"Arriving at Lengsel Culture District of Avanthal. Please remember to carry your belonging if you leave the transit". The automatic announcement voice spoke throughout the transit train.
Jihoon stepped outside to the ornate platform as he takes in the scenery of the destination. Though still underpinned by Absence's signature blend of futuristic and classical aesthetics, this central cultural district seemed to almost hum with a vibrant, whimsical energy all its own.
Gracefully arching walkways and promenades wove between eclectic architectural exhibits and open-air plazas where impromptu performances appeared to be unfolding at every turn of the route. Verdant gardens overflowing with fanciful topiary and bubbling grand fountains lent an air of organic enchantment amidst the district's otherwise sleek, streamlined design that it shared otherwise with Absence as entirety.
Colorful pennants and banners displaying each institution's heraldic crests fluttered proudly from towering edifices that looked to house grand amphitheaters, scholarly forges, and even what appeared to be an entire crystalline biosphere enclosing lush arboreal expanses within its embrace.
"What a breathtaking sight, isn't it?". Karim said as he lets Jihoon taking in the sight for himself. Not everyone gets the chance to just enjoy things for it is.
Lengsel, is one of the culture nexuses of Absence. A place where artisans, philosophers and visionary architects congregate to elevate their personal craftsmanship collaboration or scholarly exchange. With how large Absence is as a whole, there are numerous culture districts events where exchange programs are made to further diversify one's view and knowledge of the world around. Absence isn't the entire world but it may as well truly be the place where the spirit of it reside.
The merchant gestured toward the myriad performances unfolding around them as they began making their way along the promenade. "As you can see, public demonstrations of one's artistic virtuosity are not only accepted but actively encouraged here. In fact, many students and apprentices seek to gain notice by staging guerilla showcases amidst Lengsel's plazas, hoping to impress potential benefactors or esteemed master artisans into taking them under tutelage."
Karim's expression turned wistful. "Of course, such practices are a mere overture compared to the grand rehearsal chambers and amphitheaters housing each noble institution's officially sanctioned expositions. Alas, those sacred stages remain cloistered from public viewing, their audition criteria as meritorious as they are uncompromising." He threw Jihoon a conspiratorial wink. "A fact which, thanks to your incredible debut performance, should no longer pose much of an obstacle for you, my friend."
The two of them continue to walk further toward their destination. The flow of magical energy which suffusing every aspect of the spirited environment of Lengsel clearly. He knew that he has come to a right place and that without help, he wouldn't have make it this far already.
Through certain somewhere in this place, he may found someone that will be an important part to the making of his musical ensemble.
Moments later at the auditorium test site, both of them have apparently underestimated just how many people can there be participating. When the received their numbers, their designated time of attendance was at dusk of today. The fact that some had said that they were lucky that they didn't have to wait till the next day is also another moment that Jihoon's luck kept playing for his side despite his disbelief otherwise.
"So, what now?" Jihoon said as the suffocating atmosphere of roughly hundreds of people in the hall at the same time makes him remember of those bad memories of entrance exam before Gates. It's Korea that he lived in and the amount of cram school made him sickened to the core. The fact that he utilized none of them as a music composer spoke of how worthless all of them are.
"Welp... It seems that the competition is indeed way higher in stakes than I have imagined". Karim said as he eyes the teeming crowd with a mixture of concern and resignation. "From what I've heard... the audition parameter this year is rather unforgiving as a whole. Even Lengsel's graduates here admitted as such".
The elvish merchant gestured for Jihoon to join him off to the side, away from the milling throngs. Once they had a semblance of privacy, he continued in a low tone.
"Allegedly, candidates are to be sequestered alone for one hour's time to compose an entirely original musical piece from scratch, without any preparatory materials or prior compositions to reference brought along with into the antechamber. Then, after that grueling creative whirlwind, we'll have a mere ten minute window to perform our masterwork before the audition council and have our artistic merits evaluated."
"I'll not mince words, the prospect of conjuring even a decent composition compelling enough to sway Lengsel's audition examiners seems a Herculean task even for a lot for what supposed to be just registering aspirants. I'm not part of this artistic academic myself but even I can see the hurdles already piling up." Karim grimaced. He spread, his hands helplessly. "Well, let's simply say it wouldn't be wrong if we have to begin steeling for the likelihood we may need to pursue more...unorthodox avenues toward getting your foot into Absence's musical world."
The merchant's expression turned contemplative as he regarded the youthful Jihoon. "Although, there are...persistent rumors I've overheard about the audition judges' particular artistic leanings that could potential play to your benefit, however slim its prospects may seem."
