The new day has arrived. After that harrowing tragedy yesterday, it truly felt like a life of his passed away before he realized.
The acoustic guitar case that once belong to Jin still lay there and as Jihoon recovers his bearing again after a long night. Though he could have remained wailing in despair of his passing for weeks on end or that he could have sidestepped the whole ordeal with Forgotten Melody, he decided that this feeling of his has to be resolved and overcome by his own measure in a swift and timely manner.
Not given infinite time or resources, he can only resort to the most tried and unfortunately true method of "It is simply what it is". Beside, he had a lot more to do now that the matter of his living expense is resolved for the foreseeable future.
He checked his status again, noticing the advancement of his musical prowess from Mid-Intermediate to Late-Intermediate.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Name: Jihoon Hyunwoon
Level: 16
EXP: 7/296
Class: None
+Physical Attributes:
-STR: 6
-END: 6
-AGI: 6
-DEX: 6
+Non-physical Attributes:
-INT: 5.2
-CHA: 4
-MAG: 15
Attribute Points: 2
+Musical Prowess: Late-Intermediate
+Skill:
-Doppelganger.
+Song Magic:
-Forgotten Melody
-Glint of Cold Steel
-Belief
-Exceed!
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Technically, the boss kill was his doing thus he received the EXP for doing so even if dirty at the time. Can't exactly be proud when it was precisely that deflect that has killed his wayward friend.
Seeing the Late-Intermediate of his musical prowess being show, Jihoon takes his electric guitar for a try. His fingers ran across the strings, initially of aimless progression and pondering, not describing to any feeling he has in particular.
Then mournful notes followed, hung heavy in the air, each plucked string reverberate with depth and technical skill. Without conscious thought, the gritty sound of that once conveyed the somber atmosphere shifted to that uplifting melodic, bright tones that embody hopeful spirit and stalwart determination. As if moving beyond just mere musical theory, he gave voice to the most raw and unfettered emotions. From complex mixtures of emotions into nuanced melody that anyone can feel and understand.
How one can make heavy metal sound pleasant and at ease to the spirit can definitely be considered a forbidden art of equal measure.
The harmonies flowing through him with natural ease, his mind capable of naturally knowing what progression should it make to move to evoke the harmonic ambiance that he desired. What is merely just intellectual exercise in theory and composition can now be done as an intuitive process. To make the music the artistic conduit of his emotions itself.
He closed his eyes, losing himself in the ebb and flow of the music as it carried him through an entire panorama of human experience. From heartrending melancholy to empyreal joy, righteous fury to serene tranquility. Each note, each chord change became imbued with palpable emotional resonance under his dexterous touch.
When Jihoon finally stilled the strings, a profound sense of catharsis washed over him. His prowess had indeed improved to a higher level, granting him mastery over one of music's most elusive properties. The ability to stir the soul itself through the evocative language of pure sound and silence.
With these insights gained, he knew the full emotional range of his repertoire now lay before him, awaiting opportunities to be woven into the spellbinding fabric of his Song Magic. Although the display before felt lacking not exactly because of his prowess but because it felt empty due to being a mere electric guitar solo.
"Okay, then. Let us see what's necessity to reach Expert Musician according to the little goddess herself". Jihoon said as he flicks the System screen in front of him. Then an explanation of the system shown much like the very beginning when he first received the power to compose Song Magic itself.
Expert Musician: The composer has intuitive understanding over their core instrument thus has great control over the effect of their own Song Magic. However, a true composition can't have only one instrument unless its composer knew very specifically of what they need to do. The next stage of Song Magic involves harmonizing multiple music instruments together.
+Early-Expert: Harmonizing at least 2 instruments together, with neither overshadowing one another. Song Magic of this rank can have 2 effects at once.
+Mid-Expert: Full mastery over instrument harmonization and interplay. Song Magic can layer 3-4 distinct effects together synergistically without dissonance. The melodies stir the soul on a primal level, allowing the caster to precisely sculpt any desired emotional resonance within their audience.
