After the brief silence.
"Then let's use that name!"
Lux was the first to approve it. But after thinking about it, she asked curiously, "Why did you suddenly decide to use Jan'ahrem as the band name?"
"Of course, it was according to your logic."
Luke smiled slightly and brought out Miss Crownguard's own theory from before. "Since we came to Piltover and Zaun, we naturally have to build a good relationship with the local goddess. That way, maybe we can receive her protection."
This explanation greatly satisfied Miss Crownguard. She nodded. "Not bad, not bad. Then we'll use this name."
The other girls also expressed no objections. And just like that, the band's name was confirmed.
Jan'ahrem, which also had another meaning, guardian.
"Now that the band has been established, next we need to solve the instrument problem."
As Luke spoke, he stood up, stretched lazily, and looked at Seraphine. "Let's go. Take me to visit your parents."
Then he suddenly remembered something and added, "Right. For the next while, I'll also have to trouble you to teach Lux and Orianna how to use the guitar and bass. For convenience, my suggestion is that you all temporarily live together."
"Live... together?"
Seraphine froze for a moment.
Luke nodded. "That's right. This way, you can also build chemistry. Of course, if you two mind, then there's no need."
Living together was just for convenience.
But Piltover was not especially large either, so it was not that inconvenient.
The first thing Seraphine thought of at this moment was that if they lived together, would that not mean she could get closer to Sona?
Thinking that she could live under the same roof as her idol, Seraphine could not help feeling tempted.
And not only Sona, everyone else would be there too.
Although she had the impulse to agree on the spot, Seraphine still held herself back. "This... I'm afraid I'd need my parents' permission."
Orianna also said, "Same here."
"That's easy enough. Orianna, go back and ask first."
Luke nodded slightly, then said, "I'll go with Seraphine to her house and come back later."
"Okay."
And so, Luke took Seraphine out of the shop.
After stepping outside, he thought for a moment and said, "I forgot to ask earlier. Where is your house?"
Seraphine timidly followed diagonally behind Luke and answered in a small voice, "It's about two long streets from here."
"That's not far. Let's walk."
Luke calculated that it would probably only take about half an hour.
"Okay."
Seraphine nodded, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
Luke walked ahead, glanced back at her, and said, "I'm not taking you off to sell you. Why are you so afraid of me?"
"No, no... It's just that I feel..."
Seraphine hurriedly waved her hands. She wanted to say something, but could not get the words out, and her cheeks quickly flushed red.
When there were a lot of people around, she was a little better. But once there were fewer people, and it was just her and Luke, she did not know what to do.
Perhaps because Luke was a prince, Seraphine really did lack confidence in front of him.
"Anyway, don't be so stiff. You lead the way."
Luke laughed softly, easing the awkwardness.
"Okay." Seraphine obediently walked in front and led Luke toward her home.
Along the way, she stared straight ahead, ignoring the pedestrians, sounds, and conversations on both sides of the street.
She looked as if she were separated from them by another world.
Seeing this, Luke said, "Do you know why I asked you to be the band's lead singer?"
Hearing this, Seraphine finally looked toward Luke. Confusion filled her bright blue eyes. "Why?"
To be honest, she truly wanted to know the answer to that question.
Luke smiled. "Because you have that kind of charm."
Hearing this, Seraphine was stunned, her eyes still puzzled.
So Luke spoke as he walked. "Some people are born with a special kind of presence, just like you."
"Lux and the others think what makes you special is that you can hear Sona's voice. But I saw something even more special in you. You are a kindhearted girl. Sona told me she likes you very much. Being able to listen to the voices in other people's hearts, that is where you shine."
"Lead singer doesn't just represent a position. It also represents the soul of a team, and it is indispensable. At the same time, that soul also has the charm to elevate the team and bring its members perfectly together."
"That kind of radiance shines from you. I believe that with you here, Jan'ahrem will definitely become popular all over Piltover, and maybe even all over Runeterra."
Luke casually and gently explained his thoughts.
But he did not notice that Seraphine, walking beside him, had long since gone red in the face. After hearing him out, she even began to doubt herself. "Am I really like His Highness said...?"
So this was how she appeared in this prince's heart?
"Right now, you may not even believe in yourself."
Luke seemed able to hear Seraphine's inner voice. "But believe me, Seraphine. Your future is bright. You were born to bring strength to countless people."
"But I..."
When Seraphine reached this point, she did not know what else to say.
Luke had already said so much. Was she supposed to keep belittling herself?
In truth, Luke's motivational speech had indeed taken effect. In short, Seraphine was starting to drink it in a little too much.
Although she did not think she was that amazing, she did feel as if she had found a goal.
She felt that what Luke had said, becoming the soul of a team, was what she now had to work hard to accomplish.
Looking at the pink-haired girl who had lowered her head, her eyes constantly flickering, Luke asked, "Do you like singing?"
Hearing this, Seraphine raised her head and answered without hesitation, "I do. Singing is my favorite thing."
Luke asked again, "Then do you like singing for other people?"
This question seemed somewhat tricky and immediately left Seraphine stunned.
