~Poem 2~
Few days ago...Yet another beautiful morning was pictured in Twelveswood. Rays of sun passed through wood and leaves, finding solace in the green of the forest. While the cloudkin began their early morning chirping, a Seeker of golden eyes strolled along the road, humming a gentle tune that matched the calm beat of her steps. Along her, a moogle of old features floated, his expression serious, arms being flung about, consequence of his gesticulation.
"There are six locations you must depart to. Of these six, I can only give you one, kupo! How you find the rest is your responsibility, Delphium. Also, Tools that are extremely necessary for this travel, kupo. I know you normally carry those around, yet, kupo! Don't forget the bow and harp, but also bring a blank book and a pencil, kupo!"
Leanne dipped her head in a quick nod, her eyes solely focused on the path ahead. "Anything else?"
"Hmm...your heart and wits! It's a trial, so it's going to test you in a variety of ways." her master finally sighs, sitting on top of her hat. The miqo'te found herself directing her gaze towards the moogle, a quick blink signaling her curiosity. If before he was content for her enthusiasm, his diminutive heart was now filled with concern. "...Are you sure, Delphium? There's no need for you to go through this, kupo. Is a bow that important to you?"
"Well master, as you said. I will not be satisfied until I find something that matches or surpass my bow-harp...pretty much like my hat, it was-"
"One of a kind, kupo. I know. Picky girl. Not getting married like this, kupo!"
Leanne stammered along her words, a sheepish smile gracing the cheerful features of the young seeker. "M-Master, I'm not planning to marry anytime soon...you know-"
"You want to travel the entire world, kupo. Yes, I know that too!" he huffs in mild frustration. "Too late for regrets, kupo. Just be safe. And don't fret if you fail. Your security is first priority, kupo!" he jumps into the air, flapping his little wings as he takes flight, resuming his floating position besides Leanne. "By the way, kupo...are we on the right path?"
Leanne nodded with a giggle. "Yup!"
"How do you know? You weren't looking at the road!" he asks, suspicious.
"After walking so much, you develop a sense, master." she winks impishly.
"Right, right, kupo..." he sighs.
---------------------
Few scenery were as beautiful and enchanting as the nocturnal Lower La Noscea. A sky full of scintillating stars steered the path of a young miqo'te, fireflies drifting throughout the land, their fleeting lives made beautiful and eternal by the dim, memory burning lights offered to the nightly travelers. Leanne's steps were tinged with uncertainty as she looked everywhere for the landmark she was supposed to find. If the miqo'te was unsure of where to go, her trustful puppy knew exactly what to do! Kyrin, her Little Bandit, marched along the road besides Leanne, a happy, innocent expression giving him his eternal air of blissful ignorance.
"Hmmmm...a grave, somewhere in Lower La Noscea...I walked all over the place several times, but I never spotted a grave...that's weird...Oh well! Follow the wind, I shall!" she nodded with energy, any signs of insecurity giving place to sheer enthusiasm and determination. Indeed, the breeze of Lower La Noscea guided leaves to their final resting spot. Perhaps it would also lead Leanne to one of her predecessor's burial grounds? Either by luck, or by guidance of the wind, or even by the blessing of Oschon, she found the grave. Its location being in the middle of the peaceful plains, with several plasmoids and vagrant fireflies giving company to the solitary stone. With a flick of her ears, Leanne approached the grave, gingerly enough as to not startle the peaceful ethereal beings now surrounding her.
The miqo'te, in solemn respect, knelt before the grave, golden orbs fluttering close. "May Oschon guide your steps even in the afterlife..." she murmurs. Eyes opened, she proceeds to scrutinize the mossy thing. Frustration would soon settle in inside her heart. "Hmmm...that's...that's no good...ancient writing..." she sighs. "Well...my master did tell me to bring a book and a pencil. Suppose I might as well write these and ask some scholar for proper understanding..." she nods, lion tail whipping in acknowledgment. Smiling, she looks over her shoulder towards her companion, words sweet and full of fondness. "Kyrin, go play? I gotta sit with my friend here for a chat...! Or rather, for a bit of writing." she giggles. Kyrin barked happily in response, following around the thousand little lights above him! The gentle green glow hypnotized the puppy, a lighthearted laugh escaping from Leanne's throat as she briefly observes her pet fruitlessly trying to follow the thousand lights floating in different directions.
Sitting besides the grave, she placed a backpack on top of her lap, rummaging through its contents till she found her blank book and pencil. Exhaling deeply, she observes the grave with a gentle expression, idly starting a chat with it. "...It's a bit solitary, isn't it? Being here, in the middle of nowhere...no one to chat with..." she giggles, shaking her head. "...It's beautiful though. Perhaps your presence that brought all this beauty here...plasmoids...fireflies..." she looks up to the sky. "The bright stars...so peaceful..."
Her expression grows in fondness the longer she observes the scenery, entranced by the amount of beauty that surrounded her. Blinking, she shakes her head, laughing. "Best if I start doing what I planned to...else I will be here the entire night...Okay! Let's do this!" she nods with a grin, shifting herself to properly identify the symbols engraved in the grave. "Those seem quite old...But not as old as the allagan ones...hmm...suppose you lived between the fourth and sixth astral eras? Seems probable...That's a nice stone, to survive the elements for so long!" she nods. After a few minutes of careful mimicry, she exhales satisfiedly, observing the job well done. "Was not as hard as I thought! Though..hmm..." she begins to examine her own version of the symbols. "They seem familiar...? Musical notes? Very strange ones..." curious, she compares the symbols in the grave and with the ones in her book, eyes widening. "W-Wait...why my symbols are different?" blinking in confusion, her ears flicks. "...Suppose I...should try writing them again?" she shrugs, flipping to another page. The flipping went from one to several pages, wind picking up the moment she did the motion, forcing the girl to place a hand on her hat so the thing doesn't fly away.
