Submission (#5213) Approved

Kyendi was an ancient land, where the wildlife watched over the various settlements in quiet mystery. Bustling full of life in more ways than one, many were drawn to the cities amongst the forests and the faefolk. They preferred to take shelter in the comforts of urban culture. But Yuki was a little different. And Cairo knew this well. 

He understood that his friend much preferred solitude over the company of other elnin or any kind in general. This was why she always took refuge in the coldest climates, the farthest reaches of Eyre left untouched by civilization. Hence why he had invited her to meet him on the Sunshard Isles. They were a distant, serene place for her to enjoy, and beautiful enough to stimulate his own imagination and act as a muse for his tunes. 

There were never many words from his more stoic friend. Cairo found that with time, he became comfortable with this fact. It helped when his companion admitted many moons after they had first met that her reluctance to speak was due to her inexperience with conversation rather than any bitter feelings. The fact that she had revealed such a private matter spoke volumes to the young bard that, though she may seem cold, Yuki was a kind and honest soul. From then on, he was grateful that Yuki would give him her time and willing ear even if she struggled to voice her own thoughts. Quiet company was better than no company after all. 

“Another song?” Yuki inquired as the two of them settled on one of the highest floating islands. The sun was beginning to set, blanketing Eyre in a warm orange glow which resonated with the sunshard crystal that suspended them in the air. 

Today he had invited her to be an audience for his music. The past few months were well spent traveling and collecting artistry for new songs he could weave together and perform. And now he had enough new material to proudly show the other. He knew Yuki would always provide candid feedback. Constructive criticism was hard to come by, so her curt little comments were invaluable to the aspiring musician. 

Cairo nodded enthusiastically, pulling out his trademark crystal lute. “Only if you’ll entertain me, that is,” he replied with a coy little smile and wink. Yuki merely blinked, then nodded. 

Still so few of words, the young bard noted. But he also noticed how her tone was steadier and words left her more boldly. He was not the only one spending his time learning, it seemed. 

Now with her now seated next to him, both watching the sun as it set over Kyendi’s vast landscape, he began to strum his instrument. 

He sang tales of his travels, embellished with flavour and ornate language he knew his audiences across the land would praise. Whether or not this poetry was lost to his wayward friend, he did not know. But she seemed to enjoy his melodies nonetheless. Eyre was a vast world, one he tried his best to capture in his tunes. He celebrated the big and the small, echoing what he had seen in the most flattering of ways he could think of. In the midst of his repertoire, Cairo felt inventive and threw together a little song about the very floating isles that they currently occupied, just to test his creative flow. 

And the way that he spotted Yuki’s tail swaying as he sang out his heart to the world must have meant that his skills were still practiced and worthy of her ears. 

Although oh so very silent in their meetings, Cairo never hesitated to reach out to Yuki for times like these. Just to have her sit beside him and indulge in the music he created, and to watch the faintest smile cross her lips when a particular line struck her in just the right way. Then on the rarest of occasions, when her mood allowed it, to catch her humming after the songs they shared regularly enough to be remembered… 

To him, these were the most precious moments shared between them.