River Symphony II

He had memorized the way to the falls from having visited there nearly every night for the past week. However, this time the music guided him. Seth made it faster than he had any previous night. His eyes were bright as he lifted up the shield of his helm and gaze across the water. Moonlight reflected off the water's surface. His lips trembled slightly and his heels sank into the damp sand where he stood on the river bank.

Sin was there, perched on the rocks at the base of the waterfall. His legs were stretched out in front of him. Between them was none other than the source of the pleasant music only Seth could hear. The musician's fingers smoothly ran along and plucked at the strings of a harp that was almost taller than he was when sitting. With each charming note resounding from him, it was as if the river was alive, just as the woods had moved for his fiddle. Fish sprang and splashed around the rocks, one after the other as if risking life out of the water to better attend this musician's performance.

Seth inched closer from the banks to the edge of the water. He planted his spear into the sand and watched, listened, and then applauded when Sin finally slowed to a pause and then reclined. Plated metal and mail clinked together as he clapped. "Bravo," he called out to the other.

When their eyes connected they shared a moment of stunned silence. Sin slowly stood, naked. His skin glowed and the moonlight shimmered off the scales on his arms. His bright, yellow eyes pierced through the mist.

"I've been curious when I'd hear you play again. Please, come closer. I mean no harm!"

Sin didn't say a word but slowly descended from the rocks. He walked across the water with his harp tucked under his arm. Seth watched in amazement as he had during their previous encounter.

How?

How was he able to just tread across the water like it was a solid surface. The water made no splash, nor even the smallest ripple under his steps. Seth couldn't imagine the explanation. And why did he choose a life without clothes? Was he this much of a hermit that he felt there was no need? What of winter? Surely he'd freeze!

When Sin was but a few paces away from the shore, he stopped. Their eyes connected once again and Sin only stared at him. His was stiff and his eyes sharp, but there was a calm underneath it all that Seth hadn't felt last time.

The dragoon just blinked, staring at him until it was clear Sin was waiting on him to speak first. "Erh- um, hello."

"Why are you here?" Sin asked immediately in a stern, demanding voice.

"I just followed the sound of your music and- "

"How is it you can hear me? Human ears are not capable of hearing my songs, even if one desired it."

"Enough of this. So what are you, if not human, yourself. It's obvious you aren't. What- no man would be found performing like this in the woods like a nymph. Nor would they have scales on their arms."

Sin paused and stared at Seth with the same firm, bitter stare he had given him until now, and Seth imagined that maybe his face was permanently frozen with such a detesting expression. He raised his harp and began to pluck his strings again, this time a bit sporadic, seemingly more to have his hands busy than to produce a song. "A nymph nor a siren, I am not. I'm a fossegrimen."

"W-what? Hold on a sec," he reared back slightly. That word...he couldn't recall coming across anything in his books with such a peculiar name. Then again, he had hardly scratched the surface of any of his books. "A fo-foss...fossegrimen?" He struggled to get the word out, wanting to make sure he was pronouncing it correctly, and then dismissed it. "So...you really aren't human...."

Sin nodded his head. "The question remains: are you?"

Seth was silent for a moment - dumbfounded by something he considered such a pointless question. "Of course I am! Both my parents are. So why wouldn't I be?"

Once again, no response. Sin's eyes remained fixated on Seth, scanning him as if he was growing horns on his head.

Seth felt awkward, just standing there in the sand on the receiving end of such a threatening stare. His eyes traced over their surroundings, across the waters, and along the rocks, and then honed in on the pile of fish on the rocks. By now, most of them appeared to have passed. Only a few still struggled to flounder back into the waters, waggling about. "Um...you hungry?" he asked as he looked back at Sin. "I mean...you got all those fish there. I could build a fire." Maybe it wasn't the best way to break the tension, but-

To Seth's surprise, Sin's face slowly softened and then he nodded. "Very well. If dinner is being offered then I won't refuse," he said. The grim ceased his playing and tucked his harp back under his arm. He glided across the water back to the rocks to gather his fish.