Monday — Please Vote for Recommendations!
The main hall of the Altor Musicians' Association was as bright, grand, and quietly austere as it always was. No matter where you went, musicians were a relatively rare breed compared to the members of other associations. Performers who belonged to ensembles or bands were usually occupied with their own groups' affairs, and unless they needed to borrow a quiet, well-equipped practice room, or to coordinate with a musician rehearsing in the fifth-floor concert hall, or to look up music scores and books in the music library, it was rare for them to show up at the Association first thing in the morning.
Moreover, the creation and practice of music demanded quiet. The Musicians' Association had never tried to turn itself into a bustling, lively place.
Behind the reception desk sat two sweet, lovely blonde blue-eyed girls who could brighten anyone's mood at first sight. They were speaking somewhat stiffly with their immediate superior, Mr. Hank, who oversaw the Association's daily affairs — a tall, thin, stern-faced man who wore a smile as he pointed to a young, pretty girl beside him and relayed his instructions.
This girl was around twenty years old, with an impressive cascade of long black hair like a waterfall and fine, delicate features. But what left an even deeper impression was the enormous white wolf crouching beside her — its fur smooth and lustrous, its bearing majestic and powerful, yet quiet and perceptive as it glanced around.
"Lady Louise, we'll ask the other musicians for you. If any gentleman or lady believes they have expertise in nature music, we'll pass your request along," said the girl with the ordinary name of Polly, bowing respectfully to the newly elevated musician before her.
She truly was someone to envy and admire — born into a noble family, possessing musical talent from a young age, and accumulating enough wealth through her inheritance and performance earnings to purchase holy water. That had awakened an unusual bloodline giving her affinity with nature and animals, which in turn greatly enhanced her playing ability. At last, she had risen to fame in a single stroke at this music festival.
But for Polly, the person she truly admired was Miss Elena. Elena had started out just like them as an ordinary receptionist, but through her own tireless effort had become a musician of considerable income and standing among the common citizenry — the most worthwhile role model to learn from.
Louise smiled and nodded politely. "Thank you, both of you. Music of this nature is rarely heard here in Altor, so neither Mr. Hank nor I knew which gentleman or lady might specialize in it. We'll just have to rely on you to ask around whenever you encounter someone."
Just then, the stained-glass doors were pushed open. A young man in a black formal suit and bowtie walked in at an unhurried pace, trailed by several young musicians and performers.
"Who is he?" Polly had been working at the Musicians' Association for a year now, but had never encountered this rather handsome-looking gentleman. The several men behind him, however, she recognized. And even though she didn't know him personally, she had a vague sense that he looked familiar, as if she had once spotted him from afar somewhere.
Hank, who had turned around instinctively, was briefly stunned — then his stern face burst into a radiant smile as he hurried forward. "Mr. Evans, welcome back!"
"Oh — Mr. Evans?!" Prompted by Mr. Hank's greeting, Polly and her companion both realized with a jolt. Three years ago at the Altor Music Festival, they had witnessed Mr. Evans's revolutionary conducting style and his artistic piano performance at the civic plaza, leaving a deep impression of both his elegance and his passionate intensity. If it hadn't been so long ago, and if they hadn't been so young at the time, they wouldn't have been so slow to recognize him.
"Good morning, Mr. Hank." Lucian smiled and nodded to Hank. After three years apart, Hank seemed to have become even more enthusiastic and courteous in his presence.
Seeing Lucian greeting him as he walked toward the reception desk, Polly and her companion bowed with excitement and deep respect. "Good morning, Mr. Evans!"
Louise, standing nearby, also said with a touch of excitement: "Good morning, Mr. Evans!"
Girls their age had essentially grown up listening to Lucian's music through their formative years, and naturally felt an indescribable reverence and admiration for him.
Lucian maintained a polite smile and glanced at the white wolf at Louise's side, its ears perked up. "You must be Miss Louise, yes? On my way back, I heard people talking, and I also heard your music. Mm — very impressive indeed."
This was no empty compliment. At dinner the previous evening, Lucian had specifically asked the inn's band to perform notable works from the music festival — the ones that were feasible for such an arrangement, at any rate. Victor's "Symphony of Love," for instance, was massive in scale and called for strict orchestration; only a full orchestra could bring out its full effect, so a small ensemble could only extract the main themes and portions of certain movements.
"Thank you, Mr. Evans. I still have much to learn." Louise flushed with gratitude, for a genuine word of praise from a great musician of Lucian's caliber could solidify and elevate the standing of any newcomer. Moreover, Lucian held an extraordinary position among the younger generation, and receiving recognition from someone she revered was the highest possible honor.
After exchanging greetings with both Hank and Louise, Lucian looked toward Polly and her companion with a warm smile. "Hello, both. May I ask — is my teacher, Mr. Victor, here at the Association? And is Chairman Christopher here as well?"
After the final concert of the festival, Christopher had continued to serve as honorary chairman.
"Good morning, Mr. Evans." Polly greeted him again, barely able to contain her excitement. "Mr. Victor is currently a director on the Association's board. There's a great deal to handle after the music festival, so he arrived first thing this morning. Chairman Christopher has been coming to the Association every day during this period — it seems he's found a new direction for his creative work."
Lucian nodded gently. No wonder Natasha had told him to come to the Musicians' Association first — she clearly knew that both Mr. Victor and Chairman Christopher were very likely to be here.