Anna placed Professor Wong’s guitar into its hard case with the gentleness of a mother placing a baby in its crib. Matt, the boy she had been practising with for the past hour, said goodbye with a soft snort before heading off into his world of mobile gaming.

“We have all the guitars you want in the shop.” Nyx said. “It’d be cheaper for me to give you a new one than what Marcus’s bill is going to cost me.”

“My Ramirez is irreplaceable. You should have thought about it before using it as a war mace in your mafia feuds. Pay or die.”

Anger welled up in her belly, and Nyx, who was not only connected to her by inner voice but way deeper, was quick to react.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Teacher Wong gleamed with kindness as Anna put the case at the side of his desk. He was the typical middle-aged man who, despite looking older and behaving like someone much younger than what he really was, managed to do so naturally that gave him a certain charisma instead of looking like a creep.

Once a respected classical guitarist whose career had been cut short by issues in the knuckles, he was a teacher with a talent beyond anyone Anna had met, though without wishing to be humble, she had realised from day one; she was slightly above his technical skills. Still, Wong had surprised her with other amazing qualities, perhaps spurred on by experience or his attitude, from which Anna had much to learn.

“How did it feel?” he said as she reached for the door.

“Amazing, teacher. Playing it is like…like.” She hesitated, a finger tapping her cheek as she searched for a good way to describe what it had felt like to play the borrowed instrument. “It’s like it knew exactly what I wanted to say. Thank you again for letting me use it.”

Wong’s Yamaha had left her with a strange sensation she couldn’t shake away. It was a great guitar, but her own was way better. Yet, she had felt in its playability and unique resonance, a special, intimate connection her own never achieved.

“I have some bad girls with a great smooth, responsive feel. Let’s test some this weekend,” Nyx said. “Promise the Ramirez will be ready soon as well.”

After a couple of girls with their hands full of sketching books came down the stairs, Anna gave a hum of agreement. “That would be great, thanks.”

The music room where Darren and Wei were practising was at the end of a corridor. Anna had passed a class filled with people singing scales and another where a group of dancers jumped around like bunnies chasing each other. Anna stepped into the music room and moved aside, where a rosy-cheeked girl watched the two prepare their instruments in silence. She greeted Anna with a forced smile and a subtle, polite nod.

The room was well lit and chaotic. On the sides were a few guitars of various types, and a couple of basses. And between several amps and a floor covered in cables was the only drum kit from which Wei seemed to hide behind. Darren, trying not to trip over the cables, tuned the peg while his finger searched for the right note.

“Back in my day, we just needed a flute and a fire,” Anna said, nodding toward the mess of cables.

The girl’s grin faltered into confusion. “What?”

“It’s fine, Anna,” Nyx reassured as Anna tried to hide behind a curtain of hair. “The art of making a fool of yourself with gracing charm died with Dean Martin. They’re unable to understand it nowadays.”

“Neither do I,” she said.

Anna stood quietly by the door, watching the group of students rehearsing. To Anna, who worked in a music shop and heard thousands of songs hundreds of times, the beat felt overplayed. Though, being just a drummer and a bassist, it was an acceptable choice.

For a moment, the lines between her past and present blurred. The way Wei Jian played transported her back to the tales of her old life, where at the edge of battle, drums of war hit the correct rhythms for the engagements to death. Not that she had been in any actual battle, but as a bard, she always put the passion of someone who has seen them firsthand to strike deep into the emotions of her audience.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Darren was spot on. His technique was great, so was his groove. Wei, on the other hand, although good enough, was not at the same level.

“His left hand is dragging,” she thought, the sound of the music washing over her.

Unable to resist any longer, Anna slipped deeper into the room. She stood near the back, watching the band play until they reached the end of the repetitive melody. The last note hung in the air, and the students exchanged glances, unsure of their performance.

“Hey,” Anna called out, stepping forward with a bright smile. “You guys sound pretty good.”

The room fell silent as the band members turned to face her. Darren stood with his bass slung low, eyes flicking to her with a raised brow, while Wei Jian glanced up from his drum kit, surprised by her sudden entrance.

“Seven Nation, uh? Would sound better with a guitar.”

Darren’s expression remained impassive, but there was a flicker of interest in his eyes. Wei remained quiet, watching her with an intensity that made her think of the paladin again. “We usually play more asian pop when Lucas comes.”

