“Sache, you’re finally here! Quick, Lady Caroline wants to meet up with you. Here, change to this.” A maid shoved Sache into a private room.
“Sache, you look adorable in it just one last thing. Pop.” The maid took out a set of makeup, covering Sache’s face in white powder. She expertly outlined the contours of her face.
Sache started coughing, she had never worn anything like this before. Her face felt heavy, a feeling she didn’t like. She even had to take care so that it wouldn’t be rubbed away due to the elements.
“This is suffocating me!” Sache tried to pry herself away from the servants dolling her up. “Can I just not wear this? I don’t think Lady Caroline minds either way.”
Another dap on her little nose.
“You’re not looking pretty for her, you’re looking pretty for the king. It’ll reflect badly on her family if you look terrible. And… all done! Let’s have a looksie in the mirror, shall we?” She turned Sache’s seat, turning her to face another direction.
Sache seemed to have looked at a completely different person. Her orange eyes sparkled brighter than ever before and her matching sunset-tinged hair shined. All the dirt that stained her face was cleared and her boyish clothes were exchanged for something more refined.
Her childish look changed to one of a sheltered beauty. A gem that’s been cleaned out will without a doubt shine.
“Wow… She’s so adorable!” Another servant screeched, she couldn’t help but want to pinch her cheeks. “Can I?”
The servant slowly reached her hand out before the head maid slapped it away. “It’ll ruin her foundation. But, okay, maybe just once. Just make sure it won’t ruin anything.”
“Yes!” A flurry of starstruck servants came up to pinch her cheeks against her will.
“Hey- Hey! Stop it! I didn’t agree to this!” Sache violently swayed her arms around but everyone merely ignored her. A little bit of pain to have something this heartwarming was a small price to pay.
After a series of yells and bumps on the servants’ heads, Sache grumpily left the room. She pulled her arms to the side while walking like a caveman, swaying side to side.
“Why I outta… Ugh.” Sache was pulled to the side where a small army came to guide her. “Uh… Don’t you think this is a little excessive?”
They all wore perfect suits of armor. Displayed on each of their suits was a specific symbol that showed off their status as the King’s private unit. They all humbly kneeled down before her.
“It’s proper etiquette, Lady Sache. Would you allow us to escort you to the King?” The head of all these reached out his hand, waiting for Sache to accept his offer.
“Let’s get this over with.”
Helpless, a moody Sache was escorted towards a carriage. This was decorated with even greater detail than the one that Lady Caroline used. Sache didn’t like where this was going.
As she entered it, she was paraded across the entire kingdom, singing her praise. She was completely and utterly confused as to why a thing was occurring. She didn’t even do anything.
With an awkward smile plastered on her face, she waved towards the crowd.
This is more mentally draining than anything I’ve ever done. And that’s saying something! Sache saw that the final destination was the giant castle directly in the middle of the kingdom. When they arrived, a red carpet was first laid out before her.
“This feels a little too extravagant now. Can anyone tell me what’s happening? I’d love to know.” Sache turned to everyone within her vision. They were all clapping with bright smiles on their faces.
“She’s even humble. Truly deserving of such an honor. We’re blessed that she’s here to accommodate us.” He wore countless medals on his suit. This could only mean that he was someone of high status.
“I don’t even know what’s happening… I thought I was going to meet Lady Caroline. Then they said I’ll meet the King then after that now I’m being paraded around like an icon. Can things get more absurd?” Sache teared up. She mindlessly waved back to everyone welcoming her.
“Ahahahaha! Lady Sache! Welcome!” Bearing countless golden ornaments in his clothes, a clear crystal sword to accommodate his bravery, and a brightly shining crown that was made of countless rare materials. It was the King himself welcoming Sache.
“Jinxed it…” Sache accepted her fate. There was no point fighting back at this point anymore. But then again, it was still an absurd situation.
Walking right beside her, they entered the royal palace. At the end of this surreal situation, the King finally sat where he rightfully deserved to be, on top, watching her from above. To his side, it was the Queen and their two children.
