Here's the last chapter regarding Earth. It's a lot of information at once, and I'm sorry for that. Next chapter is more of an info dump, but I hope I made it less tedious. Enjoy!
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While the results were being calculated, Itsuki decided he would go buy lunch from a convenience store nearby. However, he was immediately stunned by the appearance of a boy that looked to be around 16 years old. He had short black hair, deep blue eyes, and the most peculiar wing motif sandals. In fact, if not for his sporting an ostentatious Titan shirt from the hit series Attack on Titan, he would have blended in with the crowd. Moreover, the boy was skipping as he was moving towards Itsuki.
???: “Yo, you’re Itsuki right?”
Itsuki: “Yes, I am. Who are you?”
Hermes: “I am Hermes, god of trade, athletes, and travelers. So I know you’ve got many MANY questions, but hear me out first. First, you’re going to lose the competition.”
Itsuki: “What? Wait Hermes? What about the competition? How do you know?”
Itsuki was already thrown off by the young boy’s proclamation of godhood, leaving him completely off guard by the later remark.
Hermes: “Whoa there big guy. Everything I’ve said so far is true. Your music is a work of art, but some people have jealous hearts and greedy pockets. That uh obnoxious guy got his uncle to pay off the other judges, so you won’t even get 3rd place.”
Itsuki: “But that’s horrible! I don’t even remember talking to that guy…Are you sure you aren’t making it up?”
Hermes: “Good question kid. That special eye of yours right there will tell you that. Just let me wake it up.”
Immediately, Hermes chanted some sort of incantation, and a blinding light flashed out of Itsuki’s right eye, revealing a golden wreath instead of the music note from before.
Hermes: “Itsuki, that eye of yours is known as the eye of Apollo. He is also known as the god of truth, so that eye can see through lies and deceit. It can always get to the truth. What does your eye tell you when you see me?”
Itsuki: “Let’s see…you’re Hermes, the god of trade, athletes, and travelers…you love to play pranks, hate missing your morning anime, ate Artemis’s pudding 46 years ago, fell in love with Cassandra….”
Hermes: “STOP STOP STOP. I got it I got it. Geez. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that eye. I forgot Apollo put a little extra oomph in that eye to see deeper into a god since gods are great at deception. Don’t worry; your skill doesn’t go that far on normal humans. Sighs. And don’t tell anyone about Cassandra ok? She’s just got this great rack, killer smile, and oh sorry. I got a little carried away.”
Itsuki: “What was that about eating Artemis’s pudding?”
Hermes: “Oh shit, I forgot about that. Yea, don’t tell her that either. I accidentally ate her double chocolate fudge swirl deluxe pudding that she received as an offering from this really good baker. I’m drooling just remembering it. Anyway, forget the pudding kid. Now, you have every qualification to be a conductor, but your destiny is not in this world. It’s in another one called Symphonia. The birthmark on your hand and your special eye symbolize your blessing from Apollo, and he needs your help. What do you say? The world is filled with music, and someone like you would probably find it way more enjoyable than this one.”
???. “He is correct, Master. You should do as he says and go to Symphonia where all shall be explained.”
Itsuki: “Huh, a voice in my head is telling me to go…wait what! There’s a voice in my head!”
???. “Quiet down Master. I do not wish for Hermes to find out about me. Please trust me for now, and I will explain everything after we arrive in Symphonia.”
For some odd reason, I could feel no deception or harmful intentions coming from the voice, so I chose to remain calm and do as she said. However, a new world huh…That is definitely going to be interesting. I do not have anything tying me to this world any longer, so how about we jump head first into the unknown?
Itsuki: “Deal. I’ll go, but I would like to ask a favor before I do.”
Hermes: “Sure thing. That was nice and fast. You sir just bought me an extra day of vacation. I thought it’d take another day for an answer. ”
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Itsuki: “Can you make the Rosseni family pay for what they have done? I don’t particularly mind losing a competition, but they are degrading what music stands for by using money to fix the results.”
Hermes: “Done and done. Even if you didn’t ask, I was going to do something anyway. Happy trip kid, and I’ll catch you later.”
Immediately, a golden circle appeared below Itsuki’s feet, and he disappeared inside a resplendent light. Once the light faded away, a chime sounded, signifying the announcement of the results. The chime instantly put a smile on Hermes’s face as he shouted with glee: “Time to show these Rossenis up, and start my gaming shopping spree!”
An overwhelming number of people packed the auditorium, anxiously awaiting the appearance of the mysterious new conductor that stole their hearts. Eric Rosseni was seated in the front, unabashedly exalting his own skills, fully confident in his victory. Simon Rosseni, Eric’s uncle, was the man in charge of the results, and thus he would be conferring the awards to the winners of the competition.
Simon Rosseni: I congratulate everyone on their efforts here today, and I will now start the awards ceremony. In 3rd place, Peter Stainwell. In 2nd place, John Stamos. Finally, in 1st place, the winner of the competition is none other than Eric Rosseni!”
The audience gasped and was immediately confounded. How did these three young men defeat the marvelous maestro that was number 9? Simon Rosseni was laughing inwardly. The foolish audience will initially doubt the decision, but they will just eventually accept the result under the notion that I, a renowned music critic, knew more about music than them. However, a mischievous god in the audience was not so kind to allow this to end so easily.
Hermes shouted: “I thought number 9 was a better conductor than that snob on stage! What a farce! They’re both Rossenis, so could it have been rigged?”
After those words reverberated in the auditorium, there was just stunned silence. Who just said that? Could it be true? Sparks were flying in the audience, and the temperature in the room was definitely rising because of it. At least, Simon Rosseni thought so as his forehead became drenched in sweat. The god of travelers knew that you increased a fire by fanning the flames, so what if he dropped gasoline on it?
Hermes again shouted: “What is that I see on stage? Is that a picture of our very own Simon Rosseni bribing the other judges with cash? Oh my!”
While Hermes was stubbornly trying to keep himself from as they say busting a gut, a projector screen was turned on, and the very moment at which Simon Rosseni was paying off the judges was seen clear as day. Mayhem ensued as the fervent audience seemed ready for a witch-hunt. This scandal led to the downfall of the Rosseni name, as the amount of bad press shattered their reputation, and both Simon and Eric Rosseni never took the spotlight ever again.
No one thereafter could find any news on the identity of the mysterious conductor number 9, and he became a legend to all musicians.
Hermes, however, finally done with his mission, flew straight to the nearest game store to stock up on his favorite games. Mount Olympus may be the home of the gods and all, but it can get dull. Ever since Ares sealed Apollo away, no one really smiles anymore. We can’t stand against him since he is way too strong, so all the gods and goddesses stay cooped up in their rooms, waiting for the day Apollo gets freed. For Hermes, Earth games were the best. His current addiction was Fire Emblem. Knowing that he arrived at Earth just in time for the newest release, he could almost kiss Artemis for sending him! Almost.
Hermes: “Ah the new Fire Emblem. I wonder if I can make a similar game for the gods and goddesses back in Symphonia. Hell, for them, I might as well make incest possible considering some of the gods love that. Well whatever. Games gotten! Time to go find something for Cassandra….”
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By the way, I am officially changing the Louvre kingdom to the Romanzen kingdom so that all the kingdoms have their apparent musical period embedded somehow in the name. I'll edit the prologue as well.