Ding ding ding, ding ding ding.
The sound of church bells echoed with the wind, as if the entire city of Paris bowed at the feet of the band, joining in the grand performance that soared to the heavens.
Sunlight. A breeze. Noise. Heat.
Everything was like a spotlight, focused entirely on Anson.
Time pressed pause.
The crowd stopped in its tracks; cars turned off their engines; and in apartments, cafes, bakeries, and fruit shops, bustling figures appeared and stood still, all eyes instinctively drawn in the same direction. The entire world seemed to revolve around Anson, spinning rapidly.
"A fierce and bitter wind sweeps through, scattering the heavy clouds that trapped me in darkness. Crumbling ruins mark the fall of tradition, the world can hardly believe I'm no longer who I once was."
"The rebel army waits eagerly for the day I ascend the guillotine, like a puppet hanging limp and lonely. Ah. Who ever longed to be worshiped by the masses?" (Note 1)
Pauline shuddered.
"Who-Would-Ever-Want-To-Be-King?"
Wait, isn't this Louis XVI?
The last king before the restoration of the French Bourbon dynasty, before he became just another speck of dust swept away by the relentless wheels of history. He once had it all. He once stood at the peak. He was once a real, vivid soul who had to suppress his true self, but in the end, he could not.
Bang.
The melody surged.
The singing burst forth.
It was clear that Anson's voice was stronger, more powerful, with an energy that exploded amid the grandeur of the instruments.
"Hear the bells of Jerusalem ringing, the Roman cavalry's song echoes across the mountains and seas. My mirror, my sword, and shield—my missionaries stand beyond the borders."
"For reasons I can't let go, once you leave here, you'll never hear harsh truths again. And this will be the era of my reign."
With just one look, Camilla could see Anson's smile bloom—a radiant, stunning smile that dimmed the entire world.
Thump.
Camilla's heart skipped a beat. She didn't even notice, holding her breath as she gazed—
Anson's fingers pressed the guitar strings, stopping the music, and he turned to look at Miles.
It wasn't just Anson; Lily and Connor did the same.
Pauline was completely frozen, her body stiff. Instinctively, she followed the band members' gaze towards Miles.
The spotlight fell on Miles.
Miles remained focused, his expression unchanged.
But if you looked closely, you could see that his eyes were filled with stars and seas, burning with passion and excitement, as if his very soul had poured into the bow of his violin.
Thump, thump, thump. Thump, thump, thump.
Miles's bow struck the violin strings with restraint yet force, capturing the beat's rhythm as clearly as if it were drums.
Tension and release, light and agile.
The haunting melody flowed through the air, mysterious in its stillness, sending shivers up the arms of those present.
With just an eight-count, Anson's voice returned through the microphone.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh…"
Softly humming, as gentle as water, like a whisper in the quiet of the night.
It was hard to imagine that such a grand, majestic song could have such a fragile and moving moment, as if one could see a bard walking through dense fog, humming through the valleys, quietly telling the vast and lonely story of history.
Then, Anson lightly tapped the guitar's body with his left hand, the sharp sound of palm against wood, like a drumbeat, awakening the rhythm hidden in the cello's melody.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh…"
Next came Connor, with a deep and magnetic bass line that immediately caught the ear. The song's layers grew richer, grounding the floating soul—
Falling freely, the fierce wind roared in their ears.
Then Lily joined in, her keyboard playing sharp and rhythmic, striking out a cadence with her body. Even without a drum set, you could still feel the structure of the melody, the rhythm always present—
The world became richer, more three-dimensional, unfolding in the mind's eye.
As if God was creating a world.
There were mountains and seas, forests and streams, animals and life.
From nothing to something, a universe was born in the mind, and deep within the soul, a feeling began to stir, ready to break free.
Yet, something was still missing.
But it was impossible to say what exactly.
That elusive feeling, just out of reach, lodged in the throat, itching.
In her sight, Lily, Connor, and Miles exchanged glances, their expressions brimming with joy and freedom. Even if their lips didn't smile, the happiness in their eyes and brows overflowed, pouring into the music.
Finally, the three looked toward Anson.
Ha.
Anson's smile bloomed fully, and he suddenly propped up his right leg, resting the guitar on it, using the base of his right palm to—
Strike forcefully.
The sound of "pa pa pa" transformed into "boom boom boom."
A powerful force.
The drums appeared, as if by magic, awakening the rhythm hidden within the melodies of the cello, keyboard, and bass. All the rhythms came to life.
Thus, the sleeping dragon had a spine, slowly rising to its feet, towering above the bustling ants below.
The music came alive.
Singing filled the air, "Oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh!"
Not just Anson, but Lily, Connor, and Miles joined in too, "Oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh!"
Blood surged, passion roared.
The dragon not only had bones but now flesh, as it let out a mighty roar toward the sky.
Shockwaves poured down from above.
Pauline stared in disbelief, her brain completely short-circuited, utterly incapable of thought:
Who am I, where am I, what am I doing?
But none of that mattered anymore, because a voice deep within her soul called out, stirring.
Pauline turned to her friend, Camilla, who was laughing—laughing so brightly, as if she had never been hurt. She raised both hands high, clapping to the rhythm while jumping in place, letting her whole body and soul resonate with Anson's performance, making her beats part of the show.
And she sang out loud, "Oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh!"
She wasn't just watching the show; she had become part of it.
And Camilla wasn't the only one.
Looking around, the entire bustling street corner—one, two, three, four, five people—everyone had merged into the melody.
Jumping. Clapping. Singing.
Boom boom boom! Boom boom boom!
The rhythm, though a little chaotic at first, soon synced after just two eight-counts, merging into one solid force, bursting forth with a power that blotted out the sun.
The entire world dimmed.
Listen, that was the cry and roar from the depths of the soul.
"Oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh!"
The whole scene vibrated, resonating under the vast sky.
Pauline was stunned—utterly stunned. She felt an indescribable thrill, her scalp tingling, and before she realized it, she too was jumping and singing along.
As she sang, a smile naturally spread across her lips.
So this was what happiness felt like—pure and intense, exploding in her chest, and in the blink of an eye, it was like electricity surging through her entire body.