Did she like singing for other people?
Did she like it?
Thinking carefully, she seemed to have rarely sung for other people, so she could not say whether she liked it or not.
But at that moment, several memories suddenly flashed through her mind.
It was when she was little. She had thought of a melody and excitedly sang it for her parents.
Her parents listened happily and praised her lavishly.
From then on, she had loved singing for her parents.
Sometimes the songs were things she made up on the spot. Sometimes they were songs she had heard somewhere. But without exception, every time, her parents would listen to the end patiently and expectantly.
From that time onward, she had completely fallen in love with singing.
Another scene flashed by.
She was lying beside the window, humming.
"Well now, what song is that, little Phiney?"
Such a familiar voice. When the face looking up from downstairs gradually became clear, she saw that it was Aunt Aneta, the neighbor who sold fruit.
Seraphine felt a little embarrassed after being heard and shrank her head back inside the window.
Aneta's sigh then sounded from below. "Business hasn't been going well lately."
She looked rather worried.
After hearing that, Seraphine poked her head out again and said softly, "The song I was singing just now was one I made up myself."
Aneta looked up again and smiled at her. "Can you sing it for me?"
"Okay."
After hesitating for a moment, Seraphine nodded.
She closed her eyes and began singing. Her young voice drifted out the window. The song was only a few dozen seconds long, because that was all she had thought of.
After singing, Seraphine opened her eyes and saw a joyful smile.
"That was beautiful. Thank you for cheering me up, little Phiney." Aneta suddenly seemed to regain her strength and said with renewed spirit, "So what if it's just some fruit? If I can't sell it, I'll eat it myself! I saved some of your favorite lychees for you. Come down and eat some later."
"Mm-hmm."
In that instant, Seraphine suddenly felt a kind of happiness she had never experienced before welling up inside her.
She remembered what it felt like to sing for other people.
Returning to the present, with the sounds of pedestrians, carriages, and horses passing by in her ears, she looked toward Luke beside her. "I like singing for other people."
Luke pressed further. "Why?"
Seraphine's little face flushed slightly, and she seemed a little embarrassed, but she still said, "Because I like seeing everyone smile when they hear my songs. I like when my singing can help everyone feel encouraged and happy."
As soon as these words left her mouth, Seraphine suddenly felt her whole body lighten.
It was as if something she had kept bottled up in her heart for a long time had finally been spoken aloud.
It was also as if some box had opened, making everything suddenly clear.
After spending these past few days together, in truth, no one knew that Seraphine liked singing.
But today, she told Luke.
Hearing this, Luke smiled and said, "Then it looks like making you the lead singer really was the right decision."
Seraphine instantly returned to her timid state. She hesitated. "Although... but..."
"Although we've decided to make you the lead singer, our lead singer can't be this timid and cowardly."
Luke picked up where she left off and looked Seraphine over. "As the soul of the team, if you keep going like this, we're doomed sooner or later."
"Doomed sooner or later?"
"It means we'll be finished eventually."
"Oh..."
Seraphine nodded and lowered her head.
Although she also wanted to stop being like this, changing all at once was far too difficult for her.
"So I'm going to temporarily change the plan."
After thinking for a moment, Luke made a decision. "In order to help you better adapt to your role, we'll start with street singing."
Seraphine suddenly had a bad feeling. "Street singing?"
"That's right. Starting now."
"Starting now?!"
Seraphine nearly fainted on the spot.
She had not even made the slightest bit of preparation yet.
Sure enough, Lux had not been wrong.
This prince really did whatever popped into his head!
At this moment, the thought of running suddenly appeared in Seraphine's heart.
But Luke saw through her idea at a glance and directly grabbed her like a little chick.
"Avoidance will never solve the problem, Seraphine. Take one step today, take another step tomorrow, and before long, you'll be a qualified lead singer."
"But... this is so sudden. Aren't we taking too big a step too quickly?"
Seraphine looked at Luke pitifully, both in tone and gaze.
"Not too quickly at all. I even regret not making you take that step sooner."
Luke carried her along. At that moment, they happened to arrive at a plaza.
The plaza was not especially large. There was a fountain in the middle, and there were not many people here either, probably around a hundred or so.
Leisurely old people sat on benches beside the fountain to rest. Mischievous children ran around. Idle couples strolled arm in arm.
Not far away, there happened to be a person holding a harp, seemingly practicing, with a few people watching nearby.
Luke walked forward. Once he was close, he revealed a friendly smile and said, "Excuse me. My friend would like to improvise a song. Could we borrow your harp?"
The person practicing was a middle-aged woman. Hearing this, she happily agreed and handed over the harp. "Of course. I hope it helps you."
Taking the harp, Luke looked at Seraphine. "Start when you're ready."
Seraphine now looked like a small animal that had run into a predator in the wild. Her eyes rolled back, as if she wanted to pretend to faint.
In reality, Luke saw through her disguise at a glance. "It's fine. Since you're not ready yet, I'll go gather some audience members for you."
With a whoosh, Seraphine opened her eyes at once and coughed awkwardly. "I'm ready..."
