After the masterful performance that Aquarius did, the entire crowd of audience remained in their tentative silence. Only when she leave the stage however did the floodgate of emotions repressed unleashed as everyone shows their reverence toward her.
"Honestly, I can't believe that my own tears well up at such a simple yet emotional piece despite my long years as the stage MC." The ceremony announcer spoke as if he simply wearing his heart on his sleeve right now.
The silence that once blanketed the stadium gave way to thunderous applause, cheers, and even tears from those present. The haunting beauty of the "Forgotten Melody" had touched the hearts of all in attendance, truly leaving none unmoved.
The broadcast then cut to reactions from notable attendees. Renowned musicians and examiners praised the performance.
"Her Royal Highness has reminded us of the core beauty of music," one examiner commented. "Her interpretation was pure and heartfelt, resonating deeply with all of us. It's a rare gift to evoke such deep emotions with a single performance."
A veteran composer, with tears in his eyes, admitted, "I've played countless pieces over decades, but tonight's melody moved me in ways I thought I was beyond feeling. Aquarius has transcended music tonight."
The camera panned to the audience, showcasing famous figures, including the legendary mermaid maestro, Minerva Velasquez, who was visibly moved.
"In all my years," she said softly, "I have never witnessed such a combination of technical mastery and raw emotion. It was more than a performance—it was a moment captured in time. An unreachable past conveyed in both literal and spiritual"
Then, the interviewer approached the star of the evening, Princess Aquarius, still glowing from the performance. She smiled graciously, though there was a sense of humility in her expression.
"Your Highness," the interviewer began, "your rendition of the 'Forgotten Melody' has touched the hearts of all present. Could you share what this piece means to you?"
Aquarius hesitated briefly, her voice soft but steady.
"This melody... it was gifted to me by someone who showed me that even in the darkest depths, there is light. The 'Forgotten Melody' is not just a piece of music. To me, it is a reminder that no matter how far we fall, there is always a way back. Tonight, I just wanted to share that message with everyone."
The broadcast returned to the audience, where more reactions were gathered. Every word echoed the same sentiment: reverence, awe, and inspiration. The performance had become a historic moment for the ceremony, perhaps for all future instances afterward.
“I wonder who it is to compose such a heartfelt melody like that… That person must be so brilliant to convey such emotions that tug at heartstrings of all listeners from all walks of life”. The ceremony announcer spoke his praise of the unnamed composer who gifts her the ‘Forgotten Melody’ in the first place.
Jihoon had a mental chuckle because no one would believe that the fastest Maestro of all of Absence is the one giving it in the first place. There’s a limit to how much one can be considered genius before it just becomes outright unbelievable by all standards.
Soon after her bedazzling performance, other performers step up to their respective stage. Cheers and praise were spoken and of course none of them could match to the standard that the Forgotten Melody has set. The broadcast of the ceremony goes far and wide to the millions who live in the entirety of Absence and couldn’t directly witness the occasion to themselves.
And they accepted it, not even begrudgingly because they knew that very height wouldn’t be reach any time soon.
The schedule goes on with each performance. From each race such as the elves, beastfolks, dwarves and so on. Each has put on their best performance to honor the Forgotten Melody which seemingly takes them back to their respective beginning of their musical career.
And so… it is Jihoon’s turn. Each performance took up at least half an hour of time and within that amount of time... he couldn’t create a piece of his own.
While there are internet challenges in his world where a music artist would use only a half an hour or even less to create their original music, that is just making the skeleton structure. Mixing and refining the melody and notes together into a proper song took way longer that not even an entire day is enough. And he was already aware of that when he first saw the schedule.
So what did he had in mind?
He will… steal from somewhere that he knew… Not exactly steal from other composers but rather borrows what he had known beforehand during his time in Arisen Studio. And within the vast southern sea of Calphennis, there was that one music piece in his world that he had in mind which he felt resonate with its spirit.
While he could just go with a solo electric guitar performance. He is putting himself against numerous collaborative orchestral performances and unless he knew precisely what he is doing like Aquarius with ‘Forgotten Melody’, he would just be underperforming.
Thus, this is what he intended to do.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Doppelganger
Classification: Illusion Magic
Rank: Master
Effect:
-Create up to 3 duplicate clones that share base stats of the user,
can interact with mundane objects with equal proficiency as the user.
Can't utilize System [Skills]. Stats can't be enhanced by external effects.
