Mikal the Musician
by Blinded

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Belarion liked Halkegenia much more than he did his faraway homeland, the fresh feel of the forest, the living earth and the world that was enough without meddling of magic and spirits. If only this land was not blighted by mewling spawns of the Devil, the pathetic subjects of his mission, the humans.

Their presence both soured the sweet taste of nature and shortened his stay just as it was source of his presence in first place. To walk among the primitives, see state of their kingdoms and renew connection with their human agents, it was an easy mission all in all, and if not for the change of scenery a complete waste of time.

Humans like the hooded mage who sat right across the fire and clumsily fiddled with his violin.

"You know what makes a long and boring night, short and interesting, my fellow traveler?" said the human in a surprisingly mild and definitely masculine voice.

"What?" the Elf asked, shuddering at disgusting memories of another conversation that started with the very same word and ended with a dozen dead humans and a new disguise for him. If the monkey so much as suggested-

"Magic and music!"

Or not, though prospect of watching human magic and listening to their music wasn't all that appealing either.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, magic and music, and the kind that makes sure the mob don't bother us for the night."

"And where did you learn such music and magic, the Fae?" Belarion asked cautiously. The Fae, strange nine races of flying supposedly elf-like creatures were an unknown to the Firstborn, as if appearing out of nowhere with their cities and monstrous mobs and strange magics. Belarion's personal opinion of the Fae was not all that high, especially considering just how easily they seemed to have become subservient to human kingdom of Tristain but it not wise to underestimate even a mouse this far away from home.

"You could say that" the human said with a chuckle "tis' a song I've learned from Faeries of Puca tribe, the bard Fae. Care to listen?"

"Why not" shrugged the disguised elf "but what about the magic you said?"

"My good fellow, music IS magic. Now listen and listen well! I have heard at the end of this song a Blood Eagle will fly!"

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Mikal grinned with satisfaction as the human, eyes wide and wild with shock and undisguised fear fell to ground as the Song of Chains bound him helpless within his own body.

It didn't matter when or where, in virtual world of ALfheim or all too real world of Halkegenia, the innocent, mild face and tone of his Puca avatar always people at ease even if they knew about Song Magic.

Putting his violin aside, he removed the hood that covered his pointed ears and distinctly Fae features and chuckled at sharp intake of his latest audience.

So real! So exhilarating! Mikal couldn't understand why so many people moaned and bitched about the whole transition deal. After all what else one could hope but for his fantasy to become reality? These humans were much more real than any Fae he'd killed back in ALfheim as if they were actually real humans and seeing them squirm, their wide, wild eyes, their erratic breathing, the pounding of their heart and the red, salty and metallic tasting life blood as their veins were opened… no feeling in the world could match that!

"I haven't seen one before, Blood Eagle I mean" Mikal murmured under his breath as he pulled the frozen man's dagger from his belt, a beautiful, well-balanced thing with razor sharp blade, a perfect loot! "Let's see if we can make one fly you and I?"