Meeting another Mage

Amellynne sat quietly on the park bench, a violin case resting on her lap. The park had become crowded after the sun rose so she was no longer comfortable playing it. She kept her gaze on her feet, the wind toying with her short hair and school uniform. There was no real need for the uniform as she had already graduated but she wore it anyways because it really wasn't all that uncomfortable and no one stopped to ask if she was lost when they could see the school's coat of arms on her sleeve. A few gave her an odd glance, the few who knew she was wearing a graduate's uniform despite her apparent age and size, but their gaze went unnoticed. With an inaudible nervous sigh Ame unlocked the clasps on the violin case and gently lifted out her well used violin and a soft wax cloth. She set aside the case and laid the violin carefully on her lap and began to wipe it clean till the wood shone like glass.

Indar was walking through the park in Crocus, minding his own business. Nothing had happened for quite a few days and it was getting boring. Ever since he left Sabertooth, he hadn't been very social and really needed to talk to someone. He had hoped there would be someone to talk to in the park, but so far he had had no luck. Though he now noticed something he had been looking for. Someone to talk to and they didn't look like the usual people in the capital.

Indar walked up to the short haired girl and said: '' Do you play the violin or just clean it?'' Indar had a smile on his face when saying the witty question.

Ame looked up from her violin with a jolt, causing her violin to start sliding out of her lap. She reached for it and grabbed it's neck before it could fall but dropped the soft cloth instead. She set the violin back inside its case and reached timidly for the cloth. She clutched the cloth to her chest and nodded slightly, turning her head away from the stranger who had approached her. She could tell from his voice he hadn't intended to startle her, but strangers had always been a weakness of hers. She truly hadn't been expecting anyone to speak to her directly although she should have expected it.

Indar was a little shocked of her reaction. He hadn't wanted to startle her, but he had. He looked a little concerned, so he moved next to her and sat down onto the bench. He wasn't exactly sure on what to say, so the mood was kinda uncomfortable for both of them. Indar just sat there, thinking of ways to break the ice between the two. He finally turned his head towards the girl and said: '' I didn't mean to startle you, i was just trying to make a conversation. '' He sighed but continued: '' Name's Indar. '' , he looked at the girl with a questioning look and asked: '' So what are you doing here all alone? ''

Amellynne held her violin and its case close and shrank into herself. This was.. not entirely pleasant for her but this was a public park after all, if she wanted to remain on her own she should have gone back to the academy. She didn't look up when the stranger spoke to her however she did respond quietly.

"S-sairioh. A-amellynne Sairioh. My- my name. I came here earlier this morning... to play my violin. B-but i'm really bad.. with people... so when it got crowded... i stuck here..."

Indar was surprised to see her so shy, he hadn't expected that. He looked at her, eyes filled with interest. She was different to usual people, well this world didn't harbor that many shy people. If it did, Indar had only met a couple of them and they had always been really nice. Maybe too nice. He sighed for a second, not really knowing what to say, but finally though of something: '' You really don't need to care what they all think of you, or that they are here. ''

A smile appeared on Indar's face, he was feeling happy. She was different from the rest, making her better than everyone in Indar's eyes. He couldn't meet people like her every day and it was nice to meet them. With people, who he saw as different, he didn't have to put up the god act, like Ombrias had ordered. He could be himself with them. '' Could you play your violin? '' Indar asked all of a sudden.

"I... It isn't that i'm worried about what they think... I just... I... It's a little hard to explain."

Amellynne held her violin closer and looked up at the man. He was smiling at her. He wasn't as scary when he was smiling so she relaxed slightly. There were still far too many people for her to be comfortable though.

"I... I guess I could... but... I really don't want to attract any attention..."

Ame opened the violin case and hesitated before taking the violin out agian. She was reluctant to play, especially with so many people around.

Indar looked at her, he saw no motivation in her to play the violin. He was getting the sudden surging feeling, that he may be forcing her and making her feel uncomfortable. He felt kinda bad and before the girl could start playing her violin or even take it into her hands, Indar palced his hand onto her shoulder and said: '' If you don't want to play or it makes you feel uncomfortable, just don't. Sorry i was being a little shellfish. ''

Amellynne flinched when Indar touched her shoulder but relaxed soon after. He didn't really seem like a bad person, she looked around the park, there was a lot of people up here but there wasn't as many people down by the pond. She could go down there and the people would be outside her view. She picked up her violin and it's case, walking down to the bench there and motioning for Indar to follow. The little girl relaxed further as she left the crowds behind.

"It... it will be easier to play down here. Where there's less people. It's more comfortable for me... cause there's less to be afraid of."

She looked up to Indar as if expecting him to give her a go-ahead to start playing her violin.

Indar waited for her answer, but soon got it. The girl had walked down towards the pond of the park, probably because there weren't a lot of people there. Only a couple of older women who sat on a bench, not that far from the one Amellynne was near to. Indar followed almost hesitantly, he was now really interested to hear the girl play the violin. 

Although, it wasn't really like him. He was quite surprised, as no one in the city had noticed him. As it was filled with Rune Knights and other guards. Being a Coming Storm, did have it's ups and downs. Well anyway, Indar walked over to Amellynne and stood next to the bench. He wasn't saying a thing only nodded as a sign, that she could start playing now.

Amellynne nodded back to Indar and lifted her violin up to her shoulder. She laid the bow carefully upon the strings and began to play. The notes rang clear through the air, it seemed eerily quiet while she played however that was simply her mind playing tricks on her. Ame didn't hit every note perfectly, she was still learning the song, but the melody was clear and for the most part unbroken.
The song didn't last more than five minutes but to her it felt like hours. The final notes trailed off slowly as Ame's hand began to waver. The little girl was shaking agian as she lowered her violin, but not as noticably as before.

{ The song Ame played }

Indar was standing close to Amellynne, though not looking at her, to not make her feel nervous even more. His eyes were darted towards the lake, but still listening. Her song was really beautiful and well played. His hearing did pick up a few false things, but then again, he wasn't good in judging music so he wasn't sure if they were false or he was hearing wrong. 

When she ended playing, Indar turned back around and said: '' You can play really well and you shouldn't be afraid of people hearing. I'm sure most people would like it, though i'm no critic. '' He let out a small laugh after that.

Amellynne blushed slightly and looked up at him. This stranger really wasn't too bad after all...

"I-it's not that.... I'm afraid... they won't like it.... I-i'm afraid... of the people... because I... don't know them.... They're... really... scary..."

Amellynne ducked her head and carefully placed the violin in its case, unsure of what else to do. She looked around a little awkwardly then decided to walk over to the pond to watch the fish inside. She knelt down quietly and watched, the tips of her fingers lightly touching the water above the fish that swam close enough to her.

Amellynne made a face at Indar's words. He seemed to be missing the reasoning behind her fear. Or he understood but was confused. Either way, he missed her point completely. If only she wasn't so scared.... she would be able to explain to him. But then if she wasn't scared there would be no point to make. Brushing the side of a fish lightly, Ame frowned and tried to muster the courage to speak without pausing or stuttering. It didn't quite work, but it would be good enough for now.

"I-i don't really c-care about what they th-think of me. I-i don't know them... they're st-strangers... I... shouldn't... talk to strangers... th-they could be criminals... th-they c-could b-be th-the p-p-people who k-k-k-k........"

Ame broke off at that point, shivering and unable to continue.