Jack Night's Lightning Hoverbike hummed softly as it stopped on the small hill. Jack and Reina sat comfortably on top of the bike.
Below them, the Nameless Valley stretched. It wasn't much to look at. A long, grey expanse of ground. Sparsely dotted with gnarled, wind-beaten trees that clung stubbornly to life. The air tasted dry and earthy.
But Jack wasn't looking at the barren valley floor. His keen and analytical gaze was fixed on the sky. There, floated an island. Suspended impossibly above the dreary landscape.
It was not a completely natural landmass. It was a meticulously sculpted garden. Vibrant and lush. A riot of greens and flowering colors that stood out like a precious jewel against a backdrop of pale sky.
It shimmered. Enveloped in a translucent, almost invisible forcefield barrier. This was the Symphony Garden. One of the famed Ten Transcendent Havens for Art.
Jack observed it meticulously. It was much more impressive compared to the Tale Mansion. Another one of the Ten Transcendent Havens for Art Jack had seen before.
"Is that's it, Love? The Symphony Garden?" Jack asked.
Reina, perched gracefully behind him, nodded. Her long black hair was whipping gently in the wind.
Rune, the tiny mechanical fairy, flitted silently by Jack's ear. Its gears were whirring almost imperceptibly as it observed the spectacle.
"Indeed, Dear." Reina confirmed. Her voice was melodious even over the hoverbike's faint thrum. "My inquiries confirm the barrier. Entry is exclusive. One must possess a Symphony Token."
She gestured towards the valley floor below. Where hundreds of figures were already gathered. Their camps were a patchwork of makeshift shelters and colorful tents.
The scale was impressive. This wasn't just a local gathering. Transcendent individuals from across the region had converged here. Perhaps even from outside the region.
Jack brought the hoverbike down with practiced ease. Its anti-gravity runes flared briefly before settling onto the dusty ground. He recalled it to his System Inventory.
The customized Lightning Hoverbike shrinking and disappeared with a faint shimmer. Jack, in his tough, imposing human form, looked out over the burgeoning encampment.
Jack reviewed his group's appearance briefly. Ensuring there would be no problem with them at all. He didn't want to attract trouble.
In this incarnation, Jack was a muscular man. Broad-shouldered with a no-nonsense demeanor. Clad in practical, black attire that hinted at hidden protections.
Reina, by his side, was an elegant counterpoint. The movements of her slender body was fluid. Her gaze was sharp yet serene as she took in the crowd.
Rune zipped around them. A tiny, curious observer.
"Tokens first, then." Jack stated. Already moving. "Lead the way, Love. You have better intel on the specifics."
They descended the gentle slope. The dust crunched under Jack's heavy boots. The valley floor was a hive of activity. Fires crackled.
Hawkers peddled their wares. Mostly food and simple camping gear. But Jack spotted a few specialized musical instruments. And sheet music. They were being offered by more ambitious vendors.
The air in this place was thick with anticipation. The murmur of hundreds of conversations. And the occasional burst of practice music. A reedy flute. A plucked lute. Or a voice trying to hit a high note. Each carried a tinge of transcendent energy.
These weren't common folk. All of them were people from transcendent classes. Their aura hung heavy in the air.
Mystic Scholars, Supernatural Sorcerers, Divine Acolytes, Eldritch Warlocks, and other transcendent classes... All gathered for a shot at a Blessing of Symphony.
Navigating the crowd was uncomplicated for Jack. His sheer presence. Combined with Reina's subtle, almost imperceptible illusionary nudges... They easily cleared a path.
Most people gave them a wide berth. Sensing the latent power. Or perhaps simply intimidated by Jack's imposing physique. And the quiet confidence radiating from Reina.
It wasn't long before they found the source of the tokens. A buzz of concentrated activity. Louder and more focused than the general noise... It drew them in.
There, standing proudly amidst a temporary clearing, was a statue. It depicted a satyr. Not the usual mischievous, goat-legged dwarven creature. But a tall, handsome one. One with serene focus. Its marble fingers seemed like plucking phantom strings from a finely carved violin.
Around this statue, people were performing. Some sang with practiced ease. Others wrestled with instruments. Flutes, lutes, percussions, even some more exotic devices Jack didn't recognize.
Different music clashed against each other. Struggling for dominance. Creating a riot of concert that was not really that nice to hear.
Every so often, a performer would finish. A look of hopeful tension on their face. Then, if they passed, a small, disc-shaped object would suddenly materialize in front of them. Glowing with soft light.
When that happened, a joyous yell would be heard. A fist pumped into the air. And these successful one would move away. Making room for the next hopeful. This was it. The entry requirement.
"So, the statue judges." Jack observed. His [Eyes of Judgement] were tracing the subtle magical currents around the marble figure.
"Not just talent, but also intent, resonance… a magical algorithm." He smirked. "Good. A problem with parameters. But, the requirement was not that high."
Reina nodded. Her dark eyes reflecting the light from a nearby campfire. "Indeed. My source stated it required similar yet not-as-high quality 'touching music' as the garden. Many would succeed here. But the one who gained the blessing? None had done it in the last 300 years, Dear."
Jack reached into his Spatial Bag. With a soft sound, his custom-made guitar materialized in his hands.
It wasn't a standard acoustic instrument. This was a creation of his own design. A fusion of art and steamrune engineering.
The body was carved from a dark, resonant wood. Inlaid with intricate brass gears and glowing runes that pulsed faintly with captured energy.
The neck was smooth. Crafted for speed and precision. And the strings hummed with an almost supernatural clarity.
