— A bonus chapter, to thank everyone all.
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Just four notes — the distinctive tone, the accented rhythm — and it was as though fate or death were knocking on everyone's door. No one could dodge it, no one could escape. From those notes alone, one could already anticipate the theme of the entire piece: a theme that would fully sustain the composition.
Then came the horn variation, developing into a similar, bright and powerful second theme — the determination and will to fight fiercely against the forces of darkness under fate's shadow.
The first and second themes clashed violently, as though hardship, peril, and despair were crashing in like a storm. The heroes could only hold on for dear life. The melody was impassioned, oppressive, and terrifying. Most of the nobles — who had never experienced real battle and had merely awakened their strength through superior bloodlines — as well as the musicians, who were ordinary people, clenched their fists and pressed their backs hard against their chairs, as though unable to withstand a melody pushed to its absolute limit, unable to bear the blows of darkness. Duke Vaolet, Wolf, and others were exactly like this.
Yet some nobles who had experienced wars against dark creatures and heretics — such as Sir Vein, who sat beside Duke Vaolet — wore expressions that were grave and urgent, as though they had been transported back to those unforgettable battlefields.
Saer de remained calm, but his half-closed eyes had opened wide. His gaze was no longer clouded but filled with a sharp light, as though he had been reminded of experiences from his youth.
Verdi and Natasha, who had likewise never experienced large-scale, genuine warfare, reacted in strikingly different ways. Verdi held his right fist against his abdomen, his entire person radiating an impenetrable, weighty aura — the kind that immediately evoked the Violet family's title of "
Wave after wave of stirring, heart-rending melody poured forth, suffused with emotion. Victor, who had poured his past life experiences into the music, conducted with utter absorption. The Fate Symphony at this point, compared to when Lucian had performed it, was completely realized. The first theme — "the oppression of fate and darkness" — and the second theme — "never ceasing to struggle against hardship" — grew more and more intense, building to a climax that concluded with fate's temporary victory.
This allowed those nobles and musicians who could barely endure such fierce melodies to finally relax a little. Only Natasha waved her arm in mild dissatisfaction, as though angry that fate had not yet been defeated.
The second movement similarly featured two themes introduced alternately by the violas and cellos on one hand and the woodwinds and brass on the other, but the interplay of lyricism, serenity, contemplation, and boldness showcased the warrior's will and confidence. Both the music and the audience's courage were gradually uplifted, and that heroic spirit infected more and more people. The expressions on the faces of the nobles and musicians grew energized — tense yet expectant.
Never before had a symphony made them feel such a rollercoaster of emotions.
The third movement returned once more to the perilous, fierce variations of fate and darkness. The oppressive, suffering, dangerous melodies rained down upon everyone like volleys of arrows, yet the ever-undefeated, never-surrendering theme of defiance still gave the listeners, in their moments of extreme tension, a glimmer of hope.
Natasha's long, slender legs bent slightly, like a cheetah coiled and ready to spring, about to crush darkness and fate. This symphony seemed to have struck her soul more than anyone else's.
When the blazing light pierced through darkness and the rousing triumphal movement rang out in brilliant, magnificent splendor, Duke Vaolet let out a long, deep breath and waved his arms vigorously, as though welcoming his knightly order home victorious from their battle against the dark. The other nobles, Verdi among them, wore equally moved expressions. Natasha went so far as to stand, walk to the edge of the box, grip the railing, and gaze at the orchestra with an expression of exhilarated satisfaction.
Sylvia and the other musicians, having endured the violent emotional shifts of the performance, leaned back in their seats with relief and contentment, unable to resist exchanging glances filled with surprise, awe, and affirmation. They had already known from the program that this was a newcomer's composition, yet the work was astonishingly excellent — it could even be called great.
"Is this another musical genius like Gisou and Twar?"
Amid this glorious, triumphal movement, Wolf had recovered his wits, but his expression could no longer be described as merely ugly — it was ashen, as though he were on the verge of death. Even he, a critic who had arrived full of pickiness and malice, could not deceive himself into calling this a mediocre or merely passable work. "Victor's student really is an unimaginable musical genius. No wonder he would take a commoner as his student."
He anxiously glanced at Council member
Joel, Elisa, John, and
Victor had merged entirely with the music, pouring out every emotion in his heart without reservation, and in the end conducted the orchestra through the final climax with almost convulsive intensity. Darkness was wholly dispelled, the heroes achieved total triumph, and the stirring melody of never giving in, never bowing to hardship, echoed through the grand hall.
Duke Vaolet could no longer contain his excitement. Clapping thunderously, he stood and walked to the railing at the very front of the box, joining Natasha in saluting the orchestra and honoring Victor.
But the duke's lead was unnecessary — before he had even risen, a tidal wave of thunderous applause had already surged from every direction, resounding through the entire hall.
Only when emotion is poured in can the audience be moved and their hearts stirred!
This concert was, without question, an enormous success!
Victor first pressed his right hand to his chest and returned the audience's salute from the box, then strode briskly backstage, seized Lucian by the arm, and pulled him toward the stage. Lucian had been prepared for this and offered no resistance, calmly following Victor out to the performance platform.