Now, why am I whittling when I am literally a paranormal entity in another reality?
I'm bored mate! Just got a new lease on life, so... might as well work on my hobbies, no? And yes, I like to carve, whittle and all that. I taught myself when I was a kid, back when I had all the free time in the world.
Now though, I finally have some time to catch up.
I call my creations, trinkets.
Because it sounds funny, my dubious creations. And, the fact that the things I made were mostly small replications of things I've seen before.
"Hmm! huhmm! This is so much easier!" I say enthusiastically, fashioning myself a little trinket to entertain myself with my newfound abilities.
And what better to make, than an awesome dinosaur! I made some classics, the Ankylosaur, Stegosaur, Brachiosaurus, T-rex, Velociraptor, and a Spinosaurus... and promptly spread them around the base of my home tree.
I said I wasn't making a house, but nothing wrong with a little decoration!
After that, I made a few more objects from my own world, a toy horse, wooden weapons and figurines of angels of demons, for no particular reason..
Actually there is, I'm kind of hoping some people would discover these 'alien' creations and spur them into questioning reality when they see the vast assemblage of ancient beasts, beings, weapon replicas and wooden documentation written in a completely different writing system I spread around.
"Hehehehe... They would be blissfully unaware that it's a complete prank! Hoho!" My bell-like voice chimes melodiously, though with a barely subdued undertone of mischief.
'Little do they know, these hail from another world entirely! Wait! What if they're from the future and would have somehow coincidentally invented the exact same things? Would they think time travelers existed? Wait, does this world already have that magic?' And so, in my attempt to baffle people I've never met for no reason, I sink into another long-winded and useless rabbit-hole.
Alright! I've just about finished decorating this big grove, make it seem a little more like home y'know?
Stepping back, I take a look around.
Wooden tablets were spread around, dotted around branches, trees, flowers... basically anywhere that I thought was part of my 'territory'. Near the largest and most majestic tree, lay figures of ancient origin, carved to life by unknown hands. All sorts of mystical beasts lurked and roamed in the shadows.
The so-called 'grove' was also stunning, trees twisted and turned as if in a joyous trance, making a veritable fortress, stowing away the crystal-clear lake in its walls. A myriad of flowers poked their heads from within thick shrubs, and all sorts of glowing mushrooms and fungi illuminate the gloomy forest floor.
It's a lot, but it's also home now..
Drifting to the wise and mystical tree, I sit beside its giant roots, next to my figurines and take the last few pieces of fallen bark and branches...
Those other things? Mere side quests, It's finally time to make something worth the time!
Grabbing the largest piece of scrap wood, I manifest an even larger wind blade by putting two of my fingers up.
'Heh, this feels so cool!' It really was, if only there was anyone within a hundred mile radius to see...
Precise as a mantis, quick as a snake, the work did not take long. Within half an hour?
'I don't have a watch.' I have successfully made my own watering can, designed like an elephant with its trunk out!
True, modern, sophisticated and educated innovation right here. I say, these fantasy people won't see what hit em'!
Okay, I know I've said I'm finally gonna make something worth my time, but here's the thing...
I didn't lie, if you've got a problem about me wanting to take care of this place then step right up... hope you can hold your breath long, because I'm promoting your underwater breathing record to the very distinguished title of 'lifespan'.
'Besides, I'm not done yet!' I think to myself indignantly as I simultaneously glide the watering can to the side, hitching it to the wind while reaching out for another piece of wood for my next project.
"Bonk!" A sound reaches my.. ears? Well, it reaches me alright!
I look down, and I see a very peculiar sight. Then, I look up.
"My my, what a gift we have here..." Even my usually upbeat and exuberant self can't help but take on a more fascinated tone.
I look down again, setting my silvery gaze onto the just as beautifully delicate, ivory white branch resting on the grass. It shone like the moon, gleaming from the sun' gentle rays. It seemed that it was supposed to fall on my head... but I suppose that's not how being air works.
'Seems like the wise and mystical tree wants to be part of my project. Heh, this will do! Quite well indeed!' I think excitedly.
"Thanks wise mystical tree!" Excuse me, did you think I was bereft of manners? Of course not!
