Work Text:
Every evening, a girl would sit by the door of her house and play beautiful melodies that touched people's souls. She was known as the Silver Bard, after her beautiful long white hair. It was amazing how it didn't get in her way while she played. However, her appearance captivated everyone who passed by.
Her opposite-door neighbor was another girl. In that girl's opinion, she wasn't as beautiful. She didn't have a musical talent, and kindness didn't flow from her art. Instead, she had a fiery temper and cut her dark hair in a fury as a sign of protest. And, of course, she had paintings. A vast collection of landscapes, still-lifes, and animalisms. However, what she had the most were portraits of the Silver Bard. She was her muse, and her melodies inspired her even more.
One evening, the artist was returning home after a long journey. The royal family had commissioned her to paint a portrait of their now-adult princess, but the journey was unsuccessful as they couldn't find the princess in the castle. After a brief apology, she was dismissed from there, and now she was annoyed, thinking about the wasted day.
The Silver Bard was sitting by the door of her house as usual. She noticed the artist and smiled, finishing her melody.
"Hello, Ena. How was your trip?" The girl spoke very quietly, but her words were clear enough for anyone to understand.
"Good evening, Kanade. It wasn't as I had planned," the artist replied in a lower tone. She wanted to lash out, but the musician in front of her had nothing to do with it.
"That's a shame." The girl thought for a moment. "Would you like me to play your favorite song?"
Ena nodded, sitting down across from her friend and feeling all her problems disappear as the song "Infinitely Gray" began. It felt as if the melodies composed by this incredible girl were crashing and cradling her very being. They were like a barrel rolling down a cliff, only to lull her to sleep with a hundred soft blankets. Ena closed her eyes, smiling. "So... incredible," she thought, unsure whether she was referring to the music or the musician. Any of these options would have been true.
"I would like to paint you. I want this moment to last forever..." the artist whispered as soon as the song ended, staring intently into the eyes of the Silver Bard.
"The fact that you're here is enough for my memories. But I don't mind," Kanade chuckled, placing her hand on her friend's elbow. "After all, you're my most dear listener."
"It's just what you do to me. You and your... music," the artist quickly added, "I feel better because of both."
The two girls giggled softly as they stood up from their seats. They then made their way to Ena's studio, where they created a beautiful portrait that appeared ordinary and colorless on the surface, but upon closer inspection, it became clear that there weren't any colors in the world that hadn't been used in that painting, and there weren't any feelings in the world that haven't flown around the two artists during that time.