Super 4 || Motherly Letters

|| Chapter 2 || Sound of Memories ||

Fitting music because why not:

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Some kind of clue...

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*FLASHBACK*

The 11 year old girl was on her way home to work. In the Island it was pretty commun to start working so early in live. But she didn't quite agree, still, the only reason why she hadn't run away yet was because of her father; or let's say, adoptive father. That man was the only person in that miserable place who never even dreamt of calling her things like:

'Witch!'

'Freak!'

'You pass so much time by the sea, your hair has turned it's color!'

It was ever the same. Everyday for as long as she could remember, she had to put up with those... insults? That after while became dumber and dumber for being used so many times.

Still...

'Daddy?' She said walking into the tabern. 'Am I odd?'

The man dropped what he was doing to look at the girl's eyes, making sure he heard correctly.

'Odd? What makes you think that?'

'People say things, not like I really care...' She sighed, that wasn't the problem. For a long time there had been something else bothering her. 'My hair is blue. There is no one else on this island with an unnatural hair color. I've spent some time in the library and  discovered that only people with magical family roots have it. I know you never talked about this, so maybe it makes you uncorfortable but.. who was mom?'

Rubens' kind expression became stiff. He hadn't told her the truth yet. It was time.

What happened next was still a blurred memory, it was like that when it happened aswell. Rubens tried to be as gentle has possible making her sit down, explaining every detail until pronoucing the final words.

'That baby was you.'

That was the first time Ruby had no idea what or how to respond. She felt sick. It was like she had been living in a fake reality for her entire life. She needed more answers. More details. But the first thing she asked was:

'Why didn't you tell me?' Her voice trembled a bit. 

'I was afraid you'd want to leave, you may not be my real daughter but I love you like so.'

She was taken back by that answer. The man tried to hug her but she didn't accept it. It was still too much.

'But there must be something else? Maybe they left a letter or... something? Some kind of clue?'

Rubens got up and started walking.

'There is one thing.'

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'Yes!' Ruby suddenly said, scaring Alien. 'But it's not much of a help. I'll be right back'

She quickly left the room while the other three exchanged looks. It was still hard to believe how that feisty, energetic person had such a weight on her shoulders until then. How did she go through all those adventures with them keeping such a big secret? Didn't she trust them?

Ruby came back with a small round-shaped box in her hands. Inside there was a golden pendant attached to a silver string. She took it and put it around her neck and said:

'It opens, but for some reasons it only does so when I'm using it... believe me I've tested it' She showed a very small scratch on the side.

She gently opened the top part and revealed the interior: it looked like a music box. She slowly made it work. It really was a music box, the tune it played was slow and sounded like a lullaby.

Ruby was tried her best not to start crying, she had a reputation to keep, but she had listened to that song so many times when she was feeling down she almost couldn't help it. Alex noticed but he didn't say anything, she really did have a reputation to keep.

'It's not really a clue, I've listened a lot to it and it's just looping, there are no hidden messages or anything similar'

Gene then had an idea.

'I could try to identify where it's from.'

'How so? It doesn't exactly have a "made in...' Ruby started to say, to try to lift the mood.

'Try not to be sarcastic for once.' Gene cut her. 'Each Island has a genre of music or a certain musical instrument that's used in tradicional musical compositions. I could analyse the sound of the music box and with the help of my equipment modify it into a commun soundtrack, like it had never been turned into a music box in the first place, that way I'd be able to identify the place where the composition is originated.'

'I didn't understand a word you said.' Ruby said, with Alex and Twinkle being just as confused. 'But if that would give some kind of further clues... But are you sure you're ok with going through all of that just... for me?'

'If you agree, give me the music box.' Gene gave one of his smiles.

Ruby took it off and handed it to him, hesitating a bit.

The testing started.

'See here it is. The original composition uses the piano as a main instrument, so it was originally instended to be played as a lullaby. Consequently Gunpowder Island is out of the way, they probably dont even know what babies are anymore. It's obviously not from Technopolis neither since we dont use such old ways of music audition. It could be from the Forgotten World but they mainly use bongos and other primitive instruments. That would leave us with Enchanted Island and one of the kingdoms in Kingsland.' Gene concluded, looking at the others proudly.

'As someone who has to go through it, we can take Enchanted Island out of the list, the songs they play there aren't exactly to fall asleep, more like... Wake up and think you are in the middle of an apocalypse type of thing. No offense...' Alex said to Twinkle.

'Non taken! ~' She said, still having no idea of what was going on.

'About Kingsland, all the music is the same' Alex continued 'But there's a little povoation to the East of the Dragon Territory that is full of blacksmiths. It's where we get our swords and equipmemts from. The povoation is called Uzurya and perhaps it was made there, it doesn't hurt to ask.'

'Then we know what we must do. If the person of the day agrees' Gene said. While everyone stared at Ruby, who was still holding tight to her necklace.

With a innocent amd thankfull smile she proclammed.

'To Uzurya!'

                            (END OF CHAPTER 2)

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Glad I got this one out of my system. A bit longer than usual, but as boring as before... don't worry my actual idea is going to start now!

(Also I never googled "another word for..." as much as I did to write Gene's speech, I feel both dumb and smart now).

Like before thanks for reading! 

~ Until next time!