Leaning closer, Karim's tone took on a conspiratorial air. "Word has it the audition panel cultivates an almost obsessive penchant for assessing each applicant's ability to harmonize disparate musical elements into a grand, multifaceted unified composition. Simple solos or limited instrumental pieces, no matter how well-executed, are said to invariably garner failing marks from these esteemed critics."
The merchant arched an eyebrow meaningfully. "Of course, such rigorous standards seem tailor-made to ruthlessly weed out all but the most transcendent of virtuosos prior to even setting foot upon Lengsel's hallowed conservatory stages. Yours, however... Based on the impromptu opus you wove earlier, one could argue harmonizing multiple motifs into a seamless, evocative whole could already be considered your forte, would it not?" Karim smirked, placing his unconditional faith in Jihoon. This venture might be minor in its initial investment but he can already perceive the treasure troves that Jihoon will lead to with his musical prowess.
If a little trust goes a long way then Karim will simply ride it to the end.
"Since there are still a lot of time left until attendance, why don't we enjoy ourselves until then. Who knows if we will come across some inspirations along the way". Karim said as he made his suggestion to rewind while possible. After all, it has been a straight journey to here without rest for him. And in reality, Karim has put up his tiredness just to keep his appearance up until now. After all, it was night before and now it was already early noon, the public train does little to make him well-rested.
While out of Jihoon's sight, he attempted a stifled yawn hiding beneath. Every ounce of mercantile poise used to maintain the usual affable front. Though the long journey from where he was clearly taken its toll, he still absolutely refused to show any sign of fatigue that will undermine the unwavering confidence that he projected himself.
"Why, the audition isn't for several more hours yet. Far too premature to start stewing over technicalities when we've this entire wondrous cultural expanse laid out before us, ripe for exploration!" Karim tried his best to steer the direction of this whole conversation toward its swift and early end. Forcing a tone of energetic agreeability while hurriedly finding an excuse to leave the current premise by himself for the moment.
Karim gestured grandly at the vibrant surroundings, his showmanship kicking into high gear to deflect any potential scrutiny toward his own weariness. "Surely a man of your prodigious talents could benefit from imbibing some of Lengsel's artistic ambiance firsthand? Who knows what hidden muses or struck fancies may reveal themselves simply by immersing yourself amidst the district's spirited performances and exhibits?"
He clapped Jihoon heartily on the shoulder with a roguish wink. His gaze strayed toward a nearby guest house, its rustic facade radiating an inviting warmth that promised of simple comfort. Reflexively, he caught himself before the longing revealed itself too openly on his features.
"As for myself?" The merchant quickly recovered with a disarming grin. "Well, I suspect my humble services may be better purposed attending to some...logistical preparations on your behalf while you're free to wander unencumbered. Securing accommodations, perhaps making some professional inroads toward your sponsor for when you inevitably wow the judges into a state of stupefaction later tonight."
Karim waved his hands airily. "Boring bureaucratic whatnot, I assure you. Nothing that need detain Absence's newest blossoming virtuoso from reveling in fertile artistic pursuits, hmm?"
Throughout the entire bravado-laden display, Karim focused every possible iota of his willpower. The last thing he wanted was for this brilliant young protege to suspect his supporting champion had already hit the limits of his own stamina so early in their partnership's tenure. Better to tactfully defer to restorative respites behind the scenes while unfettering Jihoon to prime his creative wellsprings for the pivotal audition still to come.
After all, Karim mused to himself, the indelible faith he'd instilled in Jihoon's potential was worth ensuring through any exhaustive lengths, regardless of it being figurative or literal.
Jihoon looked at Karim as he wades his way toward the guest house. With a long sigh released, he realized one thing that he has busied himself away from so long. It is the fact that, he didn't know what to even do with his given free time at all.
Sitting beneath the shaded alcove, fingers idly plucking the strings as the vibrant activities of Lengsel unfolded all around him. Despite all the effervescent energy of the district permeating at every corner, his own artistic spark completely remain bereft no matter what. Inspiration completely abandoned him as Jihoon realized the whole crux of his problem.
Inspiration didn't come to his mind no matter how long he tried to focus at his instrument, but he couldn't even wait the period out at all no matter how much he tried to steer his thought away from the awareness of time. Something in him just refuse to comply no matter what. While the peaceful scenery outside and his expression remained the same as always, contradicting it is his inner spirit in turmoil because Jihoon realized something about himself.
This emptiness... is the same feeling that has plagued him for 10 years ever since the Gates appeared. 5 years stranded amidst the chaos as apathy and despair overtook him then another 5 years mired in his own depression and sloth as he can't ever return to his previous profession anymore in the changed world.