User could customize the appearance of the Doppelgangers if one wished
No duration limitation. Cooldown: 3 hours for each clone if dispelled or destroyed.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Honestly, it was Big Band that gave him the idea of a one-man band with how that big old man just carry control all the music instruments and make them perform through his will. Now that [Doppelganger] have increased deployment count, he intends on just filling the empty seats of his ensemble with… himself…
And the short hours that he spends pondering writing down how to the structure of the song he intends to perform and that it even has vocal lyric too. By deploying his Doppelganger while nearly every performer in his place having already moved to the stage, he quickly coordinated and customized the appearances of his Doppelgangers.
One of them, he customized them to look like Jin Sarae and give him the battered acoustic guitar he had with him. The time-worn instrument in the Doppelganger's hands added an air of melancholic nostalgia, embodying the soul of a musician who had walked a hard path. The audience would see this and likely assume Jihoon was paying tribute to someone close. An emotional touch that wouldn't go unnoticed.
Another Doppelganger, he manipulated its appearance to look like… the total opposite of his appearance. Creating a sort of dichotomy that he had in mind, although he isn’t sure of the execution.
People often said that he looked like a stereotypical Korean action manhwa protagonist, so he made the Doppelganger an romance-genre transmigration female self-insert of himself. Her assigned instrument is… probably the keyboard instrument that can swap between all variants.
This Doppelganger had soft, flowing black hair like his that framed an almost regal face with wide, innocent eyes. Her slender form was adorned in an elegant but modest black dress, almost as if she had been plucked from a fantasy world of aristocratic ballrooms.
But… because Doppelganger doesn’t display emotions at all and only calculating all their actions with complete rationality, it ended up unintentionally steering into the villainess territory more than heroine.
Jihoon knew that people might raise their eyebrows at this choice. Some might think it was a bad joke or a strange self-insert that would feel out of place in such a prestigious musical event. He could almost hear Karim muttering something about his "questionable decision-making skills." Yet, Jihoon stood by this choice. It was audacious, yes, but it was also intentional. There was a method to his madness.
And finally, the third Doppelganger… He actually is stuck wondering what its appearance should be. He’s not the best character designer to roam the earth since his focus is more in music composing.
So… he decided to just make his third Doppelganger a burly and rugged old man, resembles a certain D-rank veteran that first guided him through the Gate delving in his world. A tribute, although never spoken or known. This man will play the percussion as the song he had in mind has very heavy focused in it.
“Alright, since we still have some time left. Let’s practice together to see how well we would do.” Jihoon said as he guides the Doppelgangers with him into the performance test room.
As Jihoon led his three Doppelgangers into the performance test room, he felt a flicker of confidence. After all, he had crafted the ensemble, chosen the song, and spent what little time he had mapping out the structure. But as he positioned himself at the center with his electric guitar, and his Doppelgangers took their places
"Okay, let's start," Jihoon said, giving them the signal.
The opening bars rang out. And immediately, Jihoon could sense something was wrong.
The villainess Doppelganger's keyboard performance, while perfectly in time, was utterly devoid of nuance. Each note she played was stiff and mechanical, as if someone had programmed a machine to execute the song with mathematical precision.
The lack of emotion, combined with the pristine black dress and regal posture, made her seem more like a cold-hearted villainess than the heroine he had intended. Her hands glided over the keys with technical perfection, but it was like she was casting a spell of monotony over the room.
Then came the Jin-lookalike Doppelganger. The acoustic guitar strumming was equally precise, but with none of the raw emotion that Jin himself would have infused into the performance. The timing was flawless, but it felt soulless, as though the guitar was playing itself.
It was a total anti-thesis to Jin himself and that if he was still here, he would be more offended that his lookalike failed disastrously rather than the fact that he had a lookalike.
And the percussion… Jihoon winced as the burly Doppelganger played the drums with brutal efficiency. There was no subtlety or dynamic control. Each hit sounded like a hammer crashing down on metal, turning what should have been rhythmic and powerful into something closer to a military march. The song was being pounded into submission, rather than allowed to flow.
As the performance dragged on, the sense of disaster became undeniable. Jihoon, trying to hold the ensemble together with his electric guitar, realized he was fighting a losing battle.
His Doppelgangers weren't just following the score—they were following it too perfectly. No room for emotion, for interpretation, or for the little mistakes that made music human. They were simply executing the notes like a computer reading lines of code.
