"Here's the first question," the King continued, "How many stars are there in the sky?"
For a time, I lived with that girl—for your convenience and mine, we'll call her Valeria—and extended my stay as long as possible. There were times when I felt guilty, taking advantage of the academic naiveté of a young woman who only longed to understand the world…
— "Where did you get the lyre? Are you from the Eastern Kingdom? Who taught you to play? What other instruments do you master?"
On second thought, her questions weren't just annoying… they were inexhaustible. She wouldn't shut up. She seemed to have a supernatural need to know everything. She spoke so fast that I was surprised her words made sense at all. By the First Consciousness, that woman was strange. Sometimes I swear she'd been cursed by the Library of the End itself.
Anyway… There wasn't much to do in those days. Peace reigned in the hands of that crowned bastard, and I, like so many others, adapted to his rhythm. I even grew curiously comfortable with Valeria. Her questions, though constant, became part of the background of my days: a comforting routine after the exhausting days of multiple performances in the plaza. Of course, she never missed a single one. Perhaps she only came to question me even more.
That night, exhausted, I sighed deeply as I crossed the now-empty plaza. I sat down by the central fountain, and to my surprise, Valeria settled in beside me… without saying a single word. For the first time in a long time, she didn't ask anything. She just raised her gaze to the clear sky, silently contemplating the sea of stars. Her usual energy had vanished; she seemed melancholic, almost absent.
Slowly, I brought my hand to her head and gently guided it to my shoulder to rest. I began to hum an old song, the one that always seemed to escape my lips when my soul craved silence.
I had only shared a few months with Valeria, and yet, that girl had managed to win a place in my heart. I guess I found a place in hers too. Gently, I stroked her hair, still humming.
— "What's wrong, Valeria?"
— "I'm tired... I feel exhausted by this world,"— she replied with a heavy sigh, lowering her gaze. "Do you know I was a slave? For years I lived without color, without purpose, without a path. I inhabited the empty world with my mother. She whispered stories in my ear to calm me. She taught me to observe, to read, to interpret the stars... even though I couldn't see them.
I remained silent. There was no need to interrupt.
Valeria ran her hand through the water in the fountain, drawing circles with her fingers, as if searching for answers in her reflection.
— "I don't know why I'm telling you this. I really don't know you. I don't know who you are, where you come from. I don't even know your name. But that song you sang... that song... my mother hummed it as I fell asleep. It always left me with a question. Could you answer it... even with a lie?"
I smiled sadly at her. It wouldn't be the first time someone asked me for a white lie to soothe their soul. This time I didn't even have to know the question.
— "I said my name."— She gave me her silence.
— "I shared my doubt. She gave me back time."
— "In a book I never learned to remember..."
I took a small hourglass from my pocket, shining like time standing still. I took her hand and placed it carefully in her open palm.
— "Count the sand, and eternity will tell you its knowledge."
I hummed the song once more, letting the gentle song of Morpheus envelop her and carry her to rest. I wondered if that second had been worth it. I could only shake my head and take her back home.
________________________________________
"Tell me how many drops of water there are in the ocean."
—"Vargthral, tell me... tell me your knowledge."
The throne was silent. The ministers had long since withdrawn, leaving the poor scribe alone before the monarch.
—"My king... I..."
She hesitated before speaking. Before, she had spoken without thinking, like a fleeting thought that had visited her every time the King mentioned his obsession with possessing everything.
—"There is a way..." —she continued cautiously.— "The glory you seek is not something you achieve. It is a taboo against existence itself. Many names have mentioned you... many faces have haunted you..."
She remained silent. She doubted whether it was right to continue. She was lost in thought, until the King himself interrupted her.
—"Valeria, do not hesitate this time. Remember why you do this. You have lived for his memory... and you have always sought an answer. This time you will have it—." Tell me, not for your King... but for the one who raised you as a daughter.
