[https://i.imgur.com/VGCFMQy.png]

Refenial focused only on playing the metal whistle, trying to make anything that sounded like a tune, but the harsh screeching he accidentally produced every few notes killed any musical enjoyment his playing might have given. After a few moments, he lowered the whistle staring at it in frustration. He didn't know how to play a musical instrument. He knew he was terrible at it, but what other option did he have? He didn't have a book explaining how to play, and he didn't have a teacher who could show him how. Hell, even back in the village, he'd only occasionally heard a villager playing a musical instrument.

He wasn't going to give in, he needed to get stronger, and his strength would come through his ability to hold a tune, so he was going to damn well make sure he could play.

He raised the whistle to play again when he heard a deep and warm voice behind him, "Ho, child!"

Refenial turned. A man in his late 30s was strolling through the snow behind him. The man was tall and muscular with strong features and curly blonde hair. A friendly smile on his lips. His flowing clothes stood out even more. They were white, a white so pure it stood out even set beside the fresh snow. They were trimmed with gold thread, and an ornate rising sun was carefully stitched across his chest. He held a shining golden lyre in his hand, and on his hip, he wore a gleaming sword with gems laid into its hilt.

The man gave him a wide toothy grin. "I'm Elagabalus, the Morning Sun, though you may call me Ela or Morning Sun if you prefer."

He approached Refenial, reaching out his hand with clear intent to shake hands.

"I'm Refenial." He replied uncertainly, not raising his hand to shake.

Elagabalus looked down at his unshook hand with a frown before lowering it.

"Maybe you've heard of me before. I'm kind of a big deal?" Elagabalus said with a self-deprecating smile.

Refenial shook his head.

"Well, no matter," Elagabalus said, looking disappointed. "My Mother is in town wanting to visit some friend of the family, and I got bored, so I snuck off." He leaned towards Refenial and raised his hand to his mouth, whispering conspiratorially. "If she asks you, say you never saw me."

He gave Refenial a wink and straightened up. "Anyway, I heard you playing and well..." He gestured to his lyre. "I thought I could give you some pointers."

"Thanks, Ela," Refenial said cautiously, still unsure of the strange man but desperate for help.

Elagabalus strummed thoughtfully on his lyre, producing a melodious sound. "Let me guess, you're titled like me?" he asked.

Refenial paused, but his awkward silence was enough to answer the question.

"Of course, of course. I'm just some strange man who approached you and is now asking very personal questions." Elagabalus bowed his head slightly. "Forgive me for my rudeness. Like I said, I am titled. My title is 'Golden Liar'," he said, pointing and his lyre with a broad smile.

"I'm struggling to learn. Could you give me some tips?" Refenial asked, deciding there was no harm in asking.

"Why, of course, young Refenial, nothing could bring me more joy. And perhaps one day, when you know who I am, you will look back on this day that put you on the path to being a master of music."

"Play, play for me, and I will endeavour to aid you to the best of my abilities."

Refenial squeaked out several pained notes, causing Elagabalus to frown slightly before he began giving Refenial tips. After an hour of practice, Refenial stopped for a break.

"You're really starting to improve," Ela said encouragingly, "If you practice the exercises I've shown you every day, you'll make good progress to mastering music."

Refenial smiled, finally feeling like he was starting to make progress.

"How long did it take you to learn to play?" Refenial asked him.

Elagabalus looked at the sky, considering the question, "I'm not someone it's fair to compare yourself to." He said at last. "I'd rather not brag, but even as a child, I was uniquely gifted. I also received my title young, younger than you are now."

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Refenial nodded a little uncertainly, not sure what to make of the response.

Elagabalus grinned and patted Refenial on the shoulder. "Of course, this must sound like outrageous claims when you don't even know who I am."

Refenial found his curiosity getting the better of him. "What do you mean?"

If Elagabalus had seemed happy before, he now positively radiated joy at being asked that question, "I'm famed right across the kingdom, peasants whisper my name in hope, monsters cower at its mention. Even other titled reach out to me when facing problems too great for them to handle. When the king needs a champion to represent this kingdom, I'm the one he calls. When the Systemic Order needs to stop a rogue titled that is too powerful for them to take on, I'm the one they call. When... well, I'm sure you get the point."