The harmonies were technically correct, but there was no warmth. The dynamics shifted exactly where he had marked them, but with none of the organic flow that a real band would have. And worst of all, even Jihoon could feel the dissonance between his own playing and that of his clones. His electric guitar, though filled with emotion, clashed with their sterile precision.
Finally, the last note rang out, echoing awkwardly in the empty room. Jihoon stood there, frozen for a moment, before sighing heavily.
"That was... a disaster," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "An absolute trainwreck."
The Doppelgangers stood there, emotionless, awaiting further instructions. Jihoon shot a glance at the score he had scribbled down earlier. It had seemed like a good idea at the time—just jot down the basic structure, leave some room for improvisation, and let the music breathe.
But now, seeing the results, he knew that if he didn’t carefully ink out every note, every dynamic, every subtle variation, the actual performance would be an unmitigated disaster. This would be likely the last time he would ever use Doppelganger for anything musically complicated until he could breath his own life into all of them.
He couldn’t allow this kind of cold, calculated execution on stage. Not in front of a live audience. Not after the performances had already set the bar so high.
Jihoon felt a wave of relief wash over him. "At least it happened here, and not on the actual stage. If this was the real deal, I’d be the post-credit joke of the entire ceremony," he muttered under his breath.
Glanced at his Doppelgangers, who still stood at attention. "Alright," he said, a determined glint in his eye.
"No more improvising. I need to rewrite everything. We’re starting from scratch."
With that, Jihoon sat down with a fresh sheet of paper, determined to get every note and dynamic perfect. This was going to take a while, but it was better than being remembered as the guy who tried to pull off a one-man band—and failed spectacularly.
It was fortunate thing that he was last amongst the schedule. Because he wouldn’t even imagine time would be on his side either. If there’s any silver lining to this whole mess, it is the fact that they played so perfectly that they stood as a stand-in for music-composing software. They played the section he edited, and they would do so with precision without shame or embarrassment or fatigue and boredom.
Who could imagine that he is doing a speed-composing challenge in another world?
After numerous trials and errors, the performance began to feel less robotic. Though the Doppelgangers would never fully emulate the organic, spontaneous emotion of real performers, Jihoon managed to imbue the piece with enough life to give the illusion of feeling.
Soon, the allotted time that he is given is approaching its end. And with the confirmation that rendition piece is satisfactory, although isn’t without some mind-numbing struggle to its own. This is the moment to show if his effort will pay for itself or not.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“Okay,” he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow as he finished the final edits. “This might actually work.”
But there was still one last element to enhance the performance, that is ‘stage effects’. Jihoon had already submitted a request to the stage organizers beforehand for something simple yet atmospheric. He wanted effects that would simulate the environment of the vast southern sea, where the performance would take place.
A bit of rolling fog, the sound of distant waves, and a subtle breeze would be enough to add a touch of drama without overwhelming the music itself. Compared to what other performers were doing with stage effects, this is nothing but tame by comparison.
Now that the stage effects were arranged, Jihoon felt a small but growing confidence building within him. The song was finished, the Doppelgangers were prepared, and the atmosphere was set.
He glanced at his clones one last time, giving them each a mental nod of approval. The villainess-like keyboardist, Jin-lookalike guitarist, and rugged old percussionist all stood ready to take their places.
“Alright, team,” he said with a slight smirk of confidence, “this is it. Time to show them what we’ve got.”
The time had finally come for his turn on the stage. As Jihoon and his Doppelgangers made their way to the elevator that is also the performance stage. Jihoon is already feeling the weight of expectation, knowing that he was following an array of stunning orchestral performances.
However, this wasn’t about surpassing anyone—it was about making an impression, leaving the audience with something unforgettable that even the Forgotten Melody itself.
With a nod toward the female Doppelganger, he lets the introductory melody first permeate while they slowly make their ascent to the audience view. When they finally reached the destination, the performance stage was permeated in a dense fog, making it impossible to perceive through without resorting to special vision.
It was time…
D# minor, the key signature of anxiety and deepest distress. Of unrequited feelings and unspoken exchange. All the fear and hesitation, expressed within this key signature itself.
Release of the Far South Ocean
|D#~~~|F F#~~|B#~~~| A# G# F#~| D# C# ~~|D#~ F~| D F# F D|
The air was thick with anticipation, and the ethereal sound of the female Doppelganger’s introductory melody cut through the mist like a beacon. It was soft at first, a serenade that eased the audience into a false sense of calm. But then, without warning, the pace quickened, and the serene atmosphere shattered.
