Quote:
From: An anonymous benefactor
Message:
Hands in your pockets, you walked down the street at an easy pace. The sun above you radiated light and warmth in waves. A teasing breeze whispered across your skin and made the leaves in the trees nearby dance and clap. The lovely weather was partly the reason why you had chosen to go for a walk. That and you had some errands to do. You nodded your head in greeting as you passed countless others on the sidewalk. Barton town was as lively as ever and it seemed that many were taking advantage of the beautiful day.
Your thoughts began to drift to what you needed to pick up and what stores you needed to visit. You may as well grab some lunch while you were out as well. The cafÃ& in the plaza made a delicious bowl of-
You bumped into someone causing your thoughts to scatter. Your balance thrown off, you began to fall.
"Are you all right?" A cool hand quickly grabbed your arm and you instinctively clung to it. Stumbling, you somehow managed to get your feet back underneath your body.
"I...I'm fine." you replied shakily. Your heart was pounding fast from the near fall and your face was slightly flushed from embarrassment. "Sorry. I was not paying attention to where I was going." You added slightly sheepishly as you finally looked at your rescuer.
It was a girl around your own age. Her hair was an auburn color and was light like a feather. A sudden cold breeze swept it up, playfully pushing it passed her shoulders and into her face. Her pale blue eyes, so pale you thought it might have been a trick of the light, twinkled from silent laughter.
"All is well," she said with a reassuring smile as she waved a small farewell and continued her way down the sidewalk.
You ran a hand through your hair, still feeling embarrassed by the situation. You turned to continue on your own way, but stopped when something caught the edge of your sight. Looking down, you spied a small present tied with a silk ribbon. You picked it up and realized the girl must have dropped it when you bumped into her. Quickly whirling around, you spotted her as she was just turning a corner.
"Excuse me, miss!" You called out as you hurried around the others on the sidewalk. Turning the corner, you looked around for the girl. Where was she? Confusion flickered through you as you scanned the faces of those of the sidewalk. It took you a few seconds, but you finally spotted her. She must had been walking rather fast because she was already far ahead and turning into an alley.
"Wait! You dropped something!" Again you cried out and you jogged towards her. She must not have heard you for she did not reappear onto the sidewalk. Breath slightly uneven now, you ran to the entrance of the alleyway and then into it.
The alley was cast in shade from the tall buildings forming it. It cooled you from the heat of the sun and from the running. Present still in hand, you slowed to a walk as you went deeper into the alley and searched for the girl. This did not make sense. It was a dead end. You stared at the wall in front of you and turned around as you searched for the girl. She had entirely disappeared.
Your skin prickled as the chilly air swept over your bare skin and your entire body shuddered from the sudden change in temperature. Unease and confusion went through you as you searched for any doors that the girl could have gone into. The hairs on the back of your neck stood as the feeling of being watched filled your soul. The place between your shoulder blades tingled from the sensation and on instinct you looked behind you.
The girl waved in greeting once she saw your gaze, "Hello again,"
She had not been there just a second ago. The air began to grow even chillier than before. "Y-You dropped something." It was the only thing you could think of to say. You were completely baffled by the entire situation.
"Actually, it's a gift for you," She said with a small laugh and a smile. As you watched, her form began to grow slightly fuzzy and began to lose its substance. A few seconds later and you could already see the wall of the alley through her form.
The colors faded from her as well. Her auburn hair slipped away to snow white. The colors from her clothes dulled until there was only just a hint of what they once were. The only true color that remained was from her light blue eyes. "There is a note on the present." The girl continued, seemingly unaware of the changes that had enfolded her.
Glancing down at the present, you saw that there really was a note attached. Written in elegant calligraphy was your name and the words: Please enjoy~
Soft laughter echoed in the air around you causing you to look up. Just as silently as she had appeared, the girl had disappeared leaving you alone once more in the alleyway. It was as if the girl had never even been there to begin with.
A ray of light slipped into the cool shadows of the alleyway and warmth began to flow back into you. For a few moments you just stood there. The entire event had felt unreal to a point that you were beginning to doubt if it had truly happened. Already the memory of it was beginning to fade and warp in your mind.
But it really had happened. You still had the present clutched in your hand as proof.
