The Tales of Wonder

The First Songster

Once Upon a Time, before the fathers of our fathers of our... Well, you get the point, these events happened a long time ago.

Anyway, as you may know, for as long as anyone in all of Ni No Kuni can remember, there has always been a most powerful witch, whom is able to wield the Power of Song, the ability to control magic using only their lyrical voice. I am, of course, talking about the Songstress.

The Power of Song had been passed from mother to daughter for years, bringing evil or good, but all powerful young women to the position of Songstress. From Selenia, the one who destroyed all contact we had with the other worlds, to Emily, who brought peace amongst the humans and the fairies, each woman possessed a gift.

But there was one Songstress, who's gift was considered a curse.

Songstress Josephine wasn't one of the more powerful Songstresses. As all Songstresses, she received the ability to obtain her full power when she turned eleven years old, but she was unable to possess it for the longest time. Until the day that was considered cursed.

At eighteen years old, Josephine fell in love with a young visitor from Hamelin. He was dashing, and held her best interests at heart, though he had an interest of his own.

This man, Luther, was a powerful wizard in his own respect, and was able to woo the Songstress of little power with less than ease within two years time. He married her, and brought her to his home in Hamelin, hoping to keep her there to make sure the child was a daughter and to keep an eye on them both.

But, Josephine knew better. She knew that her first child was not destined to be a daughter.

When the baby was born, it came out a handsome little boy. He had his father's eyes, but Luther was not satisfied. He wanted a Songstress, not a son, and the night his son was born, Luther hired a murderer.

The murderer brought a pistol to the cradle that night, hoping to shoot the baby swiftly and have the task be done.

What he hadn't anticipated was Josephine's awakening and coming to tend to the baby, only to see him standing by the window, aiming a gun at her baby. She of course screamed, taking her baby away from the murderer and holding him close.

The murderer hadn't realised he was dealing with the Songstress and her son, and thought to shoot Josephine as well. But when Luther heard his wife's scream, he knew at once what was going on, and rushed to save her.

Luther stole the pistol from the murderer and shot him dead, and the baby lived to be named, Absolon.

Absolon was trained by his mother to learn magic, though his father discouraged it. He felt only a daughter should have been taught magic.

But Josephine had doubts in the future she could see. If she had a daughter, something good and something bad would happen.

But Luther didn't care. They tried again, and another son was born. This son wasn't like Absolon. He was sickly, and small. He constantly looked frail, as if he couldn't even lift a wand, let alone use a staff.

Luther was disappointed yet again, and shunned this child, Tuckett, who had no desire to be like his mother, father, and brother. He preferred the traditional Hamelin trade, and often worked tirelessly from morning to night in his room on his machines.