His female Doppelganger to immediately sprung into fast-paced note progression much like instructed. The sudden departure of the usual serenity takes people by surprise as the act easily captures their attention if they haven’t yet.
(All notes connect together by _ is a singular note, in this case 4 notes connected is all quarter-note)
|D#_F_F#_D# G#_F#_F_F# D#_F_F#_D# G#_F#_F_D#|
|C#_D#_F_C# F#_F_D#_F C#_D#_F_C# D#_F_F#_G#|
Heads turned. Eyes widened. Conversations halted. The entire crowd, from the elves to the dwarves, beastfolk, and merfolk, collectively leaned forward in their seats, captivated by the immediate intensity of the piece.
Then refrain upon the previous chord progression, the pitch is shifted upward as if the song is approaching climax already this early. As if the spirit within
|F#_G#_A#_F# B_A#_G#_A# F#_G#_A#_F# B_A#_G#_F#|
|F_F#_G#_F A#_G#_F#_G# F_F#_G#_F F#_G#_A#_B|
This time as if to ascent seemingly higher and accentuate the climax, Jihoon immediately joined the fray as he refrained the previous progression with his electric guitar as he thrash its string at a finger_bleeding speed. Most people of Absence have never seen or heard of this instrument that he is using right now, and he intends on making this showcase the most unforgettable.
As his fingers danced across the strings, the distinct, electrified tone of the instrument filled the air, cutting through the sea_like fog with a sound both sharp and melodic. His electric guitar, still a mystery to most in Absence, emitted a sound unlike anything they had ever heard before.
The audience, already caught off guard by the tempo shift, was now mesmerized by the unfamiliar instrument. The electric guitar's bold, powerful voice stood in stark contrast to the classical, orchestral pieces that had dominated the performances earlier.
Its resonance was raw and untamed, as if the very spirit of the ocean was being channeled through the strings. There was an undeniable energy in the air, a sense of rebellion against tradition that drew even more attention.
A murmur spread through the crowd. Whispers of astonishment could be heard from every corner of the grand stadium. Some were confused, others enthralled. But one thing was clear.
No one had expected this.
The merfolk exchanged glances, their usual grace momentarily replaced by shock. The dwarves, known for their precision and craftsmanship, stared in awe at the instrument’s mechanics, fascinated by the sheer sound it produced. The elves, who prided themselves on their mastery of traditional instruments, couldn’t help but feel the electric guitar’s raw, emotional power reach them in ways they hadn’t anticipated. Even the Yokai illusionists, who had boasted earlier of their illusion magic, found themselves momentarily humbled by the sheer audacity of Jihoon’s performance.
And then, as Jihoon ascended to the heart of the melody, blending his guitar’s electrifying tone with the Doppelgangers’ rapid accompaniment, the announcer’s voice boomed across the stadium, breaking the trance.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the voice echoed, “you are witnessing history.”
The crowd hushed, hanging on every word.
“For the first time in this grand ceremony, we present to you the fastest Maestro to ever rise in the history of Absence’s academic halls. Please welcome… Maestro Jihoon Hyunwoon, the youngest and quickest to attain the title, gracing us with this unparalleled performance!”
Gasps rippled through the audience as the weight of the announcer’s words settled in. The fastest Maestro in history? Here, now, on this very stage? The significance of the moment hit them like a tidal wave crashing against the shore. The fog swirling around the stage seemed to disperse, revealing Jihoon in full view, his electric guitar still singing its defiant melody.
For many, this was the first time they had seen the famed Maestro, who had made a name for himself in record time. And the spectacle unfolding before them, with the electric guitar at its heart, was something entirely new—something no one could have prepared for.
Jihoon, feeling the eyes of thousands upon him, didn’t falter. He strummed with even more vigor, letting the notes of the electric guitar rise and fall like the tides of the southern sea. His Doppelgangers, perfectly synchronized, supported him, but it was Jihoon who stood at the center, the focus of all attention.
The Forgotten Melody had moved them earlier, but Jihoon’s piece—Release of the Far South Ocean—was doing something different. It was awakening something deeper within, something primal. The tension in the music, the anxiety in the D# minor key, the unspoken emotions in every note. It resonated with the audience in ways they had not expected.
In this very moment of time, he will hold nothing back.
