Jigano played the notes slowly, patiently demonstrating and letting Kiada see and hear and practice her own scale. When she produced a strong tone he smiled and offered approval, and when her notes wavered he gave quiet encouragement until she found the right combination of breath control and finger pressure. He was content to focus on the scales for awhile, simply playing them with his friend while the companions listened along. Isuma perked up as some of her human's weary pain was lifted by Kiada's friendship and company, and began to help groom Auni, nibbling his fur and helpfully combing it with her little beak.
Once it seemed Kiada has a solid foundation to continue on, Jigano sat back and smiled, the expression easier and brighter than it had been earlier. "Keep practicing your breath control and scales, and when you're ready I can help you with more," he offered, grateful for her willingness to give him a chance. "And if the flute doesn't work out, if it doesn't bring you happiness to play, then we can try another instrument, or add in dancing, or see what we can learn together about drawing or painting," he added, smile softening. "There are many other skills that allow for creation and joy. Not giving up... that's the important thing." Amalia's words, paraphrased from the night before, but no less true for being borrowed and shared with another who needed to hear them just as much as he had.
He hesitated for a moment as he looked around the darkened Guildhall, and some of the weight seemed to settle back onto his shoulders at the shadows from the shuttered windows, the once-bright Hall reduced to a quiet dimness. "I... should really begin to pack things up," he said softly, with a faint wince. "I want to move some of the more dangerous books to a safer location, in case anything happens to the Guild in the days to come..."
Once it seemed Kiada has a solid foundation to continue on, Jigano sat back and smiled, the expression easier and brighter than it had been earlier. "Keep practicing your breath control and scales, and when you're ready I can help you with more," he offered, grateful for her willingness to give him a chance. "And if the flute doesn't work out, if it doesn't bring you happiness to play, then we can try another instrument, or add in dancing, or see what we can learn together about drawing or painting," he added, smile softening. "There are many other skills that allow for creation and joy. Not giving up... that's the important thing." Amalia's words, paraphrased from the night before, but no less true for being borrowed and shared with another who needed to hear them just as much as he had.
He hesitated for a moment as he looked around the darkened Guildhall, and some of the weight seemed to settle back onto his shoulders at the shadows from the shuttered windows, the once-bright Hall reduced to a quiet dimness. "I... should really begin to pack things up," he said softly, with a faint wince. "I want to move some of the more dangerous books to a safer location, in case anything happens to the Guild in the days to come..."