--- Phantom Anon
Message:
Hands in your pockets, you walked down the street at an easy pace. The sun above you radiated light and warmth in waves. A teasing breeze whispered across your skin and made the leaves in the trees nearby dance and clap. The lovely weather was partly the reason why you had chosen to go for a walk. That and you had some errands to do. You nodded your head in greeting as you passed countless others on the sidewalk. Barton town was as lively as ever and it seemed that many were taking advantage of the beautiful day.
Your thoughts began to drift to what you needed to pick up and what stores you needed to visit. You may as well grab some lunch while you were out as well. The cafÃ& in the plaza made a delicious bowl of-
You bumped into someone causing your thoughts to scatter. Your balance thrown off, you began to fall.
"Are you all right?" A cool hand quickly grabbed your arm and you instinctively clung to it. Stumbling, you somehow managed to get your feet back underneath your body.
"I...I'm fine." you replied shakily. Your heart was pounding fast from the near fall and your face was slightly flushed from embarrassment. "Sorry. I was not paying attention to where I was going." You added slightly sheepishly as you finally looked at your rescuer.
It was a girl around your own age. Her hair was an auburn color and was light like a feather. A sudden cold breeze swept it up, playfully pushing it passed her shoulders and into her face. Her pale blue eyes, so pale you thought it might have been a trick of the light, twinkled from silent laughter.
"All is well," she said with a reassuring smile as she waved a small farewell and continued her way down the sidewalk.
You ran a hand through your hair, still feeling embarrassed by the situation. You turned to continue on your own way, but stopped when something caught the edge of your sight. Looking down, you spied a small present tied with a silk ribbon. You picked it up and realized the girl must have dropped it when you bumped into her. Quickly whirling around, you spotted her as she was just turning a corner.
"Excuse me, miss!" You called out as you hurried around the others on the sidewalk. Turning the corner, you looked around for the girl. Where was she? Confusion flickered through you as you scanned the faces of those of the sidewalk. It took you a few seconds, but you finally spotted her. She must had been walking rather fast because she was already far ahead and turning into an alley.
"Wait! You dropped something!" Again you cried out and you jogged towards her. She must not have heard you for she did not reappear onto the sidewalk. Breath slightly uneven now, you ran to the entrance of the alleyway and then into it.
The alley was cast in shade from the tall buildings forming it. It cooled you from the heat of the sun and from the running. Present still in hand, you slowed to a walk as you went deeper into the alley and searched for the girl. This did not make sense. It was a dead end. You stared at the wall in front of you and turned around as you searched for the girl. She had entirely disappeared.
Your skin prickled as the chilly air swept over your bare skin and your entire body shuddered from the sudden change in temperature. Unease and confusion went through you as you searched for any doors that the girl could have gone into. The hairs on the back of your neck stood as the feeling of being watched filled your soul. The place between your shoulder blades tingled from the sensation and on instinct you looked behind you.
The girl waved in greeting once she saw your gaze, "Hello again,"
She had not been there just a second ago. The air began to grow even chillier than before. "Y-You dropped something." It was the only thing you could think of to say. You were completely baffled by the entire situation.
"Actually, it's a gift for you," She said with a small laugh and a smile. As you watched, her form began to grow slightly fuzzy and began to lose its substance. A few seconds later and you could already see the wall of the alley through her form.
The colors faded from her as well. Her auburn hair slipped away to snow white. The colors from her clothes dulled until there was only just a hint of what they once were. The only true color that remained was from her light blue eyes. "There is a note on the present." The girl continued, seemingly unaware of the changes that had enfolded her.
Glancing down at the present, you saw that there really was a note attached. Written in elegant calligraphy was your name and the words: Please enjoy~
Soft laughter echoed in the air around you causing you to look up. Just as silently as she had appeared, the girl had disappeared leaving you alone once more in the alleyway. It was as if the girl had never even been there to begin with.
A ray of light slipped into the cool shadows of the alleyway and warmth began to flow back into you. For a few moments you just stood there. The entire event had felt unreal to a point that you were beginning to doubt if it had truly happened. Already the memory of it was beginning to fade and warp in your mind.
But it really had happened. You still had the present clutched in your hand as proof.
--- Phantom Anon
The young mage took a quick look around the alley. The girl she had just seen had disappeared. A spirit? But how? "Is she still around?" Kate said, still baffled. A shiver ran down her spine. She still wasn't ready to accept spirits again just yet. Wanting to get away quickly, she left the alley and moved on with her day. Although, she still kept the gift box as a remainder.
(( Didn't find it... ASDF- STUPID PUZZLE! Anyway, thank you for the message! ))
