The music hit me like the scent of something long forgotten. It wasn’t just sound. It was a presence, alive and vibrant, weaving its way through the air. Each note seemed to ripple through me, settling in places I didn’t realize were hollow.

  A man sat at the far end of the room, perched on the edge of a throne shaped by nature's hand, his fingers working the strings of his lute with a precision that felt almost supernatural. The firelight caught in his hair, turning it to liquid copper, but I barely noticed. The music held me. It had weight, not in the way that burdens did, but in the way the sky was vast. It was endlessly pressing down with the sheer immensity of it.

  As his fingers danced across the strings, the notes spilled out like water over smooth stones, fluid, unyielding, and impossibly pure. The melody climbed and fell, shifting from tender whispers to bold declarations, each note a thread pulling me further into its tapestry. It was as though the air itself vibrated with meaning, something more profound than words could ever convey.

  I felt the hollows it filled had shape. Sharp edges carved by hopelessness that had settled into me like an old wound. The music pressed against them, not with the gentleness of a balm, but with the raw, unrelenting force of something unyieldingly true. It stirred the ache I had carried this morning, the weight of it crushing in its quiet, invisible way.

  The memory of that feeling rose again, jagged and fresh, and I thought for a moment it might overwhelm me. But instead, the music wrapped around it, holding it, and in that embrace, something shifted. A tear slipped down my cheek, unbidden, tracing the curve of my face. It didn’t feel like the helpless, bitter tears I’d known before. It felt lighter, almost as if it carried something away with it. The pain didn’t vanish, but in its place was a strange, quiet relief, like the first breath after surfacing from deep water.

  Then the words began. At first, I almost didn’t hear them, so wrapped up in the instrumental that they seemed like another layer of melody. But as the man’s voice rose, rich and commanding, the words crystallized, becoming the center of the music, reshaping the melodies into itself.

  “Oh, to the land that has been driven apart,

  Once united, now we stand afar,

  Death in the south, betrayal in the north,

  Blood in the east, where swords march forth.”

  The words struck me like a blade. They didn’t reach into me the way the melody had. Instead, they painted a stark, brutal image of something distant yet alive in their telling. The music that had felt so intimate moments ago now seemed cold and impersonal, like it belonged to someone else and not to me. Yet, I couldn’t turn away from it.

  “The desert whispers warnings, the rivers run red,

  The cries of the fallen, the words of the dead,

  A queen’s lament echoes, though no living hear her plea.

  Her sorrow a curse that binds land to the sea.”

  As each word settled over me, it felt as though a spell was unraveling. The story woven into the song pulled something from me, untangling the threads of emotion I had clung to so tightly moments before. An image I once believed was mine, one that mirrored my pain and felt like my own story, was slipping away. It wasn’t mine. It never had been.

  “Oh, to the throne that once shone so bright,

  Now shrouded in shadows, lost to the night,

  A kingdom divided, a crown forged in pain.

  What once was united shall never remain.”

  The emotions that had consumed me, raw and overpowering, began to dissipate like mist in the morning sun. I felt their weight lift, leaving me feeling oddly light. I wiped the tears from my cheek, the warmth of them fading as quickly as the ache in my chest.

  “Our one salvation lies, in a princess’s fall,

  As long as she’s dead, no peace can befall,

  The end of many, are in her hands,

  With the blood of the one, her power expands.”

  Then, as if the air itself sighed, the music came to a halt. The sudden absence was jarring, like waking abruptly from a vivid dream. The man’s fingers stilled on the lute’s strings, and his gaze met mine across the hall. For a moment, I thought I might dissolve under that attention.

  Then a broad grin spread across his face, breaking the tension like sunlight piercing through storm clouds. It was disarming, familiar in a way I couldn’t place. My chest tightened with a strange sense of recognition, though I was certain I had never met this man before. “Come on in,” he called, his voice warm and beckoning, ringing with the same vibrant energy that had filled the room moments ago.

  It was then that I realized two things.

  The first was that I was still standing in the doorway, frozen in place even as the heavy oak doors swung shut behind me. The music had held me captive, and I’d stood there like a fool, rooted to the spot. Heat crept into my cheeks as the realization hit me, my body suddenly feeling too stiff, too awkward.

  The second realization was worse. Every eye in the hall was on me. Conversations had stopped, and faces turned my way, some curious, some amused, and others unreadable. The weight of their stares pressed down on me, heavier than the music had been, and I fought the instinct to step back through the doors and disappear entirely. My chest tightened further, and my pulse was pounding in my ears.

