"Where have you been?"
Crown Prince Ranon glanced at Arabella who had sneaked inside their viewing platform, questioning her whereabouts.
"Nothing… Just looking observing the people around." Arabella answered briefly.
Crown Prince Ranon cast a long look toward her before he opened his mouth to ask another question, "Any news of the Pope and the Paladin?"
"The last contact we have with him was in Croix Town, they left as scheduled so they should have started to enter the boundary of the territory the next few days. However, we have yet to receive any update from his side." She answered once again.
"Hmm… Try to contact him now... I do not want that our plans would be delayed because of him." Crown Prince Ranon flashed an impatient look.
He already had several plans that could not materialize because of the d*mned security of the Seirende Empire.
His only hope was to join forces with the Pope who was also on the same side.
After all, both of them work for the same purpose and person.
"Roger that…" Arabella nodded upon receiving the Crown Prince's order and immediately exited the viewing platform.
Meanwhile, the intermission break was now done and the competition continued.
This time it was Lainie and she assembled the orchestra's turn to present the piece. Of course, before that, their piece will be performed by the Haven Light Orchestra.
Their piece, Prokofiev Symphony number 5 was then introduced by the emcee.
"A lost piece, yet again!" Upon hearing that what they will hear next was a lost piece, the crowd roared in excitement.
Raya and Desmond's rendition of the first two lost pieces had caused a huge shaking not only in the Capital but the entire music industry.
Now, not only will the public listen to a rendition of another lost piece, the performance would be broadcasted around the world too!
If this becomes successful, a revolution in music might be triggered after the two performances.
Moreover, Raya, Desmond, and Lainie's names will be known as the harbinger of the precious 'lost pieces' in Prasinos.
Soon the crowd settled down and waited for the Haven Light Orchestra to start.
Greeting the total silence was a dreamy duet of the flute and bassoon. A series of beautiful melodies came forth as the strings, basses and cello joined, accompanied by the woodwind and brass instrument.
The music is geared towards being grand and magical, like a march of great beings entering the hall of majesty.
Soon, there was a suspenseful melody that overshadowed the originally dreamy and magical music.
Little did the audience know that it was actually a prelude to the suspenseful and torturous themes of the second and third movements.
In contrast to the light and somewhat foreboding first movement, the second movement and third movements were an epic orchestration of struggle.
Finally, it ended with triumphant music that alternates with some of the melodies from the first three movements.
The music intensified and creates a scene that keeps on moving upward strongly and aggressively. It was a kind of virtuosic ending that completely disappeared as soon as it reached its peak.
The people listening to the piece were bewildered and amazed at the same time. That was most likely because just like Fredius's creation it seems like Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony also features the same time, albeit a little more deeper and complexly created.
People did not know how to react, and they could not determine if they were actually amazed by the creation or not after listening to a similar piece beforehand.
Nevertheless, they still praised and cheered the orchestra for their wonderful performance.
Eli and Lainie saw the situation and immediately knew what was on the listeners' minds.
However, instead of panicking, they were actually elated, because this was the effect they needed in order for Lainie's arrangement to propel in superiority.
They planned to capitalize on the listener's momentary disinterest in order to add an extra layer of surprise and impact to Lainie's arrangement.
This was because most of the listeners were not musical experts. They evaluate music according to the feelings invoked to them, in short, according to how it impacted them on a personal level.
While Eli knew that the jury would immediately identify the difference between the Haven Light's rendition and Lainie's Orchestra performance, they will still take into consideration the effect brought to the audience by the two rival arrangers.
And so, this was an opportunity for them.
"Go and show them what the piece is all about." Eli no longer used lengthy words to the nervous musicians in front of her.
She just took a look at them with a confident smile on her face and an assuring gaze. Her words meant that the piece will certainly be even more beautiful if it were they who performed the piece.
It was mystical that just a few words from her worked magic on their state of mind. Their nerves immediately relaxed and they suddenly felt more confident.
As soon as they were called, they stood straight, some carrying their handheld musical instruments. Stepping onto the stage, they felt that they entered a different world.
Even so, they were no longer afraid.
One by one, they went on to their respective sections. Ensuring that their instruments were tuned and waiting for Lainie's signal to start the music.
Although the crowd felt that the piece lacked impact as compared to the rival's piece, they still clapped their hands as a courtesy to the performing young orchestra.
As soon as the crowd was ready, Lainie smiled gently at the orchestra. Her eyes told them that this is the moment of truth.
At the beat of her baton, the same melodic duet of the flute and bassoon started the music.
However, there seems to be something different about the way the music was played.
The first to notice this, of course, was the jury who not only intently listened to the first performance of the same piece but spent time analyzing the piece among themselves.
"It's the colour! The colour!" Afraid that they will disturb the music with their exclamations, the juries mouthed these words to their fellows as they looked at each other.
The original melodic duet turned out to be a lot more lyrical and uniquely beautiful. It became more prominent when the basses, cellos, and woodwind instruments joined.
The more instruments joined, the more they realized the significance of the interaction between the different instruments.
A wonderful story is told without the use of a single word!
The critics around also immediately noticed this and immediately filled in their notebooks. A number of them were interested in how such melodies were used as lyrical lines that could be attributed to a singer.
Suddenly they remembered yet another lost piece that was performed just recently, "Erlkönig" which was performed by Raya. A solo violin piece that featured four characters, the Elf King, the Boy, The Father, and the Narrator!
"This is a revolution!" The juries and the critiques all thought.
It was intensely so when they heard the next movement.
The second movement actually introduces a suspenseful theme. Fast humorous music that depicts a chase-like scene. The Piano, the Strings, the Woodwinds, the Brass, and even the Percussion all had their own 'lyrics' to say.
The melody livened up the crowd, as they finally saw the clarity of the second movement. It was an elaborate chase being painted by the alternating sections of each instrument!
After that, was the third movement, which was now slower and long winding. However, even with a slower melody, this movement features depth and expression.
Slowly the listeners, whether musical experts or laymen understood what the Prokofiev 5 is all about.
If Fredius's composition was about a mystical village that has gone through a battle, the Prokofiev 5 actually only features an Epic of a Hero!
This was also thanks to Lainie's own vision of interpreting the piece.
The first movement is the introduction. Majestic, beautiful and grand, denoting that the subject here was a person destined to do or carry great things.
The second movement paints the hurdles and challenges hindering the Hero's way. The increasing intensity also foreshadows his deep internal struggle that would be the subject of the Third Movement.
More than the battle of the sword is the battle of the heart. This was the listener's impression of the third movement.
Finally, they have introduced once again to the last movement. The melody was driving upwards, calmly starting its ascent with a gentle solo from the clarinet.
The build-up of the music slowly brought the listeners to a wild and triumphant finale - a hard-earned victory!
The last note resonated in the entire square, most importantly it resonated in the hearts and minds of listeners.
Without one initiating the cue, the people stood up and clapped to the best of their ability.
"Epic! It is really epic!!!!"
"Such a heroic tale! I can't get over!"
"My heart is still beating fast! I never knew that the piece could turn out like this?!"
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