Aria, Scene v1

Kismet rushed down the hillside.

Dirt and loose brush clung to the Undine’s moist, scaly body. Her head darted back and forth in shock and confusion. Panic crept over her as the sun beat down on her drying body, and nothing but land was in sight. Her hastened breaths slowed as she caught sight of Kismet approaching her. “P-Please help me, Sister!”

Kismet knelt beside the water spirit, checking for any serious wounds. A long gash ran down the side of her tail, along with a few minor cuts and scrapes. Dark blue blood seeped from the open wound. Kismet unraveled the spare bandages from around her feet and began applying it to the young Undine. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine now. I won’t let them take you away.”

Kismet held the trembling child in her arms. She purred gently, trying to calm the sobbing young Undine. Despite living in the water, her body emitted a soothing warmth. Although she appeared no older than twelve, from head to tail, she was only two heads shorter than the Catheran.

Kismet eyed the fallen bandits warily. “My name’s Kismet, what’s yours?”

The young water spirit wiped her tears with the back of her webbed hand. Her soft voice was strained from all of the screaming. “Aria.”

One of the swordsmen groaned. Kismet looked out over the horizon, spotting a patch of trees to the east. She hoisted up Aria and carried her through the tall grass. “We need to get away from here before they come after you again.”

Aria clung tightly to her rescuer’s chest piece, as she jogged swiftly across the plains. With the sun beating down from overhead, the plains grew hot with all the grass trapping in the heat. Aria’s body began to dry when they neared the wooded area, her breaths becoming dry heaves. “It hurts…I need…water.”

Kismet set the young water spirit on the ground. With every breath, she could hear Aria’s throat and lungs scratch. Her skin was beginning to crack, and her scales grew rough. Her eyes stared helplessly at Kismet, full of fear. The Catheran unfastened the canteen from her waist and popped the lid open. She brushed the Undine’s hair aside before gently tipping the water into her mouth. “Sorry, I don’t have very much. We need to hurry and find a lake or river.”

After Aria drank half of the canteen, Kismet took off her cloak and folded it. She poured all but a gulp’s worth over the folded cloth, being careful not to lose a single drop. With it, she wrapped Aria before picking her up again. The Undine sighed in relief, pulling the wet cloak around her tightly. “Thank you, Sister.”

Kismet gave Aria the rest of the water before picking her up again. She quickened her pace toward the wooded area ahead. The Undine relaxed a bit once they left the baking plains, but the cloak that wrapped her body had already dried. She pointed between the trees. “Over there.”

The Catheran followed the child’s finger, slightly puzzled. “What’s over there?”

“Water,” she replied with confidence.

“Are you sure?”

Aria nodded. The coarse sound in her voice was returning. “I can feel it, just like how Cathera can feel nature.”

Feel nature. Kismet had heard of feeling and appreciating nature from songs and literature, but she never understood what they meant. Could they feel nature? Being a Catheran, could she feel nature, as Aria had said? Indeed, she always did yearn to leave the city and wander around outdoors, but she always assumed it was due to her less-than-favorable relations with the residents in the castle and military. And was it not normal to love nature’s beauty?



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