Chapter 629: A New Melody |
As a “creative musician” who often traveled through various districts of Dordogne to listen to the soul melodies of different groups, Janna would most of the time use the Psychology Concealment spell to hide her presence.
Just like today, while composing music in the Kumish District, Janna had already cast Psychology Concealment in advance, so no one had noticed her existence.
Until just now—because she was drawn by Annie’s soul melody—Janna removed the Psychology Concealment spell and took the initiative to communicate with her, in order to understand the emotions contained behind that melody.
As Janna’s understanding of the emotions hidden within Annie’s soul melody deepened, she also resonated with it. In the end, like a wandering bard, she no longer cared whether the current setting was appropriate, directly taking out her instrument and preparing to perform a piece for Annie on the spot.
Such behavior would have been almost impossible for Janna in the past.
After all, Janna, who had long been accustomed to concealing her emotions, would, no matter how moved she was, only use her Muscle Control talent to hide them, never revealing even the slightest bit to outsiders.
However, as Janna continuously practiced the Way of Nature, and intentionally allowed her emotions to become more outward rather than constantly confining herself within the persona of “having to be perfect,” her mindset gradually began to change.
Especially as she kept using her 【Soul Listening】 talent to listen to the countless melodies of the world, her previous “utilitarian mindset” quietly faded away, replaced instead by a rare sense of ease and purity.
To record purely, to create purely—to listen if she liked it, and to ignore it if she didn’t.
……
“Ding—dong—”
Clear and crisp harp sounds flowed continuously from Janna’s fingertips. The residents of the Kumish District who had discovered her presence gathered around this famous star, whispering excitedly among themselves.
Among them, the most excited person was the plump middle-aged woman wearing an oil-stained apron—Mary.
The moment she recognized Janna’s identity, Mary—who had only recently become a devoted fan—began trembling with excitement.
“It really is Miss Janna! If Ellie were here, she’d be so excited she might faint!”
Ellie was Mary’s daughter, eleven years old this year. Due to going out for something, she happened not to be home today.
As a fellow devoted fan of Janna, Ellie constantly paid attention to Janna’s movements. Whether it was news reports or stage performances, as long as it was related to Janna, Ellie would always learn about it at the first opportunity.
Unfortunately, due to her family’s financial situation, Ellie had never been able to attend a live performance at the Nightingale Opera Troupe. She could only repeatedly admire Janna’s elegance through blurry, pirated crystal recording orbs.
Fortunately, on the day the cassette of 《The Angel’s Symphony》 was released, Ellie managed to queue up and buy her very first cassette. She even received a cassette player as a bonus—something only the first hundred buyers could obtain.
After getting the cassette, Ellie treasured it dearly, repeatedly listening to the beautiful melodies at home. Because of her love for the three pieces in 《The Angel’s Symphony》, she also became fascinated with the harp as an instrument.
However, the price of a harp was far too expensive. Knowing her family could not afford it, Ellie only indulged in a bit of imagination and never truly dared to dream of learning it.
Yet, by chance, one day while cleaning, Mary accidentally turned on Ellie’s cassette player.
As a middle-aged woman who had grown up in the lower districts and, after marriage, was forced by circumstances to move to Dordogne with her husband—relying on odd jobs to barely make ends meet—Mary had never been exposed to such things before.
So, when she accidentally turned on the cassette player, she didn’t even know how to turn it off. She simply let it keep playing and ignored it.
However, as 《The Angel’s Symphony》 continued to play, Mary gradually stopped her work, becoming drawn to the melody.
Before coming to Dordogne, Mary had actually been a very devout believer, going to church almost every week to pray. But after moving here, that habit was gradually replaced by her busy life, and even her heart became increasingly numb.
Yet, for some reason, when she listened to the melodies from the cassette, her once calm heart began to ripple again. Memories of the lower districts started flashing through her mind.
Still, having long been worn down by life, even after listening to the first piece, 《Holy Light》, Mary only felt a slight sense of emotion—no deep nostalgia, nor any intention to return to her faith.
Just as she was about to pick up her mop and resume cleaning, the second piece, 《The Fallen Angel》, began playing, interrupting her movement once again.
As the music flowed, Mary suddenly felt that everything around her had become extraordinarily quiet, leaving only the melody in her ears—softening her once numb heart…
……
“Ding—dong—”
With the crisp sound of the harp, Mary’s drifting thoughts gradually returned. Her gaze then fixed unwaveringly on Janna in the distance, unwilling to move away.
“I never thought that in my lifetime I’d have the chance to hear Miss Janna perform live… I just wonder which piece from 《The Angel’s Symphony》 she’s going to play this time.”
Just as Mary was wondering which piece Janna would play next, a cheerful melody—completely different from the three movements of 《The Angel’s Symphony》—flowed out from the Strings of Frotenas like a clear stream formed from melting snow, instantly refreshing the spirits of everyone present.
“Could this be… a new melody?”