Chapter 50: The devil's sonata.
In my life, I was always regarded as a genius, crowned as something different. The title "The Musical Genius" was bestowed upon me when people witnessed my uncanny ability to adapt to any type of song. No matter the instrument or the situation, I was always said to be able to bring songs to life in a way that felt almost supernatural.
But my true awakening came when I discovered I was a [Starlet].
Starlets are humans blessed with extraordinary abilities, granted to them by cosmic forces beyond mortal comprehension. Each Starlet is endowed with mastery over a specific element, ranging from the primal forces of fire, water, air, and earth, to more esoteric powers such as gravity, lightning, smoke, and even the ability to commune with animals.
Fire-aligned Starlets radiate an inner heat, their presence ablaze with the intensity of a roaring inferno. They command flames with a flick of their fingers, shaping them into blazing weapons or protective barriers at will.
Water-aligned Starlets possess a serene aura, their movements fluid and graceful like the ebb and flow of the tides. They can manipulate water in all its forms, from gentle rains to crashing waves, and even purify and heal with the restorative power of their touch. However, healer-type water-aligned Starlets are rare and highly sought after.
Ground-aligned Starlets are stalwart and resilient, their connection to the earth as steadfast as the mountains themselves. They can shape the very earth beneath their feet, summoning rocks and soil to form barriers or launch devastating seismic attacks.
Airborne Starlets embody freedom and agility, their spirits as untamed as the winds they command. They soar through the skies with effortless grace, manipulating currents and gusts to propel themselves and others through the air.
And I was one of them.
There are many more elements that Starlets can control, but there are also source users who have abilities similar to those of Starlets. However, there are key differences between source users and Starlets.
Source users are naturally gifted with superhuman strength, whereas we Starlets need to train our physical strength ourselves.
There are also spiritualists who can use spirits or ghosts, but there's no need for an extensive explanation here.
Another significant difference between Starlets and source users is that source users are bound by only one power, while we can learn and master multiple elements. This is the main distinction that sets us apart.
The person in front of me didn't seem to know about such things since he was unable to sense my core. But I could feel his, meaning he was a Starlet just like me and our grandfathers. Although his grandfather seemed different for some reason, as if he held a deeper secret.
I suppose he wanted his grandson to live a normal life, but for how long could he hide it? Well, that was up to his grandfather.
In the current situation, Ren picked up the violin. He used the fiddler's grip, a more relaxed stance commonly used in folk and fiddle music, with the violin resting against the collarbone, chin tilted slightly upward, left hand gripping the neck with flexibility, and right hand wielding the bow with a lively motion.
After getting comfortable with the settings, he started playing the violin.
At first, it felt like a normal performance, but slowly, the atmosphere began to change.
Ren stood before the flickering candlelight, his fingers caressing the strings with a mixture of reverence and trepidation. With each deft stroke, he brought to life the timeless tale of Tartini's encounter with the Devil, his bow whispering secrets that echoed through the room.
The scenery in my mind shifted to that of a graveyard. A person walked among the tombstones until they encountered a beautiful woman. Swayed by her beauty, he approached her, and the two talked. But when he wanted to leave, he found that he couldn't.
The tempo changed, deviating from the usual "Devil's Trill Sonata" for expressive purposes.
The tale continued.
The man realized he was trapped in the graveyard, no matter how much he tried to escape. He always ended up back in the same place, over and over again.
When he finally asked the woman, she revealed herself as the devil.
Oftentimes, the devil wears the guise of beauty, standing before us unseen, its true nature hidden behind a captivating facade.
That was the story told by his music. The tale his music conveyed to me.
It was a haunting experience. It felt as if the devil itself was standing around me, ready to take me away and use me to its heart's content.
As Ren played, the room seemed to transform. Shadows danced on the walls, and the air grew thick with an eerie tension. I could almost see the graveyard he conjured with his notes, the darkened sky, the oppressive silence broken only by the mournful cry of the violin.
