Nerves
The smoke drifting from the pipe took shapes of various scenes playing out on a loop. From a crying child hiding under his bed to a woman running through the woods being chased by someone or something, to a soldier fighting on the front lines with a broken sword to a young man sitting cross-legged within an old hollow tree trunk.
Each scene only lasted for a few seconds before dissipating into the air. All the while her continuous tapping provided the background music for them.
But those that were listening to the old lady's tapping couldn't help but become a little unnerved. It felt like each tap was landing directly on their hearts.
Behind the kneeling princesses, Elder Iya was standing with his hands behind his back, the iconic spectacles hanging loosely on the bridge of his nose.