Lucian bowed toward the front of the stage and toward the private boxes to take his curtain call, but the thunderous applause surged on like an endless tide, not diminishing in the slightest. It forced Lucian to bow again and again, to salute again and again — exactly as it had been when Christopher took his curtain call the day before.
In the City Hall Square, the ordinary people who bore no bloodline power and no divine blessing found that applause alone was no longer enough to express the frenzied emotions welling up inside them. Long-suppressed sorrow transformed into cheers, into cries of anguish, and was released — completely and utterly.
Meanwhile, in the Sacred Hymn Hall, the high-society figures of status and standing, though not quite so frenzied, were no less persistent in their applause, and no less thunderous than before. For even knights — even those who had awakened their bloodline power and possessed iron wills when facing enemies — were still human and not gods. They too had their own stories, their own sorrows, joys, loves, familial bonds, pains, and hatreds. And once music touched that softest place deep within their hearts, they too felt that emotional resonance, and they too expressed their emotions with wild abandon!
Truly beautiful music born from the soul has never distinguished between noble and common, never between race or creed.
Only the most devout fanatics who had devoted everything to their Lord seemed comparatively calm.
Watching Lucian finally leave the stage after countless curtain calls, the audiences in the City Hall Square gradually calmed down, exhaustion from their catharsis and inner peace surging up in them at the same time.
"Though it's a touch less stirring and resolute than 'Destiny,' this Piano Sonata is still the finest Piano Sonata I've ever heard — in both structure and melody." As the crystal wall slowly faded away, Piola offered her praise even as she felt a strange sense of loss, as though she wanted to hear it all over again. "What runs through both works is Mr. Evans's unwavering conviction to never give up, no matter the difficulties, the dangers, the oppression, or the sorrow."
Sharon smiled, dispelling the lingering sadness: "Past Piano Sonatas — whether in their inner depth or their expressive power — are incomparably far behind Mr. Evans's work. One can imagine that from now on, all sonatas will take 'Pathétique' as their benchmark. If we hadn't come to Altor, how could we have absorbed so many revolutionary musical ideas so quickly?" Seven months of arduous travel seemed to have been rewarded beyond all imagination in this single moment.
No wonder every Altor Music Festival was a grand celebration of music!
Grace stared fixedly in the direction where the crystal wall had vanished: "Besides, Mr. Evans has made Piano performance itself into an art. I've decided to learn the Piano."
"Stay in Altor to study?" Piola asked Grace hesitantly. "Back in Stewart, only the upper nobility and professional musicians can afford 'Musical Review' and 'Symphony Herald.' If we go back home now with the concepts, structure, and techniques we've learned from Mr. Evans's concert today, we can definitely become a popular ensemble and join a real symphony orchestra, setting out on our own musical path.
"But if we stay in Altor, Grace — how much money can you spend to seek out a teacher? And there are simply too many outstanding musicians and performers here. We aren't Mr. Evans; we'd have no chance of making a name for ourselves."
The quiet Green spoke before Grace could answer: "Come back with us, Grace. Our fantasy piece received Mr. Evans's personal guidance. Once we've revised it according to his suggestions and made that known, we'll be famous in Stewart in no time."
Though quiet, Green was not without his own calculating thoughts — he had no intention of letting a chance to ride a famous musician's coattails to quick fame slip by.
Though they felt it was a bit much, neither Piola nor Sharon nor the others contradicted Green's words. Some of them were even sorely tempted.
Grace's expression shifted several times. At last, thinking of her family back home and the bright future Green had painted, she finally sighed and replied: "Then let's buy the latest issue of 'Musical Review' along with all the other newspapers. They're sure to have discussions about Piano fingering techniques and the sonata form."
The others all nodded solemnly. These newspapers represented not only their musical future but could also be sold back home for a tidy profit.
Lilith and her brother Sara remained immersed in that mood of suppressed catharsis for a long while before they finally exchanged a glance and turned toward the city gates.
"Once we become proper… we'll travel all across the continent. We'll definitely find a place where we can study in peace — no more oppression and pain." Sara patted his sister's shoulder.
Lilith nodded earnestly: "I never imagined Mr. Evans carried so much pain as well. I feel as though I can sense his heart. But he's so resolute and so determined — he never gives up in the face of hardship. We need to be like him too!"
The siblings' silhouettes gradually disappeared into the crowd. On the other side, Mackenzie and Piero wandered back in a daze, as though they had lost their souls.
…………
Backstage at the Sacred Hymn Hall, Lucian loosened the top button of his shirt and then embraced Rhein. "Thank you all for your help — without you, this concert could never have been such a success."
Then, seizing the moment, he whispered: "Mr. Rhein, you can tell me the location now, can't you?"
Rhein patted Lucian on the shoulder and replied with a smile, in a voice no one else could hear: "Do you really think this place and this atmosphere are suited to discussing that sort of thing? I'll come find you tomorrow evening."
Then he raised his voice: "Congratulations, Lucian. With this concert, you've shown everyone the direction of change and reaped tremendous success. You're going to become a truly authoritative and renowned musician."