+Late-Expert: Achieve connection between their inner emotional landscape and musical expression. Their Song Magics become representation of emotional archetypes. Song Magic can harmonically layer 5+ effects, drawing upon primal psychic resonances. Melodies stir the depths of the collective unconscious, and can quite literally manifest the harmonized landscape in the minds of their audience.
Seeing the description of Expert Musician, he started to think about real-life composers and musician that can qualify for this criteria and... not a lot that he can imagine even with the legendary composers whose legacy still lingers even until now in this world that doesn't have a moment to rest.
But the step required of him to move into Expert-territory is that he must at least know how to play 2 musical instruments innately, which is something that Jihoon himself doesn't have a lot of time to spare otherwise.
Strumming the acoustic guitar thoughtfully, musing over the System's criteria for progressing to Expert Musician status. While his newfound prowess allowed him to coax stunningly emotive melodies from the strings, he recognized that his skill essentially mirrored his long-cultivated mastery of the electric guitar. The physical techniques and music theory carried over, even if the timbres and voicings differed between the two instruments.
Therein lay the crux to harmonize multiple instruments together into the transcendent compositions required of an Expert, he would need to develop an equally intuitive rapport with a second instrument distinctly different from his stringed foundation. The thought gave him pause. Even with his current accelerated rate of understanding, truly mastering an entirely new musical discipline from basics to virtuosity could easily consume years of dedicated study under normal circumstances.
But these times were anything but normal. The chaos wrought by the Gates meant his path as a Hunter allowed no such luxuries as becoming a conservatory student once again. If he hoped to attain the exalted rank of Expert within any reasonable timeframe, he would need to explore more...expedient options.
Arisen Studio, the only place that he could have confidently call them as a second family beside his birth parents. The place where the vibrant ensemble of musicians once gathered. While their paths may have been strewn apart across the decade of upheaval, he knew some of those tremendously gifted artists must have also awoken to their own latent abilities in the interim. Perhaps he need only reconnect some of those severed ties, forge new harmonies with those who could lend their own instrumentals.
But seeing how Jiwoon with her cold demeanor instead of the vibrant spirit that she once had, he can't imagine that time has been kind to them. And seeing how she made no effort to look for them even with the Hunter Association at her own beckon to do whatever she demands to do, being their rising star and all, he can only think that finding them is probably more difficult than any imagination and being fruitless at that.
Disheartened again that his thought gotten absolutely nowhere, he lies on the bed again facing down as he questioned where to even begin. With some idle thoughts, he suddenly realized that this was indeed very similar to that faithful day when he received his power to compose Song Magic. When the recreation of the 'Forgotten Melody' sent him to that world where the little goddess reside.
He vividly recalled the surreal graveyard of swords, the ethereal little goddess plucking out that hauntingly nostalgic melody upon her harp amidst a sea of white rose vines. In that singular moment, his life's purpose had become startlingly clear and profound, imparted through the mystic resonance of those spellbinding notes. If his path to becoming an Expert Musician lay obstructed in this world sundered by the Gates, then perhaps...perhaps the answer lay not in reconnecting his past, but in forging an entirely new destiny through worlds yet unexplored.
A strange sense of clarity stole over Jihoon as he reached this little realization of his. While chasing down the scattered embers of Arisen Studio's shattered ensemble remained an appealing prospect, he could not discount the possibility that this turbulent reality had left even former prodigies like Jiwoon irreparably changed. Unmoored from their passions, perhaps as adrift as he had once been not so long ago.
Or he could just test his luck and keep taking on Gate subjugation until he come across his old colleagues by chance much like he did with Jin. But knowing his luck, it could be either months or never at all. And if he was a storyboard director, it smelled like bad writing from even half the world away.
No, if he had truly hoped to harmonize the instrumental voices necessary to become an Expert, he may need to cast his gaze towards realms entirely removed from this one. Worlds where music and its creators had not been so mercilessly displaced and discarded by the cruel march of hostile evolution.
Looking for the old laptop that has constantly been begging for its eternal rest. He opened the composing program once more as this is his only access to any other instruments. Placing notes into an arrangement doesn't necessarily make him a proper instrumentalist but he knew clearly of what he is doing thanks to all those years of musical theory and practice in tandem.
