replied lightly. "As for Sona's condition, I have a few ideas… but it requires a more detailed examination."
Barrett's expression shifted slightly at his wording. Duke quickly added,
"I only mean to examine her throat and vocal cords more closely, nothing improper."
"To speak normally requires four steps," Duke explained.
"Generation, vibration, resonance, and articulation.
Airflow creates sound, the vocal cords vibrate, the throat and nasal cavity amplify it, and the tongue, teeth, lips, and palate shape it into words.
We don't usually think about it, but those four steps are necessary for speech."
He looked back at Sona. "But in your case, it seems the very first step is blocked. Let me take a closer look."
Lady Augsa spoke quickly, "Do you need special equipment? I can prepare whatever you require."
"No need," Duke shook his head. "I'll handle it now."
With a subtle motion, he slipped on Edith, his enchanted monocle, hiding his true ability from others while activating the Eye of God. His vision pierced through flesh and bone, seeing Sona's body as clearly as if it were laid bare before him.
And what he saw surprised him.
Physically, she was perfectly healthy. No damage to her cords, no neurological flaw. Instead… something deeper.
Her soul itself stretched outward, bound by a faint thread, leading all the way to another chamber of the manor.
Duke followed its pull. His vision pierced barriers until he saw it: a guqin resting in her room, radiating ancient power. At the very same moment, the zither thrummed faintly on its own.
Sona froze for just an instant before subtly edging back from Duke. The movement was small, but his sharp eyes caught it.
"Well?" Lux asked quickly when she saw him remove Edith.
"Not a physical problem," Duke said, shaking his head. "Not psychological either. Her brain and organs are fine."
"Then… she can't be cured?" Barrett's voice faltered.
"I didn't say that." Duke's gaze was strange. "I said she can't speak. But she can still communicate, perfectly well."
Barrett coughed, embarrassed. His wife quickly smoothed things over.
"Then, Duke, what do you suggest?"
"I thought about making her an artificial larynx, but that won't help here. Instead, I'll craft a dialogue device. It'll let her converse in daily life without issue. Give me… half an hour."
Barrett blinked. "That quickly?"
Lux whispered helpfully, "Uncle Barrett, when Duke says 'a little time,' it usually means thirty minutes at most."
Barrett coughed again, patting his chest. "Ah, age really is catching up with me."
"After lunch, I'll have it ready," Duke promised.
When he reached out to ruffle Sona's hair, she instinctively flinched back. He froze, then smiled faintly as she shyly leaned forward again.
"You're a good kid," he said warmly, patting her head. "Much better than the little rascal I picked up in Piltover."
"You… have another apprentice in Piltover?" Lux asked, eyes wide, like a housecat realizing its master had been hiding another cat.
"Not an apprentice, just someone I took in," Duke corrected. "But that girl, Jinx, she's nothing like you. Always blowing up my workshop, playing pranks on classmates, or, my gods, blowing up poor Lord Mebb's private zoo. Three times."
The corner of his mouth twitched. "That man finally gave up and turned it into a public zoo, just to keep her from wrecking it again."
Lux's eyes sparkled. "That… sounds amazing!"
Duke groaned. "That's because you've never had to babysit her."
The butler appeared then to announce that lunch was served.
Afterward, Duke retreated to his room. In just half an hour, he had completed the device, a sleek bracer with a small screen and speakers, designed to wrap snugly around Sona's arm.
He brought it to the garden, where Lux and Sona were playing on a swing.
"Finished," Duke announced, holding it out.
Sona slipped it on, her eyes shining as he explained,
"It has three main functions.
First, you can write what you want to say, and it will speak aloud for you.
Second, you can preload common phrases, so you won't need to type.
Third, it can project text into the air, and it comes with recording, amplification, and even a little light source.
Later, when you're older, I'll make you a proper spirit-linked communicator, so you can converse in real time."
Sona's hands trembled as she touched the bracer. Then she bowed deeply, full of sincerity.
"Go on," Duke smiled. "Test it yourselves."
He stepped back, watching as Lux pulled Sona along eagerly. His gaze lingered on the mute girl.
It wasn't that she lacked a voice, her talent itself had taken it from her.
Her silence was the price she paid for her gift. The guqin had absorbed that part of her, binding her to it.
Gain one thing, lose another. That balance was the truth of her existence.
Someday, he might give her the communicator he envisioned. But for now, this was enough.
"Quick, fetch a doctor!"
The panicked cries drew Duke's attention. He turned to see a woman in a black robe stumble into the courtyard, her garments soaked in blood. As she staggered forward, her sleeve slipped, revealing skin of a strange violet hue.
"Violet skin?" Duke narrowed his eyes. "Could it be… the Dragoness?"
End of chapter....
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