Xin stood outside, scanning the crowd for Leah but unable to find her. The atmosphere was lively, with guild members mingling and enjoying the beach event. As Xin wandered further, a group of hunters noticed him and decided to approach.
"Hey there," one of the hunters said with a charming smile. "Haven't seen you around here before. You must be new."
Xin turned to face them, a neutral expression on his face. "I'm just looking for someone."
Another hunter stepped forward, grinning. "Well, maybe we can help you with that. What's your name, beautiful?"
Xin's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm fine, thanks."
Undeterred, the first hunter tried again. "Come on, no need to be shy. How about we show you around? There's plenty to see."
Just as Xin was about to respond, Cassidy and Belial appeared, walking briskly towards the group. Cassidy immediately noticed the hunters surrounding Xin and understood the situation.
"Hey, there you are, Xin!" Cassidy called out, his voice friendly but firm. "Leah's waiting for you. Let's go."
Belial stepped up beside Cassidy, glaring at the hunters. "Is there a problem here?"
The hunters looked between Cassidy, Belial, and Xin, sizing up the situation. One of them, slightly embarrassed, rubbed the back of his neck. "No problem. Just chatting."
"Good, now scram" Cassidy said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Then you won't mind if we take our friend here."
Xin, relieved to see them, nodded and walked over to join Cassidy and Belial. The hunters watched them go, murmuring amongst themselves about the mysterious newcomer.
Once they were a safe distance away, Belial glanced at Cassidy. "Leah was a cover-up, wasn't she?"
Cassidy nodded.
Belial looked at Xin with concern. "You alright?"
"I'm fine," Xin replied, a small smile appearing. "Thanks for the save."
Cassidy smirked. "No problem. Let's stick together from now on. Safety in numbers, right?"
Everyone gathered before a stage, buzzing with anticipation. Cole stepped up to the microphone, the crowd falling silent as he began to speak.
"Welcome, everyone," Cole started, his voice calm and reassuring. "Today, we're here to take a break from the constant battles and challenges we face. This event is for all of us to relax, enjoy, and remind ourselves that there's more to life than fighting. Let's take this time to recharge and have some fun."
The crowd cheered, appreciating the sentiment. Cole smiled, ready to conclude his speech, but before he could, Luka dashed up and grabbed the mic from him.
"ENOUGH YAPPIN' AND LET'S PARTY, PEOPLE!" Luka shouted, his enthusiasm infectious.
The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers, the tension from the past days melting away. Music started to play, and the event officially began. People dispersed to various activities—some headed to the beach, others to the food stalls, and many gathered in groups to chat and laugh.
Belial and Cassidy made their way through the festivities, spotting familiar faces and enjoying the lively atmosphere. Xin, initially hesitant, began to relax as he saw everyone else having a good time.
The trio wandered through the festival, trying their hands at various games. It quickly became evident that while Belial and Cassidy excelled at the strength-based challenges, Xin had a knack for the pattern-based and trickier games.
First, they approached the High Striker. Belial took the mallet, grinning at Cassidy. "Watch this." With a mighty swing, he sent the marker shooting up to ring the bell.
"Not bad," Cassidy said, cracking his knuckles. He took his turn, hitting the bell with equal force. They laughed, enjoying their friendly rivalry.
Next, they moved on to the Water Gun Races. The objective was to shoot a stream of water at a target, making a balloon rise to the top first. Cassidy and Belial focused intently, but Xin's steady hand and sharp aim led him to victory.
"Man, you've got some serious skills," Belial admitted, handing Xin a small stuffed prize.
At the Balloon Pop game, Xin deftly threw darts, popping the balloons with precision. Belial and Cassidy tried their best, but Xin's accuracy was unbeatable. "I guess there's no fooling you," Cassidy said with a chuckle.
They moved on to Giant Jenga, where steady hands and careful planning were key. Xin's concentration was unparalleled, and he won several rounds, leaving Cassidy and Belial in awe.
When they reached the Ladder Climb, Belial and Cassidy stumbled and slipped, but Xin navigated it with ease, reaching the top in no time. "It's all about equilibrium," Xin explained, smiling modestly.
At the Coin Toss, Xin's keen eye and strategic throws outshone Belial and Cassidy's attempts. "Seriously, are you good at everything?" Cassidy asked, shaking his head in mock disbelief.
[would you like me to assist?]
"No, I got this!"
The games continued: Duck Shoot, Bean Bag Toss, Shuffleboard, Horseshoe Toss. Time and again, Xin's skills shone through. Whether it was hand-eye coordination, balance, or strategy, Xin had a natural talent for each game.
Finally, they tried their luck at Whac-A-Mole. Belial and Cassidy, with their quick reflexes, managed to hit many moles, but Xin's consistent and precise hits earned him the highest score.
"Alright, alright, you win," Belial conceded, laughing. "But I demand a rematch next time."
Cassidy nodded in agreement. "Definitely. But for now, lets find something else to do"
Xin grabbed Belial's hand and hurriedly walked over to the stage and examined the guitar, Xin's eyes sparkled with excitement as he examined the rare guitar. He had only seen such an instrument in the Elfen realm, making its presence here all the more intriguing.
"This is—" Xin mumbled, his fingers tracing the intricate design.
"Hey! Get away from that!!" shouted a man approaching the stage.
The man was in a disheveled suit, his hair a mess from stress. His face showed signs of exhaustion from arguing.
"I'm sorry, sir. I was just admiring this guitar. Isn't this the 19XX Vox V251 Guitar Organ Prototype?" Xin asked, still in awe.
