67th of winter 513AV
Far overhead the sky was a symphony of blue and red, the thick cloud layer alight like a lake of fire set upon a glaciers shore. Meanwhile a small Kelvic trotted down the road cloak pulled against his back, deep brown eyes peering out from behind the hood their curios gaze jumping from place to place as if trying to drink in every sight at once. Silence, a lack of sound so rare in the city of stone that it made the world seem to hold its breath in apprehension of the new dawn. When Edwyn closed his eyes he could almost imagine that street as the ridge of a high winding mountain or maybe the dim glow as mid-day sun shining through the trees. He could almost feel the air blowing through his hair or hear the tweet of birds high overhead though soon enough he had to open his eyes again, these imaginary images were just that, imaginary; rarely had he left the boundaries of the citadel and even then forests were simply distant landscapes, the mountains miniscule splotches of grey. Gone were the greens and browns, replaced with cold grey stone and morning sky once more.
Yet even with a rumbling stomach, biting cold and exhausted from somehow managing to wake himself at such an early hour he had never felt more alive, more free. Ever since him and Nilika had “bonded” ,a term that still remained much a mystery to the two, edwyn felt… different? In a good way that is, as if a piece of him had been missing without him even realizing yet now it was there and he couldn’t imagine living without it again.
Pulling around the corner Edwyn suddenly appeared under the arch that the pair had decided to meet at the previous day, or at least Edwyn was relatively sure this was it. The middle brick of the curve was carved to depict a bearded face, dead creepers and vines dangled from where they had stretched themselves as high as possible to reach even feint autumn sun only to be taken by the unforeseen frost that winter had yielded. In the opened mouth of the masonry lay an empty nest the inhabitants most likely looking for food and Nilika was not to be found. Hoping he hadn’t misjudged the bell he leaned against the hard wall Edwyn reaching one hand into his riddled cloak to withdraw a small flute; its appearance declaring it practically worthless though he handled it with the care of one touching something that valued more than any amount of money could purchase. He raised the hollow rod to his lips taking up a short tune as he waited.
He closed his eyes letting the notes begin slowly their mellow rhythm reminding him of the fields around the city swaying back and forth in a light breeze, the grain sweeping to the uplifting melody though in it as well was almost a hint of sadness like the thoughts that come to one after a long day or a voyager finally returning home. Their sound dipping then rising back up before going down again to continue the slow pace. Letting the piece fall finally to nearly a whisper he rose it back up like an arm bent to one fallen to give them aid he gave an almost feeling of hope into the piece, the sorrow did not disappear but it no longer was as prominent as the two seemed to sway together in unison. It wasn’t perfect, he let the flute slip a couple times and never was the tune flawless its edges cracking and transitions not really thought out though edwyn didn’t mind so much just letting the tune play.
The song went on…
Far overhead the sky was a symphony of blue and red, the thick cloud layer alight like a lake of fire set upon a glaciers shore. Meanwhile a small Kelvic trotted down the road cloak pulled against his back, deep brown eyes peering out from behind the hood their curios gaze jumping from place to place as if trying to drink in every sight at once. Silence, a lack of sound so rare in the city of stone that it made the world seem to hold its breath in apprehension of the new dawn. When Edwyn closed his eyes he could almost imagine that street as the ridge of a high winding mountain or maybe the dim glow as mid-day sun shining through the trees. He could almost feel the air blowing through his hair or hear the tweet of birds high overhead though soon enough he had to open his eyes again, these imaginary images were just that, imaginary; rarely had he left the boundaries of the citadel and even then forests were simply distant landscapes, the mountains miniscule splotches of grey. Gone were the greens and browns, replaced with cold grey stone and morning sky once more.
Yet even with a rumbling stomach, biting cold and exhausted from somehow managing to wake himself at such an early hour he had never felt more alive, more free. Ever since him and Nilika had “bonded” ,a term that still remained much a mystery to the two, edwyn felt… different? In a good way that is, as if a piece of him had been missing without him even realizing yet now it was there and he couldn’t imagine living without it again.
Pulling around the corner Edwyn suddenly appeared under the arch that the pair had decided to meet at the previous day, or at least Edwyn was relatively sure this was it. The middle brick of the curve was carved to depict a bearded face, dead creepers and vines dangled from where they had stretched themselves as high as possible to reach even feint autumn sun only to be taken by the unforeseen frost that winter had yielded. In the opened mouth of the masonry lay an empty nest the inhabitants most likely looking for food and Nilika was not to be found. Hoping he hadn’t misjudged the bell he leaned against the hard wall Edwyn reaching one hand into his riddled cloak to withdraw a small flute; its appearance declaring it practically worthless though he handled it with the care of one touching something that valued more than any amount of money could purchase. He raised the hollow rod to his lips taking up a short tune as he waited.
He closed his eyes letting the notes begin slowly their mellow rhythm reminding him of the fields around the city swaying back and forth in a light breeze, the grain sweeping to the uplifting melody though in it as well was almost a hint of sadness like the thoughts that come to one after a long day or a voyager finally returning home. Their sound dipping then rising back up before going down again to continue the slow pace. Letting the piece fall finally to nearly a whisper he rose it back up like an arm bent to one fallen to give them aid he gave an almost feeling of hope into the piece, the sorrow did not disappear but it no longer was as prominent as the two seemed to sway together in unison. It wasn’t perfect, he let the flute slip a couple times and never was the tune flawless its edges cracking and transitions not really thought out though edwyn didn’t mind so much just letting the tune play.
The song went on…