((Music for the tale - Continued))
(( Music for the tale ))
It was as if the very world around him faded away in that moment, sinking away out of sight as the familiarly impressive, stone structures of Ul'dah swiftly replaced them; brick by brick - each cleanly stacking atop the last with soft 'clunks' to form the numerous corinthian pillars and arches that were reminiscent of his home city's design. Familiar, yet unfamiliar was the scene being created before his very eyes, as the simple tale stole him away into another world - one more beautiful and serene than Andre could have ever thought imaginable.Â
Each softly spoken word uttered by the now, unseen narrator of this tale, seemed to brush a vibrant colour into the world with a delicacy that only the tender care of her feminine voice could achieve, bringing each piece of the world below to life as it was given due attention through a honeyed tone. The aesthetically-pleasant carvings of Ul'dahn architecture continued to build up around him into tall structures until he was eventually enveloped by the nostalgically, sweet and sandy scent of freshly-chiselled stone as it filled the warm, Thanalan air all around him. He breathed deep of it's homely scent, it's welcoming allure bidding the visiting hyur whom floated harmlessly above to draw in closer toward the tranquil scene that was now unfolding before his very eyes below him. With a gentle descent, the hyur drifted downward into a small, open area found amidst the buildings, descending along with the dry and weightless veils of freshly puffed dust from the cinnamon structures whom continued to form all around him.
It was when he found himself but only a few feet from the ground that the sweet, stony scent was then greeted by the incomparably, fresh aroma of newly blooming flora below.
With an expression of absolute awe, the hyur's feet noiselessly met with the winding, cobble path which steered through the modest emerald secret that lay hidden amongst the cloisters. Throughout the lush vision of green, an innumerable variety of exotic colours both passed through and bordered it's delicate world against the city of stone that lay beyond - ignorant and unnoticing to the fragile treasure contained within. Like little families of their own, many groups of flowers were arranged together, appearing in colourful sets to create wondrous patterns among both themselves and the carefully trimmed grass that lay between.
Andre blinked slowly as he became more and more enwrapped in the world around him. The abundantly, fresh scents steadily growing more real by the second. The mysterious and soft trickling sound of water droplets lightly pattering upon the leaves nearby... and even the surreal appearance of a small, snowy-white butterfly whose presence in these parts would not have even been thought possible were it not for the existence of this one, little piece of paradise that lay like a forgotten gem, hidden deep within the barren lands that surrounded them. The hyur's sapphire gaze followed behind the tiny, white wings as it floated forward with a curiously unsteady pattern through the breeze-less air until it finally led his eyes towards the presence of another, before floating away out of sight.
Andre's gaze now focused upon the unfamiliar figure residing obliviously but only a few steps away from him. A young man, one no older than himself no doubt, whom was carefully tending to a particular set of flowers before him while gently sprinkling them with a light shower of water from a steel cannister. The crystalline stream which stemmed forth shimmered and sparkled magnificently in the morning's glorious light that shone done from above, with Azeyma's divine and nurturing gaze refusing to cast so much as a single, corrupting shadow across the mystical world she would have seemed to so dearly protect below.
It was almost with an anxious hesitation that Andre would eventually allow himself to move forth, fearful of disrupting the enchanting scene as though it were anything more than a vivid image painted within his own mind.
With phantom steps, the hyur noiselessly drew closer, creeping up from behind as his own curiosity bid him to steal a closer look.
It was then, that the frail voices could be heard.Â
Curious little things as they were, like a brief and simple message that was softly whispered within one's own mind, unheard by the outside world; a secret exchange of fleeting thoughts.
He could hear them.... not merely through Clover's voice, but as voices of their own. He was there. There with her grandfather in that moment... many, many years back through time. They would even continue like that for a spell, speaking further of other thoughts, other messages that the hyur could have imagined they might have said - even beyond what Clover herself would share with him.
They continued, albeit not for long... as the final voices drained out within his mind with a diluting echo and the world in which he had momentarily become a part of stretched further and further away out of reach.
Andre was returned to the present - for the time being at least - now posed with a simple question, directly from that same voice, the voice that had created such a world.
Unable to blink and naturally overcome with complete awe from the surreal experience, Andre hesitated for a moment, almost returning Clover's gaze with a mere blank expression before finally replying to her, not with words, but with a subtle yet eager nod of his head.
