The melody of the Lyra spilled into the air, it was a sound that was both haunting and tender. A lullaby for the weary and requiem to the restless soul. The wind, a gentle conspirator, carried the music further, its whisper rustling the leaves of the great tree, transforming it into an orchestra. The branches swayed, the shadow danced to the mournful melody, as though the earth bowed to its beauty.
With closed eyes, her fingers danced through the shimmering strings. Her touch was reverent and intimate, coaxing forth a melody that seemed to reveal the beauty of the universe. Beside her, Erik sat in silence, his shoulder brushing against her, a quiet anchor in the sea of sound. His eyes too were closed, his expression was gentle, savouring to the very essence of the moment.
For a moment, there's only the music and the wind, the two entwined in dance as old as time itself. Then softly, as though afraid to break the comforting silence, the girl spoke "So, why are you here today?" Her voice, akin to a whisper, light and melodic, blends seamlessly with the notes of her Lyra.
Erik did not open his eyes, nor did he stir, his voice, when it came out, was low and measured. A counterpoint to her airy tone. "What do you mean?"
"You're a student, aren't you?" She asked, her finger never faltering as the music kept flowing as naturally as the wind.
His brow furrowed slightly, though his expression remained otherwise, "How'd you know?"
The girl's lips curved into a faint smile, though her eyes still closed, "Well, because you wear the academy's uniform, you silly~" she said, her tone teasing yet gentle.
Erik opened his eyes, the weight of the uniform fabric was suddenly palpable against his skin, "Oh,..." Erik murmured, the words slipped out like a sigh.
He shifted beside her, pressing more firmly against her shoulder. "I suppose I do."
Her brow frowned, sharp as the blade's edge. She opened her eyes, her gaze was sharp, staring directly at his face, questioning. "What's that supposed to mean?"
The finger that seemed endlessly in motion, hovered above the string, and the last note hung suspended in the air, fragile and luminous, as if the world itself hold its breath. She waited, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
With a sigh, Erik opened his mouth—halting at first, he told her the story when all the professors in the academy just gave him free time to chase his path, a conviction that he never remembered taking and leaving him dumbfounded.
A beat of silence. Then—
"Pfft,... Ahahaha," without a warning, a soft chuckle escaped her, bubbling up like a spring. Her laughter rolled through the clearing, melodic and unguarded, shaking the petals from a nearby tree.
Erik, sitting on her side, turned his head slightly, giving her a sidelong glance as her laughter dissolved into giggles. "And here I am," he said dryly, "Sitting under the tree listening to someone playing harp."
Her laugh softened into breathless giggles and wiped the tears that clinging to her lashes. Her eyes returned her gaze to Erik with a warmth that made Erik's chest tighten. "Well," she said, her voice still laced with mirth, "Maybe that's your path, sitting under a tree and listening to me playing," she tilted her head, her smile softening as she looked into Erik. "Isn't that good?"
Erik closed his eyes. For a heartbeat, the only sound that clinging in the air was the rustling sound of the leaves. A silent moment that seemed like he was agreeing with her words. "Well," he said, the word escaping with a sigh, "No."
Hearing that, her eyes widened, and her lips parted in surprise. "What?!" an exclamation burst from her. She leaned closer, in disbelief at what she heard. "What is that supposed to mean?!"
Slowly his eyes opened, drifting into the distant horizon as though longing for something that never can be achieved, "This moment, sitting here and listening to you playing," His voice was calm, a voice that sounded melancholic. "...Is me imposing on yours."
A breeze stirred the branches, scattering shadows across her face. She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut off, turning to face her fully. A faint, roguish grin tugged on his lips, "So, how about, this time, you impose on mine?"
Her eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed in slight crimson. A warm smile carved into her face as she says, "What is that? Are you picking me up?"
He leaned closer as the grin now fully etched into his features, sharp and playful, "Smooth, isn't it?"
A giggle escaped from her mouth. Slowly she lifts her legs and stands up from her spot. As she dusted her knee-high dress, her glance was directed toward the man that still sitting under the tree.
"So, where should I impose your time?" She said.
The sun was hung in the sky as the two of them walked under it, going around the city together. Her easy-going personality was like a charm, talking as they walked and looking at the city scenery. The trem moved through the cobblestone streets of the city with an air of confidence. A sole transportation that circled around the flying island.
