65: What the Faeries Saw
“Maybe they haven’t updated his file yet,” offered John, “He’s only been there since Friday, after all…”
That was not likely. The Academy would be thorough with their database. It appeared that this was all the information they required to give him a job. The evidence was not adding up to a logical conclusion: if Adonis was an undercover agent for SEELIE, they would still have provided some form of information, even if it were a fabrication. Such a mysterious individual would otherwise arouse suspicions – and yet it appeared none had been raised and he was allowed to do as he pleased.
“What of your own records?” asked Faye.
“Just been getting the usual stuff,” said John, “Got pictures, a basic anatomy model based on readings, vocal patterns. Stuff that’s public knowledge. Recorded that whole concert too – well, as much as I was there for. Funny, now I think about it…”
“Why?”
“Well, you know I said I, eh, kinda really liked one of his songs? Well the funny thing is, I’ve not actually listened to it since…”
“Play your recording,” Faye knew she had to hear this song first hand. She had to prove it really existed. Even the Princess’s attention had wandered from the Smith’s pet.
John navigated his way through his computer system. “Hold on, just doing a lyric search. Give it a fe—what? I’m getting told there aren’t any lyrics! Hold on, could be a glitch. I’ll try playing the recording,”
Simple, repetitive, thirty-two notes long: it was the same melody Adonis had played the whole day across his varying instruments.
“Well I don’t remember that,” said John, “Let me fast forward ten minutes,”
It was the same melody.
“I’ll try again. Twenty minutes,”
The same melody, this time played on a banjo.
“I don’t remember him playing that at all,” said John, “He was always singing!”
Phantasia’s thoughts touched Faye’s mind. But he never sang…
Indeed.
John skipped the track an hour, but still the same melody repeated itself.
“This isn’t right,” he said, “Everything says this was recorded at the right co-ordinates, at the right time, but…” He looked at the two faeries over the rim of his glasses. “I’m going to hazard a theory here that this has something to do with magic, and helps to explain why the two of you came here in the first place?”
“A logical hypothesis,” said Faye, “And you would be correct. I assume you will not speak of this to others?”
If he promised her, he would not.
“No way, you can count on me!”
“Then we shall see you again at the Academy,” said Faye, “We must continue our investigation elsewhere,”
They left John to ponder the mystery for himself. Faye knew it would play on his mind and that he would put his own, human, intuition to work. Perhaps it could reveal answers where her own abilities could not. There was still one more thing she had to do to prove her final conclusion regarding the musical mystery, however. As they were heading towards the Academy, Phantasia did as instructed and accosted a stranger: a woman, aged twenty-three, with no connections to the Academy, its staff or its students.
“Did you see the concert yesterday?” she asked with her usual childish glee.
“How could I miss it? Everyone was there!” replied the woman.
Phantasia jumped for joy. Had Faye not known the truth, she would not have known this was all an act. “Yay! Adonis’s lyrics really touch your heart, don’t they?” asked the Princess.
The stranger was confused. “What lyrics?” she asked.
~ And Faye’s conclusion is…? ~
~ Next: What drove Phantasia to confront Adonis?! ~
I wouldn’t want someone unfamiliar to the series to read this. Or the next chapter, for that matter. Writing from Faye’s perspective is somewhat of a challenge, and to the unaware reader it will probably come across as bad writing. It’s filled with statements and exposition and lacks any emotion or description. It reads like it was written by a machine.
Because that’s how Faye thinks. It wouldn’t be Faye’s POV if it wasn’t written in her character, would it? XD
Originally the chapter was written from Phantasia’s POV. I was struggling with developing the plot, though, and changed over to Faye’s (which is why this is posted a day late). It adds some variety to the mix!
(other characters have certain traits I slip in when they’re the POV, but they’re more subtle. Subconscious on my part, even. It’s the faerie POVs that allow me to really experiment.)