His engineering background, combined with his enhanced dexterity, decent tools, and understanding of vibrational physics, made crafting such an instrument pretty easy. A straightforward project that could be completed in just several hours.
Jack found a relatively clear spot near the periphery of the satyr statue's influence. Enough to be heard. But not directly in the path of the more aggressive performers.
He settled down. Cross-legged on a flat stone. The guitar resting comfortably on his lap.
Reina sat gracefully beside him. Her presence was a calming anchor amidst the clamor.
Rune perched silently on Jack's shoulder.
"Let's try Valley of Joy! Ready, Love?" Jack asked.
His fingers were already dancing over the fretboard. Plucking a few experimental chords. The notes rang out. Clear and true. Cutting through the background noise for a moment.
Reina smiled. A gentle, reassuring curve of her lips. "Always, Dear."
Jack took a breath. He wasn't aiming for technical perfection. Not yet. He was aiming for a connection. For resonance.
He'd composed this song just two days ago. A simple, catchy tune he had dubbed 'Valley of Joy'. He had always believed in the power of simplicity. A direct emotional appeal.
It used the chords from the royal road progression. The system that many pop songwriters used in his previous life.
The lyric was not complicated either. It was about finding happiness in the mundane world. A common theme that resonated with many.
His fingers began to move. A simple, inviting rhythm. Reina's voice joined in. A clear, sweet soprano that seemed to weave itself into the guitar's melody.
"Grey skies above, and dust on the ground,
Another long day, with no comfort found.
The wind whispers tales of places unkind,
Let's leave the worries and burdens behind.
Our footsteps are light, though the path is rough,
Walking together, we're more than enough."
Reina's voice flowed vibrantly amidst the melodic notes. Pure and clear. Effortlessly drowning nearby noises.
And then, Jack's deep voice joined in for the chorus.
"Oh, the Valley of Joy,
a dreary old place.
But with you by my side,
a smile on my face.
Forget the hard work,
the worries so deep.
In this valley of joy,
secrets we'll keep."
Reina's lone voice took to the stage again. Still vibrant, pure, and clear.
"The campfire flickers, a beacon so bright,
Chasing the shadows that lengthen at night.
Simple provisions, a story or two,
Making new memories, just me and you.
No grand expeditions, no riches to find,
Just peace in our hearts, and joy in our mind."
Jack's deep voice joined hers again for the repeated chorus.
"Oh, the Valley of Joy,
a dreary old place.
But with you by my side,
a smile on my face.
With laughter and song,
we'll make it our home.
No matter how far,
or how much we roam."
Jack had a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips. He kept the rhythm steady. His fingers were moving with fluid expertise.
He even added a few subtle flourishes with the inscribed runes on his guitar. An underlying current of resonance that elevated the simple tune.
Reina caught the tune and started singing the next part. But it was different this time. The note rises. Her voice soared high. The Bridge.
"The world keeps on turning, with battles to fight,
But here in this moment, everything's right.
Just simple contentment, a truth we embrace,
Finding the beauty in this desolate space.
So strum that tiny strings,
Let our voices ring true!
For this valley of joy,
is waiting for you!"
As Reina's voice soared, a ripple went through the nearby crowd then. One by one, the other performers, initially intent on their own struggles, faltered. A reedy flute stopped mid-note. A gruff bass voice trailed off.
Heads turned. Jack and Reina's deceptively simple song was imbued with genuine warmth and a raw, almost primal joy. It began to draw them in.
"Oh, the Valley of Joy,
a dreary old place.
But with you by my side,
a smile on my face.
Forget the hard work,
the worries so deep.
In this valley of joy,
secrets we'll keep."
The melody was undeniably catchy. The lyrics easy to follow. A narrative of finding light in a desolate place. A theme that resonated deeply with the current surroundings.
A few nearby transcendent people were initially just listening. But then, they found themselves tapping their feet.
Then, a man with a heavy beard and a surprisingly gentle expression began to clap softly. Following the beat. Soon, others joined in. A growing chorus of rhythmic applause.
Jack and Reina repeated the chorus. When Reina reached the first line, her voice clear and inviting. Many of the audience were caught up in the mood. They began to sing along.
"Oh, the Valley of Joy,
a dreary old place.
But with you by my side,
a smile on my face.
With laughter and song,
we'll make it our home.
No matter how far,
or how much we roam."
The multiple voices boomed together. Most of the audience's voices were rougher than Reina's but full of unexpected enthusiasm. The sound swelled, turning into an impromptu communal performance.
"Oh, the Valley of Joy,
a dreary old place.
But with you by my side,
a smile on my face.
Forget the hard work,
the worries so deep.
In this valley of joy,
secrets we'll keep."
By the final chorus, a significant portion of the surrounding crowd wasn't just listening. They were participating.
The valley, for a brief moment, shed its dreariness. And became a stage for shared, unbridled enjoyment. The sense of competition faded. Replaced by shared camaraderie. It was a testament to the song's simple power. And to the raw, heartfelt delivery of Jack and Reina.
The final notes of the guitar faded. And Reina's voice gently hummed the last line. A profound silence descended on their immediate vicinity.
Then, a collective cheer erupted. Spontaneous and genuine. People clapped. A few were even wiping away a tear. The impact was undeniable.
Just as the applause began to peak, two distinct flashes of golden light materialized in the air directly in front of Jack and Reina. Suspended there were two small, elegant disks. Shimmering with a soft glow.
They were perfectly round. Embossed with a swirling musical note. And the delicate image of a blooming flower. Symphony Tokens.