BE MORE MUSE

      A former knight sits cross legged on the deck of he and his party’s recently acquired ship—an abridged symbol of the reality he’s no longer anywhere near as perturbed by as he ought to be. Instead, his fixation lies solely with the sea chart he’s spread out across his thighs. More specifically, the faint line he’s drawn from the dock they shoved off of and due coordinates.

      “If I’m to believe the compass fixed to the helm, then our route thus far hasn’t been especially efficient,” he soon declares.

      “What, you in a hurry?” Gold plated heels scuffed across the wood as Vicious strode over and leaned over the sitting knight to get a better look at the map. Directions and coordinates weren’t really his thing, especially when out at sea and no way to tell your current location. “All that matters is goin’ in the right direction, yeah? Who cares how long it takes.”

      To Ventus, there’s always been a charm about the Kingdom of Corona that seems to pervade the air itself, but today is special. A festival is ongoing, laughter, food stands and entertainment abound. What was originally going to amount to a leisurely walk through the cobblestone streets evolves into something a little more sprightly. Namely, a flourishing desire to see and experience anything and everything that the celebration has to offer.

      He’s sat among a group of children to observe a dramatic puppet show, enjoyed a slice of something the vendor that beckoned to him called bee sting cake and had a surprisingly intricate, glittering golden design painted on his left cheek by the time he happens upon a middle aged woman who’s garnered quite a bit of attention spinning on her heels and spritzing confetti to the tune of another’s mandolin. Observation gives rise to waves of inspiration and the very second after it occurs to him that he didn’t get the most fulfilling exercise out of his mission of the day, he’s cartwheeling into a handstand on the street opposite. Momentum turns a few sideways flips into a proper break dance that soon catches the wandering eyes of several passerbys.

      Is he being a bit of a show off? Absolutely. Would this count as an abuse of power? To Master Eraqus, it probably would, especially if he were to take the munny that’s occasionally being thrown at his feet into consideration. The flicker of rebellion that sparks inside of his heart at the thought is plenty justification for the blonde to carry on with his fun. With a toothy, self-assured grin, he transitions from his dance to twirling Wayward Wind as if it were a baton. When its grip parts with one hand, it lands in the other. Dashes of light and gravity magic supply starlike twinkles and pitch black backdrops that have the small crowd that’s now amassed parting their lips to coo.

         Every which way, every path, there was something new to see and Niko took it all in with big starry eyes. Vendors calling out to prospective customers, delicious scents wafting through the air, and the music! No matter where they walked Niko did it with a skip in their step and shimmy in their shoulders. Skillfully avoiding bumping into any one all the way, fortunately. If there’s one thing Niko is its they’re light on their feet! Their shuffling led them all the way to a group of musicians and one very electrifying dancer!

         Soon enough Niko joined the growing crowd of onlookers, gazing in awe and wonder as the boy performed a series of movements that Niko thought for sure would leave him tangled like a pretzel. Flips and handstands? How cool was that?! But what really caught Niko’s eye wasn’t the breakdancing (was that the correct term for it? Amari would know. She knew everything). It was the fact he summoned an odd shaped weapon from no where, then following it up with magic. Granted they hadn’t spent much time in the Kingdom of Corona but Niko imagined if any of the inhabitants could use magic they would’ve noticed by now. Or at least sense it, being magic and light incarnate themself. Which led Niko to only one conclusion:

         He’s not from this world.

         Perhaps he knew something that Niko didn’t that could help them in their search! Maybe he had seen Amari on another world! Bit of a stretch but Niko had to snatch up any lead presented. With that thought in mind and a new spring in their step, Niko shimmied up the blond boy and playfully bumped shoulders.

      “Mind if I cut in?” Niko giggled, positively beaming. Clapping their hands together Niko drew his palms apart to reveal a ball of light generating in the space between. Niko pinched a corner and drew back what resembled a piece of glowing string before throwing the ball into the air. However the ball morphed and transformed into a bird, animated wings flapping excitedly, then it took to soaring around the space. A bright bird sailing through the magic induced night sky, leaving glittering trails of star dust behind with each flap. Feathers of light wafted off the light bird and into the crowd and, if touched, would burst into a tiny flurry of sparkles.

         The music swelled into a roaring crescendo so to top it all off Niko made the bird grow in size. The small bird’s wings extended to three times it size and it gave one last swoop over the crowd until bursting into twinkling particles of light. Drifting from the air like a faint snow fall in the winter. Niko nodded firmly like a thank-you to the light construct then waved to the cheering crowd. “Thank yooou! Enjoy the festivities! Try some of that bee sting cake, it’s delicious!”