Darkest hour?
Clearly, this isn't an accurate description of New Orleans at this moment. The brightly lit Bourbon Street resembles daylight, with dazzling streetlights casting a warm, golden glow that penetrates the vast night.
Bit by bit, it transforms the darkness into shades of deep blue and purple, creating a breathtaking spectacle. Even the stars in the sky fade into insignificance against this brilliant backdrop. The scene is so enchanting that it makes the early morning carnival night come alive.
However!
The clock's hour hand points to 5:26 in the morning, and there are still seven minutes left until sunrise. At this moment, the entire land seems to have fallen into a profound stillness.
To welcome the arrival of the sun, the night has wrapped itself in complete darkness. It extends beyond the borders of New Orleans, shrouding the entire North American continent in an endless black void.
The faint light is completely extinguished, leaving only the stars in the sky to twinkle feebly.
The moment just before dawn is the darkest, and the boundary between dreams and reality becomes incredibly blurred.
The transitional state between half-dream and half-awake feels like standing with one foot in heaven and the other in hell, experiencing surreal and bizarre scenes as if in a dream.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a chilling cold has invaded the summer night. The breeze from the Mississippi River carries a cool, damp mist, causing goosebumps to form on the skin in an instant.
Before the brain can register the reflex, the body instinctively gravitates toward the source of warmth—a gathering of people.
The Old Blacksmith's Pub.
When he regains his senses, a crowd has already assembled at the entrance of the Old Blacksmith Bar. Despite the absence of staff to manage the crowd, people line up obediently.
They observe what's happening inside the bar, considering whether they want to enter and join the revelry. People in groups of two or three bring life back to the bar's entrance.
The flow reverses.
Inside the bar, however, the patrons remain in their own world. Sequestered in the small, narrow space, they party wildly, fully immersed in the stage performance. They've lost track of time and have little attention to spare for what's happening outside.
Cheers, jumps, songs, shouts.
They're lost in the experience.
Ronan remains unaware of the subtle changes occurring in the crowd. He stands on the stage, bathed in light, surveying the audience.
The area in front of him is shrouded in darkness, and he can only vaguely make out the undulating forms of the crowd. Determining the exact number of people present is a challenging task.
Even if Ronan were to notice, he wouldn't care too much. He's deeply engrossed in the performance, and the size of the audience is no longer relevant.
What truly matters is that he's building bridges through music, forging connections with the audience before him, and that's the most precious and beautiful part.
Whether it's the audience or the band members, everyone is already lost in the music. This is what makes live performances so unique.
Ronan opens his arms, embracing this moment tightly, getting lost in it and forgetting everything else. How could he be distracted by anything else?
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
After another song, Ronan takes a deep breath and speaks into the microphone with a formal tone. It's as if he's mimicking the opening announcement of the Oscars ceremony.
His words are formal and ceremonial, but the problem is that Ronan, speaking into the microphone, is sweaty and red-faced.
His appearance, wearing a vest and flip-flops, creates a stark contrast to the formal tone, akin to a nine o'clock news broadcast.
This unexpected humor in his words and appearance evokes laughter and joy from the audience, blending with the cheerful atmosphere in the Old Blacksmith Bar.
Is this a stand-up comedy show or a band performance?
The young people standing at the door can't contain their curiosity. They peer inside, step in amid the laughter, and their faces display confusion as they try to make sense of what's happening.
Nevertheless, they enter, and as a result, the Old Blacksmith Bar begins to surge with energy once more.
Before he can react, one-third of the available space at the venue appears to be filled once again. Moreover, more people are rushing in from behind.
"First of all, the King of Bass! Hailing from the glacial north, with facial features as sharp as an ancient Greek god's, capable of making flowers wither. However, carbohydrates are his Achilles' heel, the imperfection within perfection. Let's welcome - Maxime!"
Phew!
Maxime could hear Ollie spraying water behind him, and he struggled to contain his laughter. He made every effort to suppress the urge to hit Ronan and quickly continued outlining the bass with his right hand. He gently plucked the strings, showcasing his mastery of rhythm.
At the end of each performance, it's customary for the lead singer to give individual band members a chance to shine, demonstrating that they are integral to the stage and the band as a whole.
But Maxim didn't expect that what should have been a routine moment would turn comical due to Ronan's stand-up comedy.
Maxim told himself repeatedly that this was his moment to shine. He barely managed to control himself and threw the bass directly, resisting the urge to reach Ronan and complete the performance.
"And next, the Guitar King! Hailing from the scorching Flame Abyss, with the stature and craftsmanship of a dwarf, and dreams of becoming the King of Humans..."
The introduction had just begun, but Maxim couldn't hold back. He burst into laughter as he turned around. "Height! Dwarf!" Ronan must have done it on purpose!
Fortunately, Maxim turned around in time, preventing his laughter from being broadcast directly through the microphone. He saw Ollie laughing uncontrollably, "Hahaha," and then settling back down.
Plop.
Ollie suddenly disappeared.
Maxim's eyes almost popped out of his head, and he had question marks floating above him. What just happened? What's going on right before my eyes? Is this some kind of magic trick turning a person into a living entity?