**(X*Note/Y means notes divided by Y last for X of Yth-note. 3A/2 means half-note A last for 3 half-notes)**
Oh ooohhh, ohh oh…
I’m here for you!
Jihoon initiates his vocal role. All while letting his female Doppelganger handle the central melody as everyone else perform their instrument.
|G#-_A#-_C_C# D#~~| D#_F_F#_G# C#+_A#+_F#_9C#/4| C#_D#_F_F# F_D#_F_C D/2 3A/2|
Unable... to hold back my feeling… as I chase after the distant stars~
|C D#~~|D#_F_F#_5G#/4 C#+_A#+_F#+_5F#/4| F#_G#_A#_2G#/4 F#_D#_F#_C#+ C# |D#~~~|
Clutching… onto the singular courage… with my own calloused fingers.
As Jihoon’s voice broke through the mist, layered atop the electrifying melody, the audience fell into a stunned silence. His vocals, raw with emotion, blended seamlessly with the fast-paced, intricate instrumentation, creating an atmosphere that was both intimate and grand. The lyrics, carrying a sense of longing and unspoken connection, stirred something deep within those listening.
The crowd, already captivated by the intense instrumental arrangement, now found themselves drawn even deeper by his raw, emotional vocals. It was a rare sight, because it is a musician not only playing an unfamiliar, electrified instrument but also singing with such palpable emotion.
Then with another refrain, Jihoon pushed the melody’s intensity upward as he played with the previous melody again while pitch shift it two semitones above. All while singing on top of that.
|G#_A#_C+_C#+ D#+~~| D#+_F+_F#+_G#+ C#++_A#++_F#+_9C#+/4| C#+_D#+_F+_F#+ F+_D#+_F+_C+ D+/2 3A+/2|
Regret… more often than memories. As I prepare myself in front of the next stage.
|C+ D#+~~|D#+_F+_F#+_5G#+/4 C#++_A#++_F#++_5F+#/4| F#+_G#+_A#+_2G#+/4 F#+_D#+_F#+_C#+ C#+ |D#+~~~|
I can't… get used to calling out to your back as I move forward without your presence.
People immediately began to murmur, wondering aloud who the song was meant for. Whispers spread like wildfire through the crowd, with some speculating that the lyrics were directed toward Princess Aquarius.
After all, she had just performed the unforgettable "Forgotten Melody," and the two had been seen together on more than one occasion. To many, it seemed plausible that Jihoon was expressing something personal to the mermaid princess, especially with the song's themes of longing and separation. Combined with the name being ‘Release of the Far South Ocean’.
But the words Jihoon sang didn’t carry the reverence of a suitor courting royalty. In fact, they were too personal, too filled with a different kind of yearning—a longing that went beyond duty or obligation. It wasn’t about distance or titles; it was about something far more profound.
However, as the magi-tech cameras panned to Aquarius in the audience, her expression told a different story. Though she listened intently, her eyes held no shock or surprise. She knew the truth already. Jihoon’s heart, the soul behind these lyrics, wasn’t singing for her. The deep emotion in his voice was not directed toward the ocean or its princess but someone else—someone much closer to his heart, yet just as distant.
It was for the sky.
Then to juxtaposition with the intensity of the electric guitar before. The Jin lookalike Doppelganger quickly motioned as Jihoon’s instructed as it draws out the acoustic guitar to play the next section.
|A#+ G# F# F| F#_G# F#_F D~| C#_D#_F_F# F_C#+_G#_B+ A#+_G#_F#_F A#+|
On the other side of the ocean, while recovering from my soaked body.
|D# C# B A#| B_C# B_A# G#~|F#_G# A#_B A#_B C#_D# |C#_D# F# A#+~|
I'm sure I'll look up at the same sky as you. As the wind blows and conveys our feelings to each other.
Far away, hidden from the view of the audience, in the upper balcony a certain Harpy listened intently. Alvorna, the daughter of the Citadel’s Matriarch, had always been able to sense the subtleties of emotions in music, but tonight it hit her harder than she ever expected.
She recognized the melody Jihoon was playing, but more than that, she recognized the feelings behind it. As his voice rose and fell with the intensity of the song, she could hear the affirmation message woven within the lines themselves.
I’m here for you… The words echoed in her mind, lingering with a bittersweet clarity. Jihoon wasn’t just performing a song—he was baring a piece of himself. In the same way she fully exposed her inner feelings for him within the cloud stage as she performed Restia, this too is his returning gesture for her.