The recreated 'Forgotten Melody' still in his file folder. But when he played it, no such miracle transportation has occurred at all. It seems that he will be called upon by the little goddess when the time truly come from him. After verify that he couldn't exactly reenact the world-transporting phenomenon with the same melody more than once, he isn't out of options yet because he still has more aces under his sleeve.
This laptop is quite literally a relic of the old world that he once lived in. It was his personal work laptop that he carried around for like years on end and containing numerous other files that has existed. Then, he found one of the downloaded music files with dating year into two-digit itself. If 'Forgotten Melody' worked its magic, then this will also do the trick. Its name, 'Memories of Absence'
He heard about the doujin music culture before and how the composer would create a soundtrack but have no story or additional media in particular to convey it. This song is no different as it relies entirely on the music and one would interpret the story within it. To him though, it was a shame since such a thing deserved to have more things related to it than just the soundtrack alone.
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The introduction played with the note of a violin stretched while slowly increasing in volume, as if setting the atmosphere of a colorful world about to be told. And then, the piano chimed in as it plays its prelude and the flute taking the center stage with its soothing melody. And then the violin followed the flute's melody while the piano took backstage.
Then the beating sound of a drum played, all while the flute playing its soothing melody in a much higher tone than before, setting the stage of a grand world to be taken in.
And finally when everything the diminuendo of the orchestra completed... the piano played its sorrowful melody, as if bitter regret coalescing in each note. Then the violin orchestra strum at the sorrowful note of piano as their progression become higher and higher. Until it reached the climax and as the piano slamming its note down as the final decrescendo finished this very brief introduction song.
Jihoon closed his eyes, letting the evocative melodies of "Memories of Absence" wash over him in cresting waves. The lilting flute lines conjured visions of vibrant, sun-dappled meadows and whimsical realms alive with effervescent energy. Yet the melancholic piano refrains tugged at his soul, speaking to some fundamental absence or loss that hungered to be reclaimed.
As the crescendo-ing violin swells built to their shuddering climax, it was as if Jihoon glimpsed the very world this composition strove to encapsulate. He could almost see the majestic visions that had inspired the composer's imagination, their hearts and experiences seamlessly translated into symphonic evocation through each soaring note.
While he listen to the enchanting melody itself on repeat, he recreate each and every detail by just ears alone on the composing program. From the flute, piano, violin, every emotion that instilled into the melody itself as he faithfully recreate the song itself. Imitation is the greatest flattery after all, if whoever once made this is still alive in this world.
As the lingering harmonics slowly faded to silence, a sense of profound loss and emptiness settled over him, mirroring the melancholy that had underpinned the entire composition. Before he could fully process the almost mystical experience, a familiar radiance bloomed around Jihoon once more. He startled fully awake just as the magic circle flared brilliantly and its size surround the entire bed that he situated himself on.
"Here we go again..." Jihoon said as he hurriedly grab all of his essential before his departure to another world away from here again.
Grabbing his electric guitar that is encased and the battered acoustic guitar that once belong to Jin. Dressed himself whatever may suit wherever he goes but most importantly is his Hunter gear. Even if his destination is peaceful, he can't be too careless with the way things always go. And the end result is that he looks like an overprepared traveler and that he didn't get encumbered is due to all the training before.
"Thank the heaven that I took up the environment adaptation class...". Jihoon said as the world around him dissolved into blinding light, all as the magic circle beneath transport him to the world where this song reverberate.
...
The flash within Jihoon's vision dissipate away as he slowly descends upon the environment around him. All while the 'Memories of Absence' still play without any discernable source within range. Jihoon found himself soaring high above an extraordinary cityscape that seemed to merge fantastical and futuristic elements into one cohesive, dreamlike scenery. Below him stretched an immense metropolis comprised of towering spires and elongated buildings that twisted impossibly into the heavens, their forms almost organic in nature yet clearly constructed from advanced materials and technologies.