Elagabalus visibly calmed himself before nodding at Refenial. "Honestly, if it wasn't for Mother's worrying, I'd say I'm seen as an unstoppable force for good in this country."

"Is that why you snuck away from her?" Refenial asked.

Elagabalus nodded a little uncomfortably. "Yes, she's always worrying that I'll be reckless or do something foolish. I mean, really, I'm a grown man."

Refenial chuckled.

"Anyway, I'm keeping you from practising. An afternoon of studying with me is something not to be wasted."

Refenial carried on practising until he noticed the sun was beginning to set. By this point, while he certainly couldn't play, it at least didn't sound too painful.

"Thanks for your help, Ela. I have to go now." Refenial said.

Elagabalus smiled and then sighed. "I'm sure Mother is worrying where I am too. I'm sure we'll meet again." Elagabalus paused for a moment, then added, "I nearly forgot. I was going to give you this book."

A book appeared from the aether into Elagabalus's hand. It was slender with a plain leather cover. "This book is a basic book on music. What I've covered is much better, but in case you forget any of it, you can fill in the gaps with this book."

Refenial looked at the book with awe. Between this and Elagabalus's help, he would finally be able to rank up his skill.

"Thank you!" Refenial said gingerly, taking the book.

"It's been my pleasure, Refenial. I expect you to practice every day. I will be checking up on you." Elagabalus said with a cheerful wink.

Refenial put the book carefully into his rucksack and put the whistle away in its pouch.

The two parted ways, Refenial looked back after a few steps, but Elagabalus had vanished, his tracks stopping suddenly in the snow. Refenial looked around, but there was no sign of the man.

[https://i.imgur.com/oMrGBK6.png]

He turned back, giving up on seeing where the man went. In front of him on the snowy grass, a crow sat watching him.

Refenial stepped back in surprise.

K-Kaw! K-Kaw! The crow called out.

Refenial looked around, suddenly feeling very exposed on the open terrain of the empty green.

The bird heaved a few times before it began to regurgitate something. After a few moments, a large present wrapped in white paper with a large red bow sat at the feet of the crow.

The crow looked between Refenial and the present several times, making its meaning clear before flying off.

Refenial squatted down in front of the present and noticed a label attached to it. He turned the label over and read it.

Dearest Refenial,

The world is a dangerous place. Until you come home, I'd like you to take this so you can always walk safely in the light.

With much love,

Griselda, the Crow Queen

He'd not been expecting it to be from anyone else, he still didn't trust Griselda, but he couldn't help but wonder if that distrust was unfair. What had she actually done? She'd taken Obit with her, but the thing was threatening to cast some unknown spell. If he'd failed to stop it, her taking Obit could have saved the boy's life. Hecate had said not to trust her, but as he'd learned so painfully, she was not someone he could trust. That left the fact that Griselda was a monster. That was a clear enough reason not to trust her. She'd claimed that she no longer needed to eat people, though who knows if that was true.

Refenial held his head in both hands as he stressed over the problem. After several moments he remembered the present that had taken him down this line of thought in the first place.

He picked up the box and gently undid the bow. Once the silken bow had slid off, he opened the present. He looked into the box, afraid of what he might find.

Inside the box was a dagger. He pulled it out, putting the box back onto the snow. The dagger was small and clearly designed for the hands of a child. Its iron blade looked simple but well made, the grip was white leather and the pommel and small guard of polished silver.

He noticed a white leather sheathe for it still sitting in the box.

As he turned the dagger over in his hands, on the underside of the guard, he saw the tiny markings of a spellform. He closed his eyes and examined the markings closely with his soul's eyes but couldn't glean their intent.

He decided to risk it and pulled a little mana into the dagger.

He opened his corporeal eyes slightly and looked at the dagger. In the setting sun's light, he could see a faint blue moonlight glowing from the dagger.

Curious, he supplied the dagger with more mana, and its glow gently increased into a cool bright light.

As he fumbled around with the spellform, looking at it with his soul's eyes, he felt a tiny part of the enchantment that could move. He pressed on that point, and the light instantly stopped flowing from the dagger, though he could still sense the mana locked away in its spellform. He pressed again, and the dagger lit up once more. He turned it on and off several times until he was confident of his manipulation of the switch. Satisfied, he attached the sheathe to his belt and put the dagger away.

He began to walk back to the house the trio were staying at.

[https://i.imgur.com/3vZaHAB.png]