Looking at the steam powered pipes and roofs and the privileged carriages traversing at the cobblestones.
He marvelled at the setting.
The world felt a bit advanced.
Malmö's t like an era heavily reminiscent of a steam punk age.
*I guess all this is the work of the hero.*
He thought.
*He really was reincarnated just like me a reincarnated soul. He was probably a powerful, highly influential figure back on earth… who also happened to like trashy romance novels.*
The thought of the novels made him pause.
He had sold the second volume the other day.
When he went to find out more about it.
To a complete stranger who seemed interested in it.
At the time he wondered if what he was doing was right or not.
But as soon as he heard the 'clink!' Of sliver Valors he sold it without a thought.
Ultimately he had kept the remaining volume safe.
*You never know when it might actually some in handy again? Plus something tells me I'll run in to it in the future.*
He thought brushing the crumbs of the donut crumbs from his hands.
As he reached the dampened mouth of the familiar alleyway.
He stopped in his tracks.
There was absolutely no sign of the old man from yesterday.
*Huh…? Wher did he go?*
He thought.
He's eyes scanning the empty, brick-lined alcove.
*Wiat, he couldn't have just vanished… I mean where was he going to go in the first place?*
Perplexed, he spent several minutes looking around.
Checking behind crates and barrels.
But came out entirely empty.
Growing restless, he decided to flag down a middle aged woman carrying a basket of laundry.
"Uhmm… excuse me ma'am?"
The woman turned.
"Huh…? What is it young man?"
"Have you perhaps seen an old homeless man sitting here."
The woman was visibly taken aback by the random question from a toddler.
The woman looked at the his strangely solemn, overwhelming face.
She simply shook his head sideways.
"I'm sorry, young man but I've never seen sitting there before."
He froze at her answer.
A cold prickle of sweat breaking out from his neck.
"I see… sorry for wasting your time."
"No problem, the honour was all mine."
Continuing on her way.
*What the hell?*
He thought his mind racing.
*Yeah, either I'm going insane or there was a man here just yesterday talking about power.*
He reached for his pocket and took out the small vael.
*I literally traded a sliver coin with him!*
He shook his head.
*No, clam down. Maybe he just left. Yeah! That's right. Maybe he just packed up his few belongings and walked away. I mean you could do a lot with a sliver coin...*
Despite his second opinion.
He spotted another homeless individual.
Leaning against a brick wall, busking under the sunlight.
He walked over and greeted like before the man denied seeing a homeless man at that spot.
"Urgh…"
So he let out a heavy defeat.
"Thanks anyway. Sorry for the waste of time."
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out one sliver and copper Valor.
Tossing them gently at the man's battered straw hat.
"Why, thank you kind sir!"
The man called out.
His face lighting up with sudden generosity.
Taylor continued to walk aimlessly around the sprawling town.
Trying to shake off the blizzare encounter.
Just as he was investigating the intersection.
His attention was suddenly drawn towards a large crowd.
He saw people gathering in a semi-circle.
Intrigued, pushed through the gap between the pair of towering steam features.
He heard a voice singing.
It belonged to a woman with dark brown hair and soft blue eyes.
Her voice was undeniably breath taking by local standards.
But to him it wasn't something to fuss about.
After all he had heard far better, flawless performances back in his previous.
*When I was little, my father used to dress me up in a stiff suit, and take me to a grand opera house. Where the wealthiest, highest class of people would gather under crystal chandeliers. And then, the stage lights would swell, and I'd hear
it—the trance inducing voice of my mother. Her singing was breathtaking in every sense of the word. It was a disciplined masterpiece that could command the silent of thousands.*
By comparison this street performance was just average.
But the local people seemed to enjoy it, so his critics really didn't matter.
But then…
Underneath the loud vocals of the woman.
He heard a faint, piercing sound.
That completely drew him near.
It was the crying wail of a violin.
He looked past the crowd and saw her.
Positioned directly opposite the singing woman.
Completely ignored by the mass of people.
Was a little girl—about his age.
Her yes we're tightly closed.
So he couldn't decern their colour.
Her long blonde hair was was woven into one thick, singular braid that rested in her shoulder.
Unfortunately, because of the loud, flashy singer across street.
Not a single person was paying attention to her.
But that didn't seem to matter at all.
She was entirely lost in her own world.
Her small fingers flying across the fingerboard.
While her bow arm moved with fluid, practised grace.
*Beautiful.*
He marvelled.
Having played the violin extensively in his past life.
He recognised the complex melody instantly.
*This is The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi, a revolutionary set of four Italian violin concertos that fell vivid. Descriptive musical stories of the changing natural seasons. Although her arrangements are a bit different. But the core composition are unmistakable. Iwonder how it ended up in this world?
He remembered teaching his friend this particular piece, back in his old world.
So it brought back some familiar memories.
Next to the piano, the violin was his favourite instrument.
Seeing some else playing it genuinely made him happy.
Just as she drew her bow across the strings for the final, lingering note.
She opened her eyes blue ocean eyes softly.
"Than you, everyone for coming and listening to my piece."
She said quietly, bowing politely to the empty space in front of her.
No one was actually listening.
The crowd remained firmly tuned towards the singer.
Yet, the girl was remotely unbothered by the rejection.
Adjusting her instrument as if she was already used to being invisible.
Reaching for her canvas hat which contained only a lonely copper coin.
-Clink!
The sharp metallic ring of a heavy coin in the fabric made her freeze.
It was the very last sliver coin he had on his pocket.
To ensure it had company, he dropped another bright copper coin right beside it.
-Clank!
The girl slowly rose up.
Her eyes wide as they met his gaze.
A heavy silence stretched between them for a brief moment.
Over the roar ping noise of the market place.
Until he decided to break the tension.
"I like your music."
Without waiting for a response.
He turned his back, ready to leave.
"T-Thank you…"
She called out softly behind him.
Her voice gentle and genuine, stammered for a moment.
Without looking back he simply raised his hand n the air.
Giving her a silent, acknowledgment as he disappeared into the crowd.
***
[>>Encounter<<]
***
A/N:
[I'm back from a short break, I took to cool down for a bit. Now I'm ready to continue with Taylor's amazing journey.]