Countless people with high status watched on from the side. They were awaiting the ceremony.
“Now that everyone is finally here. Let us first thank Lady Sache for giving this small kingdom of ours an opportunity to evolve at a rapid pace! A round of applause!” The King stood up and raised his hands. Causing all of them to clap very loudly.
Sache looked all around. Her expression was slightly strained as she didn’t feel like she deserved this. To the side, she finally saw Lady Caroline, similarly clapping in gratitude to her.
“Don’t worry, you deserve this! Cheer up!” Lady Caroline mouthed her words towards Sache. She even placed a thumbs up to further reinforce it.
Sache sighed, nothing was making sense.
“To reward our savior, Lady Sache, would you please accept our kingdom’s most prized possession, the Fable, Symphony Lute. On behalf of my kingdom, please accept this.”
A nearby servant came over and opened up an enclosed golden case. On top of the velvet cushion, it was there, the very item the King promised her.
“Uh…” Sache didn’t know what else to do but to accept it. She reached out her hand and took it. It felt natural as if something that had been missing was filled.
“I don’t know if…” Sache plucked one of the strings, creating a melodious tune that resonated with everyone here. Feeling that it was right yet still a little odd, she plucked another, and another.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
A series of plucks eventually gave Sache enough confidence to strum it. She continued this momentum until she had created a short symphony that dazzled everyone who heard it.
“Compared to your previous instrument, this perfectly demonstrates your ability. We will definitely not miss this at all. Knowing that you will take care to use it, I feel very satisfied! Please, Lady Sache, sing us a small song. Let everyone understand the hear your glamorous performance!” The King was full of praise.
Has the King ever heard me before? No, right? That’s odd.
With such a request, it would be rude for Sache to refuse. “I don’t know what song I should sing.”
“Feel free to sing anything your heart tells you. We trust your judgment!”
At this moment, Sache finally remembered that genius poem back then. She touched the front of her dress only to realize that the note she stuffed in it was still there. “It’s odd, I know, but where did my old clothes go?”
“It’s long gone now. Such tattered and destroyed clothes do you no justice. As such, I’ve had this kingdom’s greatest tailors and clothiers create clothing that perfectly fits you. It’ll be a magical set that will mend itself over time. It will even be able to clean your body without any problems. This is only a small token of our gratitude.”
Sache wanted to say something but weighed down with such an overbearing present, she couldn’t. If she couldn’t tell the poem of A Fool’s Wish, it was a tragedy. If only she took the time to remember what it had said…
“Nevermind. I’ll just play another song instead.” Sache strummed the lute in her possession. It felt more magical than any instrument that she had ever used. Not that she had ever mastered any.
Her fingers moved smoothing, switching from a plucking motion to a sweeping motion. Each movement had defined practice and specified tones that could only come out with high mastery.
“Oh hoh! That’s an unprecedently powerful technique! I can firmly say that no one else in the world could play an instrument like her! She’s mastered it beyond the degree of mastery, she’s breaking through the limits of what should’ve been possible!” An old man who was going hard in his years jumped out of his seat and started kneeling before Sache.
“If even the kingdom’s greatest musician said so, there cannot be any mistake. Though, I’m curious, why is it so good?” A well-known merchant asked, he had an interest in the fine arts.
“Her technique is used specifically for low-quality instruments. You see, the strings can only handle so much tension so one cannot exactly pursue a defined and crisp sound. Yet, she had somehow managed to create a technique that could perfectly bring out the clarity and crispness without increasing the tension. Quite honestly, it’s revolutionary! If only I was ten years younger, I would’ve begged her to become my teacher! Such a talent!”
“I can feel her passion through her music. It brings a tear to my eye.” Another listener happily enjoyed the tune that Sache played out.
Meanwhile, in the center of everyone. Sache played on with an odd sensation brewing within her heart.
This is wrong.
Each finger she used to play the lute felt unpained. It was soft and accommodating, something that was far too foreign to her. It was unlike the pain of cheap wood and razor-sharp wires.
It sounds so beautiful yet it’s so wrong!