His mind inevitably drifted inward upon itself. He'd convinced himself that obtaining the System's boon from the little goddess of Forgotten Melody, awakening to his potential for Song Magic, had reignited the long-dormant passions that once set his soul ablaze. However, now basking amidst this sprawling conservatory's celebrated muse-grounds, a sobering realization took hold.
He had never left his past after all. Everything he had done so far, was all just because of the System's guidance and mandate for him to ascend the musical prowess, propelled with external objectives and imposed trails rather than any internal compulsion rekindled by this newfound power. The revelation in that white rose sword grave had imparted profound wonders for him but... it didn't resurrect his once vibrant spirit that once lived and breathed naturally with the flow of music.
All show, no substance. That's what Jihoon's music at its core right now. Only theoretical knowledges applied but the spirit is nowhere to be found.
Jihoon recognized this awful truth with a pang of dismay, the years following the calamitous advent of the Gates had calcified his spirit in hardened layers of disillusionment and cynicism far more deeply than he'd ever realized. His situation was similar to Jin during the initial 5 years of chaos, just that he never has any power during his anger phase to exact his self-destructive loathing upon. In hindsight, that too was a fortune amidst myriads of curses.
A composer who once made music out of passion in his heart, now lay as an empty husk amidst the wellspring of artistry. An endeavor to compose from obligation itself rather than any freely manifested spark of inspiration or muse.
Minutes slipped away toward his reckoning audition. Jihoon seemingly stared toward the reflection of himself in the aged acoustic guitar that Jin bequeathed to him. His fixation reached its critical extreme as he looked at the person that he himself has become. Trying to use his Song Magic as a metagame exploit, a cheat that would allow him to trample upon the world that has left him behind. Completely divorced from his own artistic sense from the process of song creation itself.
Until he rediscovered that transcendent, unbridled joy of musical expression for its own sake that he once has, no amount of external prodding or encyclopedic theorycrafting would unlock the emotional undercurrents required to harmonize a true masterpiece.
The System's boons could elevate his technical foundations to staggering heights, yes - but unless Jihoon's inner resonance rekindled from the embers of love toward music making rather than ambition of its power to be coveted, one step behind will be what he forever become.
Hell, the examiners of Lengsel's audition chamber would probably expelled him the instant he played the first false note the moment they detected the hollowness of his being.
As the gravity of this existential realization settled over him, Jihoon felt the urge to become as carefree as his spirit can truly become if he wanted to reawaken to himself of that old day. Not because it is the right course of action that his mind dictates but because that's what his heart and spirit truly yearned in the moment.
He could no longer simply wade through the System's checklists in complacent detachment. If he wanted to reach the realm of Expert Musician, then the first soul that he needs to stir is his own. No longer care about the audition that he must participate, he must simply lived in the moment itself without worry of the future.
As the realization sank in, Jihoon made the decision to rebel against the strictures that he once blindly adhere. Feelings aside, he could no longer allow himself to remain as a passive passenger if he wanted to reclaim his creative birthright from his halcyon days.
With absolutely no regret to bear in his heart, he decided that he must embrace the lively and carefree atmosphere that Lengsel without restrain and obligation. Determination burns fiercely, moving past any internal insecurity that would have prevented him from doing so. A man can't turn back on his own enlightenment and and his chance to live true to himself.
At high noon, Jihoon abandoned himself to the district's spirited undertows. He joined roving troupes of free-spirited performers, lending his guitar's melodies to their carefree musical outpourings without agenda or conscious compositional craft.
When afternoon approaches, poetry cyphers encircled by aspiring bards saw Jihoon riffing evocative melodic refrains echoing the verses' soaring cadences. At one point he even found himself accompanying a troupe of whimsical mummers, their satiric street theater taking on transcendent undertones through the interplay of music and narrative.
By eventide, as the day's waning rays cast Lengsel in resplendent warm glows, Jihoon found himself before a grandiose fountain. His reflection rippling across the crystalline surface. All around him, the vibrant sights and sounds of Lengsel's artistic whirlwind carried on unabated - spontaneous performances, guerilla showcases, even an allegedly historic paint-flinging taken place and ended with a kaleidoscopic mess left behind.
Yet for all the chaotic levity Jihoon had willfully immersed himself within over the past few hours, a faint sense of removed melancholy still clung to the corners of his expression. He had gamely flung himself headlong into the district's effervescent cultural hurricane, participating in every imaginable manner of artistic celebration and hijinks.
