Summer 82, 514 AV
Most cities thrived on water. If there wasn’t a stream running through or beside them, they were built by the sea. Riverfall had both fresh and salt water, a rare combination. Gwin had approached the city, for the second time, like the Akvatari she was: by skipping the rooftops and heading straight for the beach. The bay with various shops and establishments built by the seaside enchanted her, but sometimes she needed to get away from the people, get an overview from the distance.
Once she hit the open sea, a reflection to the north caught her attention. Turquoise butterfly wings carrying her along the shore, Gwin discovered a natural formation that intrigued her enough to bind her vagrant tendencies. She lingered to inspect it in detail. Water was flowing over dark matter… a lava stream, dried and crusted over. A few people were enjoying the weather nearby, yet none came too close.
The borrowed map identified the landmark as Valkalah’s Tears, a beautiful name ringing with a faint promise. Gwin stored the roll in her satchel, left the shore and plunged underwater. The marine life still took her breath away. Apparently Riverfall hadn’t only been shaped above ground, one tier built over another, but also under the surface. No wonder it attracted many Konti… or had they been there before, creating their own paradise beneath the waves? The Akvatari didn’t know. Her furry tail propelled her into deeper parts where she’d be alone.
A bell or two later she surfaced and returned to Valkalah’s Tears, claiming a solitary spot near the place where it hit the water. When her hair had returned from dripping wet to curly and slightly drier, she opened the waterproof violin case and ran a hand over her instrument.
At first she only played meaningless series of notes, a few short and disjointed melodies to stretch her fingers. The long days and disturbed nights during the journey had rusted them… now they were dancing over the fingerboard again. Soon flying. Perhaps she should try and capture the feel of the place, the black fire of the earth intertwining with whispering water and finally uniting within the salty ocean… As the impressions formed sounds in her head, her arms worked the violin and expressed what was inside her. The melody came out with a rigid structure resembling the Akalak combative spirit and exploded into some fast bits speaking of their land’s wild beauty.
Once she hit the open sea, a reflection to the north caught her attention. Turquoise butterfly wings carrying her along the shore, Gwin discovered a natural formation that intrigued her enough to bind her vagrant tendencies. She lingered to inspect it in detail. Water was flowing over dark matter… a lava stream, dried and crusted over. A few people were enjoying the weather nearby, yet none came too close.
The borrowed map identified the landmark as Valkalah’s Tears, a beautiful name ringing with a faint promise. Gwin stored the roll in her satchel, left the shore and plunged underwater. The marine life still took her breath away. Apparently Riverfall hadn’t only been shaped above ground, one tier built over another, but also under the surface. No wonder it attracted many Konti… or had they been there before, creating their own paradise beneath the waves? The Akvatari didn’t know. Her furry tail propelled her into deeper parts where she’d be alone.
A bell or two later she surfaced and returned to Valkalah’s Tears, claiming a solitary spot near the place where it hit the water. When her hair had returned from dripping wet to curly and slightly drier, she opened the waterproof violin case and ran a hand over her instrument.
At first she only played meaningless series of notes, a few short and disjointed melodies to stretch her fingers. The long days and disturbed nights during the journey had rusted them… now they were dancing over the fingerboard again. Soon flying. Perhaps she should try and capture the feel of the place, the black fire of the earth intertwining with whispering water and finally uniting within the salty ocean… As the impressions formed sounds in her head, her arms worked the violin and expressed what was inside her. The melody came out with a rigid structure resembling the Akalak combative spirit and exploded into some fast bits speaking of their land’s wild beauty.
Secret :
