Reminiscence (Social/Sora)

GRACE UNDER FIRE

It was oddly silent here today. The air was still and calm, and practically nobody standing within the temple courtyard.

Tup-pa. Tup-pa.

It felt somewhat unnerving to hear one's own footsteps echoing so loudly, but the creator of such a disruption in the atmosphere didn't seem to feel a thing. In fact, she didn't feel a thing at all, because how could one possibly exercise this sense of emotion if one were emotionless? Dipping her head to the only priest on duty, Sorano would carry her load through the back of the temple, past the altars for the many deities that the people of Oak Town might worship. Here, rows of smaller altars were lined up, some consisting of no more than a picture or two and a pot of incense. Here were the family altars, places to honor ancestors and deceased family members.

A while back, since Sorano had discovered the Oak Town Library, she had made this quaint little place something like a secondary home. Having set up as all family altar for her parents and siblings, she had visited from time to time. Now, however? It has been several months since her last visit.

Tchk.

The match was slowly lowered to the incense sticks, and before long, the faint scent wafted throughout the temple. The bouquet was laid gently before the holder, and the letter mage carefully kneeled down before the pictures. Bowing a few times she would rise again and exit, waving goodbye to the priest. Standing before the temple, the realization came upon her that she had nothing to for once. Surprising how odd it felt.

It was then and in this moment that Euphemia was regretting wearing heels today. The clicks they made against the marble floors of the temple's interior seemed to bounce off every inch of the walls, the ceiling, the pillars, everywhere. The maiden was becoming embarrassed of herself as she clutched the handle of her violin case tightly, cheeks tinted a faint hue of red in the midst of her thoughts of embarrassment at the level of noise she was making. She had mainly come today to seek a form of Sanctuary from the ones that were pursuing her, and after explaining her situation with the priest, she was allowed a form of temporary hiding within the confines of the temple's holy walls.

The musician wished to be quiet in a place such as this, in such a place of holy solitude and healing, and yet here she was just causing a ruckus by just walking. It was something that was enough to make her wish death upon herself from how embarrassing she was feeling. Nevertheless, the blonde kept her pace and made it outside - bearing her cloak to help her blend in with the world itself and the crowds of each unique city and town. However, no matter how many times the young woman entered the outside world... she cherished the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the sky above.

For she feared that she would never see it again one day.

It was with a quiet sigh that Euphemia walked past whatever others were walking out of the temple, making her way down the many steps with her case close to her being. The maiden began to hum a soft tune that matched a melody she had heard before, one to help soothe her aching heart that struggled every single day with the life she was living currently. Little had she known that there was a possibility that others may have been listening...

For she was in her own world... Her own form of solitude that carried a sense of momentary peace.

GRACE UNDER FIRE

She stood there, having no clue as to what she could do right now. Letting the breeze play with the stray strands of her hair, Sorano pondered over her options. It was a lovely day, really, and spending it outside would be rather nice. Then again, if she could go help out with some guild duties, that might be more useful. No matter who was in charge, it appeared that inefficiency in reading was something all Fairy Tail guild masters had. Who better than a letter mage such as herself to slide right in and finish up a stack of papers in a few minutes?

As she thought and thought and thought, exposing herself to the lovely autumn day, something snagged upon the edge of her ear and dangled there enticingly, pulling her over. Accompanied by the tipping and tapping of high-heeled shoes upon the temple ground, a gentle humming could be heard from within. That was odd... Had there been anyone else in there while she was? Not that Sorano knew of, but then again, there were several entrances to the temple that she knew of so it was no real surprise.

Curiosity pulling her over, the emotionless girl let her gaze flit about the courtyard, landing upon a blonde-haired young woman who toted at her side a simply decorated violin case, looking as though she felt a bit out of place. A cloak covered most her body, so not much was visible, but it was still unusual to see someone here so early in the morning and on a weekday, too. Was she a performer for the gods or something like that? Upon closer inspection, the letter mage noted with interest that the woman held about her a signature of magic... A mage? Interesting... Making her way out, she made herself a decision. Today Sorano would be people-watching. An activity of her childhood it was, and a return to her childhood this day would be indeed.

Euphemia kept her slow, relaxed pace as she made her way down the steps. The woman hadn't felt like this in a while... Within the reach of a temple's boundaries, there were no worries of the ones pursuing her. They wouldn't think of entrenching onto a ground of peace and tranquility, for it wasn't a place the blonde would normally go. It would be cruel to stay in such a serene place and have them eventually come find her. They would demolish the entire establishment just to get their hands on her, harm any and all that would stand in their way... All because of what she did.

All because she protected someone.

And now they took something precious from her... The one thing that was so very precious to her in this entire world, ripped away from her very grasp. Just the very thought of recalling that day made the woman's stomach churn, causing her to rest a hand right along her stomach. Ah, yes... That's where that was. As another memory began to resurface in the musician's mind, she halted in her now rugged footsteps. Strands of blonde hair began to slide over her petite shoulders as her head tilted down towards the very earth, the wind in the air seeming to grow stagnant for what seemed to be just a moment.