Collaborative jam circles to flash-choreographed dance-offs, improvisational poetry slams to an inherently doomed attempt at reinterpreting the plasmatic physics underlying a renowned metallurgist's famed thermo-reactive alloy forge.
If it promised even the faintest glimmer of rekindling his once natural passions, Jihoon had fearlessly pitched himself into its midst of them all.
And the final result... was admittedly mixed at best. Despite the brief relief that he enjoyed. Flashes of nostalgic glee and carefree expression would flicker to life like distant fireflies amidst the festivities, only to gutter out just as swiftly beneath the accumulated weight of years lived meaninglessly.
He had indeed reconnected with the boundless spontaneity and whimsicality that carried Lengsel's very atmospheres – but the uncaring years had etched their tolls too indelibly upon his soul to be so easily unmade within just a single noon. Trauma recorrection is a lifelong process that Jihoon unfortunately will never have the time to spare.
As twilight's first rays glanced across the fountain's iridescent sprays, Jihoon cradled his head in his hands, unkempt hair falling across his brow in feral disarray. The face reflected back at him within the rippling pool's depths was nearly unrecognizable from the fresh-faced youth who had first stepped out into the wider world.
Gone were the sparkling, idealistic eyes and easy smile - replaced by a haunted, almost hollow weariness speaking to loss and resignation far beyond Jihoon's unspoken years.
He had told himself that hurling his entire being into Lengsel's manic celebration of the artistic spirit would be enough to rekindle his long-repressed muse from its self-inflicted coma. Yet as the audition's appointed hour loomed ever closer, Jihoon recognized the futility of such desperate measures. The carefree, wide-eyed dreamer he had once been was gone, an ember snuffed out amidst endless years of devastating upheaval and disillusionment. No amount of feigned whimsy could unmake that fundamental severance between his present mindset and his once blazingly passionate disposition.
And yet...as his fingers traced the hollowed contours of his reflection, Jihoon did not feel the soul-rending despair that revelation should have heralded. Instead, an odd sense of acceptance - even determination - settled over him like a willfully-donned mantle. If his formerly incandescent spirit could not be resurrected from its extinguished ashes, then he would simply have to forge anew.
The idealistic person that Jihoon was, is forever gone with the past. But, in his place remained a man who has withstood all harrowing trials and tribulations into something much more resilient than before. His passions retemplated around an inextinguishable will to overcome and create rather than just frivolous whimsy.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Sometimes, the hardest decision that one can make, is to let go of their past even if it was a crucial part of themselves.
"I wondered how Jin could face his death so calmly with such acceptance. Guess this must have been the same for him too". Jihoon said as emotional wound still lingers but he has now fare much better than before.
Where youthful enamor had once nourished his muse, now steeled resolve and an unwavering drive to establish something enduring from the ruins of his creative spirit would fuel his compositions with an even more primal power.
As the bells began to toll in the hallowed terraces above, beckoning all duly registered artistic hopefuls to assemble for their judgement hour, Jihoon rose steadily to his feet from the reflection of himself. He can no longer remember who he were before the Gates have befell for too much has change. He may no longer be as carefree as he used to be but... what mattered is that he had yearned for it.
A slight smirk played across his weathered features as he turned toward the inner sanctum, guitar case slung casually over his back. Let Lengsel and its assembly of empyreal aesthetes make what verdicts they deemed justified - he would meet their exacting scrutiny with the harmonies of a newer, fiercer passion that the tumult of a decade could not break.
In the spaces between each solemn bell's peal, the unnamed melodies of an unbroken soul's resurgence were beginning to take form.
As dusk settles in, Jihoon entered the amphitheater, only a few remaining here as it seems that he is amongst the last of today's examination. Guided through the soaring archways and polished corridors toward a secluded antechamber sequestered deep within Lengsel's scholastic heart. As the vaulted doors swung open, present to him is an array of fantastical instruments and symphonic apparatuses.
Complex brass and woodwind arrays intermingled with strings and percussion implements that Jihoon could scarcely identify the connection that binds them, all surrounding an central orchestration plinth governed by an ornate music programming terminal. Interface design-wise, it is similar to the compositional software that he has back on his world. The fact that such advanced society even go such length with all of these proves that they valued authenticity more than just mere practicality. Whether that is a good or bad things can't be answered by Jihoon himself.
This was to be his audition arena, where he would have one hour's solitude to channel every ounce of his rekindled artistic drive into an entirely original orchestral masterwork from absolute scratch. Drawing a steadying breath, Jihoon moved toward the controls, fingers automatically mapping the interface with an intuitive ease imparted by years of compositional software experience.
