Dressed in several layers with soft fur trim to keep her warm Illyria rocked back on her heels while humming along to the music box that played just inside her bedroom. Enchanted with magic so it always played so long as the lid was open, she did not need to worry about the silence the often followed the music stopped playing.
Her home, tucked in the mountain side on one of the many powder and ice covered peaks, was often quiet and devoid of visitors. Every so often lost travelers would stumble their way through the storms; blinded by the wall of white with no way of knowing where they were going or which way they came. All who happened upon the gilded door were welcome inside with food and a cup of warm spiced cider while they warmed themselves by the hearth lit with the flames from the mountains core.
Only once the weather died down, or the sky open up and clouds disperse, did Illyria, or those who shared her dwelling, help guide the travelers safely down the side of the mountain with the aid of her gentle glow to guide to light the way.
Today, however, was unlike any normal day and brought with it a friend with whom she had not seen in many decades. You see, those like her did not age as mortals did and like her, the Atma, a spirit guide, remained the same.
Illyria heard him before she spot him on the horizon. An ivory gull with a yellow beak and black legs flew towards her excitedly.
A truly happy smile spread across her face as she pulled one hand out of the warm muff and waved her arm in greeting. “Destinn!” she called out to him, wings fluttering behind her in joyful glee.
She did not have to wait long till he landed soundlessly beside her and in that same moment his form shifted into that of a boy with an envelope held in one hand.
A spirit whose purpose in life was to guide those who were lost he often appeared to her in many forms resembling animals typically found in the nearby region. But now, that guise had fallen and stood in front of her with short blond hair and blue eyes wearing a similar fur trimmed outfit.
“Illyria! How are you?” The two embraced in a friendly hug as it had been far too long since they had seen each other.
“I’m okay! Where is the celestial you’re often with?” She peered back out across the mountain peak yet did not see the woman he often guided through the many realms.
“Eileen? She’s staying with Vyraanth for a while. So I figured I’d go visit Kol’Ha,” A creature just like him whose favored forms were that of a snowy owl and an arctic fox. “But on my way I ran into Pai and he asked me to give this to you!”
Curious, Illyria canted her head to her side with a puzzled expression.
“Here!” He offered it to her for her to read.
She looked at the piece of folded paper with her name written on it in calligraphic script and wondered to herself if she was in trouble for not having visited him in some time. With a deep breath she broke the seal and a pulled out the note which had been carefully folded into thirds.
“He wants me to get a him an apple. Not just an ordinary apple, but one that can sing.” Confused as to why he would want such a thing her brows furrowed as she looked up at her friend hoping he held the answer.
No such luck as Destinn merely shrugged his shoulders helplessly. “I don’t know,” he replied. “I can’t read minds and I didn’t exactly think to ask him what he was up to.”
“I don’t know either” she admitted. He was a strange man indeed that not even she presumed to know what he intended to use it for.
“Did he at least tell you where to find it?”
“It said that it’s in a magical garden south of here towards the Marble Sea.” Without the sun it was hard to tell which way was north and which way was south but she made a guess based on where the highest peak in view was that the place she needed to be was in the exact opposite direction. “You didn’t see anything like that on your way here did you?”
“Hmm.” Destinn worried his lower lip in deep contemplation as he combed his memories of the places he had flown over. “I might know where it’s at.”
Excited, Illyria took a hold of his hand “Will you take me there? Please?” That pleading look in her eyes was not to be ignored. Like a puppy she was hard to say no to; seemed he taught her well in the days they played together. “It’ll be just like old times! Oh please, please, please!”
The spirit guide combed his fingers through honey colored hair and looked up and away. His cheeks stained red likely from the cold, at least that is what he’d say was the cause if she were to point it out when in actually he was kind of embarrassed. “Yeah, I can take you. But you’ll have to promise to stay close. There are many dangers out there Illyria.”
His steady gaze fell upon her in all seriousness. “If you fly too close to the creeping vines they will grab ahold of you and not let go unless you have something to cut yourself free or use your magic on it. That’s not to mention the abominations that are hiding in the undergrowth. I’m not as familiar with these lands as you are so I can’t tell you if they’re friendly or not.”
“I promise!” She held out her pinky in the same way that human children did to seal the deal.
“Ok. I’ll take you there tomorrow.” The look in his eyes shifted to a mischievous expression as he leaned over to grab a handful of snow which he pressed into a tight ball and threw at her which elicited a surprised yelp.
“Destinn!” She laughed joyfully.
The two of the played until the sun set behind the mountain painting the sky in a range of pink and orange hues. Today was not like any normal day, and tomorrow… tomorrow was going to be even better.
Furesiya: I don't know if this counts towards the Singing Apple prompt since it was mostly setting the stage for actually going to look for it. but I plan on continuing with this if it is ok. Next day in the next post etc.
Edit: I apologize for the double quote. I color coded the text.
Edit: I apologize for the double quote. I color coded the text.