A moment of silence passed as Euphemia continued to play the memory in her mind like a recording, remembering every single detail that made her ill and nauseous all in-between. It was with this that the woman did something rash; something that she never would normally do while all on her own. However, it was the one thing that could soothe her nerves and the pain she was feeling. Putting the violin case down and switching the silver locks open on the black case, the woman slowly opened it to find her violin sitting snugly inside - ready to perform.

With a sigh, she grabbed the bow and violin itself. Propping it right onto her shoulder and turning her head towards it, pale fingers gently held the bow as if it was something very precious and delicate. With an arm curving to the instrument, and before the bow met the string, Euphemia fluttered her eyes closed...

Took in a deep breath...

And began to play.

GRACE UNDER FIRE

She didn't bother to cover herself with invisibility this time. Hiding was something like a norm these days, and in such a place as this temple, few characters would report her, this she knew. Even so, Sorano patted her shoulder reassuringly, knowing the guild mark that had once gotten discounts and smiles was hidden beneath the cloth of her sleeve. Instead, she simply acted a bit, dancing a slow, measurely dance of strides along the edges of the temple courtyard, drawing ever closer to this strange figure while admiring the diversity of plants the priests had decided to invite into this home. Her mind gently placed labels upon the leaves, naming each in several different languages. The plants that both Anna and her parents had carefully pointed out to her - that one was good to eat when you were in need, that over there would cause you to hallucinate.

A slight pause in the music of autumn slipped on by, tension within the air before the swelling melody that nature sung swirled back to life. Something her guildmate Hana always sensed, this song was, and now the emotionless girl was touching the edges of comprehension with the tune. A rising and swelling, the phrase curving into near nothingness before rising again, this time with another sound to accompany it. Feet in control, Sorano was carried down the stairs, into full view of the woman whose hands danced to the rythym of the wind, bow jumping over string with each clip of breeze.

And there she stood, appreciating the music without thought, simply existing there for the moment, listening to the otherworldly playing of the wind and woman.

And there she stood.

The wind dancing, the falling leaves swaying, the summer sun shining... These were the many aspects of the world that offered a grand performance that no other could dare dream to master. This was something that the maiden had come to learn all on her own, the many days searching for the one thing she needs providing many lessons as well. Be it taught by the world or its people, there was always something to be learned from even the most unexpected of places. It was in this that Euphemia could feel the very energy and rhythm of the world's melody, becoming enraptured in it along with her own performance.

There was always something so captivating about each and every living thing, be it obvious or not. In her mind she was focusing on one of the many things, soft colors of yellow and blue fuzzy in the depths of her memories. The soft melodies of laughter echoed throughout her core, the friendly and warm faces of taller figures gazing down so lovingly. There was the soft and gentle touch of a woman stroking the head of a child's trembling figure, while a strong yet soothing rub along the back by a man that seemed rather old.

The faces were outcast and distorted, as if to forever be blocked by a veil of fuzz. Yet the child's face was one she remembered so perfectly. It was a face that she knew was almost identical to hers and yet different all at once, something so unique about every single detail that was all its own. The pale face from the blue orbs, and the strands of hair that stretched down the frail child's shoulders... It was clear in her own mind as to who this poem was for, the violin singing it out to the world in hopes that it would reach the one she's been looking for.

And despite all the tears and all the heartache, Euphemia would find them again... Even if it cost her the life that she had been given. It was with a gentle finish of the song that the maiden dared to open her eyes ever so gently, unaware of the presence that drew near to observe the performance. All that clouded the musician's vision was a veil of tears, daring to break the borders of her eyes as she simply stood there...

Almost frozen in time.

GRACE UNDER FIRE

The tune swirled about in that same little pattern for a few more bars, before it suddenly took a turn deep inside of Sorano’s mind, the notes swirling gently to rest at the bottom of the cavern. With it, the living essence of the world trickled along as well, pulling about her consciousness a gentle breeze of stories and beauty, hardship and success. It was an indiscriminate melody, encompassing each and every person’s feelings within it in one beautiful little swirl of magic. For a moment, it felt almost even as though this maiden was indeed writing out the story of the world in her own way, in a way that used the sloping notes of a song to convey the same things Sorano could never possibly convey in her sacred words.

A new note slipped into the song all of a sudden, narrowing its focus down to remembrance. Recalling the past in thoughtful little dips, the violinist dipped into a pot of shimmering events, faded memories swimming about in one big whirlpool. The notes bowed down neatly in an arc, dipping their tips into this pool, and pulled out shimmering images, faded and worn with age and neglect. Still releasing that beautiful essence, the words pulled free meaning from the depths, images caressing the woman’s mind. Surprisingly, memories faded back into existence within the letter mage’s mind as well, the forgotten images flickering through.

Her breath caught, for the music approached her emotion from an angle that never before had been touched upon. Never before had she felt that anything could slip so elusively past the defenses she had so meticulously set up to prevent weakness, anything that invoked such feeling within her heart. However, elusive or not, what was there had been set long ago; it would take much of this miraculous music to force apart the norm. The conflicting sides split upon each other, folding into a new section, a regular living incarnation of curiosity and wonder.

Childishly, in a way, Sorano scurried up to the woman, dodging all around her as if searching for a secret to this magical music-making.