When the light faded, Rex expected another concert hall or smoky jazz club.
Instead, there was… nothing.
No instruments.
No teachers.
Just an endless white plain stretching out in every direction.
He turned slowly, frowning. "Okay, System, either this is the world's laziest music lesson or I've officially broken the simulation."
No answer. Not even static.
Then, faintly…barely audible…a sound rippled through the air.
Not a note.
Not even a hum.
Just the softest breath of wind, like someone exhaling at the edge of existence.
And from that silence, a woman appeared.
She wasn't glowing or dressed like an old master. She looked… normal. Simple white dress, bare feet, hair loosely tied. Her face was calm, but her eyes were deep…so deep they felt older than the System itself.
She smiled at him gently, like she'd been waiting.
"Welcome, Rex," she said. "You've learned to hear sound. Now, you'll learn to hear silence."
He blinked. "Silence? That's… not really a musical skill."
