The faint melody drifted through the crooked streets, soft but clear enough to catch Rei's ear. His head snapped up. Without thinking, he rushed toward the sound, weaving past lantern posts and narrow alleys.
He turned the corner and stopped short. There she was — the woman with the gray eyes and the long brown braid. A small knot of people stood around her, listening quietly, their faces tilted toward the subtle tune she played.
Rei's breath slipped out in a laugh, half-relief, half-disbelief. "She's real," he whispered to himself, grinning as he pushed a little closer through the onlookers.
One by one, the listeners drifted away until the street grew quiet again. Only Rei lingered, his eyes fixed on her.
She noticed him and smiled faintly. "It's you again. The Intel Gatherer."
"Me? No, I'm just… a guy passing through," Rei replied with a grin.
Her lips curved, amused.
Rei eased down beside her, still scratching the back of his head like he wasn't sure what to do with his hands. For a moment he just watched her fingers rest lightly on the instrument.
"So… where did you learn to play like that?" he asked. "I mean, you're really good. Not the kind of thing you just pick up, right?"
She tilted her head. "My mother taught me when I was young. Music was always with us — not just sound, but something that gave meaning to the silence. To her, it was a way of remembering. To me… it's peace."
Rei nodded slowly, his grin softening into something more thoughtful.
She studied him for a moment. "And what about you? What did your parents teach you?"
Rei blinked, caught off guard. Parents? …I wouldn't know. I was abandoned." He gave a small laugh, trying to brush it off. "Guess I had to figure things out on my own."
Her expression lingered on him, quiet.
Rei quickly searched for another thread, waving a hand. "But hey, last time you sang — it was some kind of folksong, right? You said it was old?"
She nodded gently. "Yes."
Rei leaned in a little, curiosity sharpening. "What was that about? You mentioned a lotus and a forest king. Can you tell me more?"
Her gaze shifted away, thoughtful. "In the song… I never really understood the meaning of the lotus. It's always been there, but I couldn't make sense of it. And lately I've heard whispers, rumors here and there about some kind of lotus." She drew a quiet breath, then looked back at him. "But I can tell you about the Forest King."
Rei shifted his whole body toward her, eyes intent. "Tell me. I'm eager to know."
Her voice softened, carrying the weight of something passed down for generations. "My mother told me of him when I was a child. Long ago, when Yurelda was first founded, he was its first king — a true king, a man of honor and equality and power."
Rei leaned closer. "The first king? That far back?"
She nodded slowly. "Yes. And it's said he sought change… to break the order, to free people from the chains that bound them."
"The order? You mean… like the hierarchy? The way people live under it?"
"Perhaps. Some say he succeeded. Others say the order was older than even him, older than kings and kingdoms — something that was never meant to be broken. No one really knows." Her voice lowered, taking on the hush of a secret. "But like everything in this world… death found him. And with it, hope was burned away."
Rei let out a low breath, shaking his head. "I've never heard of that. Not once."
She smiled faintly, though it held no joy. "Few have. It has faded into dust… just another old myth. And yet, many of us still choose to believe."
"Do you believe it?" he asked.
Her eyes softened, the ghost of a smile on her lips. "I do. But tell me, Rei… now that you've heard the tale, what do you think?"
He hesitated, scratching at his temple. "I'm not the brightest guy when it comes to history. But if there really was a king like that… a part of me would want to believe too."
She gave a single, quiet nod, as though that answer was enough.
Then, almost to herself, she laughed — a soft, musical sound that seemed to dissolve the heaviness of her words. "It was lovely sitting here with you, sharing a story long forgotten. But I have to take my leave now."
She rose, shifting as though about to step away.
"Wait," Rei blurted, reaching out before he could stop himself. "Please… at least tell me your name."
She paused, turning back to him. Then she leaned in, just a little closer. Rei instinctively mirrored her, his breath catching as the space between them narrowed. For a heartbeat it felt as though their lips might meet. Instead, she brought her mouth close to his ear, her voice a whisper, soft as falling petals.
"My name is…Solayne"
Rei froze, the sound of it echoing through him, more intimate than a kiss. By the time he blinked, she was already stepping back, a faint smile flickering across her lips before she turned and slipped away into the night.
Rei sank back onto the bench, exhaling a long sigh. The street was quiet now, save for the fading echo of her melody still caught in his ears.
"Great… I think I'm in love." He rubbed at his hair, grinning despite himself. Then his thoughts drifted back to her words. The Forest King… come to think of it, that really sounded big.
He jumped to his feet, thrusting a fist into the air. "Okay, Rei… time to impress a girl with knowledge!"
The triumphant pose lasted all of two seconds before he rubbed the back of his neck, looking up with his hand on his chin. "But how do I even get to know more? The Lower Crescent doesn't even have a real library…" Then his eyes lit up. "Oh, I know — Gramps should know something."
By the time the sun dipped behind the crooked rooftops and the lanterns flickered to life, Rei was already on his way. The streets of the Lower Crescent had grown quieter, shadows pooling in every corner as night settled in.
He pushed open the familiar door, the scent of old wood and ink drifting out to meet him. Lady Nekomaru stretched lazily across the table, and he reached out to stroke her fur as he stepped inside.
Gramps stood by the small stove, stirring a pot that filled the room with the smell of herbs and broth. He glanced over his shoulder as Rei stepped in. "You're late," he said, his tone carrying the weight of a mild scolding.
Rei lifted his hands in mock defense. "What, no 'welcome back, Rei'? I nearly starved on the way here."
"Hmph." Gramps ladled steaming soup into two bowls and set them on the table.
Lady Nekomaru hopped down from the table, tail flicking as she padded to her spot. She meowed once, expectant, and Gramps obliged by filling a small dish for her too. The cat bent down to eat while Rei slid into his chair, cupping the bowl in his hands.
They drank in companionable silence for a while, the warmth of the soup easing the cool of the night. Then Gramps finally looked up. "Have you heared anything new from Kazuo?"
Rei blew across his bowl and took a sip before answering. "No, I was busy with work." He paused, then smirked a little. "But I did overhear something. Word is he's doing fine — seems like he's the talk of the Upper Crescent these days."
"Good. That's good."
Rei set his bowl down and leaned back a little. "Hey, Gramps… can I ask you something? It's about history."
Gramps arched a brow over the rim of his spoon. "You? Wanting to learn about history?" A sly smile tugged at his mouth. "Let me guess—there's a girl involved, isn't there?"
Rei waved both hands quickly, nearly spilling his soup. "Nooo, it's not like that!"
Gramps gave a low chuckle, setting his bowl aside as he leaned closer across the table. "Mm-hm. You can't fool me, boy." His eyes narrowed, sharp but amused.
Rei slumped in his chair, cheeks warming. "...Yes," he muttered at last.
Gramps smirked, satisfied. "So, what is it then?"
Rei glancing down at Lady Nekomaru happily lapping her dish. "She told me this old tale. About the Forest King."
Gramps froze mid-motion, the air between them suddenly heavier. For a long moment, he didn't move. Then, as Rei started to go on, Gramps leaned forward and pressed his palm firmly over the boy's mouth. His voice dropped, low and urgent. "Don't say another word."