"Let's do this..." Jihoon said as the countdown chronometre began its inexorable cycle, he casts all of his hesitation and fear away. The lesson that he learned will guide in place of his inspiration.
Suddenly, time has become so fast that it flew by with his compositional trance. Instead of the usual crawl that plagued before, he transcribed all of his feelings across the fateful afternoon with all that is given. The seeking of the carefree spirit that he once has and the ultimate realization at the end of the beaten path.
One hour... gone in a flash. Jihoon didn't care about the result anymore, just that he wanted to get this feeling and lesson committed to his mind with clarity.
The antechamber's chronometer finally chimed, signaling the cessation of the allotted composition period. Jihoon's eyes fluttered open, his consciousness gradually rematerializing from the trance-like creative fugue. He regarded the ornate music terminal and saw his completed orchestral work queued, awaiting performance evaluation before the audition council's esteemed ranks.
As he then heads toward the grand auditorium stage of this theatre, Jihoon instinctively realized one thing that is still missing from his orchestrated work. His signature instrument that is basically the imprint of his creative element and the grizzled sound that the electric guitar would provide will complement well to what he made his work in mind.
In reality, his 'orchestral' work is far simpler compare to the grand pieces that many aspirants would try their mettle with. Jihoon didn't need that many instruments to evoke the sentiment that he tried to convey and anymore would just dilute the melody into meaningless noises. Thus making this piece of his more simpler by comparison yet emotionally more comprehensive because there's a clear expression of what it tried to be other than being grand for its own sake.
Lengsel's vaulted primary staging sprawled out before Jihoon, the vast amphitheater's arched terraces climbing up alongside ornately sculpted buttresses toward an improbably distant crest shrouded in perpetual gloom. An eerie, portentous silence hung throughout the impossibly massive space as Jihoon strode forth alone, each echoing footfall amplified manyfold by the sheer, reverberating immensity of the chamber.
Arrayed before the performance platform sat the audition council - a stern-faced contingent of maestros and artisan-savants who had devoted their entire lives toward artistic enlightenment and preservation of Lengsel's vaunted cultural traditions. By dint of their impassively judgmental expressions alone, it was all too evident the examiners were rapidly losing patience with the steady parade of subpar applicants they'd been obligated to endure throughout the day.
Their critical energies flaring toward him with almost palpable force, mercilessly evaluating every aspect of his outward disposition and bearing even before the first note had been struck. He met their imperious scrutiny with an implacable calm, dimly aware that most emerging prodigies would have already wilted beneath such an overwhelming atmospheric weight.
Without a moment's hesitation, he made an unusual request of the judges themselves.
"If it's acceptable, I'd like to supplement the orchestral performance with my own instrumental accompaniment," Jihoon stated plainly. "My personal guitar is not currently incorporated into the programmed work, and I feel its inclusion is essential to properly convey the complete resonance I aimed to achieve."
The examinees exchanged uncertain glances, clearly taken aback by the unorthodox request which deviated from standard audition protocols. Though after a brief, murmured conference, the senior examiner finally acquiesced with a curt nod. While unorthodox, Jihoon's proposal did not overtly violate any criteria - and after suffering through nearly a hundred thoroughly underwhelming audition pieces already, the judges likely welcomed any potential respite from mediocrity that their jaded sensibilities could receive.
More importantly, he sensed the council's wearied appraisal stemmed not from cynical contempt, but rather a nostalgic yearning - however deeply suppressed. To be genuinely stirred from their jadedness by a true masterwork's transcendent raptures.
Satisfied with their, Jihoon retrieved his beloved electric guitar from its travel case, fastidiously ensuring every last tuning and connection was optimized to perfection.
Jihoon offered the audition council a simple nod of readied finality. With a final steadying breath, he gripped his guitar's neck and waited for his part in the opening. The music terminal played the pre-arranged notes before first and Jihoon simply is the backdrop for its main melody.
The first introductory note was the sliding of the piano notes in ascending progression, setting the whimsical tone that Jihoon has considered as the foundation of his composed piece. Then, the central motif of the song is performed by the flute while the piano continues as the nostalgic backdrop of the song. A chord progression that evoke the free-spirit that everyone has. This chord is then utilized as a refrain of the central melody that will be used throughout the piece.
As the introductory movement built toward its crescendoing climax, Jihoon could sense the examiners' scrutiny intensifying tenfold. The council members stiffened in their seats, concentrations fully focused upon evaluating and dissecting every nuanced transition and interplay of motifs he had meticulously woven together.
On the surface, their expressions remained an inscrutable mask of impassive judgement. But Jihoon's intuitive attunement toward artistic emanations could perceive a series of minute shifts and fluctuations crackling across the examiners' collective energies with each unexpected modulation.
