"When did you get home from your training?" Raina asked and Kyera glanced up from the strings, her fingers still moving over them masterfully. As sad as her song was Kyera's lips curved into a smile.
"A few hours ago, but you were with your grandfather so I figured I would brush up on my own playing while I waited for you." Kyera replies softly as she stops playing the song and smiles at her young apprentice. Raina wasn't sure why but something seemed off about that smile. It didn't seem real.
"I see, what song was it?" Raina asked kneeling beside her teacher, looking lovingly at the zither they had played together. Kyera sighed and reached out, guiding a stray hair out of the innocent little face in front of her.
"It's called 'Beneath a Blood Drenched Moon." Kyera explained, there was no use in sheltering her too much. Loving in this palace, in this world even in such youth blood and war was not unusual. Raina looked up at her, eyebrows furrowed in thought.
"The name fits the song's feelings, but why did you play it? Isn't the zither suppose to make you happy?" Raina asked and Kyera chuckled at the child. She had been neglecting part of her apprentice's education it seems.
"Happy isn't always the emotion a zither's song helps you express. Sometimes it can share the most mournful feelings of your heart." Kyera explained, gently poking the Princess in the chest. Raina giggled a bit, focusing a bit on her words.
"So the music is suppose to express our feelings?" Raina asked slowly. Kyera nodded, and tousled the little one's perfect hair. The little Princess threw her arms around Kyera's waist hugging her.
Unsure of exactly what's going on in the little one's mind, Kyera holds her close with a soft sigh. Surprisingly the child's hug cracked the icey brick in her chest.
After a minuet Raina let to sitting back with a bright smile. Her little cheeks showed off her adorable dimples. "Did that help?" she asked innocently and Kyera smiled.
"What do you mean little one?" Kyera asked, honestly wanting to hear it from her.
"Music is a expression of feeling, but the song you were just playing was so sad. I thought… a hug might help." she replied kinda timidly. Kyera couldn't help but stare at the sweet little girl beside her.
"Raina, the song 'Beneath a Blood Drenched Moon' is something you play for warriors fallen. Its low and mournful because of love. Just as I love you." Kyera explained, unaware of the last two words until they had left her lips. A instant reaction of 'What did i just say?' slapped her across the face. She almost tried to cover for it but then, she saw Raina's face. The child was starry eyed and teary eyed at the same time.
Kyera wasn't sure what to say, and the child didn't speak. So, unsure what else she could do, she set the Zither aside and opened her arms. Raina fell into them and hugged her tight.
"Kyera… are you going to leave us like Moon?" Raina whispered softly and Kyera froze. She looked down, puzzled at the little girl on her lap. 'Where on earth did she get that idea!' Kyera wondered silently
Then again, it was true. One day Kyera would return to her people. The end goal was to leave, Kyera remembered. Though she still wasn't sure why the child knew so.
"Raina, Moon and I are Woodland folk. We belong in the forest. Yes, we will leave. Sometimes for long periods of time, and sometimes for just a few hours or a couple days. However, we can always return to see you. I know you matter quite a bit to me. Please don't ever think we will." Kyera struggled to explain without lying more than she had to. This was proving to be difficult. Even if she explained she and Moon were the same person it didn't change that she would one day have to leave her.
"But… you will come back?" Raina asked, her teary eyes looking up at Kyera hopefully. Her heart couldn't take it, and melted in her chest.