A GIFT FOR SONG-𝙍𝙄𝙀𝙇𝙇𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙍𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙄𝘼 𝙓 𝙋𝙍𝙄𝙉𝘾𝙀 𝙀𝙍𝙄𝘾!𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙍
[𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦], 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘢𝘨𝘦'𝘴 𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.
slight angst, may be ooc due to lack of information on Rielle
The ship gently swayed at the dock as [Name] peered over the ledge, her eyes glazed over, the wind brushing against her face. The journey to Sage’s Island was a tedious trip that felt like it had taken years off her lifespan and her lady in waiting, Grimalda, was talking her ear off.
“Your mother and father are quite distressed you know. You’ve managed to deny every suitor that asks for your hand.”The older lady crossed her arms, her gray hair falling in her face as she shook her head.
“Because they’re not the one, Grimalda. I’m sure I’ll meet the love of my life soon and when I do, it'll just hit me like a bat!” [Name] gestured wildly with her hands, so much so that her mother’s silver nautical bracelet slipped from her wrist and dropped into the ocean.
She gasped and leaned fully over the railing before swiftly pulling on her boots and racing down the stairs, knocking guards and maids out of the way while only offering a quick “Sorry!”
As she bound against the shoreline in search of the heirloom nearing the waves. Out from the distance came the most enchanting voice she had ever heard; It was a soft one and held a mystery that [Name] was desperate to solve.
The melody acted like a physical tether, pulling [Name] through the winding coastal paths. The sand crunched beneath her boots, a sharp contrast to the ethereal, silk-spun notes echoing off the jagged sea caves. As she rounded a towering rock formation, the voice became crystal clear: vibrant, yearning, and unmistakably magical.
There, perched upon a slick obsidian rock partially submerged in the tide, was a young man gazing at the bracelet with wonder. His long hair caught the moonlight like rubies, and his eyes held the depth of the ocean floor.
[Name] froze, her breath hitching. She had traveled across kingdoms and seas, but she had never seen anyone who looked so… at home in the wild spray of the salt water.
Rielle stopped mid-note, his head tilting as he spotted the figure on the shore. Instead of diving back into the depths, he leaned forward. "This must be yours?" he asked, his voice just as melodic when spoken.
“It is, but I couldn’t help also hearing you sing,” [Name] breathed, stepping closer until the foam of the waves licked at her boots. "I’ve never heard anything so beautiful. I’m [Name]." Rielle passed her the bracelet, slightly grazing her hand with a blush.
"Rielle!" he exclaimed, blinking at the volume of his own voice. That had come out louder than he wished it to.
To be honest, Rielle had seen her before when a heartbroken suitor dropped an obnoxiously large portrait of [Name] and her sweet, little pup perched on her lap into the sea and he swiftly hid it away along with the rest of his collection of land dweller’s things. Embarrassingly he’s spoken to that portrait of her for hours, begging it to whisk him away to land, show him around her kingdom, and teach him to be where the people are.
The sound of distant shouting from the guards finally catching up shattered the moment. Rielle flinched, looking toward the dark horizon; he had to leave.
"Wait!" [Name] broke a small charm,one she had carried since childhood—a compass rose etched into a heavy coin. "So you don’t forget who was listening. Please. Take it."
She tossed it, and with a flash of practiced grace, Rielle caught it against his chest. He looked at the silver gleaming in his palm, then back at her with a wide smile.
"A gift for a song," he murmured. "I’ll keep it close to my heart."
After [Name] watches Rielle disappear beneath the waves, the guards finally crest the hill.
The heavy clanking of armor and Grimalda’s frantic calling felt like a cold bucket of water over [Name]’s head. She clutched the silver bracelet, which was now recovered yet felt strangely heavy, and looked back at the spot where the boy had been. The obsidian rock was empty, save for a few lingering bubbles.
"Princess! Thank the Seven, you're safe!" Grimalda panted, clutching her corset. "Running off like that... and near the caves? It’s dangerous! The tides are unpredictable, and they say the sea folk here are..."
"Beautiful," [Name] whispered, her eyes still fixed on the horizon.
“I met the one, Grimalda!” A smile tugged at the corner of [Name]’s lips and she gripped onto the older woman’s shoulders. “Rielle! His name is Rielle! I’m going to marry Rielle!”
The weeks following the encounter were a blur of marine maps and restless nights. [Name] spent her days sketching a certain boy’s big blue eyes and bright smile on parchment, much to the chagrin of her tutors. She kept the silver bracelet polished to a mirror shine, not because of its value as an heirloom, but because it was the last thing Rielle had touched before returning the favor with that heart-stopping smile.
When the invitation for the Inter-School Commemoration Summit on Sage’s Island arrived, [Name] didn't just accept, she practically ordered the sails to be unfurled herself.
The air at Sage’s Island was different; it hummed with the latent magic of Night Raven College and Royal Sword Academy. As the vehicle rolled toward the summit grounds, [Name] ignored the grand architecture of the schools, her eyes instead fixed on the shimmering blue expanse of the neighboring coast.
"He's here," she whispered, pressing her hand against the car window drawing a small figure of Rielle. "Somewhere, here I can just feel it."
"Princess, please," Grimalda sighed, adjusting [Name]’s formal sash. "You are here to represent the Sunshine Lands, not to scout for local folklore. And do try to look interested when we meet the representatives that don’t go by the name ‘Rielle’ .”
[Name] huffed at Grimalda’s words. “I will, I will.”
The car halted and [Name] had opened the door and slipped out, paying little attention to anyone looking her way.
The summit was a kaleidoscope of velvet capes and polished medals, but for [Name], the grandeur felt like static noise. She drifted through the crowd, her heart acting like a compass needle pointing steadily toward the water. Every flash of red in the crowd made her breath hitch, hoping it was a shock of crimson hair and not just a stray banner from Heartslabyul.
