A massive chapter of over three thousand nine hundred words.
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The first piece of news Lucian heard was about his music teacher Victor, and he was delighted inside. Wearing a pleased smile, he asked, "Which works did Mr. Victor perform?" Being invited to hold a concert at the Sacred Hymn Hall during the Altor Music Festival meant that Victor's compositions had gained a very high level of recognition.
Grinston, who had already been showing off his knowledge to the other guests at the table, grew even more animated upon seeing Lucian's interest and launched into an enthusiastic account. "Four works in total, every single one a masterpiece. My personal favorite is the finale — the Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, with the theme of 'Love.' Building on the original thematic musical form, it innovates by becoming an autobiographical work. Different movements express the sweetness, warmth, sorrow, and pain of love, as well as a warmth that endures through nostalgia — allowing every listener to recall their own love story, beautiful and sweet yet tinged with bitterness, a story never forgotten."
"Once that piece was finished, the entire Sacred Hymn Hall and the municipal plaza fell silent for a long time. The applause that followed wasn't enthusiastic exactly, but it carried a quality of gentleness and tranquility, as though everyone's hearts had found peace within love." Grinston seemed to recall the girl he had admired in his youth, a trace of tender amusement touching the corners of his mouth. Then he lowered his voice. "I hear this was composed by Mr. Victor in memory of his wife Winnie, who was taken by the Lord. It took him over ten years of time and longing to craft this beautiful piece — an artistic work not to be missed. In my heart, it stands alongside 'Fate,' 'The War of the Dawn,' 'Pathetique,' and 'Moonlight' in greatness."
A beautiful symphony and a moving love story — a combination few women could resist. The lone lady at the table drew out a pristine handkerchief and dabbed at the corner of her eye. With deep yearning and regret, she said, "Because this festival didn't feature Master Christoph, nor Mr. Lucian Evans, we didn't go to Altor. I never imagined we would miss such moving music — how regrettable... I suppose we'll have to buy copies of *Music Review* and *The Symphony Herald*, then hire an orchestra to perform them."
Lucian felt a quiet, gentle warmth settle in his heart. He understood all too well the depth of Victor's feelings for his wife. To have composed this piece — one he had always wanted to create — and to have received such high praise... for Victor, it must surely be the greatest comfort of his life.
His voice unconsciously softened as Lucian continued, "Besides the established musicians, were there any new performers at the Altor Music Festival? Outstanding newcomers?"
Three years had passed. He wondered how Elena, Phyllis, Piero, Grace, Lot, Herodotus, and the others were doing — people he knew to varying degrees, whether close or not. Were they still pursuing the path of music? What achievements had each of them reached?
"Beyond the established musicians, the one who left the deepest impression was a newly risen female musician named Louise. Not only are her two piano sonatas and four piano pieces excellent and elegant, displaying a delicate style unique to women, but she also appears to be a near-knight who keeps a beautiful white wolf. Very striking." As a man, Grinston naturally tended to notice beautiful women first among those outside the circle of established names.
"I haven't heard of her, but Altor is the capital of music. It's perfectly normal for a new, talented musician to emerge at any time." Lucian took a sip of his pre-dinner aperitif lemonade as he spoke, his thoughts elsewhere. "Were there any others?"
"Quite a few. The Altor Music Festival always unearths many overlooked or not-yet-famous newcomers." Grinston proudly recounted his experiences at Altor, listing one by one the musicians, pianists, and performers he considered noteworthy.
Only when Lucian was on the verge of losing patience did Grinston finally mention someone he knew. "Mr. Victor's female student — in other words, Lucian Evans's classmate Phyllis — held her very first solo concert at this festival. She wove together the various landscapes she had observed during her travels across the continent along with different musical traditions into a symphony, a piano sonata, and several piano pieces. She also performed Evans's 'Moonlight' and that piano arrangement as a display of virtuosity."
"Her music is still far from outstanding, but it's reached a respectable level. Given her status as a member of the Hain family and a close friend of Princess Natasha, it won't be difficult for her to earn praise in Altor's music circles."
Lucian nodded gently. For a noble-born girl like Phyllis, the most important thing at a debut concert was simply not to fail. To have achieved this level of performance, she must have worked incredibly hard these past few years.
The joy of a friend's success kept Lucian's appetite in good form, while Grinston sighed softly. "Every time someone mentions 'Moonlight,' it reminds me of something regrettable. That music — tinged with faint sorrow and sweetness — and yet no one has ever heard Mr. Evans play it himself. I wonder what it would sound like performed by the great musician who created it? Although his student Miss Grace performed the piece at this festival with remarkable skill and received much praise, it only makes one more curious about Evans's own rendition..."
When this universally renowned genius musician of the Vorlite Principality was mentioned, the lady nodded in agreement. "Mr. Evans pioneered an entirely new piano-playing style and established the foundation of modern piano fingering. His skill at the piano is absolutely among the very best, and 'Moonlight' is his own creation — the emotions contained within it, I imagine no one could fully interpret. Oh, I know of one important person who has certainly heard Mr. Evans play 'Moonlight.'"
Hearing this lady's praise, Lucian felt rather abashed, though it sounded as though Grace had indeed come to Altor and made significant progress in her piano technique.
When Grinston and the other two gentlemen heard the last remark, they all chuckled knowingly. "Of course, the Princess has heard it. They say that before Mr. Evans set off on his travels, he had already composed the first movement and 'privately' performed it for the Princess."
Their laughter was full of masculine innuendo.
Lucian cut a piece of veal with studied casualness, chewing as he asked offhandedly, "Mr. Evans has been traveling for three years now. Any idea when he might return?"
"Probably within the next year or two. Apart from the Princess, no one knows where his travels have taken him. But at least Mr. Evans hasn't stopped creating music — 'Moonlight' is a classic, and 'Storm' is an excellent work as well." Grinston praised with genuine admiration. "I wonder what he'll bring us when he comes back?"
For a musician, producing one piece a year or so was perfectly normal, especially while traveling.
Moreover, no music critic or enthusiast would demand that every new work surpass the last — as long as the quality remained above a certain standard. After all, music depended more on the spark of inspiration or the accumulation of lived experience.
Seeing the other guests nod in agreement, Lucian mused to himself, "Whether or not the Church has noticed that the genius musician is an evil arcane mage, at least they haven't publicized it to ordinary people..."
After that, the group chatted for a long while, but Lucian never once heard any news of Elena. That was hardly unusual, though — she had only truly immersed herself in music three years ago, which paled beside people like Phyllis and Grace who had been studying since childhood. At most, she was a competent musician by now.
As for John, Uncle Joel, and the others, they had no connection to the music festival, and Lucian did not dare to make casual inquiries about them.
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The next day, an orange-red glow slowly emerged on the horizon.
At precisely that moment, Lucian used the oscillation of his spiritual power to trace the final curve within his soul, completing the construction of an intricate spell model.