Under the light brought by the lamp, Igor led Vaterian to a wooden building, decorated with different colours of glass fragments the building differentiates itself from other buildings on the streets.
The building was luxurious enough just gazing externally, but what was more impressive was its internal decorations, just falling a bit under the Musikverein in Talismania, it was still not a place that most people could afford to come in.
"The only place I could find that closest in comparison to this place was those salons for nobles, filled with talented musicians and artists." According to what Vaterian told Igor.
The Sirens bay was enough to impress even the person of higher rank, which was the purpose of all the money spent on it.
"Be prepared, I need your help to get in it." Said Igor.
"What?"
Before Vaterian was able to hear the reply from Igor they were stopped by a middle-aged woman.
"Hold up there, I don't remember you? Newcomer? You better make sure you have enough money in your pocket and also skill to impress those girls."
The women gaze through Vaterian and Igor, despite her not saying anything offensive, the teenagers could feel the contempt from her brief observation of them.
It was certain that anyone wearing some torn clothing with bloodstain won't be welcomed into such a luxurious place. Actually, it was generous enough for the women to not force them out of the shop.
"Madam, I promise we won't disappoint you. We brought you a handful of fees and a generous amount of talent, just give us a piano and we could show you." Igor bowed to the lady and answered politely. He hands out his sword, so as Vaterian.
Despite being doubtful about what Igor said, she still led them into the main room. She always hated those artists who dressed like beggars, they make the shop look unpleasant for the upper class. However, the music and cash they gave to the shop were enough to make her forget about it.
"So that's why you are so eager to bring me here? Interesting." Vaterian smiled and whispered to Igor, who gave Vaterian a wink.
"Fine, just once." Vaterian gave up on arguing with Igor and followed the lady to the inner part of the building. Igor raised his back and caught up to Vaterian.
_____
The main hall, or room which is the more suitable word for such a small space, is the centre of several other couches. The floor was paved with red carpet and the wood that made the wall was polished and waxed, making it shine under the light of the candles.
The part of the wall facing the street was installed with transparent glass, a thing that might be more expensive than gold.
"A room that had more value than the same volume of gold," Vaterian said silently.
In the middle of the room was a different kind of instruments, from Vaterian's experience neither of them was cheap.
The women noticed the unusual attention of Vaterian on those instruments. From her experience, different people would pay attention to different things once they enter.
A normal person would be impressed by the luxurious decoration. Artists would be attracted by those beautiful artworks. A musician would behave just like Vaterian, staring at those instruments. This made her even sure that they were two poor musicians.
"These instruments were being left by the previous musician who came here, they leave these as their payment. Don't look at me like that, I didn't force them to give it out, they gave it voluntarily, they will gifted a new one from their doners."
This wasn't her first time being stared at by a person in such a way, she quickly wiped out any doubt in Vaterian's mind.
"So... Vati ready to deliver our performance?" Igor stood beside the piano and asked.
"Without any rehearsal? Would be tough but not a huge problem, what song do you wish to sing? And again, called me Vaterian."
Vaterian sat beside the grand piano, he tapped the keys a few times and felt the quick reflection of the keys. He knew this piano wasn't gifted by anyone, it was obvious because pianists can't carry their instrument around.
"Any song you have in your mind, ideally hard enough to show our skill."
"I think by our skill you meant yours, right?" Vaterian instantly broke Igor's lie, although he won't really care about showing off his skill.
"Erlkönig it is, tough but beautiful." Vaterian made the decision and tapped on the middle C to let Igor check his tone.
Suddenly the lights in the street darken, through the glasses, Vaterian could see the heavy rain outside.
"Wooo, seems like the Erlkönig (demon king) can't wait for us to sing about his story." Said Igor.
Vaterian didn't talk much, he put his finger gently on the keys and started to play the piece.
____
Starting with repeating octaves and running melodies on the bass, the teenagers start their performances.
Just like Igor said earlier, his singing will let even the most prestigious sirens bow down, the three different characters were portrayed by him perfectly.
But the amazing performance was soon being destroyed by a small accident.
"I love you, your fair forms allure me, and if you don't come willingly, I will use force!"
The lyric of the song brings up a terrific story, about a boy being killed by the demon king.
However, what terrified Vaterian more was the injuries on his hands started to crack, and blood slowly flowed out from the injuries as the piece went on.
"My father! My father! Now he was seizing me! The Erlking is hurting me!"
Sweat nonstop came out from Vaterian's body so did the blood, the pain was immense but he held his teeth tightly and played harder to distract himself from the pain, still it didn't stop him from getting less and less precision on his finger.
Igor was unable to see the situation happening at his back as he was facing the audience, the audience who kept coming out from the couch was also unable to know about it due to the positioning of Igor.
"In his hand...the kid... was... dead."
Followed by two heavy chords, Igor sang out the last word of the piece. He bowed toward the audience and quickly looked at Vaterian.
"Va... ti?"
Vaterian sat on the bench, looking at his hands, which were now covered by his own blood. The flesh was flipped out of the injuries and the blood was still flowing out slowly.
Most of the fluid was spilt on the luxurious piano, the white keys were dyed in red, and the blood flow within the instrument was quickly soaked up by the woods and cloths in the complicated instrument.
"Fuck!"
Vaterian held his fingers together and try to ram on the piano, but his lifelong habit made him stop himself before his fist landed on the keys.
"You little bastard! Do you know how much this instrument costs? Even if you sell your ass for the rest of your life you still can't afford it!"
The women pushed the audience away from the scene and rushed toward the teenagers. She stood beside Vaterian and swept through the keys with her thumb, covered in red. She looked at the boy who was still sitting on the bench.
"Awful, awful performance! The last part of the piece is utter dogshit, the only thing that saved it was your friend! Now, get the fuck out!" The women brawled toward Vaterian, forcing him out of the shop.
"You this filthy…"
When Igor was just about to make his move, he was stopped by Vaterian, who warned him by staring at him.
"You stay here, I will leave for a while."
Vaterian stood up and walked by Igor, he whispered beside Igor's ear and went out.
Even the women didn't expect Vaterian to walk out in a rather peaceful manner, It caused her didn't notice Vaterian took back their sword before leaving.