The first refrain goes slightly higher at the end, the following refrain goes lower and the next one after it goes higher. All as the harp has joined the backdrop unexpectedly at some point and the flute started to pick up its pace, when the expected lower progression were to come, it instead ascend even higher as it brings the finality to the refrain.
Like life itself, it may has its up and down consistently. One's innate candor of youthful innocence and carefree essence though often suppressed by tribulations at a time, can't be extinguished easily if given proper attention.
Then the violin takes place of the flute's central instrument place as the percussion assisted, granting the greater-than-life thematic feeling as the violin elaborates the refrained chord progression into something grander before slowly diminished. Then the accordion took the central position as it plays the carefree melodic notes all while the violin played together until they reached a finalized diminuendo while backdrop harp continues to play for a little moment toward what seemed like silence. Of course, all of this was merely introductory verse to set the atmosphere of the piece.
The first few times the central melody refrained from anticipated patterns only to surge in unanticipated ways, there were telltale flickers of resigned skepticism and faint scowls. As if dismissing the subverted expectations as mere trifling gimmicks employed to garner undue novelty.
However, as Jihoon's orchestration seamlessly navigated each instrument into taking up the thematic baton without losing the core resonance, furrows of consternation began replacing those initial dour affectations. When the soaring violin elaborated upon the carefree essence into even grander aspiration before ebbing back into the nostalgic harp's wistful diminuendos, a few examiners who had started shifting restlessly in their seats suddenly stilled.
By the time the audacious accordion joined the fray, counterpointing yet harmonizing in perfect tandem, the entire audition council had taken on a palpably arrested quality. A profound hush fell over the amphitheater's terraces as Jihoon's masterful compositional narrative commanded their complete attention despite themselves.
As the final refrains tapered away into silence, leaving the aural canvas briefly blank in preparation for the full work's overture, not a single examiner made any move to prematurely condemn or praise the performance. Judging from their continences alone, a singular truth resonated - regardless of any forthcoming impressions, Jihoon had irrevocably transcended the opening movements' make-or-break litmus.
Whether personal assessments ultimately leaned toward masterful transcendence or pedestrian mediocrity, the unified consensus was clear. This recital demanded witnessing through to its entirety before any verdicts could be rendered, lest crucial artistic contexts be missed or any unearned judgements proven foolishly premature.
For Jihoon's part, he simply drank in the charged atmosphere like an elixir. The pressure that would have shattered lesser artistic aspirants held no sway - this was merely the opening salvo in a resonant campaign to win over the examiners' attentions and appreciations. With calm assurance, he readied himself upon the true compositional odyssey to come.
Holding his guitar tightly, he played the electric guitar's refrains of brutal riff while the acoustic guitar of the musical terminal played in complement. The grizzled sound of the electric guitar that was entirely new to them as it shook them out of the reverie. From here onward, the main melody that was introduced become the chorus that the song will continuously reprise upon.
The accordion then played in its free-spirted harmonic while the electric guitar complement in the backdrop. Then, it fell silence suddenly as the flute played the initial refrain of the main melody in total absence of anything else. Then the following the refrain with the assistance of the harp and accordion before passing its conductor baton to the violin.
Although it is still the same free-spirited melody of the beginning, the changed key however makes the more attentive ears start to notice the longing undertone that so benign that one might as well deluded themselves into thinking so if they didn't hear carefully enough. Once one start to perceive it, it becomes much more glaring in a way that the difference between a maestro and the students can be separated here.
After the longing flute done its role, the violin played the same refrain chord progression again in a frantic undertone as the subtle key-change. Desperately trying to keep the free-spirited nature it once has from changing into anything else as the flute in the backdrop played in assistance.
All of this minor details are all deliberated by Jihoon himself.
The flute played the chorus in hurried pace, seemingly contradict the calm and carefree tone that it once wields. And with each of its climax of each refrain that it moved past, the bagpipe makes its wailing as if signify the desperate cling onto the cheerful past before inevitably stripped away from it. Then the violin joined the crescendo of the last refrain of the chorus as they together played in franticness of that same once-carefree melody as if hiding the mourning with facade of that once cherished frolic.
As Jihoon poured his rekindled passion into orchestrating each new movement, the melancholic undertones woven throughout the initially frolicsome main melody grew increasingly apparent. With every cyclical reprise of the motif, the formerly carefree refrains took on shades of yearning melancholy and somber nostalgia, like rose-tinted wistfulness inevitably surrendering to the sepia tones of cherished memories fading from their vibrant primes.