Shimmering rays of pale moonlight played across gracefully arcing bridges and suspended transit ways that bound the sprawling megastructures together in an intricate, web-like lattice. Small pinpricks of warmly glowing lights winked across the vast cityscape, giving it an oddly inviting coziness despite the imposing, nearly gothic architectural grandeur
Jihoon's ears were met with a faint susurration of activity far below - the indistinct hum of urban life and technologies intermingling with what sounded like intermittent strains of music drifting up from the metropolis' vibrant heart. Lacking the tiny compression of a mere recording, the familiar melodies of "Memories of Absence" still resonated all around him with breathtaking fidelity and depth.
As he slowly descended toward one of the taller central spires, iconic architectural details emerged with greater clarity. Witnessing the ornate stained glass windows and fantastical statuary intricately woven into the glimmering metallic facade, all capped by an elaborately decorated dome that almost reminded Jihoon of the domed churches gracing the historic cities of his Earth. This soaring, dream-like edifice seemed to mark the convergence point where futuristic and classic aesthetics coalesced into one harmonious, paradoxical whole.
As the magic circle beneath him is only a few feet distance away from the rooftop courtyard. Jihoon braced himself for the landing as he takes in the scenery around him. People literally die to get isekaied to another world and here, all he has to do is to recreate the introductory melody to it. And by the time of his landing, the 'Memories of Absence' ceased as the world around returned to its natural ambiance.
Jihoon couldn't help but feel a sense of childlike wonder wash over him as he took in the breathtaking sights of this otherworldly cityscape. True, the fantastical cyberpunk aesthetic alone would have been enough to captivate anyone plucked from the relatively mundane confines of Earth. But it was the seamless, seemingly organic convergence of magic and technology that truly staggered him.
As someone still acclimating to the revelations of supernatural worlds existing alongside his former reality, he had half-expected this new realm to adhere to more conventional fantasy tropes from the way that 'Memories of Absence' has gone. Perhaps a sprawling medieval realm governed by arcane orders, or towering spires of sorcery secluded amidst uncharted wildernesses. Yet this world boldly defied such neatly delineated classifications from the outset. Its very existence challenged the notion of dividing lines between the mystical and technological, the ancient and future-borne.
The magic circle's radiance faded, leaving Jihoon gently deposited atop the elegantly tiled rooftop courtyard, his newly awakened conceptual senses expanded outward in tune with this world's unique frequencies. The little goddess's imparted wisdom allowed the jumbled indecipherable of overheard conversations to rapidly decrypt into coherent language. Scripts that he can't even start where to learn the basis of automatically translated and understood within his vision. He is thankful that the little goddess has that much foresight knowing he would start to departure into other worlds on his own.
If push come to shove, he could probably advertise himself as a translator. Can't go wrong with that at the very least.
Jihoon took a deep breath, letting the wondrous sights and sounds of this vivid new realm wash over him. While awestruck by the seamless convergence of magic and technology on display, he knew his priority must be establishing a foothold here if he hoped to progress toward becoming an Expert Musician.
"First, I need to establish my foothold here, learn about the culture of this place, societal norm. And then getting any occupation to obtain a source of income and housing.". Jihoon made the general outline of his plan's initial step. This is going to be a long journey and he knew that he likely won't see to it's end in close future.
His skills as a musician and linguistic intuition granted by the System could potentially allow him to find work as an entertainer or translator. However, he would have to be mindful about overtly revealing his other abilities related to Song Magic until he better understood this realm's perspectives on the mystic arts.
Carefully slinging his guitar case containing both of his electric and acoustic guitar inside, Jihoon slowly made his way down the spire as inconspicuously as possible. Meanwhile, he keeps his own sense attuned for anything that resembles public musical performances, taverns, or conservatories where skilled instrumentalist may congregate. While seeking such places, he would also need to inquire about any legends or myths revolving around entities like the little goddess when he recreated the Forgotten Melody.
Uncovering ties between this world and the mystic realms she seemed to oversee could prove invaluable even if this investigation is going nowhere at all. Anything that is related to her when so much is shrouded in mystery is tantamount.