She reached the point of being able to create the atmosphere with her music alone. Everyone could see and manifest the sight of a young girl freely running across the plains. Her heart was free and her movement unfettered. Though, it could never show the scene of the Bard happily playing before them all.
It’s melodic and firm, a sound that I have never been able to create before yet it’s all so wrong!
Objectively reaching the point that even her simple melody was a Tale in of itself. It resonated with the audience, letting them feel what she wanted them to feel. It blended together with the world, nature welcoming the existence of a new masterpiece. Yet… it could never bring out the fun that she had when she was traveling the world all on her own.
Sache let out a small tear. Despite how beautiful her appearance was. No matter how grand her play was. She couldn’t put her heart into it.
Even without her realizing it, she felt forlorn. There was no reason to do it other than that’s how she felt.
“Sache, why are you crying?” The King changed his tone. It was no longer majestic nor overbearing. It was simply the voice of concern from one person to another.
“I don’t know.” Sache had stopped playing. She didn’t understand why she felt like this. Everyone was having fun except for her. This had never been the case.
Or was it?
“If you want to stop playing, we won’t force you. If you’ve done far too much for us. Please rest up.” If their savior wasn’t feeling it, there was no reason to force things.
“Wait, no! I love playing, I really do. I still love singing songs! I just don’t know why I teared up.” Sache yelled out. She looked frantic and afraid. No longer her rebellious self.
“Then, what’s wrong?”
Sache looked deeper into herself. For some reason, once her mind danced around with the idea of immortality. She found joy. A safe place where everything was fine.
A small hut in the middle of nowhere. The father was cutting down wood while a small little girl sang with the birds. She then went home where her mother had prepared some snacks for her. She continued singing despite having her mouth stuffed to the brim. Out of nowhere, the mother points out into the distance distracting the little girl while the father takes out a small instrument. Then it all fades to crimson.
“I think… I just haven’t found the missing piece yet. Yes… that’s it. I know what I need to do.” Sache felt her heart unburden. This was her goal. “I think if I tell you this Tale, I’ll find myself again.”
“Please, tell us.” Lady Caroline walked up from the side. She spoke in a soft tone yet her determination was firm.
----------------------------------------
The Storyteller
Stories from beyond yonder we offer
The greatness of a symphony, gather
Let them be humble or grand, no matter
Through my story, closed-off minds will shatter
-o-
Not a single day, not a single night,
That goes without a fun Tale in plain sight
His words inspire youths, fully empowered
A welcome change for people, it’s granted
-o-
Woe’s me, I haven’t seen little Telly
Is he fine? Is he alive? I ask thee
He’s a sweet child you see, alone yet strong
Too bad, none ever asked but me, and scene
----------------------------------------
"That was a sweet poem. Very influential." The King spoke from above. He felt enlightened as he heard this. "A King should be brave and face any decision with a firm hand. The masses will eventually come to understand that my decision is the correct one. Yet I should never ignore the ones that have made this possible. Such a touching poem."
Sache felt her determination come back. She looked above, the golden ceiling did not stop her gaze nor did the bright blue sky. She looked even beyond to see the stars and the serenity of space. "The first ever poem I've heard. My mother once told that to me when I was younger."
Sache felt everything come back into place. She held the Symphony Lute in her hand and hugged it tightly. The previous sense of disgust she felt disappeared for the memories she had of her past will never disappear. After all, she never lost her memories in the first place. She could still reminiscence the three most memorable times of her past.
When she first heard The Storyteller from her mother.
That time when she set forth on her journey.
And, of course, that memory that she would cherish forever. She could very clearly tell it with perfect detail to the point that she would have a hard time not recalling it. It was that clear to her.
"I love this gift. Thank you." Sache bowed before everyone here and promptly left. It was sudden yet it was exactly her style. She would come in blazing hot, leaving a long-lasting impression, and disappear, as if she had never appeared there in the first place. An enigma that many people value. This was who Sache was. A foolish dreamer trying to make ends meet, learning about people on the way. And once again, she had found herself through a story from her youth.