  I had lived this moment before when I was younger and fled, and that had only made the situation more embarrassing. Instead of repeating the same mistake, I swallowed hard, forcing my feet to move as I stepped further into the hall. The only two sounds in the hall for those initial seconds were my boots scuffing lightly against the stone floor and the sound of my heart beating. But soon the hall’s conversations resumed, and my breath came once again.

  When I made it to the line for food, I wanted to die, but I suppressed that feeling. That was until the mysterious musician settled up right beside me. That was when I realized the man was both taller and slimmer than I was.

  “Are you the newbie?” With a village this small, it was most likely a conversation starter rather than an actual question.

  If he wanted to talk, I did need some answers. “Yes, but what was with that song?”

  “That was just a folk song about a long dead queen,” he replied, but at my expression his smile returned, and I felt that sense of familiarity again. Was it his eyes or surprisingly delicate features? Despite the short haircut, which seemed like an attempt to downplay his effeminate appearance, his height made it unlikely anyone would mistake him for a woman. “Have you never heard a bard before?”

  Not understanding, I replied, “I had heard a lot of musicians… But this…” I was at a loss for words.

  “Sorry, as a traveler, you probably wouldn’t have heard a real magical bard. Music is a conduit to the soul, and for anyone’s first time, it can be powerful. Those who are dealing with heavy emotions, like losing their home, might be doubly affected,” he replied, gesturing to me.

  “Wait,” I said, putting my hand up, “if you are saying the emotions are artificial, then how are these people here not affected?”

  “Oh, they are,” he replied, but as I looked around, I didn’t believe him. “Well, not like that. Imagine hearing a funny story that makes you laugh. Then you hear it again, and you still find it amusing. Music is the same way. People still understand the meaning, but they don’t react the same way over time. It also affects you differently depending on your emotional state. I remember when my heart broke for the first time. It was as if the notes were smoke that curled and lingered in my chest. But now I barely feel it.”

  As he was looking into the distance, I didn’t know what to say. So I said the only thing I could think of, “I am sorry.”

  That seemed to knock him back to reality. “My sister Kaylie has been talking a lot about you.” And it clicked. That was why he looked familiar. It wasn’t his features. He looked almost nothing like his sister, except for his smile. He was one of those people who seemed genuinely happy. Or was it welcoming? I’m not sure, but there was something about their smile. “We are at a table just over there. You should join us.”

  “You are done playing?” I asked, not sure I wanted to feel those emotions again. Yes, it felt like it had healed something inside me, but I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. If he were going to play some more, I would choose to eat outside.

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  “No, I need to eat too. I’ll go back up later,” he said to my relief.

  As I approached, Kaylie patted an empty chair beside her. "Let me introduce you around," she began warmly. "Everyone, this is Alf. He is a Grey Elf from another world." She turned to me, then gestured to the other woman, "Alf, this is Sana, and she is one of the smartest people I know."

  The beauty before me was both striking and graceful. Her porcelain skin and raven-black hair created a stunning contrast, with her hair cascading in soft waves down her back. Her eyes were a vivid blue, as if holding the very essence of the sky. One look, and it almost felt as though I was weightless, flying through the clouds. Her figure straddled the line between slender and curvy, like a classic sculpture, and her presence exuded an air of quiet confidence that was truly mesmerizing.

  “Nice to meet you,” I said, extending my hand and offering her a warm smile.

  She looked at my hand with a blank expression and said, “Yes, he must be from another world. How odd.” And immediately, she wasn’t that pretty to me anymore. Well, she was still that pretty and probably one of the most beautiful women I had seen here and in my world. However, I had always been among the fortunate few who understood the true essence of a meaningful relationship. It was not just about one aspect but the whole package. It was a blend of personality, compatibility, and emotional connection. Looks had always been a pleasant plus, but never the deciding factor. I couldn't help but doubt our compatibility.

  She seemed the opposite of Kaylie. While Kaylie exuded the warmth of a crackling fire, this woman felt like a chilling breeze. Upon closer inspection, her appearance only reinforced my perception of her. Her body, with its smooth curves, was wrapped in layers of clothing that seemed excessive, as if she were perpetually cold. A long-sleeved wool tunic hugged her figure, cinched at the waist by a leather belt, with fitted sleeves that reached beyond her wrists and were tucked into leather gloves that enveloped her hands. Fitted leather trousers protected her lower half, and she wore knee-high boots with a low heel, laced up the front.