(( Music for the tale ))
It was as if the very world around him faded away in that moment, sinking away out of sight as the familiarly impressive, stone structures of Ul'dah swiftly replaced them; brick by brick - each cleanly stacking atop the last with soft 'clunks' to form the numerous corinthian pillars and arches that were reminiscent of his home city's design. Familiar, yet unfamiliar was the scene being created before his very eyes, as the simple tale stole him away into another world - one more beautiful and serene than Andre could have ever thought imaginable.Â
Each softly spoken word uttered by the now, unseen narrator of this tale, seemed to brush a vibrant colour into the world with a delicacy that only the tender care of her feminine voice could achieve, bringing each piece of the world below to life as it was given due attention through a honeyed tone. The aesthetically-pleasant carvings of Ul'dahn architecture continued to build up around him into tall structures until he was eventually enveloped by the nostalgically, sweet and sandy scent of freshly-chiselled stone as it filled the warm, Thanalan air all around him. He breathed deep of it's homely scent, it's welcoming allure bidding the visiting hyur whom floated harmlessly above to draw in closer toward the tranquil scene that was now unfolding before his very eyes below him. With a gentle descent, the hyur drifted downward into a small, open area found amidst the buildings, descending along with the dry and weightless veils of freshly puffed dust from the cinnamon structures whom continued to form all around him.
It was when he found himself but only a few feet from the ground that the sweet, stony scent was then greeted by the incomparably, fresh aroma of newly blooming flora below.
With an expression of absolute awe, the hyur's feet noiselessly met with the winding, cobble path which steered through the modest emerald secret that lay hidden amongst the cloisters. Throughout the lush vision of green, an innumerable variety of exotic colours both passed through and bordered it's delicate world against the city of stone that lay beyond - ignorant and unnoticing to the fragile treasure contained within. Like little families of their own, many groups of flowers were arranged together, appearing in colourful sets to create wondrous patterns among both themselves and the carefully trimmed grass that lay between.
Andre blinked slowly as he became more and more enwrapped in the world around him. The abundantly, fresh scents steadily growing more real by the second. The mysterious and soft trickling sound of water droplets lightly pattering upon the leaves nearby... and even the surreal appearance of a small, snowy-white butterfly whose presence in these parts would not have even been thought possible were it not for the existence of this one, little piece of paradise that lay like a forgotten gem, hidden deep within the barren lands that surrounded them. The hyur's sapphire gaze followed behind the tiny, white wings as it floated forward with a curiously unsteady pattern through the breeze-less air until it finally led his eyes towards the presence of another, before floating away out of sight.
Andre's gaze now focused upon the unfamiliar figure residing obliviously but only a few steps away from him. A young man, one no older than himself no doubt, whom was carefully tending to a particular set of flowers before him while gently sprinkling them with a light shower of water from a steel cannister. The crystalline stream which stemmed forth shimmered and sparkled magnificently in the morning's glorious light that shone done from above, with Azeyma's divine and nurturing gaze refusing to cast so much as a single, corrupting shadow across the mystical world she would have seemed to so dearly protect below.
It was almost with an anxious hesitation that Andre would eventually allow himself to move forth, fearful of disrupting the enchanting scene as though it were anything more than a vivid image painted within his own mind.
With phantom steps, the hyur noiselessly drew closer, creeping up from behind as his own curiosity bid him to steal a closer look.
It was then, that the frail voices could be heard.Â
Curious little things as they were, like a brief and simple message that was softly whispered within one's own mind, unheard by the outside world; a secret exchange of fleeting thoughts.
He could hear them.... not merely through Clover's voice, but as voices of their own. He was there. There with her grandfather in that moment... many, many years back through time. They would even continue like that for a spell, speaking further of other thoughts, other messages that the hyur could have imagined they might have said - even beyond what Clover herself would share with him.
They continued, albeit not for long... as the final voices drained out within his mind with a diluting echo and the world in which he had momentarily become a part of stretched further and further away out of reach.
Andre was returned to the present - for the time being at least - now posed with a simple question, directly from that same voice, the voice that had created such a world.
Unable to blink and naturally overcome with complete awe from the surreal experience, Andre hesitated for a moment, almost returning Clover's gaze with a mere blank expression before finally replying to her, not with words, but with a subtle yet eager nod of his head.
![[Image: ecec20e41f.png]](https://puu.sh/xvMxb/ecec20e41f.png)
Characters: Andre Winter (Hy'ur) / K'nahli Yohko (Miqo'te)