Eventually, the wind stops. "...G-Gosh...what was that about..." she looks around for Kyrin, eventually finding the puppy asleep. Sighing in relief, she puts herself in front of the grave, frowning lightly. "...Okay! Sir uhm...Sir that is currently sleeping under me! Couldn't you like, give me a tip? You're not helping...me...?" she trails off as she notices the page that book was currently on. Despite improbabilities, it was back to the page symbols. "Uhm...t-thanks. I will take that as a tip." she blushes in embarrassment, feeling dumb for some reason. Managing to translate the symbols into the current musical notes of her era, she finds herself reading a fine arrangement, made by someone with a lot of experience and care.
"Hm! Well, I'm thankful I don't lack in reading talent!" she snickers, retrieving her harp from the bag. Setting the backpack aside, Leanne rests her back against the grave, taking a deep breath while preparing herself to play the song presented by her discovery. A minute passes, and suddenly Leanne began to weave together a melodious song, its alluring sound pervading through the entire field. The corner of her lips lifted themselves in a gentle smile, mind of her own diving into the music she played, into a little world that only her would touch...or so she'd thought.
Her back, previously settled against cold mossy stone, now felt warmth being radiated through the fabrics of someone's clothes. Ears perking up in full alert, her head jerked as to identify what there was behind her. With a friendly smile, a male midlander calmly looked over his shoulder towards the young girl, waving with a hand. The sight of his gentle features, short black hair and light blue irises instantly put Leanne at ease, reasons too strange for her to know at the time. Blinking in confusion, she returned to fully project her weight on the man's back with a deep breath of relief, a motion that made the hyur laugh.
"...You were playing a song. Continue, would you kindly?" the man utters, expecting Leanne to follow through his command...and so she did, eyes fluttering close as she retook the interrupted song, feeling herself unable to do anything else but to comply. Chuckling, the man took a deep breath, before reciting a poem. His words were subtle, soft whispers, yet each syllable resounded deeply into Leanne's heart.
My pitch is of the ballad,
infused with the shadows...
Unknown and unrecognized,
the route of thy humble bard...
Of this concept there is a word,
A song without sound.
foreign by nature,
But understood to all.
Thee who seek the runes,
follower of the cadence.
Heed the map of the flute,
Obey the beat of the music.
Shadowing the white rain.
A mausoleum, with strange being.
From an epic to a sonnet,
Always a grand rehearsal.
Timber, stalk the stalks.
It shrines distinct talk.
Guffaw for the direction.
Trick n' treat, harlequin!
Feel the cerulean expanse,
The current, chaining your throat.
Jitters in the fear.
Thalassic thy dreading call.
Thaw, troumbadour.
A voice speaks for two.
Imagery is duplicitous.
With deceitful accuracy.
This term will end in a line,
Contented in the dusk.
Muted words were mine,
A goodbye, from thy humble bard...
infused with the shadows...
Unknown and unrecognized,
the route of thy humble bard...
Of this concept there is a word,
A song without sound.
foreign by nature,
But understood to all.
Thee who seek the runes,
follower of the cadence.
Heed the map of the flute,
Obey the beat of the music.
Shadowing the white rain.
A mausoleum, with strange being.
From an epic to a sonnet,
Always a grand rehearsal.
Timber, stalk the stalks.
It shrines distinct talk.
Guffaw for the direction.
Trick n' treat, harlequin!
Feel the cerulean expanse,
The current, chaining your throat.
Jitters in the fear.
Thalassic thy dreading call.
Thaw, troumbadour.
A voice speaks for two.
Imagery is duplicitous.
With deceitful accuracy.
This term will end in a line,
Contented in the dusk.
Muted words were mine,
A goodbye, from thy humble bard...
Leanne jolts up, golden hues that were closed, now shot open and aghast. Looking again over her shoulder, she spotted the grave. "...Oschon guide me...!" she gulps, tail thrashing violently. Slowly, she looks down to her book, and then to grave, suddenly able to understand the written symbols.
I lived to touch the hearts and minds of mankind through the subtlest of ways. May my name live in obscurity, for my name is not of importance, yet may my song forever be remembered. Those are my last words, as the Humble Bard.
Leanne didn't know for how much time she kept staring at the grave. Slowly but surely, she lifted herself, managing to calm down from the surreal experience. Packing everything together, she took a deep breath, then dipped her head in profound respect. "I will never forget it. Thanks...Kyrin! Time to go!"
The puppy, who was at the time peacefully resting from all the playing, jumped to his feet, barking, full of energy, and ready to follow Leanne. Grinning, Leanne motioned to the road. "Let's go! We still have quite a journey ahead, it seems!" Kyrin barked, and quickly fell in line with his owner. With boosted energy and vigor, Leanne ran towards her destiny.
Following the beat of the music, heart touched by the obscure ministrel...
"Forever walking forward, towards the ever distant horizon."
-Leanne Delphium