The beautiful woman appeared, her eyes like deep pools of darkness, her smile both enchanting and sinister. Ren's music painted her with vivid clarity, and I could feel the pull of her allure, the danger hidden beneath her beauty.
The man in the graveyard, lost and desperate, wandered through the rows of tombstones, each one a silent witness to his futile attempts to escape. Ren's bow moved faster, the notes growing more frantic, mirroring the man's growing panic.
"Who are you?" the man in the music seemed to ask, his voice trembling with fear.
The woman laughed, a sound both melodious and chilling. "I am your desire, your deepest wish come to life. But beware, for what you seek may not be what it seems."
The man's fear turned to horror as he realized the truth. "No, this can't be. I have to get out of here!"
The music reached a fever pitch, the notes clashing and tumbling over one another like waves in a storm. Ren's fingers flew across the strings, his face a mask of intense concentration.
"You cannot leave," the woman said, her voice now cold and merciless. "You are mine, bound by your own desires."
The man tried to run, but the graveyard twisted and turned, always leading him back to the woman. The devil's true form emerged, a monstrous figure of shadow and flame, and the man's screams echoed through the night.
Ren's violin cried out in a final, heart-wrenching crescendo, and then fell silent. The room returned to normal, the candlelight steady once more.
I realized I had been holding my breath, my heart pounding in my chest. Ren lowered the violin, his eyes meeting mine. There was a knowing look in them, a shared understanding of the story he had just told.
"What did you think?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
I struggled to find the right words. "It was... incredible. Haunting. I've never heard anything like it."
Ren smiled, a hint of pride in his expression. "I'm glad you liked it. Music is a powerful thing. It can tell stories, reveal truths, and even change the world."
I nodded, still reeling from the intensity of the performance. "You have an amazing gift, Ren. But tell me, how did you come to play the violin like that?"
Ren looked thoughtful for a moment. "I've always been drawn to music. It's like a second language to me. But the violin... it has a voice all its own. When I play, it's like I'm speaking directly to the soul."
"And the story you told just now? The man and the devil?" I asked, curious about the inspiration behind the haunting tale.
Ren's expression grew serious. "It's based on a dream I had. Or maybe it was a vision. I don't really know. But it felt real, like a warning or a message. Music has a way of tapping into those deeper parts of our minds, the places we don't often visit."
I shivered, the memory of the music still fresh in my mind. "Well, whatever it was, it was incredibly powerful. Thank you for sharing it with me."
Ren nodded, his eyes thoughtful. "Thank you for listening. Music is meant to be shared, after all."
As the evening wore on, we continued to talk about music, life, and the mysteries of the universe. Ren's talent and passion for music were evident in every word he spoke, and I found myself inspired by his dedication.
Eventually, the conversation turned to our abilities as Starlets. Ren was surprised to learn about my own powers, and we exchanged stories about our experiences and the challenges we faced.
"It's not always easy," Ren admitted. "Balancing the power we have with the responsibility that comes with it. But I believe that our abilities are meant for something greater, something beyond just ourselves."
I nodded in agreement. "Yes, I think so too. We have a duty to use our gifts wisely, to help others and make the world a better place."
As the night drew to a close, I felt a sense of camaraderie with Ren. We were both Starlets, bound by our unique abilities and a shared understanding of the world. And though our paths might be different, I knew we would always have a connection through our music and our powers.
Ren picked up the violin once more, his fingers gliding over the strings with ease. "One last song before you go?"
I smiled, feeling the warmth of his music already. "I'd love that."
He began to play, the notes flowing like a gentle stream, washing away the remnants of the haunting tale. This time, the music was light and hopeful, a promise of new beginnings and endless possibilities.
As I listened, I realized that Ren's true gift wasn't just his ability to play music, but his power to touch the hearts and souls of those who heard it. And in that moment, I knew that no matter what lay ahead, he would be able to face it without any problem. There is also another thing and that is , if he needed any help then I would be more than happy to help him.
Not even a day passed since we met , yet I am already thinking him as a ally.
But maybe , just maybe I would be able to see him more than ally.