After a while, Natalia's parents stepped into the café to collect Alex, their faces still bright with the joy of the evening. "We're going to visit a nearby music shop," Natalia's mother smiled. "Natalia has taken an interest in learning an instrument."
Alex blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Natalia?" he asked, glancing at her. She had never mentioned anything about music, at least not to him.
Natalia shrugged, her expression as calm as ever. "I've been thinking about it for a few days," she said, her voice steady. "There's something about music that… I don't know. It feels right."
Alex couldn't help but feel a pang of irony. Here he was, suffering from a curse tied to music, while Natalia was just discovering her interest in it. But he kept his thoughts to himself and simply nodded. "Sounds like a good idea," he said, managing a smile.
They walked together to the music shop, which was nestled on a quiet street a few blocks away. The shop itself was quaint and inviting, with large windows displaying an array of instruments—from violins to guitars, pianos to flutes. The air inside was filled with the scent of polished wood and the faint sound of someone trying out a piano in the back.
As they entered, they were greeted by a kind, elderly man with a gentle smile. He had the look of someone who had spent his entire life surrounded by music, his eyes sparkling with a deep love for the art.
"Welcome, welcome," the man said warmly. "How can I help you today?"
Natalia stepped forward, glancing at her parents before speaking. "I'm looking to start learning an instrument," she said. "I'm not sure which one yet, but I'd like to see what you have."
The man nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Of course, my dear. Let's take a look around, shall we?" He motioned for them to follow as he led them through the shop, stopping by various instruments and explaining their unique qualities.
As Natalia explored, Alex found himself a spot by the side, sitting on a small bench near the entrance. He watched as she carefully examined each instrument, her fingers lightly brushing the strings of a guitar, the keys of a piano, and the body of a violin. There was a quiet determination in her movements, a rare glimpse into something that truly interested her.
The elderly man noticed Alex sitting quietly and approached him with a smile. "Not interested in playing an instrument yourself, young man?" he asked kindly.
Alex shook his head, his smile a little strained. "Not really. I'm more of an observer."
The man chuckled softly. "That's perfectly fine. Sometimes, it's just as rewarding to listen and appreciate."
As Natalia continued her exploration, her parents occasionally chimed in with suggestions, but they mostly let her take the lead. Alex watched her, noting how different she seemed in this setting—more relaxed, almost serene. It was a side of Natalia he hadn't seen before.
Eventually, Natalia paused by a cello, her hand resting on its polished wood. She seemed to be considering it, her gaze thoughtful.
The elderly man noticed and smiled. "The cello has a beautiful, rich sound," he said gently. "It's an instrument that can convey a wide range of emotions. If you're drawn to it, perhaps it's the right one for you."
Natalia looked at the cello for a long moment, then nodded. "I think I'd like to try it," she said softly.
Her parents exchanged pleased glances, and her father approached the man to discuss the details.
As they finalized the purchase, Natalia glanced at Alex, who was still sitting quietly on the bench. "What do you think?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
Alex smiled, genuinely this time. "I think it suits you," he said. "The cello… it's a strong, yet elegant instrument. Like you."
Natalia looked at him for a moment, her expression unreadable, before nodding. "Thanks."
As Natalia and her family reveled in their newfound joy, chatting animatedly about the cello, Alex remained quietly seated on the bench, watching them from a distance. There was a warmth in the air, a kind of familial bond that he recognized but couldn't fully participate in. He felt like a visitor in a world that wasn't quite his own.
Suddenly, the elderly man from the music shop appeared beside him, easing onto the bench with a small grunt. He looked at Alex with kind, understanding eyes. "You seem lost in thought, young man," he remarked with a gentle smile. "Music can do that to a person."
Alex looked at the old man, unsure how to respond. He simply nodded, allowing the man's presence to fill the silence.
After a few moments, the old man spoke again, his voice calm and steady. "No matter what the world throws at us—aliens, destruction, threats from beyond—music will always endure. It's one of the few things that can survive through all of it. It connects us to something deeper, something eternal."
Alex felt something creeping in his chest at those words. Eternal. It reminded him of the weight he carried, the burdens of his past lives, the endless cycle of reincarnation that tied him to something beyond this world. And yet, here was this old man, speaking so simply about something that felt so far out of reach.
The old man stood up and walked over to a shelf, carefully picking up a violin. He returned to Alex, offering the instrument with a small smile. "Here," he said. "Why don't you give it a try? It doesn't matter if it's bad. Play for yourself."
Alex hesitated. He could already feel the pull of the blessing, the power stirring within him. Music was no longer something he could simply enjoy—it had become something he suffered through. And yet, there was a strange curiosity in him, a small voice that whispered for him to accept the offer.
