When Kahina took up her father’s blade and military commission, the heartbroken Lestara decided the time had come for Sona to return to Ionia, and the two of them withdrew from all courtly engagements to make the journey together. Some years later, Lord Barrett Buvelle was slain fighting Noxus at the Gates of Mourning. Sona obeyed, though she wondered how something that brought people peace could be seen as a threat. Lestara urged her to keep it secret, to avoid bringing unwanted attention from the Demacian mageseekers. If that were true, then this was an object of magic, and Sona’s preternatural connection to it was a dangerous gift indeed. Her performances captivated audiences, bringing them from sorrow to bliss, from righteous martial pride to almost exquisite peace… and Lestara became intrigued by the mysterious instrument that made this possible.ĭelving deep into the libraries of the Illuminators, she came to believe it was one of the fabled etwahls-wondrous artifacts dating back thousands of years before Demacia’s founding, and now exceedingly rare in the world.
Soon, word spread of her virtuoso talents. To show her appreciation to her adopted countrymen, she decided to use her gift to delight and soothe them, and returned to her music with renewed passion. The Demacian language was often difficult to learn, but the Buvelles developed a personalized sign language that enabled Sona to communicate easily with her new family, and their friends. Sona became like a sister to their daughter, Kahina, and Lestara in particular grew very attached to her. Lord Barrett and his wife, Lestara, were prominent supporters of the Illuminator order, and renowned patrons of the arts in the Great City. So it was that Sona was taken in by the Buvelle family. Their monks were called “Illuminators”, and they worshipped no gods or spirits, yet still placed great value on showing kindness to strangers and the needy. She looked back in anguish, knowing that she would not be able to return for many years, if at all.Īfter months at sea, they arrived in Demacia-a strange, dour land where magic was widely distrusted. After their caretakers struck a deal with a Demacian trader, Sona and a handful of her friends found themselves bundled onto one of the last ships to escape before the Noxian blockade of Ionia’s western coast. The foreign empire of Noxus had begun landing troops in the northern provinces, and the monks decided to evacuate their young charges to safety before the invasion reached Galrin.
Instead, Sona taught herself how to play it, and her simple, beautiful melodies moved even the most skeptical listener to tears of joy. None of the visiting musicians or teachers knew what it was… though that did not stop several of them from attempting to procure it for themselves, one way or another. Unlike her playmates, she had one possession when she was first found-a curiously strung instrument, packed into a plain wooden case. But she was unusually thoughtful and attentive, and the other children tended to seek her out whenever they needed comfort, their playful smiles quickly restored.Īnd Sona discovered other ways to express herself. The monks, along with kindhearted volunteers from the local villages, took in any orphans or foundlings left at the front gates, and made sure that they would want for nothing.Īs a young girl, Sona was considered shy and quiet, until it became apparent that she couldn’t speak at all. Sona’s earliest memories are of the Ionian monastery where she was raised, in the province of Galrin. Silent to outsiders but understood easily enough by close companions, Sona plucks her harmonies not only to soothe injured allies, but also to strike down unsuspecting enemies. Her genteel manner has endeared her to the Demacian nobility, though some speculate her arresting melodies actually emanate magic-a dangerous prospect in the kingdom. Sona is a virtuoso of the stringed etwahl, speaking only through her graceful chords and vibrant arias.