We were let off in the middle of the city while the carriage continued forward until it was out of sight. She started walking around while I followed from behind.
“Isn’t Leysing such a nice city?”
“Yeah.”
“I like to come here at least every year. When my mother used to take me, she mentioned she was from here… But enough about me, how long have you been living in this city?”
“I’m a sort of traveler, I only came here a little while ago… But it feels like I’ve been here forever.”
“I see, well let’s check out some places together then!”
She stopped by the entrance to a shop and said-
“I’ll be one second.”
As she opened the door a familiar bell rang. I stood outside the entrance with my back turned to the wall. Liz was on top of a building looking down at me with Mel flying around her. They hid back down as soon as they saw me looking in their direction. The bell rang again.
“Here you are.”
Ayla smiled as she handed me a bun.
“Thanks.”
“These are called ‘Energy buns’, they’re uniquely made in only this bakery. They apparently give you the energy to keep going for hours!”
We bit into one at the same time.
“Mhmmm! I don’t know how much I believe it though. But I do know they taste great no matter how many times I try it!”
“Yeah… They really do.”
We walked to another, and another, checking out each piece of the city, from a simple fountain to a museum filled with wonders, each moment was unforgettable to me, until the sun fell to the horizon.
“How about one more?”
“Sure.”
She opened the door to an old music shop. We went inside as an old man was sleeping on a stool.
“I used to want to play music myself…”
She brushed off a dusty piano while walking by.
“I’ve just never had the time. I can only listen to great artists perform at the palace, over and over doing something I’ve always wanted to.”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
She reached out her hand at nothing before putting it back down.
“I come here every time to hear a song from the owner. Rein, do you happen to play any instruments?”
“Yeah. Just one.”
“Please, let me hear.”
I sat down at the piano and put my hands on the keys. I played. I played the same song. The irreplaceable tune of my past, my soul, my everything. The tune I’ve been working on one step at a time. The only thing that isn’t reset is my memory. The only reason I’m still here is my memory. This whole charade of a mad god will never come to an end. My true feelings I can’t show. I knew this would be over again before I knew it…
“Wow.”
An applause came from two people. The old man was now wide awake clapping at me.
“I’ve never heard that song before.”
“It’s an original.”
The man spoke up.
“You, my friend, are amazing. Which famous artist are you?”
“I’m no one, just a traveler.”
“Oh my, and what is the song’s name?”
“Returning Emotions.”
I turned around to leave as Ayla followed me.
“Thank you for the song.”
I stood outside the shop for a moment.
“I could… Feel your passion for that. It’s almost like I’ve heard that before somewhere.”
“Sorry, it’s the first time anyone has heard that song.”
“But you seem to be so good at it?”
I looked her in the eyes.
“Well I’ve had a lot of practice. We should get going-”
Suddenly a fairy appeared in front of me.
“-Hey!! What’s going on here?”
“Oh. Hello, who are you?”
Mel flew up to her without a second thought.
“I’m Melphelia! The noble and just spirit of reincarnation!”
“Mel then! You can call me Ayla!”
“Ayla?”
Mel looked over to me.
“Coincidence.”
“Nice to meet you then, Ayla! Oh yeah! Liz said you two should get back already.”
“Yes. We were just about to.”
Ayla led the way, I followed while Mel whispered in my ear.
“Coincidence… Hmm?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“Nothing.”
Mel flew off presumably back to Liz. She stopped outside of a large building with an open gate and 8 guards stationed outside.
“So, this is where we part ways for today.”
“Yeah.”
“I just want to say it was really fun, even if you were just doing it for the money, I hope you had a good time too.”
“The money has nothing to do with it.”
The guards started to walk over.
“Really? Well, I’ll see you tomorrow then…”
The 8 guards surrounded both of us.
“Uh, what are you all doing?”
A second passed.
“Dash.”
Instantly I pull out my sword and bolt behind her. I deflected a guard's sword a second from piercing Ayla’s back.
“What? Why would you-”
“Dash.”
A second time I slice through another sword coming for her.
“Wha-”
“Smoke bomb.”
I slammed the floor as a cloud of smoke burst out and blocked all vision. I grabbed her and said a final time-
“Dash.”