“Who’s Lucas, the singer?” Anna asked.

Before anyone could respond, the door swung open, and in walked Kelly Ong, flanked by her group. The atmosphere shifted instantly. Dressed in their flawless J-pop-inspired outfits, Kelly and her entourage radiated confidence and entitlement. They clearly expected to own the space, and when Kelly’s sharp gaze landed on Anna, her lips curled into a faint, condescending smile.

“Are you coming to join? We are full but you look good enough, better than some.” Kelly glanced at her group mates, a check that made all of them greatly uncomfortable. “With a bit of polishing, you could totally fit.”

“Polishing, says the goblin!” Nyx chimed in. “Want me to get rid of this one? Painfully?”

Anna smiled back, though the warmth didn’t quite reach her eyes. She shook her head, keeping her voice calm. “Thanks, but I came here to join a real band.”

The room fell silent. The tension between Anna and Kelly turned palpable, the unspoken rivalry already taking root. Kelly’s smile faltered for a split second, her eyes narrowing just enough to betray her irritation before she regained her composure.

“We’ve got the room now,” Kelly said, turning towards Darren. “This is for dancing and playing. Or do I have to tell teacher Wong again?”

Darren stiffened, clearly not one to back down easily. “This is a music room. Go practice in the dance studio.”

Kelly’s group exchanged uncertain glances, but Kelly wasn’t so easily swayed. “They are full. Wong let us practise here, but your noise won’t let us hear our music. Doesn’t exactly make for the best practice environment.”

Before Darren could respond, the door opened again, and Lucas walked in and his presence immediately shifted the mood in the room. Tall, handsome, and radiating charm, Lucas was clearly the star of the school. Kelly’s group visibly relaxed at the sight of him, their expressions softened and their complaints banished. And seeing their faces, Anna realised immediately why the pressure to practise there.

“Didn’t know we had a new guitarist. She looks good enough; shall we see how she plays?” Lucas said after Darren introduced Anna. His eyes locked onto her with a practised smile. His tone was friendly, but something about it was calculated, like he was already sizing her up.

“I haven’t joined yet, Face. Just checking around.”

“Well, now that you’ve come, how about you play a bit for us?” Lucas continued, stepping further into the room. “Let’s see if you please my ears as well as you please my eyes.”

Anna could hear the challenge hidden beneath the surface of his words, along with the stabbing jealousy radiating from the girls’ corner. Though Lucas appeared welcoming, it was clear he was testing her—and using her to rile up his fans. But she wasn’t rattled.

“Sure,” she replied, picking up the school guitar, a Squier Strat with a slightly worn neck and a few nicks along the body. “I’d love to.”

The room grew quiet as Anna adjusted the strap over her shoulder. Her fingers brushed the strings as she looked around. “Alone? How about we deep into that song you practised before? Is more fun to quest with a full party, right?”

Darren and Wei looked at each other and shrugged at the same time. “Come on,” Anna continued. “Darren takes the intro riff, I’ll jump in with the rest. Wei, make sure your left hand’s keeping steady on the snare—you’re delaying a bit in the fills. Who’s singing? No? Alright, I’ll take it.”

The moment Darrent began the riff and the world around her seemed to fade. It wasn’t just a song she was playing—this was her escape, her passion, the one place where she felt completely at home. And for Anna, a glee girl and a wanderer, home was not a place, but a feeling filled with the energy that had always driven her.

Kelly’s group, though visibly unimpressed by the rough sound of the song, listened in silence, and somehow mesmerised by the intensity of the performance filling the room. Even Lucas, who did his best to look unimpressed, had a foot marking the rhythm and betraying his facade.

Few students who passed by stopped by the door. And when the beat was at its half, there were more than a dozen people in the crowd.

“She’s better than I thought,” Lucas mused silently, his eyes narrowing just a fraction. But his charm never faltered, and when the song ended, he was the first to speak.

“Although we don’t play this style, I have to admit you sound pretty good,” he said as the song ended. “My friend Eddy is interested in joining. He’s too busy with his band, so let’s keep this one for the time being. When Eddy comes, we will try both and decide who fits better for us.”

Anna smiled, her confidence unshaken. “This one is fine with it.”