The Day Before (Solo)

MUSE

Sitting there at that fountain in the bright afternoon, that mute boy with his white coat, blue shirt, white pants, and white shoes stared at his surroundings and then up at the sky before lowering his head to the smile that sat at his feet. Everything was beautiful, from the scenery to the structuring to the nature that resided in each piece of life that was built or stood the test of time. The students walking by were all working toward a goal, each different: different processes, different conclusions, and different outcomes. But there sat that boy on that fountain, simply staring at his surroundings as his determined conclusion was slowly approaching.

Nevertheless, no matter what, a smile remained on his face. His time was coming, the time to properly show his accumulated strength made through Syne. The day after that was when he'd leave Syne for Amity for the tournament. The familiar faces he would see every day, the friendly face of his lifelong companion, the boy wouldn't see them for a decent amount of time. There wouldn't be anyone backing him up out there on the battlefield, simply just him and his opposition. To say the least, his smile was just a facade to mask the tension manifesting and growing within his heart in anticipation of the day to come, but, to say the most, his smile was to show his readiness for the day to come in which he'd stand face to face against another student. He wouldn't back down, he wouldn't cry, nor would he dare lose because of a simple blunder. He'd give everything his all, all for the future he wished for, all for the people he cared about, all for his goal.

Stepping off the fountain's edge, Gawain gave his companion a calm pat on his head with a gentle smile before venturing towards the classrooms of the academy. He wanted to see it all once more, once more before that journey begun.

The smooth walls, the welcoming air, and the typical environment all told the boy where he was. For a long while, Syne Academy, a place of growing Huntresses and Huntsmen, remained as Gawain's home. He didn't have anywhere else to go; he had no parents, no relatives, no one that shared his blood. All he had was an orphan family he abandoned and a caretaker, but such lives wouldn't grant him anything. After every tragic moment in his life, his goal was to become a Huntsman, someone who could be an inspiration for others, even a guiding light. Nevertheless, those days were far away; Gawain was still only a chick in his journey to become a dragon.

The boy –along with his knowledgeable friend– made their way around the academy's classrooms. Life was still abundant in the place most could call dreary, but for Gawain, it was his life, specifically, a life that he enjoyed. Stepping through the building, staring into the familiar classrooms, the student smiled every now and then. The memories he had at Syne were a step in a happy and grand direction. He lived in an environment without any worry of the future nor fear of mostly anyone. Nevertheless, such a happy and peaceful existence was at the cost of others. He lived happily because of others, and with his own life, he wanted to do the same, but he was still a chick.

Gawain was still weak; he certainly wasn't strong, strong like any famous Huntsman or Huntress. Even the past wielder of his sword was surely stronger than he was, having only worn such a garb and weapon to combat. Still, this boy didn't know the measure of his own strength. He could fight, but he always fought against dummies and Grimm, always the same old thing. He had no friends to measure the quality of his swordsmanship, so the tournament was one answer to his altercation. He could understand himself his place in the world and how much further he had to push until he got where his desire lied.

Stepping in front of the sole library in the academy, Gawain took a moment to look inside: quiet as always with Mrs. Airan tending to matters. As much as everyone disliked her, she was one person that Gawain was particularly fond of, maybe because of his own nature or otherwise, but he trusted her, enough to ask her to babysit his companion while he was gone.

Taking a knee, the boy gently pet his friend on his head before pointing at the librarian. The three of them met on a previous day, and Gawain hoped that his friend understood what was going to happen. Luckily, with a happy caress and wag of his tail, the kind companion waved, or at least attempted one at the lady. She, fortunately, noticed the dog and owner and waved back with a smile before continuing her work, work that involved a grumpy attitude apparently. Nevertheless, Gawain was glad that his companion remembered the lady, especially after an extraneous session trying to get him to understand that Gawain was leaving for a while.

Nevertheless, the walk down memory lane eventually brought the two to Gawain's favorite room in the building, an abandoned yet memorable music room containing numerous amounts of instruments, specifically a grand piano that he personally took care of. The boy and dog spent numerous hours in the room together, simply enjoying the music that Gawain brought to life, but such sounds wouldn't be heard in many a day.

Stepping towards the instrument, sitting down on the black chair, Gawain stared at the environment he was in. Peace and tranquility always accompanied the room no matter what. The room was a perfect place for someone like him, and for him, he couldn't ever resist. Not before heading into a turning point in his life.

MUSE

MUSE

As each key played their part, spinning a tale of strength and hope, the single boy simply smiled and listened. His mind was already set on his goal, and that one simple piece only helped to solidify his thoughts. From then on, he couldn't back down from whatever fight he undertook. He was weak, weaker than mostly everyone he knew, but his dedication and desire to protect was what drove him to grow. Gawain wanted to be someone who could protect others, guide everyone to a better and peaceful future. He just wanted everyone to be live a life of a happiness, unlike him.

Slowly removing his hands from the piano, the boy closed the cover and turned to face his sole friend that waited for him wherever he went. For someone who entered his life only months ago, the little dog did more than most anyone Gawain knew at Syne. They spent their days together, not just as owner and pet but as friends, and their time was truly an experience for the boy. In a way, the friendship that the two built together was the first true thing Gawain could protect, and he himself wouldn't deny the thought. His companion was truly his own family.

Crouching down to his friend, the boy gave his fluffy friend a happy and thankful hug. As people entered his life and exited it only moments after, Gawain had at least one friend he could count on for the longest time, and surely, the little friend felt the same towards his owner, granting him a few happy barks and playful licks for a reply. With a caring smile and a content heart, the boy provided a caring pet to his friend before cleaning himself off and starting off from the room.

That day was meant for just a moment of peace. Gawain knew what was ahead, and no matter how much he could prepare himself mentally, he was bound to be nervous. Behind that smile and thoughts of readiness, he always went back to his ineptness. He wanted to progress far beyond his strength, and that tournament was going to test him, to see how far he truly came that past year, and Gawain wasn't going to let any bit he grew go to waste. In his heart at the very start, he wasn't sure as to whether or not he could win, but at the very end of his day, he knew that he was simply going fight towards his goal with all his heart.