The Chosen Voice

Christine aims to produce a feature article that will impress her masters and set a standard among student journalists that will never again be met. Darren Brown sings for coins in karaoke taverns, a man beloved by local trendsetters for his magical choir-singing, a vocal ability that he attributes to skill and wizardry. His talents brought to Christine’s attention by new acquaintance Maiko, a somewhat enigmatic woman with her own agenda, the student travels from the Kitaumi Area to tiny dump-of-a-town Mirinshita to interview the singer. Darren is unprepared for Christine’s determination to penetrate his lies, and, at the mercy of glass after glass of unrefusable liquor, is forced to reveal the true meaning of his voice and his relationship to a young man legendary for his unearthly abilities, Kaiyu Tana, who has recently disappeared.

Set in the Four Free Areas, a technologically advanced world where Gods watch from rivers and fantastical arts are practiced by wizards and priests, The Chosen Voice is the first instalment of the short story cycle Treading Twisted Lines with Darren, Maddi, and Kai.