The plunging violet velvet curtains that hung from the ceiling behind the man were slowly pulled open, revealing a seated orchestra. Its members, both male and female of varying ages, were dressed in uniforms like the man who turned, holding a baton up high.
As he waved his hand, the orchestra burst into song, filling the hall with soulful music that rose and fell in tandem with the baton. Leyn, putting down his cutlery as he gaped at the orchestra, turned towards Kiel with an awed expression.
The Shade seated beside him had an odd expression on his face, equal parts stiff, in disbelief and irritated.
"Kiel..." Leyn ventured, Kiel looking down as he spoke in a quiet voice.
"This isn't right."
The Shade turned slowly to Leyn, a portion of his hair sliding past his shoulder to hide part of his desolate expression.
"It has been changed, and there isn't even a sign of the original instrument."
Kiel turned away, automatically tuning out the ongoing music as the face of a young woman surfaced in his mind. She had deep circles under her eyes, and left a smudge of ink on her cheek as she placed her quill pen down. Kiel's gaze was drawn to her gradually widening smile as she looked over her completed music score.
She said something to Kiel, carefully placing a paperweight to secure her composition in place. Rising from her chair, she moved towards the back of the room and out of sight. The warm light of the standing lamp reflected off the silver flute lying in its open case on her desk, Kiel leaning over to look over the finalised score.
An ice flute condensed in his hands, and he lifted it to his lips, blowing gently.
The clear, cold melody cut through the hall, rising above the orchestra's music like a heron soaring into the skies. The music faltered and came to a stop, the collective hush of everyone present making each note sound out with heart-rending clarity, the invisible nature of the player creating a mystical air in the otherwise common dining hall.
The farewell to winter, giving way to the new buds sprouting from the earth, the lilt of spring carrying dandelion fluff on the winds that rustle through green grass and the leaves of flowering trees. Leyn, who had been originally shocked by Kiel's sudden disappearance from his seat as refractive frost covered his skin, was too entranced to stop the Shade, his eyes glazed over like everyone else's.
The final notes died away, bellying the lament of the passing seasons by marching time.
Kiel wrenched the mouthpiece away, the flute vanishing like the end of his piece, his rapt audience regaining its autonomy as though rousing from a dream.
"I'm going back first," Kiel said in a whisper for Leyn's ears only, departing silently.
———~~<~>~~———
Kiel, seated in the desk chair, paused his writing as the door opened and closed.
"I am sorry I left you behind," he said, hearing Leyn's soft footsteps crossing the carpet.
"No, don't apologise, it was a beautiful song- I could actually see it...the snow melting, the pond in the backyard thawing, mother and father packing to go on a picnic..." Leyn's voice trailed off, the boy sitting on the bed, his legs swinging as he stared down at his lap.
"I had decided that I wouldn't interfere, but I couldn't bear it anymore. When I thought how she would react if she heard what her song had become, I couldn't help myself."
Kiel, his chin propped in his hand, looked out the porthole, caught in thought. In a rare moment of weakness, he had confessed what was in his mind in the hall, and as expected, the child didn't understand.
"She?" Leyn said doubtfully. "Since you knew the original song, you wanted to share it with everyone, I think it's a great thing!"
Kiel couldn't help but crack a smile at Leyn's innocent misunderstanding. Getting up from his chair, he went to the bed and sat down beside him.
"Leyn, I hope you never change," Kiel rubbed the boy's head, the child puzzledly smiling with him, affected by his good mood.
———————
In the end, though the captain of the ship sought out the identity of the mysterious flutist, they never appeared to claim responsibility, so the incident was written off as a surprise performance by The Great Symphonica. Like this, the dust that Kiel had stirred up was settled in writing by the time the ship docked, but the haunting melody he had produced remained imprinted in everyone's hearts.
———~~<~>~~———
In an alternate realm, a tree much taller and wider than one can imagine was wreathed in white clouds, its crown reaching high into the heavens and out of sight. Numerous branches sprouted from its trunk, but instead of leaves, the tree had hundreds upon thousands of small orbs displaying simultaneously moving images.
A lithe woman with wavy golden hair that reached her feet floated down on a branch, her ornate robes flaring out and settling neatly back in place. Holding a pair of golden pruning shears, she walked towards the end of the branch, turning as something caught her eye.
Her pair of sharp iridescent violet eyes narrowed as she plucked an orb almost hidden from sight, staring motionlessly at it.
Another woman with straight light green hair adorned with small silver flowers landed behind her, her elegant eyebrows raised.
Sensing her presence, the golden-haired woman turned, handing the orb to her fellow goddess.
"Have a look at this," was all she said.
The second goddess's eyes glowed a deep gold as she watched years upon years of a world's memories in seconds, sighing as she looked back at her friend.
"This is quite unexpected, a fragment actually got away in such a particular manner."
"What will you do? Purge it?"
The green-haired goddess shook her head, the golden light dying in her eyes as it gave way to a dark emerald.
"Call me whimsical, but I am curious what would come of it's interaction with it's current world."
She tucked the orb into the folds of her white robes, the silver bell on her wrist chiming as she reached into jewelled pouch at her waist.
"That's why you should have cleaned things up better. I don't know if you are cruel, or just indifferent." The golden-haired goddess gave an exasperated sigh as she plucked the offered scroll from the other's hand. "Good gracious, just when I thought I could finally do my job properly..."
———~~<~>~~———
When the ship arrived at the Crimoa Empire, Kiel and Leyn disembarked with the other passengers, the two parting on good terms.
"I guess this is goodbye," the former said as they headed to a quieter section of the port.
The child nodded, then suddenly pounced on Kiel, hugging him tightly.
"Big Brother, I'll miss you," he said in a muffled voice, face pressed against Kiel's chest.
Used to children's displays of affection, Kiel held Leyn's shoulders gently and detached him from himself. The child wiped his teary eyes, one hand clutching his satchel's strap.
"So will I. If destiny wills it, we will meet again."
———————
Waving to Leyn one last time, Kiel walked away, his smile fading like a spring's breeze. With his usual neutral expression, Kiel put the past few days behind him, not allowing himself to linger more than necessary on the past.
To Kiel, this encounter and parting was simply a drop in the ocean, a bit of colour to brighten things up, but not an experience he would put to heart.
YOU ARE READING
The Last Shade VI: Illusory Dream
Fantasy(Book 6) A remnant of the long-forgotten past of two kingdoms and the Rulers of Frost and Flame still lives with blood and flesh. Travelling through the land, facing meetings and partings, the mystery of the nature of things clings resolutely. Wit...