As the sun in the sky glided like a gold coin, its light no longer the sharp, searing brilliance of the day. Instead, it softened, as though filtered through the veil of honey. The shadow stretches long and languid across the surfaces, their edges blurred by the warmth that lingered in the air. The world seemed to exhale the frantic energy from the morning. Birdsong, once bright and insistent ceased, now carried a drowsy cadence as though the singer pausing to savour the stillness between the notes.
In front of him, the girl walked with lightness in her step. Her hands clasped behind her back as she hummed the same haunting melody she played before on her Lyra not long ago. The instrument, now securely strapped across the shoulder, caught the fading sunlight, polished the wood gleamed slightly. Her voice carried on the breeze, soft and lilting, weaving through the air like a silver thread.
"Today was fun~" She said, her words infused with a rhythm that seemed to dance alongside her.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, subtle but genuine, "Glad to hear that."
In one hand, he carried a basket, its weight evident in the way it swung slightly with each step. The motion stirred a heavy air around them, creating a faint breeze that swept across the cobblestone road, sending a swirl of dust away from its surface. The basket content—Whatever it was—remained hidden, but the purposeful way he carried it suggested it was important.
She glances at her back, looking at the figure behind her. Her eyes narrowed playfully as her glance gradually landed at the basket. "All that looking around," she said, her voice slightly teasing, "And you only bought that?"
He lifted the basket slightly as if to emphasize its presence, "Yes," he said simply, "I need a proper weapon for the academy after all."
Her lips curved slightly, forming a little sly smile on her face, "Hmm~ Is that so?"
Her step slowed, then stopped altogether as they reached a small square dominated by a bubbling fountain. The water caught the sunlight, casting gleaming and scattering like shards of diamond across the cobblestone. She stood there, her silhouette framed by the golden light, her front cast a shadow as her back glowed faintly. The contrast made her seem like a person who stepped out of a dream.
With a smile that bloomed like a flower in the dusk, she turned to face him fully, "It seems I was imposing far longer than you," her voice light, tinged with something deeper—gratitude, perhaps, or a regret.
He nodded, his expression calm but thoughtful, "Seems so," he said, acknowledging that she imposing his time longer than Erik imposing her. "But it's worthwhile isn't it?"
She closed her eyes as her smile softened, "Sure it is~" Her voice was light and melodic like the sounds of her Lyra, with a wistfulness and a hint of something unspoken.
As she opened her eyes, her expression had shifted, and the brightness dimmed lightly, "But unfortunately it's the end."
"Working?" He tilted his head, his brow furrowing slightly.
She nodded, with a grin on her face though it didn't quite reach her eyes, "Yes~ What a shame isn't it? You need to end the date with a cute girl like me~"
He closed his eyes as if regretting the unfortunate event, with a sigh escaping from his mouth, "Yes it is, it's a blessing to be accompanied by a cute girl like you," his tone mock-serious.
Her eyes widened, her cheeks flushed crimson as she averted her gaze somewhere else. Her finger fidgeted with the strap of her Lyra.
Erik chuckled, his voice low and warm, "Don't say it yourself if you would end up feeling embarrassed," he said, his grin widening.
"It-it can't be helped isn't it!?" She stammered, her voice rising in pitch, as she pouted and her lips forming a small indignant frown, "Your reaction was different from what I expected, after all!"
For a moment, they stood still over there. The sound of a bubbling fountain filled the silence between them. The city around them was alive with the sound of the evening—the distant murmur of voices, the strains of a street musician's tune—but in that small square, time seemed to flow slowly as though reluctant to let the moment end.
His shoulder relaxed as he looked into her, "Well," he said, his voice low and softer, "I suppose this is goodbye for now."
She nodded, her expression softening, "For now."
She turned around and left, her steps lighter now as if she were already carrying the memory of the day with her. As she walked slowly before blending into the crowds, her step halted and turned around for the second time.
"Lyria," she said, her smile bright and fleeting. "My name is Lyria."
With a fleeting smile, Erik answered, "Erik."
After that she began to continue her step, she glanced back over her shoulder one last time. "Later~"
Erik still stood over there, looking at Lyria's figure that slowly disappeared, blending into the crowds.