Her feathers ruffled slightly in response to the emotions welling up within her. Alvorna had made her claim, silently and without expectation, but hearing Jihoon sing now, in front of thousands, confirmed what she had felt all along. His heart was singing for her.
She remained silent, watching from the shadows. She didn’t need to be seen. The song itself was enough. His music had always been his way of communicating feelings that words could never express, and tonight, as the song carried through the mist, it spoke to her more clearly than anything else.
And as the rest of the Doppelganger ensemble started to pick up and follow the instructions given by Jihoon, the pace of the song then started to hurry as follow.
|F#_F# F# F#~|F#_F# F# F#~|
I’m on your side. I’m here for you~
|D#_F_F_F F#_G#_A#_B A_G F~|
Carrying on the feelings that will never reach you
|F#_F# F# F#~|F#_F# F# F#~|
I’m on your side. I’m here for you~
|D#_F_F_F F#_G#_A#_B A_G F~|F#_F_D~|
Because I'm waiting for you with the same faith as that day
|C#_C# F D#~|
I'm here for you
|D#_F F#_F D#~| C#_C# F# D#~|
I'm here for you, forevermore…
Back in the audience, those unfamiliar with the deeper story behind Jihoon’s life could only guess. Some were moved by the powerful combination of his vocals and the unrelenting melody of the electric guitar, while others wondered about the identity of the one who had inspired such heartfelt lyrics.
Yet, no matter their assumptions, the performance of his captivated them all. It was unlike anything they had ever witnessed so far—a fusion of raw emotion and technical mastery, both in his singing and in the music itself. Theatrical plays or soap operas, this is something entirely different that they have never known that they wanted.
That was just the first half of the song and yet it seems that he has already fulfilled his performance quota already.
With swift motion, and his double-digit DEX, his fingers moved with haste as he immediately performed a solo variation with the introduction melody. Keeping the tension of the listeners going, like a rollercoaster in motion. Freestyling on his own personal emotion in the immediate moment as it isn’t something that he has intended on writing down.
It was pure instinct, a raw expression of what he felt in the moment, and the audience could feel it too. Each note struck their hearts like waves crashing on the shore.
(// means pause)
([X Y] means at the same time)
({X} xN means repeat contained X in bracket N times)
|C_D#_F#_A#+_C+_F+_F#+_G+ // // // |
|F_G#_F_C# A#+~/2 F#-_D#-_F#-_D#- A#_C#_F#_G# C+_D#+ C+|
|G#_F_C#_A#- C#~_A#-_[G#-/2 A#-/2]_A#-/2 A#-_G#-~_F#- D#-_C-_A#--|
|{C_F_G#_F_G#}x4 {C_D#_F_G#_F}x2 | C_D# F~~|D#_C_D#_B+ G#~ F#_D#|
|F+ F#+~~| F+_C#+_G#_C#+ G#_C#_F#_G# F#/4_C#/4 5A#/2|
|F# G#~~|C#+ A#~~|F#_F# D#_C#_D#_F#_G#_F#_G#_B G#_F#_6D#/4|
A rapid firing arpeggio that is moving in-between the octave, ascending and descending like the raging tides within stormy sea. But once an equilibrium slowly reached, he proceeds with the song’s second-half.
|G#-_A#-_C_C# D#~~| D#_F_F#_G# C#+_A#+_F#_9C#/4| C#_D#_F_F# F_D#_F_C D/2 3A/2|
You said… that you’ll rather recollect your shattered dream rather than discarding them away.
|C D#~~|D#_F_F#_5G#/4 C#+_A#+_F#+_5F#/4| F#_G#_A#_2G#/4 F#_D#_F#_C#+ C# |D#~~~|
'So long' I'm sure you said those words with a bitter smile as I stood behind…
This time, all the other instruments ceased playing as Jin’s acoustic takes the sole spotlight, letting the juxtaposition of the acoustic quench the intensity of the electric guitar for briefly as if a fleeting inner peace within turbulent emotions.
|A#+ G# F# F| F#_G# F#_F D~| C#_D#_F_F# F_C#+_G#_B+ A#+_G#_F#_F A#+|
The shining light within the farthest wilderness…
|D# C# B A#| B_C# B_A# G#~|F#_G# A#_B A#_B C#_D# |C#_D# F# A#+~|
What will be there when you grab the last star shining in the sky with your hands?
|A#+ G# F# F| F#_G# F#_F D~| C#_D#_F_F# F_C#+_G#_B+ A#+_G#_F#_F A#+|
When you are overwhelmed by the end of the world and your heart feels like it is about to stop.
|D# C# B A#| B_C# B_A# G#~|F#_G# A#_B A#_B C#_D# |C#_D# F# A#+~|
Remember the place of the promise that was close to your heart.
