Chapter 13: The First Melody
621 Words
Morning.
The forest slowly awakened beneath the golden light of dawn.
Birds chirped happily.
Leaves danced with the gentle breeze.
Everything felt...
Peaceful.
Everything except...
"...Again."
BOOM!
A loud vibration shook the nearby trees.
Several birds flew into the sky.
Echo slowly lowered his hand.
"...I overdid it."
Kodie, who had been sleeping beneath a tree, lazily opened one eye.
"...You scared my dream away."
Echo scratched his head awkwardly.
"...Sorry."
"...It was a good dream too."
"What was it about?"
"...Food."
"...Of course it was."
---
Dorothy calmly walked toward them.
She didn't look disappointed.
Nor surprised.
She simply smiled.
"Again."
Echo blinked.
"...Again?"
"You only failed once."
"...There is no reason to stop."
Echo nodded firmly.
"...Yes, Ma'am."
He closed his eyes.
Took a deep breath.
The world slowly became quiet.
He could hear...
The rustling leaves.
The flowing stream.
The distant birds.
Even his own heartbeat.
Thump...
Thump...
Thump...
Mana slowly gathered around him.
This time...
He didn't force it.
He simply...
Listened.
A faint vibration spread from his fingertips.
Hummm...
The grass gently swayed.
The nearby flowers trembled.
But...
Nothing exploded.
Nothing broke.
Dorothy smiled.
"...Better."
Echo opened his eyes.
"...Really?"
She nodded.
"You didn't try to control the sound."
"You became part of it."
Echo looked at his own hands.
"...I think..."
"...I finally understood."
---
Kodie slowly stood up.
"...Almost."
Echo looked at him.
"...Almost?"
Kodie picked up a small pebble.
He gently tossed it into the air.
"Try."
Echo frowned.
"...You want me to hit that?"
"...Mm."
"...That's impossible."
"...Probably."
Echo sighed.
"...Thanks for the confidence."
The pebble reached its highest point.
Echo focused.
Not on the stone...
But on the sound it made as it cut through the air.
Whoosh...
His fingers moved.
A tiny vibration shot forward.
Tap.
The pebble changed direction ever so slightly before landing harmlessly on the grass.
Silence.
Echo stared.
"...I did it."
Kodie smiled.
"...See?"
"...Almost."
Echo laughed.
"...You really couldn't just say 'good job,' could you?"
"...Where's the fun in that?"
---
Dorothy clapped once.
"Excellent."
Echo looked toward her.
"...Was that enough?"
"For today."
Echo sighed in relief.
"...Finally."
Dorothy smiled knowingly.
"I didn't say training was over."
Echo froze.
"...What?"
"We're cleaning the herb garden."
Kodie immediately turned around.
"...I suddenly remembered I have somewhere to be."
"Really?"
"...No."
"...Thought so."
---
The three spent the afternoon pulling weeds, watering herbs, and organizing Dorothy's collection of medicinal plants.
Echo held up a strange blue leaf.
"...Ma'am?"
"What is this used for?"
Dorothy glanced over.
"Headaches."
Kodie spoke without looking up.
"...Or bad cooking."
Echo blinked.
"...It works for that?"
"...No."
"I just wish it did."
Dorothy laughed softly.
"...You'll have to improve your cooking first."
"...Cruel."
---
As the sun slowly began to set...
A familiar knock echoed from the wooden gate.
Knock...
Knock...
Echo looked up.
"...Someone's here."
Dorothy gently placed her watering can beside the garden.
A peaceful smile appeared on her face.
"...Right on time."
Echo tilted his head.
"...Were you expecting someone?"
She nodded.
"I was."
The gate slowly creaked open.
A middle-aged man stepped inside.
Behind him...
A young girl quietly lowered her eyes.
Long silver hair swayed gently in the evening breeze.
One hand rested over a small silver ring she wore with great care.
Neither of them spoke.
Dorothy smiled.
"...Welcome."
The girl slowly looked up.
For the first time...
Her eyes met Echo's.
Silence.
A strange feeling passed between them.
Not friendship.
Not hostility.
Simply...
Curiosity.
The evening breeze carried a single leaf between them.
And with it...
A new chapter of their journey quietly began.
---
End of Chapter 13
«Some encounters happen by chance...
Others...
Feel as though they were always meant to happen.»
- Writer