  “I am glad you could join. You should eat,” Kaylie’s brother said, sitting across from me.

  On my plate lay an odd mix: some squash-like concoction alongside corn and a modest serving of meat. The combination was unusual, but hunger left little room for culinary critique.

  “Thank you for the invite.” A nervous smile spread across my face as I wondered what to call him. I felt bad that I hadn’t asked for his name a while ago. Thankfully, Kaylie saved me the trouble of having to ask.

  “This is Kaji. You met him. He has strong Earth Magic and has even studied with the Nymphs at the Sacred Tree Village,” Kaylie explained without losing her candid touch.

  Even sitting down, he was tall and somewhat out of place with his goofy grin. He resembled a willow tree, tall and lanky, his smile shining as if basking in the sunlight. The people around him seemed like ordinary shrubs, lurking in the shadows. Well, that is, except for Kaylie. She always wore her bright smile too, standing out from the crowd, even though she wasn't as tall as I was.

  “Get some information,” Rabbit said inside my head. I didn’t want to be nice to people to get information from them, but learning about the area might save my life, so I listened to his advice.

  “Thank you. I hadn’t heard much about the Sacred Tree Village except that it used to provide us with herbs,” I said.

  “I am surprised. Although if you are new here, it’s not that surprising. The Sacred Tree Village is west of here, between the Dead Lands and us. There are numerous tribes and villages scattered throughout the area. The Nymphs are a people of great knowledge and respect for nature. They are known for their herbs here, as you say, because they are so in tune with the Earth,” Kaji added, his quick voice eager to share his interest in the topic.

  Kaylie put her hand on Kaji’s arm and said, “Well, don’t be telling him too much. You know we aren’t supposed to be giving information to outsiders.”

  “Sorry, you’re right,” Kaji said to Kaylie. Then he turned to me. “I didn’t say anything that isn’t already common knowledge, but I can’t give specific details.”

  Well, at least I had gotten some information. As limited as it was, I hoped Rabbit could make something out of it.

  “Where have you been?” Kaji asked, clearly wanting to keep the conversation going so I would feel welcome. I smiled, wishing everyone were as nice as he was.

  “Not far. I started high up in the mountain, walked around the forest a little, fought a snake, and saw some diseased trees that poisoned an animal. In the night, I heard an animal killing other animals. That was kind of scary,” I confessed.

  “Wow, how interesting,” he said.

  “Yeah. I have no clue what that animal was,” I replied.

  “No, not that. They aren’t dangerous when you are in a large group, unless you attack them. I’m curious about the diseased trees. Why do you think it was poisoning an animal?” he questioned.

  “Well, an animal would most likely know what is poisonous and not, or else, they would all be dead by this point. This one was a small, white, monkey-type animal. It could be some type of disease, not poison. I guess I misspoke on that. I don’t know for sure. I mixed up some herbs, and the animal seemed to do much better,” I replied.

  “What did the disease look like on the trees?” he asked, showing his apparent interest.

  “I don’t know. Its bark was black with some blue on it. It was strange. I had never seen blue before on a tree,” I mentioned, trying to remember all the details.

  “That sounds like crackle rot. It is a disease that spreads to both plants and animals alike. Hmmm, do you know where exactly the infected tree was?” Kaji asked.

  “Of course. Do you have a map?”

  Kaji and Kaylie looked at each other, and instead of them saying anything, Sana chimed in and said, “Sorry, we can’t give you a map to see. As you probably know, maps have valuable information. Each settlement finds its own secrets and wants to keep them hidden. To do so, only a few have access to them. That’s how they stay valuable.”

  “That was the first time she had spoken up. She must have been higher up than the other two if they were deferring to her. Odd, I thought Kaylie was pretty high here,” Rabbit added.

  Lately, when Rabbit had been talking to me while I was around other people, I would listen to what he said and speak to him about it later. If I stopped to talk to him, I would pause too long for a normal conversation, and others would notice. At the time, what Rabbit had been saying was interesting, but didn’t really affect anything.

  “Can you just tell us where you saw it? We can take a party to go out and look for it if you give a general direction,” Kaylie said politely.