The man's expression softened slightly, but he remained firm. "Just scram, kid. I'm closing this venue."
"But with instruments like these, why would you close? It'll be a huge waste," Xin insisted.
"My players aren't coming, so I wasted all that money for nothing," the man said, his shoulders slumping.
Xin's eyes lit up with an idea. "Tell you what, I'll play for you for free."
The man looked at Xin skeptically. "You? Play? You don't look like a musician."
Xin smiled confidently. "Looks can be deceiving. Just give me a chance."
Belial stepped forward, supporting his friend. "Trust me. Xin is really good."
The man hesitated, glancing at the guitar and then back at Xin. His exhaustion was evident, but so was his curiosity. "Alright, fine. You've got one shot," he said, stepping aside.
Xin carefully picked up the guitar, feeling its weight and running his fingers over the strings. He took a deep breath, then began to play.
The first notes were soft, delicate, but as he continued, the melody grew stronger, more intricate. The sound of the guitar filled the air, weaving through the noise of the festival. People passing by stopped to listen, drawn by the unexpected music.
Belial watched, a proud smile on his face. Cassidy, who had caught up with them, leaned against a nearby post, nodding along to the tune.
The man's tired expression slowly transformed into one of amazement. He had never heard the guitar played like this. Xin's fingers moved with a natural grace, coaxing out a melody that was both haunting and beautiful.
When Xin finished, there was a moment of stunned silence before the small crowd erupted into applause. The man in the suit stood there, speechless for a moment, before breaking into a grin.
"Alright, kid," he said, clapping his hands together. "You've convinced me. You can play. What's your name?"
"Xin," he replied, smiling modestly as he handed the guitar back. "I'm glad you liked it."
"Cornett"
"Liked it? That was incredible!" The man ran a hand through his messy hair, suddenly energized. "Okay, Xin. You can play tonight. You just saved this venue."
Belial and Cassidy exchanged glances, impressed by their friend's unexpected talent. "Looks like we're staying for a show," Belial said, nudging Cassidy.
"Guess so," Cassidy agreed, still nodding to the afterglow of the performance.
"And you're going to play too!" Said Xin, determination shining in his eyes.
"Guess so," Cassidy agreed again, still nodding to the afterglow of the performance.
"What?" Said Belial and Cassidy in unison.
"I can't play at all," said Cassidy, backing out.
"And I've barely touched a bass," added Belial.
Xin's eyes sparkled with determination. "Don't worry, I've got a plan. Just follow my lead."
The man in the suit, now more hopeful, hurriedly set up the stage. "Alright, you three get ready. The show starts in 3 hours"
Xin led Belial and Cassidy to a quiet corner backstage. He picked up a bass and handed it to Belial, then grabbed a keyboard and set it up in front of Cassidy. "It's going to be fine. We just need to play a few simple songs of mine."
Belial looked at the bass skeptically. "Simple for you maybe."
Xin noticed Pacey walking among a crowd and went and snatched him, setting him next to Belial and Cassidy. Pacey still looked confused.
"And now we have a drummer!" Said Xin.
Cassidy glanced at the keyboard, nervous but intrigued. "I can't believe we're doing this."
Xin laughed softly. "Trust me, you'll do great. Let's practice a bit before the show starts."
He quickly showed Belial a few basic bass lines, demonstrated some simple chords for Cassidy on the keyboard, and gave Pacey a basic rhythm to follow on the drums. Despite the time crunch, Xin's calm and encouraging demeanor helped them absorb the essentials quickly.
"This kind of reminds me of a 'shamisen' I played with when I was younger," Belial thought to himself.
Xin set up a sound barrier so no one could hear them practice or mess up.
They all got to practicing.
The hours flew by as they rehearsed, stumbling at first but gradually finding their rhythm. Xin's patience and guidance helped them overcome their initial nervousness, and soon they were playing with more confidence.
Belial's fingers fumbled over the bass strings at first, but Xin's instructions helped him find his groove. With each repetition, his movements became more fluid, and he began to feel the music flowing through him.
Cassidy struggled with the keyboard at first, unsure of where to place his fingers. But Xin's encouragement spurred him on, and soon he was playing simple melodies with ease, his fingers dancing across the keys.
Pacey, initially unsure of himself on the drums, gradually found his rhythm under Xin's guidance. As he pounded out a steady beat, his confidence grew, and he began to experiment with different fills and patterns.
As they played, Xin watched them with pride, his heart swelling with joy. Despite their initial doubts, his friends were rising to the challenge, their talent shining through with each note.
Finally, after what felt like hours of practice, Xin called for a break. The four friends sat down, laughing and joking as they caught their breath.
"Not bad for a last-minute gig, huh?" Xin said, grinning.
"Yeah, I didn't think we had it in us," Belial admitted, wiping sweat from his brow.
Cassidy nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Definitely one for the books."
"And you were amazing on the drums, Pacey!" Xin exclaimed, clapping him on the back.
Pacey frowned, his cheeks flushed with pride as he crossed his arms. "Well of course I did."
Xin lifted the barrier and came from backstage, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. As he positioned himself center stage, he realized no one was paying attention. Determined to capture the crowd, he started the song with a fast, loud, and choppy riff then he smooths it out turning off the distortion.
Xin began to sing and play simultaneously, his voice strong and clear. Belial, who had only heard Xin sing once before when they first met, was captivated by the sheer power and emotion in his voice. Up close, the experience was overwhelming.
'Crap, I messed up!' Belial cursed internally.
[Notice: the individual Xin is using the Hax: sound manipulation to override the sounds that are released.]
'Bruh.'