Most critically, Jihoon remained alert for any gifted musicians who radiated the same depth of passion and spiritual connection to their chosen instruments as he did. Such virtuosos would not only make ideal candidates to help unlock the harmonization required of an Expert, but could perhaps relate to the higher realms of emotional evocation and psychic resonance that the System's descriptions hinted at. With a spirited mind and his heart still burning for musical enlightenment, Jihoon made his way down with haste.
Thankfully, that the spire that he chose to land on isn't something too critically important. As long as he doesn't intrude, no one would bother him and it seems that it was the equivalent of skyscraper offices in his world that many large Hunter Guilds make use of. Something doesn't change much and he was glad that it stayed that way.
As Jihoon descended into the vibrant streets, he was almost immediately approached by a friendly looking man wearing simple yet finely tailored clothing. The man's appearance was disarmingly human aside from slightly elongated ears peeking through his neatly combed hair. He guessed that the elves.
"Well now, I don't believe I've seen your face around our fair city before, traveler," the man said with a warm smile. "Actually, your garb and accoutrements seem quite exotic to my eye. Please, allow me to extend welcomes - my name is Karim, a humble merchant in Avanthal's Grand Bazaar district."
Jihoon returned the greeting politely, quickly realizing this Karim assumed him to be some sort of distant world traveler rather than an impossibility from an entirely separate plane. Erring on the side of caution, he simply played along with the mistaken identity for now. Whether or not people would believe him being a planeswalker is not something that he would gamble on for a lifetime of his.
As the two makes their pleasant small talk, a young woman with striking features suddenly flew overhead with a her magnificent feathered wings. Jihoon couldn't help but gape in awe at the sight of her effortlessly soaring between the tall spires. How they go unnoticed at all during his descent into this world was a burning question that he would never found an answer to.
Karim chuckled at Jihoon's stunned expression. "Ah yes, I see the Harpies still never fail to capture the eye, no matter how many times one witnesses their enchanting flight. They are definitely the target of envy of many unfortunate groundbound folks like us, those winged maidens."
Regaining his composure, Jihoon asked about the woman's apparent mastery over the winds. Karim's expression turned contemplative.
"Well, you see, the Harpies have held dominion over the aerial domains since the days of ancient lore. It's not so much sorcery that allows their flight as it is an innate symbiosis with the elemental flows that grip our world. We surface-wise folk may wield magics to mimic such effortless aviation, but it pales next to their inborn celestial grace."
Jihoon listened raptly, seeing how this realm's inhabitants encompassed a wide range of supernatural races and abilities far beyond what can be conceived back on Earth. Him being a composer having diverse knowledge of fantasy races making this isn't the most surprising thing yet to see however. Initially, his theories about music's psychic resonances and sculpting of primordial forces may have sounded like mere fantasy there, but could potentially hold profound significance in this world.
"I do not wish to keep you from your travels and businesses any longer, good sir," Jihoon said politely. "But might you be able to direct me toward any districts where I may find centers of musical education or performance? I am but a humble wandering minstrel in truth, and seek to expand my artistic repertoire however I can during my sojourn."
Karim's face lit up with understanding. "Ah, I see now! Why, you'll certainly want to make your way toward Avanthal's heritage conservatories then, located in the city's artisanal heart..."
As the merchant provided Jihoon with the directions, Jihoon had some thought when he compares the Harpy that he saw before with the little goddess. Having wings on their back is definitely a similarity but that's certainly the furthest he can make with his assumption.
Karim noticed the inquisitive expression on Jihoon’s face as he could already tell that his thought still hung up and linger toward the Harpy before.
"To paraphrase one of the ancient murals that are even held in Absence's largest cultural museum, The Harpies are one of the existences closest to the Heaven, for their unfettered freedom over the sky"
Jihoon's ears perked up at the metropolis's name - Absence, much like the nostalgic Forgotten Melody that led him to the knowledge of Song Magic. Perhaps its appellation truly carried a double meaning, this entire nightless metropolis representing an absence of the boundaries separating mortal and celestial existences.
And Avanthal, the vibrant district Karim had referred to, was but one slice of Absence's vast, dream-like cityscape according to the merchant's descriptions. Jihoon found himself amazed nonetheless continuously at what this metropolis that he would find himself residing in. With anticipation, he awaits whatever may come.