Einar let his fingers glide over the smooth surface, the black sheen of the organ bringing a smile between his tusks. A strong pressure settled on his chest as tears framed the bottom of his eyes. The copper skinned orc let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, his clean aquamarine shirt straining to hold his bulk.

The thick scent of sandalwood filled his nose, bringing back memories of times he had thought forgotten. The days laughing and singing in the old temple flashed before his eyes. The strong scent of solvent tickled his nose, conjuring the summers spent painting cream walls and stone statues. The coldness seeped into his bones as he recalled the winters forced to huddle on the wooden benches, a thick blanket and a warm body the only thing keeping him away from death. They're just memories, they can't hurt you. Remember where you are, what you have done. Einar closed his eyes and took deep breaths, banishing the memories to the back of his mind. Faint shivers ran over his skin like ants, the pressure on his chest crushing his heart.

The orc hugged himself with his meaty arms, his tongue tasting ashes and blood. Einar regretted visiting the temple after so long, every statue, every wall and the very air tore at his heart. Memories and feelings clashed inside him. Joy and sadness, envy and regret, anger and fear. Yet, as much as the orc's heart pulled him towards the large double doors at the end of the room, his duty rooted him in place. All due to one letter, a single piece of paper that had both shattered his heart and lifted the pieces towards the sky.

Acid ate away at Einar's throat, the familiar push of reflux making the orc's back grow tense like a bowstring. Cold sweat ran down his back, the still silence of the temple taking his heart to places he loathed revisiting. He just wished it all could end. A single look towards his clock quickly put an end to that thought, the traitorous hands showing there were still over fifteen minutes until the time they had agreed upon. Fire churned in his gut, urging him to flee and never speak of this ti anyone.

His duty won out in the end. He sat on the cushioned bench and with reverence lifted the heavy piece of wood that covered the organ's keys. They shone like pearls and onyx, still aa lively as he remembered them. Trembling fingers caressed their surface, greeting them like old friends. The song came into his mind like a summer breeze, blowing away any worries. His fingers pushed down on the smooth surfaces, the gentle rumble of the organ reaching his ears.

Einar held to the comfort of the music, letting his fingers fly over the keys. At first there were only shy notes, pushing their heads out of the large tubes above the orc's head but soon, they became a flood of music. The sadness and happiness of his memories harmonized into a bitter sweet melody, each hand adding their own touch to the tale. The strength of every note revealing more about himself than he could ever do with words. It was maddening and liberating, an exercise at navigating the tumultuous seas of his heart.

And a single voice broad it all to an end.

"I never understood why you loved that song." said a high falsetto behind him, a hint of irritation carried in their tone.

Einar's fingers crashed down on the keys, the agonizing wail of the organ reflected his own heart. Morosely, the orc stood orc and close the organ. His mandible was tense, the licking of fire on his throat blocking his words. It took all of Einar's will to turn around, his eyes holding a sinister glint.

"I see you made yourself at home." said the old human woman, her lithe frame covered by the thick robes of a priestess. Pale white skin was mostly hidden beneath the light blue fabric, leaving only her hands and face uncovered.

Those icy blue eyes pierced into Einar's being like they had done when he was young, unforgiving and demanding.

The orc's hands clenched at his side, his lips trembling with the urge to bare his tusks but he wouldn't fall that low. Not in front of her. With his vibrant tenor he said, "you were nowhere to be found."

"Hmph, a likely tale. I'm sure you didn't even try calling out my name"

"We're in a temple."

"At least something stuck with you."

Einar was glad for the couple of meters that separated them because they hid the trembling of his hands and the low growl in his throat.

"Why did you call me here?" said Einar at last, his voice sharp like daggers.

"It wasn't out of my own desire but as you know, I'm a woman of my word."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning I promised your sister I'd hand this to you in her deathbed, and so I shall" she plucked a yellowish envelope from beneath her robes, a red seal resting on its center.

Einar voice broke as he said, "then Airin is..."

"Death and buried as the faith required. You can find her on the ivory road, beneath the pear tree," was the priestess cold reply.

"Just like she wanted." the orc said with a haunted tone, the room seeming gloomier in his eyes.

"Just like she wanted."

Tears fell down the orc's face as he took the letter from the human, the roughness of paper scratching his skin. He parted his lips, a grunt of pain escaping before could stop it.

"Was she in pain when she....?" Einar couldn't finish the question, his throat clogged with emotion.

The human's face softened with compassion, her ever present frown replaced with a quivering lip.

"She was at peace in her final moments, both with the Gods and with her own body. She passed away dreaming," the priestess said before she left the temple, her icy blue eyes filled with unshed tears.

Einar watched her go, his body frozen like rock. There was a great emptiness in his chest, an insistent numbness that spread over his limbs and brought him clashing down onto his knees. Warm tears cascaded down his face while heartbroken sobs reached his ears. He was alone.