Bittersweet wisdom etched into his soul over the decade since the Gates' cataclysm shattered his former self. The lighthearted innocence and carefree abandon once inseparable from his artistic core could never be truly recaptured for only echoed and eulogized remains through these unforgettable harmonic refrains laced with longing.
With each searing violin swell, the unbound jubilance of his abandoned past burned brilliantly once more like a star in its last gasp, if only for fleeting transcendent instants amidst the gathering poignant diminuendos. Instead of looking at his long-gone past with sorrow, he chose to let its ember scatters as the last farewell toward his new departure.
By audaciously juxtaposing effervescent nostalgia against somber resignation within a unified compositional framework, Jihoon's masterwork encapsulated the very essence of moving onward while still honoring one's irretrievable roots.
The conductor baton passed to the accordion, now that the longing apparent on its melodic key and progression as it played the chorus from the very start again. The song is composed only of this very chorus but the changed key kept each progression unique in emotions and tones.
As the backdrop flute accompanying the melancholic nostalgia, the fast-paced rhythms no longer carry the free-spirited nature at the very beginning, yet the joyous spirit of the previous chorus still shine too brilliantly to let go so easily. Then the violin joined as the trio of accordion, flute and itself together perform the last stretch of chorus, as if performing the last farewell toward their once spirited root.
Jihoon clapping his hands along the way as the song continued onward through the suspenseful bridge toward the climax. The violin plays in its tensed and rememberance progression despite all the high-notes all around. Then the bagpipe unexpectedly took the baton play parts of the refrained melodic but unable to completely fulfill the end before the violin and every background instruments so far joined together to complete the last progression of the refrain.
As if the last desperate attempt of reclaiming the carefree spirit fails, it truly dawned upon them that the only way forward is acceptance. Represented through the solo piano recreation of the original melody in hurried pace. Once it fulfilled its duty, the flute carried onward while the piano continues on the background. Then the climax approaches, as every instruments so far joined in to perform their last moment. The flute, violin, accordion, bagpipe, piano, acoustic guitar and electric, together playing the last verse of the chorus.
And then slowly only the trio that took centered stage of the song played remain. The flute played as the main instruments while the violin and accordion played the backdrop. Then the baton passed to the violin, and then the accordion, and finally all three of them played the last diminuendo together as the song comes to an end.
The flute's achingly bittersweet refrains ceded fully to the violin's stalwart resilience, harmonizing rather than competing with the accordion's intrepid progressions. Together, these motifs intertwined into an understated yet undeniable defiance within. One honoring the throes of Jihoon's innocence lost while celebrating the inextinguishable embers that had stubbornly endured. Like coming to a cathartic and wistful acceptance.
As the finale crested and ebbed into lingering silence, Jihoon allowed the cathartic atmosphere to simply hang in the amphitheater's vaults. He knew, deep within his soul's harmonics, that his recital had transcended the opening salvo's promise. No mere technical showcase to garner philistine approval, but a searing affirmation of his reforged artistic spirit now tempered into something undauntedly resilient.
Now, he awaits the examiners' verdict, come hell or high water.
As Jihoon's composition unfolded across its multifaceted movements, the examiners found themselves increasingly enraptured despite their initial guarded skepticism. With each seamless harmonic transition and revelatory modulation, their collective thoughts underwent a metamorphosis akin to Jihoon's own during the creative act itself.
At first, the council members' expressions remained an inscrutable rictus, armor-plated against any undue novelties or charming trifles that might otherwise sway less experienced critics. When the joyous, nostalgic opening phrases first blossomed, a few derisive smirks and sidelong glances seemed to dismiss the work as yet another saccharine indulgence pandering to unrefined sentimentalities.
However, as Jihoon deftly subverted those apparent overtures with emotionally rich counterpoints yearning with melancholy undertones, the smug smirks faltered from their expression. Furrowed brows and profoundly furrowed contemplations replaced their prior condescension as each layer's nuances implored upon deeper deconstructions.
By the time the poignantly metamorphosed variations on the main melody had thoroughly pervaded, the audition council's demeanors had become completely transfixed on the performance itself. A few elders sat ramrod straight, eyes slightly widened as if beholding a revelation. Younger adjudicators leaned forward in their seats, moved by the interwoven sensations aroused.
When the finale's crescendo peaked before ebbing into bittersweet closure, a heavy silence endured throughout the amphitheater's hushed terraces. Exhalations gradually emerged from the ranks, unmistakable sighs of awestruck release as if breaking free from profound trances.
