Alice fixed her gaze on Talon and spoke firmly, "You promised me you'd stop playing guitar and work for me, didn't you, Talon?"
Talon didn't remember that he had said he would accept her offer. He had merely said he would consider it this morning. But that was before he got the mysterious System, which had already begun to miraculously alter his life. He knows that if he were to use it properly, he could do extraordinary things and fulfill his dreams.
"Alice," Talon declared with newly found assurance, "I'm going to keep on doing what I'm doing. I'm going to pay the rent soon."
Talon was now equipped with a newfound confidence, and he was certain that he could achieve much more. With his improved skills, he anticipated that he would be able to earn more money.
Alice responded affirmatively, "You've said that a lot of times, but do you really think I can trust your words? Have you begun to accept reality, Talon? You won't get anywhere with your guitar, you won't improve, you'll just remain poor and have no future."
Talon did not judge Alice for her skepticism, understanding that she was not aware of the truth, and he had no intention of trying to make her understand.
But nothing could prevent Talon from doing what he wanted to do, not even Alice. He was aware of his obligation to her, yet this also meant that he could make more money doing it his own way.
He would allow her to grapple with her trust in him, and he would continue with his plan.
"Alice, just have faith in me, and I'll cover the rent!" he declared.
Talon didn't stick around to hear her response as he quickly spun on his heel and walked away, seemingly ignoring her when she shouted his name.
"Are you serious? How far are you willing to take this stubbornness, Talon!" she exclaimed in frustration.
She sighed, shaking her head. "I hope you're right, Talon. Just...be careful not to lose yourself in these...illusions," she replied, struggling to balance her skepticism with the evident change in his demeanor.
As Talon left his apartment, he was immediately met by the brisk morning air, carrying with it the anticipation and pressure of the day ahead. The city was just beginning to awaken, its streets teeming with life, a perfect backdrop for his talent. The rhythm of the city pulsated with energy, perfectly mirroring his own heartbeat.
He sprinted through the morning mist, his feet crushing the freshly fallen snow beneath them. Unfazed by the cold air that had settled over the land overnight, his excitement was more lit than ever.
He dashed towards the station without hesitation, skirting among the people who were crossing the street. He was searching for the spot most conducive to his performance, and he quickly found a place right in front of the station. He needed to find 500 people to listen to him playing the guitar, and he was sure that he would be able to finish his mission that day!
He eagerly strummed the guitar strings as if his fingers couldn't wait to get to work. His music was full of joy as if he was trying to spread some happiness to those who were about to face a long day at the desk.
The station was alive with sound. His guitar strings melded with the clatter of trains, the murmur of the crowd, and the steady rhythm of the city. He had created a new tapestry of sound, one that invited passersby to join his world, if only for a moment.
He loved it; playing music had been a part of his life for the past few years, and he felt that he could become one with the melody. At that moment, he lifted his voice and began to sing, his skill level being rated as a 7 Beginner by the System.
Although he felt that his rating wasn't too bad for a street singer, he was aware that his singing was lacking. But, he was still able to captivate people with his guitar playing, which was quite extraordinary.
"Don't let that fool you, Level 7 is still pretty good!"
[Number of Audiences: 8/500]
Talon's fingers danced across the strings, each note a testament to his unwavering resolve. He played with a raw intensity, pouring his hopes and dreams into each chord. The coins that clinked into his case were not just tokens of appreciation but symbols of belief - belief in his music, in his journey.
"Wow, he's really good," one of them commented. "I've never seen him busking here before."
"Incredible," another agreed. "Can street performers really play the guitar like this nowadays?"
"Maybe he could have a better fate if he uploaded his guitar playing on YouTube?" a third suggested.
"Let me take a video and upload it on Instagram!" a fourth chimed in.
Despite wanting to stay longer to watch Talon's performance, they were all forced to continue on their journey due to the pressing need to get to the office.
"Eight people! That's a record for me!" Talon exclaimed excitedly.
Talon was pleasantly surprised to find that he had earned more than he usually did. His enthusiasm was evident, and it was clear that he was proud of the meaningful change he saw in his craft.
[Number of Audiences: 15/500]
"Is he a new busker here? I just noticed him," someone commented.
[Number of Audiences: 12/500]
"He seems really passionate about playing his guitar. Looks like he really enjoys it," someone else added.
Some people even took videos of him and posted them on social media.
"Do you think he is any good? What do you think?" they asked when they posted the video on TikTok.
[Number of Audiences: 17/500]
"I'm not sure if he is really good or not, but I think he deserves some coins from me," another said.
To Talon's surprise, even though the station was bustling with people, it seemed unfeasible to get them to all stop and listen to him play the guitar. Some paused to take a look. Some just cast a glance and kept walking.
However, one thing was for sure: he earned more money than he could usually make in a span of three hours non-stop playing the guitar, and he was quite satisfied with his accomplishment that day.
Talon eagerly snatched up the money, meticulously counting each and every bill and coin. To his utter amazement, he ended up with an estimated total of one hundred and twenty dollars! He was taken aback, for this amount of money was surprisingly generous, given that some people donate higher denominations, and there are more coins than bills.
He was confident that he would be able to pay off the apartment rent soon if he just focused more on busking and finding ways to expand his audience. But before he could do that, he needed to go home and find something to eat. He needed to give Alice the money to prove that he could make something of himself right away!
Unbeknownst to him, Alice, the landlady, had followed him to the station to see how he worked on his performance, and for the first time, she actually had the opportunity to see him play the guitar.
She murmured in awe, "He's really quite good at playing the guitar, isn't he?"
Her thoughts began to wander, "And there are a lot of people giving him money, so why isn't he able to pay the rent? Where has all that money been going? Has he been gambling it away? Or has he been spending it on prostitution?"
Alice shook her head, feeling disappointed. "I really need to have a serious talk with him. He can't keep living like this without any sense of responsibility."
***
Talon rushed home and was surprised to find Alice in the apartment lobby, her arms crossed and a determined expression on her face.
"Alice… I got the money," Talon said enthusiastically.
"Talon, I need you to help me check the CCTV installation - it suddenly went dead, and I need you to fix it," Alice said urgently.
"Alright," Talon nodded, and without wasting a second, he ran to his room and placed his guitar there.
Talon quickly followed Alice to examine the CCTV cables and ensure that everything was set up correctly. After a few hours, he verified that all the CCTV cameras in the apartment building were functioning properly once more.
"Talon, I need to have a serious conversation with you," Alice stated resolutely.
Talon knew that Alice was going to mention the job she had offered him again, but he had already demonstrated that he could make money on his own.
"Alice, I have the money. Hang on, I left it in my bag. I'll get it from my room." Talon said with enthusiasm and dashed back towards his room.
Talon inserted the key into the lock, but he was taken aback to find that the door to his room was not locked and the lock was broken.
"That's strange," he murmured in disbelief. "I'm sure I locked it securely."
He burst into the room, shocked by the sight that greeted him. His beloved guitar, which he had carefully positioned in the corner, was now in pieces, scattered and broken on the floor. It was almost as if someone had purposely stepped on it, smashing it into fragments and splinters.