He stood up and hugged her. She could barely hold back a few tears.
—"@$!%%!@%, be careful... I beg you,"— she whispered, her voice breaking.
The King just smiled.
—"This time, there's no hesitation. I know I will."
________________________________________
I remember... I remember everything that happened.
—"By royal decree, no man, woman, or child may leave this kingdom until everyone has had an audience with the King.
Let all the rivers of the land be stopped.
The merchants, outraged, protested. Soon riots began. But few dared to defy the man they called the greatest King of his era. In the end, they complied.
I walked silently away from the crowd, wondering what I should do. I didn't want to abandon Valeria... but I also couldn't allow this kingdom to trap me for who knows how long.
I sighed, and as so often, I picked up my lyre in search of comfort.
I̷̭̞͓̺̟̠̿̉͘ ̵̛̤̥̝͙́́̃̋̆̓̏̄́s̸͓̑̓̔͑h̶̛̦̖͈̼̏o̵̭̬̳͂̾̈̊u̸͎͚͓̞̫͔̍̒͘͝ḻ̷̨̪̝̑̉̚̚͝ḏ̵̛̲͍̑̆͠ ̴̡̈́h̷̢̛̖̙̲͈̹͔͚̥͌̒̎͝a̸̬̔̀̾̒͐v̸̨̝͚̤̮̟͍̞̎̽͋̍̇̀͒̽̕e̶̱̟̹̻̞͈̫̖̩̎͐͆͝ ̴͉́͆̓̂̒l̴̥̯̫̐̄̂͆̏͑̍̍͝ȩ̶̢̛͖̫̣͐̏̌̇̄̒̔̅f̵̢̰̜͉͍͈̲̼͂͛t̸̢͇̱̠̽̓.
May not one more drop of water enter the sea until I have counted them.
For several sunsets, and multiple performances in the plaza, I didn't see Valeria. I assumed she had started avoiding me since that night.
I saw her that morning. She had returned to her usual mood... but I knew something had changed. After all, she was young. Wasn't that right, kid?
I turned around, preparing to leave the kingdom after my last performance. But then, it seemed my turn to see the King had arrived.
—"Bard, it's your turn."
Several knights approached. Perhaps they expected some resistance, but I just sighed and passed through them toward the castle.
I slowly climbed the endless jade and diamond stairs, plated with fine layers of gold. I took my time. Each step was an excuse to watch the sunset once more. When I reached the main gates, curiously, there wasn't a single guard. Maybe that's why they were summoned in groups...
I sighed and pushed open the heavy castle doors. A tall, pointy-eared elf greeted me and guided me through the intricate royal palace while rambling on about the history of the royal family. I ignored him. My mind only heard the sound of my heart. My eyes flickered.
I knew: something was wrong.
We reached the doors of the throne room. The guide stopped and invited me in.
I looked into his eyes.
—"Aren't you coming in with me?"
He smiled sadly and replied in a subdued voice,
—"I'm not allowed in."
I pushed open the doors... and saw him.
A room decorated in ways I can't even describe. At the far end, a tall, burly man. A scar ran across his cheek. I recognized the posture of a veteran. But what truly surprised me was the person at his side: Valeria.
I knew she was a court scribe, but in that moment I knew she was something more. Her right-hand woman, her shadow. That explained a lot… though at the same time, it explained nothing.
—"Welcome, Bard. I've heard a lot about you," the King said, interrupting my thoughts.
I sighed, moving forward until I was a safe distance away.
—"What do you want?"
I remember his surprised expression. I wasn't going to address him as "Your Majesty." Not in front of me.
—"Straightforward, perfect. I'm looking for something… and you could help me with it."—
I glanced at Valeria, who seemed uncomfortable. Not because of me, but because of the situation itself.
—"And how am I supposed to do that?"— I asked bluntly.
He just smiled.
—"A few questions will suffice.
And then, I'll tell you how many drops the ocean holds."