The thought of having to stand there all day made Lux feel numb.
Fortunately, Klein's ancient wisdom really did work; after a moment of thought, he proposed an unconventional method.
"Why don't you go chat with Sona about playing musical instruments? I know a little about how to play this ancient Ionian musical instrument."
"What good is it if you know!" Lux looked confused. "I can't play an ancient musical instrument—"
"It's fine, me knowing means you know." Klein quickly formulated a complete plan. "This ancient musical instrument is a magical item; others can't play it, but you can."
"A magical item?" Lux never expected it. "Can it talk too?"
"Please do not use me as a general standard for 'magical items,'" Klein said somewhat helplessly. "I am a Darkin—though you might not know what that means, in short, normal magical items are not like this."
"Even if I can control magical items, I can't play music!" Lux said helplessly. "Although I've heard concerts, I haven't learned any of this..."
"Relax, all you need to do is hook your fingers." Klein was clearly prepared. "Just treat it like a music game; I'll tell you which finger, and you hook the corresponding string. I won't trick you!"
"How exactly do I do it?" Lux was skeptical. "You tell me which finger, and I move that finger?"
"Exactly," Klein replied affirmatively. "Ionian ancient musical instruments have ten strings, corresponding to each finger. I tell you to pluck that finger, and you pluck that string!"
"But—don't I need to press the strings?" Lux still felt unsure. "I've seen harps; when plucking a harp, you also need to press the strings, and the timing and technique of plucking also have requirements..."
"You don't know how to do this; as long as you lean me against the etwahl, I'll take care of this part," Klein said, taking charge. "Don't worry, I can play Ionian ancient musical instruments!"
"So I'll borrow Sona's musical instrument? Is that impolite?" Lux blinked. "She really cares about that musical instrument..."
"You're not borrowing the musical instrument to leave; you're inviting Sona to play a duet!" Klein corrected. "A duet, playing one musical instrument... Let's play 'Hymn of Valor in G Major.' I saw that score before and memorized it for fun. You just need to tell Sona to help you play the chords."
"Chords? What are those?" Lux was even more confused. "Are they a specific string?"
"Chords are not strings..." Klein subconsciously wanted to explain, but realizing it couldn't be simply explained, he skipped the topic. "You haven't studied music theory, so I can't explain these clearly, but it's not important. Sona will definitely know, just tell her."
"Wait, are you saying Sona and I will play together?" Lux finally realized Klein's meaning. "How is that possible? An ancient musical instrument isn't an organ; how can two people play it together? We'll interfere with each other!"
"I can solve this problem. Anyway, no one here understands the fingerings of an ancient musical instrument. At most, they'll think Sona is helping you press the strings, and you're responsible for plucking!" Klein offered a solution. "No time left, now, starting from your left pinky as one, left ring finger as two, and so on, until your right pinky is ten. Got it?"
"Uh... Got it!"
"Now try, three-three-six-four-five, one-seven-two-six-three!"
According to Klein, Lux emotionlessly hooked her fingers.
"Very good, just like that, two more notes—"
"..."
"..."
And so, without anyone knowing, before Sona came over with her adoptive parents to Lux, Lux and Klein had a last-minute rehearsal.
Lux didn't know what a music game was, and she had no idea that Klein's "idiot-proof teaching" actually overlooked many important parts. She didn't even understand music theory, completely unaware of fingerings or chords.
But trusting Klein, she decided to give it a try.
........
Soon, Sona arrived with her adoptive parents to Lux, and the ladies and young women of various families were gathered around them, exchanging pleasantries—Sona, unable to speak, simply maintained a smile.
After silently taking a deep breath and going over her lines one more time, Lux finally spoke up.
"Uncle Buvelle—congratulations to the Buvelle Family on gaining another musician!"
Hearing Lux's words, Barrett Buvelle's face broke into a smile. Although he was a top Demacian noble and a close friend and confidential advisor to Jarvan III, personally, he preferred to be called an artist.
Nobility was work, music was life.
Lux's compliment precisely hit Barrett's sweet spot, so he gave a hearty smile and modestly said, "I'm merely an amateur; my little Sona started playing the musical instrument at three. She'll surely go much further than me on the path of music in the future!"
"Then, future master performer." Lux immediately seized the opportunity, extending her arm towards Sona. "Sister Sona, may I have the honor of performing a duet with you?"
Lux's sudden attack caught Sona off guard. She held her ancient musical instrument and hesitated for a moment, seemingly searching for a polite way to refuse. However, when Lux's waist-worn sword seemingly brushed against the ancient musical instrument, Sona finally couldn't help but widen her eyes.
The next moment, just as all the surrounding nobles were wondering why the usually polite Crownguard little princess would make such a somewhat brash suggestion, and thinking about how to defuse the awkward atmosphere, Sona nodded.
She agreed!
Although the surrounding nobles were extremely surprised, they quickly cleared an area. The surprised and delighted Barrett simply personally brought over a musical instrument stand and two chairs—though from an etiquette perspective, he was a little displeased with Lux's abruptness, but seeing Sona agree and even actively link arms with Lux, that displeasure instantly turned into immense joy.
Barrett knew very well that if Sona could truly perform a duet with Lux here, and even become friends, it would greatly help her integrate into Demacia's noble circles later!
This was the Crownguard Family's little princess; her presence and witness today represented the Crownguard Family!
Even if the Buvelle Family's status was no less than the Crownguard Family's, this friendship, witnessed by all present nobles, was still extremely precious!