Finally, he reached out and took the violin. The old man handed him a bow as well, and Alex positioned the instrument under his chin, letting the familiar weight settle against him. He knew the blessing would activate the moment he started playing, but for some reason, that didn't stop him.
He began to play.
The haunting melody of Johann Sebastian Bach's Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 filled the room. The notes flowed effortlessly from the strings, each one resonating with a depth of emotion that Alex hadn't expected. His fingers moved with precision, guided by the blessing, but there was something more—something that came from within him.
The music wasn't just technical perfection. It carried a feeling, an aching sense of loss and longing that Alex hadn't fully realized he was holding onto. As he played, memories from his previous lives swirled in his mind—fleeting images of battles, victories, and countless deaths. He remembered the weight of the responsibilities he had borne, the gods who had manipulated his fate, and the endless cycle that had bound him to this existence.
But for the first time in a long while, as the bow danced across the strings, he felt something else. There was a release in the music, a catharsis that allowed him to express all the emotions he had kept buried for so long. It was as if the music was a vessel for everything he couldn't put into words.
The shop grew silent as the final notes of the Chaconne faded away. Natalia and her parents, who had been chatting earlier, had stopped to listen. The old man, too, watched with a look of quiet reverence, as if he understood the significance of the moment.
Alex lowered the violin, his hands trembling slightly. He could still feel the blessing thrumming through him, but beneath it, there was something else—a feeling he couldn't quite name. It wasn't joy, nor was it sorrow. It was something more complicated, a mixture of both. Something human.
The old man smiled softly. "There it is," he said quietly. "Music is more than just notes on a page. It's a reflection of the soul."
Alex looked at him, unsure of what to say. The old man simply patted him on the shoulder and stood up. "You have a gift, young man. Don't waste it," he said before walking away to tend to other customers.
Alex sat there for a moment, still holding the violin. He glanced over at Natalia, who had been watching him with an unreadable expression. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and there was a silent understanding between them. Though neither of them said a word, they both knew that something had shifted.
Alex placed the violin back on the bench and stood up, the weight of the blessing still lingering in his mind. As they left the shop and stepped back onto the bustling streets, he couldn't help but feel that, despite everything—the burdens, the curses, the gods—there was something in this new life that was worth holding onto.
And maybe, just maybe, music was a part of it.
*****
Natalia sat alone in her room, the soft glow of the evening light casting gentle shadows across the walls. She had returned home from the music shop, where Alex had played the violin with a skill that had captivated everyone present. Now, as she sat on her bed, her mind was still swirling with the memory of his performance.
The notes of the Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D minor had lingered in her ears long after the music had ended. She could still hear the rich, melancholic strains of the violin, the way each note seemed to tell a story of its own. It was as if Alex had poured a piece of his soul into the music, creating a connection that went beyond mere sound.
She closed her eyes, trying to recall the exact feeling of the performance. It was then that the memories from her dreams began to resurface, vivid and unsettling. In her dreams, she had seen a young man playing the violin, a figure who bore an uncanny resemblance to Alex. The dreams had been filled with scenes of them together—concerts, shared moments, and a deep, unspoken bond. They had been fiancés, partners in music and life, their future intertwined in a way that felt both impossibly distant and achingly familiar.
Natalia could still see the dream's final scene—the wedding day, a moment that had been marred by tragedy. She had been there, clutching Alex's hand as the casket was lowered into the ground. The name on the tombstone had not been Alex but Kim Min Hyun, a name that had no meaning to her except for the haunting resemblance it bore to Alex.
The dreams had left her with a lingering sense of loss and confusion. Why did the dreams feel so real, so connected to Alex? And why had she been so profoundly affected by his performance today? She had never met Kim Min Hyun, yet the connection felt undeniable.
Natalia shook her head, trying to dispel the unsettling thoughts. She picked up her notebook and began to write, attempting to make sense of the emotions and memories swirling inside her. Music had always been a part of her life, but Alex's performance had touched something deep within her, something she couldn't quite explain.
As she wrote, her thoughts kept drifting back to the violin, to the way Alex had played with such raw emotion. The way he had seemed almost otherworldly, like someone who had been touched by something beyond ordinary human experience. The connection between her dreams and Alex's music felt too strong to ignore.
Natalia's pen paused as she considered the possibility that there was more to Alex than met the eye. The resemblance to Kim Min Hyun, the way his music had resonated with her so deeply—was it merely coincidence, or was there something more profound at play?
With a sigh, she closed her notebook and glanced out of her window, the city lights twinkling in the distance. She felt a strange sense of anticipation and uncertainty as if she were on the brink of uncovering a truth that had been hidden from her.
As she tried to settle her mind, Natalia couldn't shake the feeling that her dreams and reality were somehow converging. Alex's presence in her life had brought with it an inexplicable sense of familiarity and connection, one that she couldn't fully understand but felt compelled to explore.