It was a pleasant scenery to the everyday eye. Magnificent oak trees waved their leaves gracefully to the rhythm of the late afternoon breeze, drawing delightful little sighs from the visitors of the park in the hot midsummer sun. Children chasing around the playground, their laughter and giggles echoing in the air, mothers sitting chatting on the benches near a little pond, elderly couples walking around hand-in-hand in silence.
Tristanna took in the idyllic scene, resting her chin lazily in her hand. She flashed the waiter a dreamy smile as her second round of cappuccino had been served and added a generous tip to his reward. At moments like this, all her worries seemed far away as she pursued her favourite hobby, watching people.
There were times when she used to go for every single detail, wrinkled noses, shades of mascara, crocked grins, open shoelaces, simply everything. Back in those days she was determined to learn as much about the human kind as possible, which turned out to be a nice challenge at least for a couple of years, but as time passed she became more an more aware of their way of thinking, discovering certain stereotypes, foretelling their actions and motivation, even without the trouble of invading their minds. When she had entered their world, she didn't think about her exile as a true punishment, though its circumstances had been anything but pleasant. She felt very much thrilled by the thought of getting a chance to study these unique creatures in their natural environment, so to speak.
As she grew up, she heard many tales about the struggles of mankind, their curiosity, variety and ever changing world full of passion and all kinds of intense emotions. It sounded ever so intriguing to her, drawing her attention and desires in their direction. Back then she couldn't have imagined ever getting tired of observing, studying and maybe ... maybe even interacting with them.
Well, I guess I haven't ever been much of a seer, she thought sighing as she remembered her mentor's words from long ago.
"Huh! Mortals and their emotions!", Grey used to grumble over her enthusiasm, "Both very dangerous without proper control. And humans are nothing but weak, hardly even able to handle their on short and simple lives ... They aren't worthy of interaction with our kind."
"Hypocrite!" she shot back in fierce rebellion as she caught his melancholic thoughts drifting back to the memories of the time he had once spent among them.
His own stories had set the spark of the fire that kept burning within her for so long, longing for the day when she could finally take off to her own journey and explore that strange world her people kept mocking about. Grey had felt responsible for her unconventional desire ever since, trying to warn her so many times, eager to get such crazy ideas out of her mind.
He wouldn't be able to suppress a triumphant grin, no matter how tough he acts, if only he knew how bored I have gotten in the meanwhile, Tristanna thought as a sad little smile curved the corners of her own mouth.
Right next to the café, where she preferably spent her afternoons these days, two little girls with straw blond pigtails dragged their mother along, holding onto both of her hands tightly and whimpering in fake dismay, while their pale blue eyes shone brightly, focusing on the huge painted ice scone at the entrance of the café.
So selfish and so predictable, even at such a tender age, Tristanna sighed again, shaking her head. It hurt her pride quite a bit to admit that the only thing her enthusiasm for human kind earned her was nothing but disappointment, at least on the long run. Their world might have been exciting and ever changing at first sight but its inhabitants turned out to be pure boredom and hardly ever worth a second glance.
At least the scenery is still captivating, she thought her mood lightening somewhat as she took her purse and rose from her seat, heading for the park. Nature was something she didn't plan on, but fell in love with immediately. The rotation of seasons, the variety and diversity of the weather and how well the plants and animals responded to it set her imagination again on fire. Letting her heart sink into the beauty of the park, her thoughts found an effective way to escape the disappointing reality around her. It might have been a mere illusion: walking around under those huge shading trees as sunshine shimmered through their rich leaves, smiling at people she didn't know, pretending to be one of them and simply enjoying the moment. No matter how bored she had gotten over time, there were still a few moments like this when part of her kept admiring and even a tiny bit envying the mortals' world and their lives, despite or perhaps even because of all their weakness and simplicity.
Suddenly a high pinched shriek caught her attention through the soothing bubbling of water coming from a nearby fountain. As she turned she almost got knocked off her feet by a red bicycle flying by. - Damn it! If I still had the power I would curse that bastard! - she muttered under her breath after regaining her composure.
As her boiling anger subsided with the passing moment her attention returned to the concerned thoughts of a mother, which had been pretty loud in her panic. Even some of them should be able to hear her, grant it they actually ever took the time to listen, Tristanna thought bemused and curious again.
Her mind drifted a couple of seconds back as she noticed a little boy sitting at the ground near the fountain in soaked clothing. He was clenching his right knee and Tristanna could clearly recall the image of him climbing up one of the slippery horse shaped statues at the side of the pool. His feet barely reached two or three feet above the ground before he fell but managed to hurt his knee nonetheless.
A casually dressed man was bent over him, trying to get a closer look at his injury, towering over the sobbing boy like a giant even after he squatted down.
-Daniel! Daniel! Come right back here, will you?!! - the mother demanded out loud, glaring at the child. She reached his side and grabbed one of his arms, pulling him to his feet in one quick movement. - Do you not ever listen?! How many times did I tell you not to talk to strangers?!! - she continued, shooting the hostile look of a protective tigress at the straightening man as she dragged her son away from the fountain.
No wonder Grey became such a hypocrite living among them, Tristanna concluded sarcastically. Her gaze travelled to the unwelcome knight in shining armour, who just stood there for a while, staring after them in disbelief and allowing her to take closer look at him.
Tristanna played her usual game, of which she had meanwhile become a true master, 'show me your outside I'll tell you your inside', she grinned to herself narrowing her eyes on the newest subject of her interest.
He stood fairly tall, easily 6' 4'' or even higher and was rather on the slender side, except for his broad shoulders. Visor type dark sunglasses, light brown hair cut way too short, a stubborn chin, rough masculine features that just didn't seem to bring any kind of harmony around, or what was more commonly considered as 'beauty' among the mortals. Probably in his mid twenties, she guessed unimpressed. There was hardly anything exceptional about him, save it his height which turned out to be a handy feature as Tristanna's gaze tryed to keep following him after he started to walk away.
She was just about to look behind the curtain, when she saw him shoulder his backpack, duck and then reappear on the side walk, mounting a rather familiar looking red coloured bicycle. That bastard! Tristanna's eyes narrowed on him dangerously. First almost blowing me over, then playing the good Samaritan, she hissed inwardly but her anger faded soon. The myth of that certain piece of literature which was referred to as the Bible and its effect on peoples' lives had fascinated her long before she even held one in her hands. I'm already sounding like one of them! came the sudden realization to her along with a bit of a shock.
For a split second she felt almost grateful for most of her powers having been taken from her as she entered her exile, otherwise she was pretty certain the man would never mount anything again in his earthly existence! However, grace to the Emperor's wisdom she was hardly able to do anything else of the extraordinary than read peoples' minds, mostly gaining thereby only the confirmation of things she had already known before by simply looking at them. The only active power she was granted had been the one to remain in control of her own fate, choosing her appearance, guarding herself from illness and harm, however she had lost all other privileges of her high birthright and pure noble blood as a shadow.