Soon, a simple performance stage was set up. Throughout the hall, all the nobles, regardless of what they were thinking, tacitly closed their mouths. The entire hall was silent—speaking up and interrupting at this moment could very likely offend two top nobles directly, and no one would seek trouble at this time.
Under everyone's gaze, Lux was actually still a bit nervous, but with Klein's encouragement, she still smiled and said in a perfectly modulated voice, "Sister Sona, I heard you just arrived in Demacia not long ago. You must not be very familiar with the music here, so I'll play the main melody, and you help me press the strings and play the chords, how about it?"
"..."
Sona didn't speak, but her slender fingers already glided across the strings with incredible dexterity, leaving a string of beautiful notes, and at the same time, she nodded.
"Then... let's play 'Hymn of Valor in G Major'!" Seeing everything going according to Klein's script, Lux finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. "My playing isn't very good, Sister Sona, please help me a lot!"
Saying that, Lux took a deep breath and, almost synchronously with Sona, tied her long hair into a high ponytail that wouldn't interfere with playing, then extended her arm, naturally but not at all standardly placing her fingers on the strings.
Hymn of Valor in G Major, performance begins!
........
"Hymn of Valor in G Major" is a familiar tune to Demacians.
This piece, derived from a battle song, is the most classic work by Demacian composer Dobe. A thousand years ago, the ancestors of Demacians hummed the tune of this song, breaking through thorns and thistles, all the way to this land protected by petricite trees.
After that, generation after generation of Demacians fought enemies from various regions, inspired by this song—Demacia had no concept of a national anthem, but this Hymn of Valor was almost like a national anthem to Demacians.
And now, in the Buvelle Family's hall, this passionate and inspiring piece was being played by two nine-year-old girls on the Ionian ancient musical instrument, etwahl.
Unlike the version played by the orchestra in the Golden Hall, this version of the score was relatively simple, with no other instruments accompanying it—in fact, Lux's playing level was quite poor; her fingers were quite stiff. If the ancient musical instrument etwahl wasn't a magical item, its strings would have broken eight times by now.
The wrong place, the wrong people, the wrong musical instrument, yet it produced astonishing results.
It was precisely because of Lux's stiff plucking that this version of the Hymn of Valor gained an indescribable power.
It was precisely because the hall was not as large as a concert hall that the sound of the ancient musical instrument could resonate in everyone's ears like a soul's chant.
If the symphonic version of the Hymn of Valor was Inspire, then this version of the Hymn of Valor was more like a praise of Courage!
The strings under Lux's fingers twanged with a metallic sound. The main melody she played, like her golden hair, represented the Demacian's golden, fearless heart.
Sona played the musical instrument, pressing the strings with flowing grace, perfectly complementing Lux. The chords she played, like her hair color, were like the highest good, like water, nourishing all things silently.
Lux's main melody was the fearless warriors on the battlefield, working together, clad in armor, advancing and retreating together.
Sona's chords were the countless support groups who, though not physically on the battlefield, also fought for Demacia.
These people might be porters supplying provisions, blacksmiths forging weapons, herders managing livestock, or even wives and mothers waiting for their husbands or sons to return.
The moving power of the ancient musical instrument etwahl was fully unleashed by Klein, elevating the music's infectiousness to another level.
And the nobles present... which family didn't have a few warriors who sacrificed themselves for Demacia?
The vibrating strings stirred their emotions and also evoked their memories!
Ah, the Hymn of Valor they usually heard praised the warriors on the battlefield, but how many knew that the families behind the lines were just as worried?
Demacia had countless heroes.
And behind these heroes, there were also countless heroic mothers and heroic wives!
Pity the bones by the Wuding River, still people in the dreams of spring boudoirs!
When the piece reached its climax, many of the ladies and young women present couldn't help but have reddened eyes, even shedding tears. It was only when wiping away their tears that they suddenly realized that the two people playing the Hymn of Valor before them, one had just lost her uncle not long ago, and the other was about to lose her country...
This... this must be their heartfelt voice, right?
Until the end of the piece, throughout the entire hall, the sound of sobbing had become continuous. Many ladies and young women couldn't help but lower their heads, either covering their faces with folding fans or wiping the corners of their eyes with handkerchiefs.
It was only after a long while that applause, led by Barrett, gradually began, finally converging into a thunderous roar.
This was the most beautiful "Hymn of Valor in G Major" they had ever heard!
Amidst the thunderous applause, Lux finally came back to her senses—she blinked, seeing Sona's deep blue eyes, similar in color to her own, seemingly filled with concern.
Then, just as Lux was about to stand up, she "heard" Sona's voice.
"Are you alright?"
Sona could speak?
No!
She could hear Sona's thoughts, just as she could hear Klein's words!
Wait, Klein said he could communicate with her because of the flow of magic.
Then, if she could hear Sona's voice, didn't that mean Sona was also a natural mage?!
The amount of information was a bit overwhelming, so much so that Lux couldn't quite react. Fortunately, she had just completed an amazing duet with Sona, and seeing her motionless, the nobles would only assume she was immersed in the music.
After a long while, when Lux finally understood everything, she once again took Sona's hand, slightly raised her head, and met Sona's gentle eyes with a determined gaze.
Lux didn't speak.
But Sona also heard Lux's voice: "I want to talk to you."
"Okay," Sona replied without hesitation. "Right now, we can go to my bedroom!"
The next moment, as if in a soul-resonant understanding, both pairs of deep blue eyes narrowed simultaneously. The two little girls, hand in hand, carrying the ancient musical instrument together, left the hall.