  “No problem. It is south, on the other side of the mountain. There is a river that flows off the mountain into a stream. That stream goes down off a cliff into the ocean. It’s near there, but on this side of the river,” I replied.

  “That’s near Fisherman’s Cove. It's somewhat dangerous over there, but we have to clear out the rot from those trees. If we don’t, it will continue to spread,” Kaji said.

  “Why is it dangerous? I assume the fishermen aren’t the dangerous ones,” I asked with a smirk.

  “No. It is called Fisherman’s Cove because that’s what it was originally. It is a cove that protects against any storm, and it’s a good place to dock boats. The slavers came, and it had to be abandoned.” Kaji paused for a second and continued, “All the same, the slavers still park there and grab people. I don’t think it’s a real worry, though. They have mostly moved on from here, as there aren’t any easy grabs anymore. However, they do often sail by to go to other locations or islands. That is why we always have to be vigilant because we are in their path of travel.”

  “You said there was a type of monkey that was sick from it? The only white migratory monkey in this area right now would be Ban-Sior. If you came across a child, there is a high possibility there will be an adult around as well, so that is something we might have to worry about,” he explained.

  “A Banshee?” I asked, knowing the name. Wasn’t that a pale woman who screamed? I doubt this little monkey could be confused for that.

  Sana jumped in this time, “A Ban-Sior is a type of great ape. They are strong, but not enough to be a huge worry. Their main issue is that they have a scream. They can only use it once a battle, so if you have a large party and spread out, you should be fine, but if you are alone, that scream can be deadly. The Banshee’s scream can paralyze even high-level creatures for a short period. The best way to recognize one is by its white coat. It doesn’t help them blend in. However, since they’re migratory and strong enough to defend themselves, camouflage isn’t that important.”

  “I think there might be some language evolution here,” Rabbit chimed in the back of my head. “'Ban' means both white and woman, while 'Sior' means eternal or constant. I believe over time, the words may have merged to create the term 'Banshee,' with the ending 'r' dropped from the word. The meaning must have also evolved. Instead of a white ape that screams endlessly, it somehow changed to a white woman who is screaming. I would love to know how that evolved.”

  While Rabbit was prattling on about the evolution of words, I tried to tune him out. Whether it was an ape or a woman, I needed to avoid it and words didn't really matter. Both scenarios sounded equally dangerous, especially if I encountered them alone. Knowing how a word evolved wouldn’t save my life.

  “So if you go to that area, you will need extra reinforcements against that beast?”

  Sana shook her head. “So long as the group keeps their distance, the Ban-Sior’s scream won’t get everyone. The real danger is the slavers that are close to the coast.”

  “No one should end up a slave,” I replied under my breath. In my mind, death was much better.

  “It’s fine. It’s life. Everyone knows at least someone who has been taken over the years. At least, we think they have been taken. Often, people just don’t come back,” Kaylie replied with a serious tone.

  I felt like these people were too comfortable with the idea of slavery. I admitted that they probably did not have the education to understand how horrific it truly was, but I did. And it made me angry to see how it had been tolerated here. I believed it deserved to be hunted down and eradicated.

  I looked down at my empty plate. I had eaten everything without even tasting most of it. I had been starving when I started, but I had become distracted. I let go of the hate. It was not going to change anything in that moment, and I needed to refocus on the others.

  “I will let Sophia know where you two are going. When do you plan to go?” Sana asked.

  “I can’t tomorrow. I am helping with a hunting party,” Kaylie said.

  “Well, I can’t go without my dear sister.” Kaji smiled and looked at her. “How about the day after?”

  “Sure. I’ll talk to the hunting party and see who wants to come with us,” Kaylie said as she glanced at her brother. They didn’t resemble each other too much, but the subtle cues of their interaction made their sibling relationship apparent. They seemed close, which I initially thought was simply due to their rapport. The way their names synced up was intriguing and might have been part of a local custom for naming siblings. I wondered.

  "Okay. Be safe." With those words, Sana stood up and walked away. She had been quiet the entire time I sat there, barely saying anything. I couldn't help but guess that she didn't like me.

  "We should get going too. We have been done for a while now," Kaylie remarked, indicating that they had finished their meal long before I had joined them. Indeed, their plates were almost clean by the time I sat down, and they were entirely done by this point.

  "It was nice meeting you," Kaji said, extending his hand with a friendly smile. I reached out to shake it, appreciating the gesture of goodwill despite how awkward the meal had been.