Only a few chapters left until thinks jerk forward into high gear…
Few things to note:
Cethin Sarff = Dark Serpent. It’s Welsh. The names the renegade faeries have taken for themselves are also Welsh. Former Earth Prince Bezalel is now Tirio (terrain/earth), Former Water Lord Ophion is now Dyfrio (water) and Former Wind Lord Skirnir is Awyr (air). The ‘serpent’ part will become clearer soon enough.
Oda, the Smiths’ dog, is named for Eiichiro Oda, the author of One Piece. It’s a rather elaborate injoke/pun. And perhaps a slight nod to how I can know sympathise with Oda: One Piece was plotted to last 5 years, and yet 10 years later is now only halfway through the story, as Oda has had too much fun writing it XD
It was interesting to see it all from Faye’s point of view. Everyone should start from the beginning anyway
By the way… I read some of the story on my way to work, on the train (so without internet) using the PDFs, but when I looked back on the site later, I noticed I was missing some of the comics that way. Could you put them in the PDFs too?
I’ve been working on upgrades versions of the PDFs that include all the graphics. The originals were designed for economical printing, but the series has gotten long enough now that I doubt many people would *want* to print it XD
Nice job bringing Faye’s analytical way of thinking across! It really reads like some technical paper and very matter-of-fact-ish just like you would imagine things to be in her head.
However there are some moments where this begins to weaken. For example her (underplayed but still present) annoyance towards Phantasia’s attics.
This Adonis enigma is growing. Let’s see where it all leads.
What I wonder though is, why where the minds/emotions of Phoenie and Andromeda invaded so early on, when they where protected by Titania? I figure that her protection wasn’t strong enough if there wasn’t an already strong mind behind her barrier, but her doing would have kept Adonis out a little while longer, wouldn’t it?
The answer to that is simple: Phoenie and Andromeda weren’t protected by Titania! The ten protected were listed, starting here: Shelley, Byron, Astrid, Elone, Deneb, Hermia, Horatio, Lysander, Katrina and Dante.
Loving the story so far! Just caught up to date
I’m intruiged as to the others who aren’t affected.
Chris is so self loving, I’m not surprised he wasn’t affected.
Theseus is very controlled, and has learnt protection.
Lyra also has her own protection, as has Korrigan and Ceres.
Maybe the faries can get together and put a protection round the others from Veritas etc, to put the interloper off, otherwise he’ll have a neon sign over each of their heads.
To be fair, if SEELIE hadn’t sent him (as proof by their bad records) then he must have been sent by Cethin Sarff…I’d get Kaori’s mum and any other teachers who haven’t been affected and give them the evidence I’d got, and then get about disrupting his plans!
LOVE it!
:D
Faye’s view is awesome. It’s weakened more by typos than anything else though.
And I’m still not sure who Adonis is. Do I fail?
Could this have been the work of the sinister shadow organization, un-SEELIE? Dun dun duuun! But seriously though, so far only the faeries classified as “seely”(prolly spelt it wrong) have been showcased. What of the nasty un-seely? And why doesn’t Phantasia freak out everytime she sees a bottle of cream and, again, since when did she get a tan? (refering to your drawing of her, sir)
There’s been quite a shake-up since the 21st century regarding the Seelie/Unseelie Courts. The original Seelie Court was pretty much abolished when the general faerie consensus became “humans deserve this, let’s stay out of things and let them destroy themselves”. The Seelie Court of the 31st century (of which SEELIE is a sub-section) is a more diverse affair, brought together to help the world as a whole.
There are still Unseelie, and they still roam the world causing mischief/harm/worse, but they have no organisation or structure. A lot of them end up becoming demons too, so there’s quite a crossover there. And then there’re those humans who take delight in spreading pain and suffering too…
As for the tan…it’s a side effect of Photoshop D:! Basically: the background was copied over the top of the image and played around with to add definition to the auras. As a side effect it darkened Phantasia’s colour tones…
@Wisknort: If you fail, so do I. Will be re-reading the series this weekend in order to get a better grasp on who he (it?) might be.