Alvorna knew exactly what Jihoon is referring to. Something that so closely secretive to them that only they knew. Their promise above the cloud stage where only they are audience to each other’s truest performance.
Immediately, the rest of the ensemble of himself rejoins the performance again as Jihoon played with all of his efforts and emotions behind.
|F#_F# F# F#~|F#_F# F# F#~|
I’m on your side. I’m here for you~
|D#_F_F_F F#_G#_A#_B A_G F~|
Carrying on the feelings that will never reach you
|F#_F# F# F#~|F#_F# F# F#~|
I’m on your side. I’m here for you~
|D#_F_F_F F#_G#_A#_B A_G F~|F#_F_D~|
Because I'm waiting for you with the same faith as that day
|C#_C# F D#~|
I'm here for you
|D#_F F#_F D#~| C#_C# F# D#~|
I'm here for you, forevermore…
I’m here for you…
A variation of the introduction melody seemingly to put closure for the song.
|D#_F_F#_D# G#_F#_F_F# D#_F_F#_D# G#_F#_F_D#|
|C#_D#_F_C# F#_F_D#_F C#_D#_F_C# D#_F_F#_G#|
|F#_G#_A#_F# B_A#_G#_A# F#_G#_A#_F# B_A#_G#_F#|
|F_F#_G#_F A#_G#_F#_G# F_F#_G#_F F#_G#_A#_B|
But… Jihoon decided not to end here yet. Because it is about time to enter the encore phase. Only the most confident in their own capabilities are willing to go beyond what’s written. And with how his Doppelgangers doesn’t seem to ever go beyond what he instructed. This is something only he can do.
Jihoon could have used his Light Magic to link and transmit thoughts to his own Doppelgangers but… playing 4 different instruments at the same time is beyond his reach. Besides, the purpose of an encore is to put his own music skill to the test.
|A#+ G# F# F| F#_G# F#_F D~| C#_D#_F_F# F_C#+_G#_B+ A#+_G#_F#_F A#+|
|D# C# B A#| B_C# B_A# G#~|F#_G# A#_B A#_B C#_D# |C#_D# F# A#+~|
|F#_F# F# F#~|F#_F# F# F#~|
|D#_F_F_F F#_G#_A#_B A_G F~|
|F#_F# F# F#~|F#_F# F# F#~|
|D#_F_F_F F#_G#_A#_B A_G F~|F#_F_D~|
|C#_C# F D#~|
I'm here for you
|D#_F F#_F D#~| C#_C# F# D#~|
Finally, the ending approaches as Jihoon performs his last bridge toward the end.
|F F# F#~ |G# C#+ C#+~| D#+ D#+ F#+ F#+| G#+~~~|
And then, as if reaching the peak of a mountain, Jihoon’s final strum echoed through the venue, lingering in the air like a heartbeat. The stadium fell into a stunned silence. No one moved. No one spoke. It was as though time itself had stopped, leaving only the fading hum of Jihoon’s electric guitar in its wake.
Alvorna could barely contain herself. Her sharp Harpy senses felt every vibration, every note, as if Jihoon’s performance was speaking directly to her heart. She had never seen him like this before, never felt such intensity radiating from him. For the first time in a long while, the words she wanted to say remained stuck in her throat. She could only watch, entranced, as Jihoon poured every ounce of his being into the song.
The silence hung over the audience like a veil, until finally, as if on cue, the first few claps rang out, hesitant at first, then growing louder and louder until the entire stadium erupted in a deafening ovation.
People rose from their seats, some with tears in their eyes, others with wide grins of disbelief, but all of them clapping, cheering, acknowledging that they had just witnessed something that transcended the ordinary.
Jihoon, still breathing heavily, glanced around at the standing ovation, the crowd cheering louder and louder. But as the applause echoed in his ears, his eyes found Alvorna in the distance, a small smile playing at her lips. He knew, in that moment, that she had heard him. She had understood.
And that was all he needed.