“Return to the royal city? Why? He had accomplished something that you, or perhaps I, failed to accomplish in years. You only need to continue to monitor the movements of the Holy Church. If needed, I will dispatch people over to bring him back.”
“Understood.”
The dark elf was able to hear a sense of satisfaction from the voice.
If necessary, they would be able to drag Joshua back to the demon realm by force. It’s just that the dark elf was, unfortunately, incapable of doing that on her own.
Besides, she was looking forward to watching how ‘Léon: The Demon’ will end.
The conversation did not persist for a long period of time. The light emitted by the magic circle gradually dissipated and the entire attic became quiet again.
The dark elf walked out the attic. Then, she transformed into a crow and flew out from hotel Black Dove. She flew past the streets of Norland, arrived at and spiralled across the sky above the Hearthstone Tavern before landing on the roof.
At this moment, she caught sight of Joshua’s horse carriage stopping before the tavern.
When the horse carriage stopped, Ciri woke up from her nap. She yawned before moving her sore neck.
Although she was asleep, the carriage did not allow her to enter deep sleep. She would be woken up whenever there’s any clear sign of movement.
“What’s going on today? THings felt kinda strange.” Ciri walked out of the carriage after waking up. She discovered the atmosphere within the Hearthstone Tavern to be kinda strange.
The Hearthstone Tavern opens twenty-four hours a day. Even when it’s 1 or 2 AM in the night, a bunch of dwarves could still be seen in the tavern with the intention of staying there and having fun all night.
But, strangely, the noisy voices of the dwarves were not present in the tavern today. Instead, a melodious singing voice was present in the tavern.
“That’s because there’s a resident singer in the tavern.”
Joshua carefully listened to the music and discovered that the music was not sung in any of the languages he knew. He turned her eyes to the corner of the tavern, to the last minute stage, and discovered the frost elf Tylene was holding her harp and singing while playing the harp.
When she finished singing, the tavern was not filled with applause like how it was in the morning.
Instead, a bunch of dwarves were lying on the tables fast asleep. The remaining dwarves were also acting very sleepy.
“Why is hearing that elf woman’s song like eating a sleeping mushroom?” complained a dwarf while yawning.
Tylene stopped singing and was slightly embarrassed with the situation. She noticed Joshua entering the tavern and waved her hand at him and Ciri. She picked up her harp and walked over to them.
“Have you been staying in the tavern ever since you’ve returned to Madam Schroder’s mansion this afternoon?” asked Joshua.
“Mn. I also seemed to have... caused trouble for you.”
Tylene looked ashamed.
In order to gain more nourishment for the World Tree seed, she stealthily escaped from the carriage on their way back. She came to the Hearthstone Tavern and continued to sing.
When Tylene first came to the tavern, the majority of the customers were mages.
Because of that, she was planning to sing the epics passed along in her elf race on the stage Joshua set up for her in the morning. She hoped she would be able to gather nourishment for the World Tree with her singing voice.
However, the elf’s epics were stories about things that happened long ago. They were so long that Tylene started singing in the afternoon and continued past midnight.
When Tylene opened her eyes again, she discovered that the mages that were sitting in the tavern and appreciating her music had changed to a bunch of sleeping or half-asleep dwarves.
At that time, Tylene realized that she might have caused trouble. And, most seriously of all, the behind-the-scenes owner of the tavern, Joshua, had returned from Squirrel Street.
“I wouldn’t go as far as say you’ve caused trouble.”
Joshua looked at the dwarves sleeping all over the place. Many of them were even snoring.
Ever since the opening of the Hearthstone Tavern, these dwarves will start coming at 8PM and continue staying in the tavern until 5 or 6AM in the morning before returning back to mine ores.
If it wasn’t for the fact that these dwarves possess robust physics, they would, sooner or later, have to go see their beloved mother earth by staying awake all this time.
“But, I don’t think a song that brings your audience asleep will be able to raise nourishment for your World Tree.”
Joshua pointed out the crucial problem. Tylene had mentioned to Joshua the condition needed for the World Tree seed to grow in her body. Those that had fallen asleep wouldn’t possibly be able to feel ‘admiration’ toward a song.
“What I was singing earlier was an epic passed down from my race for generations. Apart from that song ‘Let It Go,’ I only know how to sing epics,” said Tylene helplessly.
To the citizens of this world, music was an extremely high form of art. Ordinary people would only have the chance to listen to a song of two when they encounter a wandering minstrel or bard. But, those people will be singing songs similar to the epic sung by the frost elf.
Their songs could be performed with a very simple musical composition and a very simple melody. That sort of performance would be akin to a sing-tell. No, it would be more accurate to say they’re folk storytelling accompanied with music.
The frost elf had used their elven language to sing an epic for the entire afternoon. Humans and dwarves simply couldn’t understand what she was saying, couldn’t understand the story she was trying to tell.
The elven epics and a slowed down version of ‘Let It Go’ wouldn’t be able to leave deep impressions upon the crowd.
Joshua felt that there was a need for him to write some ‘stunning’ songs capable of evoking emotions in the audience.
“Go ahead and return to Madam Schroder’s mansion to rest for now. I will go there tomorrow to discuss with Madam Schroder about the musical accompaniment for ‘Léon: The Demon.’ I’ll make sure to add a song that’s suitable for you to sing.”
The musical accompaniment for ‘Beauty and the Demon’ was provided by the Duke of Bones’ Phantom Ensemble.
Currently, Joshua does not possess a firm foothold in Norland. If he was to open a teleportation gate to the Duke of Bones’ domain, it would be akin to bringing a nuclear warhead to another country’s city center.
Even if Joshua was to swear and tell people that they don’t have to worry, that the nuclear bomb will not explode, Norland’s grand mages would definitely drive Joshua out from Norland at all cost.
Because of that, Joshua was planning to leave the musical accompaniment to the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe.
“A song for me to sing?”
“It’ll be similar to the elven epic you sang earlier. However, the rhythm will be more complicated.”
Joshua gave an unsuitable comparison. When the frost elf was singing her epic, she sang with an operatic bel canto style. Although for Tylene, she was only narrating a story with her elven language.
“I will do my utmost to sing it properly,” said Tylene.
A complete musical score was an extremely high-end commodity in this world. It was understandable as musical operas were arts that only the people from upper society could enjoy. Furthermore, in order to properly perform said musical operas, a specialized orchestra was needed.
“Sleep properly tonight.”
Joshua saw the frost elf out of his tavern. Then, he went up to the second floor, took out paper and pen to begin writing the musical score to the soundtrack for ‘Léon: The Demon.’
Ciri was using music to transform ordinary plain paper to staff paper.[1]
After spending roughly an hour or so to complete the musical score, Joshua took out another piece of paper and wrote ‘Star Sky'[2] on the header.
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Translator YangWenli:
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[1] [Staff paper = music paper. The ones with 5 lines.]
[2] [Thomas Bergersen fuck yeah!]