Beneath the blazing sun, sunlight flowed brilliantly like watery musical notes, soaking sorrows of a different, beguiling kind.
After heavy rain, clear skies were sure to follow.
Since the rain two days earlier, the weather had remained exactly the same.
Not a cloud stretched across the vast sky. It was a washed blue, without a single drifting patch of white.
A gentle breeze blew quietly between heaven and earth.
A woman stood facing the wind.
Her silvery-white hair rivaled the radiance of silver moonlight. Through her collar, one could glimpse smooth, delicate skin with a healthy wheat-colored glow.
Her hair stirred in the breeze as she stood quietly, her eyes closed, utterly motionless.
Behind her stood over a hundred knights, each holding her mount by the reins. Only the mounts moved, shifting their bodies, tossing their heads, and raising and lowering their hooves with a clatter.
The knights wore close-fitting armor that accentuated their shapely figures, their long, beautiful legs irresistibly alluring.
Their long, pointed ears revealed their identity.
High Elves!
Clop, clop, clop, clop!
The sound of hoofbeats came from afar, and as time passed, a dark silhouette appeared in the distance.
As it drew closer, the silhouette became clearer.
It was a mounted High Elf knight, another woman. Upon reaching the waiting knights, she pulled sharply on the reins.
Her mount raised its forelegs high.
The momentum of its gallop prevented the horse from stopping all at once.
The horse nearly reared upright, its raised hooves reaching the height of a person.
The High Elf's gaze remained calm, her beautiful eyes betraying no emotion. With a thud, the hooves landed, kicking up a cloud of dust.
She dismounted with crisp, efficient movements, dropped the reins, then strode up to the woman whose eyes were lightly closed and spoke