She said she was ready, but in reality, she had not prepared even a tiny bit.
She did not even know what she was supposed to do next.
Looking at Seraphine, who was holding the harp and standing helplessly in place, her eyes blank, like a startled deer, Luke sighed helplessly and took the harp from her hands. "How about this? I'll give you an example."
Seeing that he seemed ready to start first, Seraphine asked curiously, "Your Highness can play the harp too?"
"Of course. I learned plenty from Sona."
Luke had indeed spent some time learning the harp from Sona.
So he did have some experience and skill.
If it was just a simple performance, it was not too hard.
He thought for a moment and decided to directly borrow a popular song he remembered relatively clearly. After all, he was setting an example for this timid little pink-haired girl.
So he casually sat down on a bench, reached out to pluck the strings, and began singing, "How long I slept in darkness, I do not know..."
His voice was still quite good, but his singing could not really be called excellent. It was merely at a normal level.
But in terms of looks, he belonged to the level where people could ignore that little flaw.
On top of that, this song was not especially difficult to sing. As soon as Luke opened his mouth, he had already drawn Seraphine's extra attention.
From the first note, she felt that the melody of this song was especially good.
Even the woman who had lent Luke the harp had her eyes light up as she listened.
"I am this brilliant moment, a brief flame crossing the sky."
As the melody gradually entered its best part, it also attracted some of the people nearby to listen.
Seraphine watched as more and more people gathered around.
In truth, Luke's harp skills were not very good. On top of that, he had to sing while playing, which caused him to lower his head from time to time to confirm the notes. As a result, he looked rather clumsy.
It was not at all as effortless as it appeared.
Seeing this, Seraphine suddenly felt a little like laughing. But as she watched Luke continue singing, an indescribable feeling suddenly rose in her heart.
She suddenly understood that Luke was clearly doing this to give her courage.
In her eyes, Luke at this moment seemed to be glowing.
As Luke sang, he looked toward Seraphine, then showed a relaxed smile. His confident gaze seemed to say that opening your mouth and singing was not actually that hard.
But in the next second, he played the wrong note. The pitch instantly went crooked, and he immediately lowered his head to fix it.
This finally made Seraphine let out a soft laugh, and her bright blue eyes shimmered with beautiful light.
The lyrics of this song were also very good.
I am the fleeting flame at the edge of the sky, brief as a startled glimpse, yet as brilliant as a summer flower.
Seraphine also wanted to become that fleeting flame.
In any case, Luke somehow managed to play and sing the entire song. He let out a breath, feeling quite accomplished.
My singing is still as perfect as ever.
A man was at his most confident when singing. If there was anything more confident than that, it was when he sang in the shower.
Scattered applause sounded around them, offered by the people in the plaza who had the leisure to listen.
He handed the harp to Seraphine. "Now it's your turn."
Seraphine reached out, took the harp, and looked at the audience around her, which was actually not very large.
Even after Luke's performance, there were only around a dozen people.
But these dozen people had not left, because they could also see that after Luke, it was Seraphine's turn to sing.
Compared with Luke, they were even more looking forward to hearing the voice of this adorable pink-haired girl.
But just looking at them made Seraphine's heart speed up. It beat loudly, thump, thump, so clearly that she could even hear her own heartbeat.
A visibly nervous and timid feeling surged up in her heart, and Seraphine felt as if she were about to overheat.
Then she took a deep breath, and her eyes grew serious.
These listeners had all been brought here by His Highness for her. No matter what, she could not disappoint Luke.
Finally, Seraphine overcame the timidity in her heart and reached out to play the harp.
A melody spread outward, then continued without end. Compared with Luke's technique, her playing seemed far too professional.
The next second, Seraphine closed her eyes, parted her rosy lips, and her sweet voice turned into song.
"How long I slept in darkness, I do not know..."
As the girl's angel-blessed voice sang line after line, the eyes around her gradually lit up. Even the mischievous children stopped running around and came over to listen.
That was right. What Seraphine was singing at this moment was precisely the song Luke had just sung.
Life Like Summer Flowers.
After hearing it only once, she had already memorized the lyrics and the melody.
And at this moment, she sang it out several times better than Luke's version.
As for the speed at which she attracted listeners, it also increased severalfold.
Just from the first short section of the song, she had already attracted twice as many listeners as Luke had.
The girl's singing voice was not loud, but it carried far, bringing with it a wondrous feeling that made people relax completely. It also had an inexplicable penetrating power, allowing even more people to hear it.
And after everyone gathered around, they subconsciously quieted down and listened to her singing in silence.
As the chorus arrived, they were drawn even deeper into the song.
Seraphine had her eyes closed at this moment. She did not know how many listeners she had. She only knew that she would sing with all her heart, that she would not betray Luke's expectations, and that she would not betray the listeners she had.
She liked this song, brilliant like a summer flower.
She wanted to illuminate everyone. She wanted to light up the sky.
Was this not exactly the feeling she had admired and loved when she was a child?
After growing up, Seraphine finally found that feeling again for the first time.
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