In that profound quietude following the work's cessation, the examiners' thoughts yearned to coalesce into coherent assessment. Yet to a one, their usual forensic energies felt oddly becalmed, mastered by the lingering resonance within their very beings.
It was as if Jihoon's evocative opus had not merely stirred their jaded critical sensibilities, but outright rekindled vital essences thought long extinguished by years of dispassionate erudition and perpetual dissection of artistic strivings. Faculties trained to scrutinize, evaluate, and render judgement instead found themselves laid bare before an unexpectedly transcendental experience.
In that rarefied expanse between moments that last eternal, what judgements could mere words render upon something that had irrevocably reminded them of their original youths' unbridled awestruck wonder toward music's profoundly archetypal powers? The courage to dream, create and feel without compromise?
Perhaps for the first time in memories too calloused to quantify, these exalted masters had felt sublimely, inarticulably young once again through Jihoon's masterfully guided sojourn into the soul's harmonic. Any final critique, whether glowing or scathing, would ring superfluous before the overarching truth to which they had all borne breathless, reverent witness.
The examiners shuffled in their seats, exchanging sidelong glances as the reverberating silence endured. For several long moments, it seemed none could find the diplomatic preamble to initiate their obligatory critique. Finally, the senior-most adjudicator amongst them cleared his throat, leaning forward with a measured countenance. His eyes, however, betrayed an unmistakable glint of...wonderment? Begrudging respect? The elder braced himself before speaking.
"Well then, young musician. We had expected little more than yet another neophyte's trifling mimicry gracing our stage this eve," he stated plainly, foregoing any pretenses of preamble. "A perfunctory dalliance amusing enough to pass the time, perhaps - mere untutored copper awaiting the forge's elevated alchemies to reveal any true artistic essence within."
The examiner's gaze hardened, though his eyes remained conspicuously alight. Jihoon couldn't tell which race he is explicitly but he looked wizen in the same vein that genius scientist is.
"Yet against all our seasoned expectations, you have presented a masterwork that can only be described as..." He hesitated briefly, seeming to weigh the impact of his forthcoming judgement. "...Mithral-spun virtuosity of the highest caliber. An effortlessly seamless integration of euphonious craft and soulful evocation that transcends its mere composite elements."
"It seems... that we really can't find any fault in your piece". One of the virtuous maestro, whose appearance is that of a standard Tolkien Elf said the most understated statement he ever thought and spoken out.
Murmurs of ardent consensus rippled through the gathered council as the elder pressed on, undeterred.
"It truly felt like I was alive again. Carefree, not a worry in sight. Singing to all my heart's content. Oh where did the old days go?". One of the female examiners spoken her thought. She looked deadly pale with long black hair that cover both of her eyes and a siren-song voice comes from her vocal, Jihoon's closest estimation tell that she is a banshee.
"In our arrogance, we had prepared ourselves to render critiques and enumerations toward your own edification, young maestro." A faint, rueful smile played across his withered features. "Yet witnessing the sublime harmonies you have unveiled this eve, I find myself askance. For you have awoken resonances within our very beings that we had long feared burned to calloused ashes by years of cynical, soulless dissection. As I'm speaking for all the examiners here, I would like to apologize for having distrust you before you showed your performance"
Now that the shadow that has casted all the examiners were removed, he noticed that a lot of them belong to fantasy races but ultimately still resemble human with traits to show that they were of that fantasy races.
It's called races, not species now that he thought about it. The divide that supposed to separate them didn't exist here considering interracial relationship were proven with the Harpies for some reasons. Ensued one-gender race and breed equal race.
"You did not merely compose a piece to satiate our criteria. What you have imparted is an allegory, crystallizing the fundamental essence of the artistic spirit itself." The senior-most examiner trailed off, lost in private epiphany for a fleeting instant before recovering himself with a dignified nod.
"We can proffer no insipid 'corrections' toward a masterwork that has. This night, reminded us of the reasons we once ventured forth upon the endless odyssey toward perfecting our songcraft to begin with. Tonight, you have surpassed being our student..."
As other numerous fairy-like beings joined in the compliments toward him. A pixie who dressed sharply whose size equal to his palm spoke goodwill of him to no end. A dryad comparing his composition piece to that of a lustrous beauty of the forest in nature, Then there's also an orc who looks having no business here dressed in such stylized-suit to fit his huge frame.
As the murmurs goes on, Jihoon started to realize something as he receives everyone's words toward him. Snapping out of the emotional trance that allowed him to perform and compose such a piece after all.
"Shit... did I gone overboard?". Jihoon said as he didn't expect the extent of what his composition goes.
The night goes on with the compliment of him.