I feel subtle vibrations in the wind, coming from the tree... Seems like being a spirit allows you to speak to trees? Or am I talking to a druid of some sort? -Wait!
Do I need to pay rent?!
Guess I have no choice but to acquiesce to this tree, not like I'm complaining or anything!
Taking the branch as carefully as possible, I languidly rest against the tree... to my best ability, adjusting my own density and air pressure in order to interact with my surroundings.
Looks like a really precious and expensive branch, you know what that means...
Maximum effort! No mistakes! I can't let the tree witness that it sacrificed an actual arm... or leg and I messed it up!
Ethereal eyes thin into needles, the gales that roam free in my body calm like waves on a beautiful day, wind blades primed and ready! Ready to go?
"Aye!" Skip the flowery words!
No! When I was young, there was something else I loved to do! More than my job, more than silly trinkets! I loved music, so I learned.. even now, I don't want to leave that behind me...
I remember being in the yard, I-... It's all I remember, really..
You know, I noticed... I don't have all my memories... I feel it, there are blanks. I feel like they are important! Like I would be wrong to forget! But you know... how can you remember something that was never there?
What do you think is the most important aspect of being human? You see, all humans are like blank slates, completely similar in all but looks... we think the same, respond the same, same instincts... It's our memories, that make us who we are. They mold us, turning us from a nothing into a.. something!
Humans live in the present, always. So, how do we know the past ever happened if we cannot remember it? Time is linear, it moves on indifferent to our feelings, it only moves forward, to the future. How could you know...
That you ever existed at all before that exact moment, how would you know who you were if you do not remember the name you were given..
You don't. You are lost, you are afraid. Lost to the past, Unknown to the future, you only dwell in the present. Tormented by the moment, ever-moving... trapped.
If you do not remember, it is as if it had never existed.. at all. Alien to even ourselves, isolated to a single facet in time.
I do not want that.
However, even I.. am powerless. The memories have already been lost, left behind in a world I will never return to. My parent's faces, my friends... our moments together..
Gone.
All I remember, is that I used to be a guy who worked somewhere, I made things sometimes.. and I loved music..
Memories, so ordinary and common.. all I have left. It's exactly why they are so important.
However, do not misunderstand. I am not human, because that human has died. That string has already been cut. I am here now, a new and completely blank slate, weaving myself a new tale. But you know what?
It seems that after all, love transcends even death.
Just a man clinging to his instrument, is all.
A human's most important aspect? His love, and his will to keep that flame burning. Even in the face of the endless voyage of time, even as the curtains close and an encore rings your ears out...
'Heh' Doesn't matter what, just keep it close and shut your eyes. Even as annoying and pathetic their weaknesses, how small their insecurities are, how undeserved their pride and perseverance is... they always find a way to keep going, even if you get sent away to some other alien world..
"They just refuse to let it go!" And as I whisk away the last of the wood shavings, I look at my creation.
And I smile.
Not the Zephyr's undying and resolute one, not even Adam's tired smile at the end of the day..
Does it matter? I'm just a little glad.
'Heh, Looks like I really did need a therapist' I chuckle inwardly as I take a gander at my creation.
A beautiful but simple, ivory white flute, made of wood of course. What better instrument for Zephyr, than one of the woodwind family, one of the oldest and most ancient instruments on Earth, the flute. Truly ironic, yet it's very much poetic.
It was sparsely decorated, but its wand-like shape and texture gave it a mystical feel. It had eight tone holes. It didn't shine like silver, but it looked quite ethereal under the moonlight.
Speaking of moonlight, it seemed the sun had retired for the day and the moon had shyly revealed its splendor, basking the world with it's gentle silver light.
...
--To Be Continued--
(What? I wanted a bard character okay? They are so rare, and the potential is limitless! Though, it would be quite, no... very difficult to write this in, but I'm doing it anyway!
Just wanna say I know NOTHING about flutes.. but the woodwind and the wind spirit? Kinda just fit too good you know?
What do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Remember to support the novel if you like it. Power stones, comments, reviews especially, anything is appreciated! See ya!)