Trois

As the melancholic strains of a bittersweet melody drift through the air, you realise that you are once again in second-person mode. That thought is quickly forgotten, though, as you follow the flute sounds to a little clearing in the forest…

There…with his back turned to you. A small half-horse half-human is playing on a little silver flute. You stand there, entranced by both the sight of him, and the sorrowful music…lost in the yearning strains, you step forward…

*crack* Oops.

A single discordant note – the music breaks off harshly as he spins to look at you. For a brief second, you see a flash of fiercely beautiful verdant…then he lowers his eyes, repossesses himself, and silently steps over to you.

…Even when the melody has ceased, the impression of grief hangs thick in the air.

“I’m afraid that there is nothing for you here,” his voice is soft, not unkind despite his words, “Perhaps it is better if you leave me.”

It is difficult not to sense his need for solitude. You acquiesce, bowing apologetically as you retreat from the clearing. He nods, acknowledging your leave.

That is the last you see of him, and as you stand, a little bewildered, some way outside the clearing, the poignant strains of his flute-song start again.

A hand descends upon your shoulder. You narrowly avoid a heart-attack.

“Don’t mind Trois,” Djinn smiles at you, her words hushed, “he’s that way. I could tell you his story, but it isn’t my story to say.”

She pauses for an instant, savouring the sweet sounds around the two of you.

“He has a lot of grief to make peace with,” she finally continues, “but I’m just glad that he’s here with us. For that, we have Jaysen to thank.”

“I know you’ll be hard pressed not to find him familiar.” She says with a wry grin. “Like some oh I don’t know Gundam pilot. Are they the same? Yes and no. Think of it as overlapping realities. It’s a dimensional thing.”

All of a sudden, the music stops once more, and the quiet voice floats out from the clearing.

“Djinn, don’t you think that’s quite enough?” The words sound almost petulant.

“My apologies!” She calls back with an amused grin. The music starts again. She turns to you and shrugs.

“Well, that’s it, I guess. The story ends here. Please take a minute to visit his native land of aikousha. There, you can seek out more of his kind.”

Then she is gone, and you decide you should be too.

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