Flashback Distant Songs [Matthew]

[Elysana Demeni]

Elysana could barely contain her excitement as she came upon the main street of Syliras. Her father was finally given her permission to explore the city on her own! After the cramped cabin of the ship and the lonely treks with the caravan, the massive bustle of the city was overwhelming. Merchants and farmers selling their wares, conjurors and musicians performing for onlookers, gruff city watchmen looking over the proceedings. Ely just wanted to do everything all at once. Instead, she settled for buying a peach for a fruit vendor and watching a musician sit and sing bawdy love songs. He was young, not much older than she was, with a curly mop of blond hair. His clothes looked fancy but old, like his lute. She giggled and blushed a little when the singer turned to look directly at her, his words seemly directed straight towards her. A young man in the crowd seemed to have noticed this interaction. With a rueful grin, he dropped a coin in the singer’s hat and turned towards Ely. He was very tall, with dark hair, and possibly the most handsome face Ely had ever seen, though she couldn’t quite decide on that. Catching his eye, she blushed again and turned away.