"Princess [Name], a moment of your time?"
The voice was smooth—dangerously so. [Name] blinked, finding her path blocked by a young man who seemed to embody the very essence of a calm, deep sea. His silver-lavender hair was perfectly coiffed, and his glasses glinted under the chandelier light.
"Azul Ashengrotto," he introduced himself, bowing with a grace that felt practiced and precise. "Housewarden of Night Raven College, Octavinelle. It is an honor to host a representative of the Sunshine Lands. I’ve heard much of your kingdom's... maritime trade."
"It's a pleasure, Mr. Ashengrotto," [Name] replied, her eyes still scanning the periphery of the room.
Azul’s smile widened, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. He noticed her distracted gaze immediately. "You seem to be looking for someone. Perhaps a lost treasure? I have a knack for finding things people think they've lost."
Before she could answer, a flicker of movement by the terrace doors caught her eye. There, standing awkwardly in a formal suit that looked far too stiff for his free spirit, was Rielle. He looked exactly as she remembered, though his legs seemed a bit unsteady, as if he were still negotiating with gravity.
Their eyes met. The world narrowed down to just the two of them. Rielle’s face lit up, his hand instinctively flying to his chest where the weight of her silver coin sat hidden beneath his coat, heat crawling up his face . He took a tentative step forward, a breathless " [Name]!" forming on his lips.
But Azul, ever the strategist, moved to reclaim her attention.
"You've been out of it, Princess. The heat of the gala, perhaps?" Azul stepped closer, effectively shielding Rielle’s view of her face. He took [Name]’s hand in his, his touch cool and lingering. "Allow me to escort you to the gardens for some fresh air. It would be my personal mission to ensure your stay is... profitable."
With a flourish of dramatic courtesy, Azul bowed low over her hand and pressed a lingering, formal kiss to her knuckles.
Across the room, Rielle froze. From his angle, he couldn't see [Name]’s look of polite confusion or her attempt to pull her hand back. All he saw was a polished, old classmate of his claiming the girl of his dreams: the girl who had given him a token of her heart.
The silver coin in his pocket suddenly felt like a lead weight. Rielle’s bright smile crumbled. Of course, he thought, his heart sinking faster than an anchor. Why would a Princess wait for a silly prince from the sea when she has someone capable of standing on their own two feet on land? Had his father been right all along?
Before [Name] could peer around Azul’s shoulder to wave, Rielle turned on his heel and disappeared back into the shadows of the corridor, the melody in his soul falling silent.
The coolness of Azul’s lips against her skin felt like ice compared to the warmth [Name] had felt just seconds ago. She didn't hear Azul’s continued honeyed words about trade agreements; her ears were ringing with the ghost of a name she thought she’d heard whispered.
"Rielle?" she gasped, finally wrenching her hand back from Azul’s grasp.
"I beg your pardon?" Azul adjusted his glasses, his eyes narrowing slightly. He didn't miss the way her gaze darted frantically toward the terrace doors. "Is something the matter, Princess? You look as though you've seen a ghost."
"I have to go," [Name] blurted out, not caring for the breach in etiquette. "Excuse me, Azul!"
She didn't wait for his response, missing the way Azul’s polite mask flickered into a look of deep, calculating intrigue. She pushed through the crowd, her heels clicking rhythmically against the marble. "Rielle! Wait!"
She burst through the terrace doors into the cool night air. The gardens of Sage’s Island were sprawling, filled with glowing flora and the distant sound of the tide. She saw a flash of red hair disappearing around a stone fountain.
Rielle was walking fast, his breath coming in shallow hitches. His legs hurt. Every step on land was still a strange, heavy chore, but the pain in his chest was far worse. He clutched the compass rose coin through the fabric of his jacket. He felt foolish. He had spent weeks practicing how to walk, how to bow, and how to speak like a land-dweller, all for a girl who looked perfectly content with his silver-tongued former classmate.
He froze. That voice. It was the melody that had haunted his dreams. He turned slowly, his blue eyes shimmering with a mix of hurt and longing.
[Name] skidded to a halt a few feet away, her breathing labored. "You’re here. You really came."
"I... I wanted to see you," Rielle said, his voice cracking slightly. He looked down at his polished shoes. "But I see you are already busy. Azul... he seemed very close to you."
[Name] blinked, then realized what he must have seen. A small, bubbly laugh escaped her—half out of relief, half out of the sheer absurdity of it. "Azul? He’s a Housewarden, Rielle! He was just being... Well, he was Azul. Business and formalities. I didn't even want him to touch my hand!"
Rielle looked up, a spark of hope flickering in his eyes. "You didn't?"
"I’ve been looking for you," she said, stepping closer, her voice softening. "I haven't been able to think of anything else since the beach. I even drew a picture of you on the car window like a schoolgirl."
Rielle’s face turned a shade of red that rivaled his hair. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the silver coin. "I kept it. Just like I said. It guided me here. Even when I was scared of the legs and the air, I looked at this and remembered your face."
He stepped forward, his gait still a bit clumsy, until he was standing directly in front of her. She met his gaze with unrivaled enchantment; her dreamy eyes staring into his. The salt-water scent still clung to him, mixing with the scent of the island's flowers.
"I don't know much about being a Prince on land," Rielle whispered, "But if you'll have me... I’d like to learn."
[Name] reached up, her fingers grazing his jawline, to which he leaned in, just as she had imagined. "I think you're doing just fine."
Guess who fell into the RSA propaganada.....Also I just know Rielle has the voice of an angel fight the wall
prguitarman
ellievsbear
vaporwave
pixelskylines
