Chapter 18: Violin
Iledoya had plans to go meet a certain baker. 5 years before he came back to life, he happened to sever the soul of a bread maker. The reason why it piqued his interest was from the knowledge he attained from the soul. From the knowledge of that soul, this baker can speak a language even Iledoya has never heard before and spoke of objects Iledoya did not understand. Iledoya wasn't sure if the baker was making things up or he actually knew those unknown things, which is why he wanted to pay a visit.
But now, knowing that even the two most skillful people in Gilrad struggled to make the objects designed by this man, he now had less doubt in his mind.
"Hello, I'm Iledoya. May I know your name?" Iledoya introduced himself. Strange enough, the soul he severed never knew the name of his boss. So Iledoya took the initiative to introduce himself.
Seeing that Iledoya was the one holding the object that he ordered, the baker introduced himself "Hi there Iledoya, my name is Nicholas. Did you make that?" while at the same time he thought 'Another strange name… haish…'
While handing over the object to Nicholas, Iledoya responded with "Oh! So your name is Nyikeulas! Yes, i made it. So what is it for?" while at the same time he thought 'He has a strange sounding name…'
Nicholas felt there was something wrong with how Iledoya pronounced his name. But since he can't really tell what, he just ignored it. Taking the object from Iledoya, he introduce it to them "Hehehe… this here is what my people call a 'Violin'! And it's actually a musical instrument!"
"A musical instrument!?" The three exclaimed at the same time. 'While it did look simple, but its small details and the all the curves here and there was extremely hard, and it was just to make a musical instrument?' This was how Dranky thought.
"If it's a musical instrument, then why is the string so unnecessarily complex?" Gratrosa just questioned Nicholas right away without thinking much.
In this world where magic training was the only thing in focus, music wasn't really developed. The only reason that music was still around was possibly because of a certain famous clan with the Unique Attribute of Music magic.
And there was only 1 known instrument that was associated with musical instrument and the world call it 'plucky'. It was played by being plucked, and each note had a string. It came in many shape and sizes due to it having no standard form.
So when the trio heard is was a musical instrument, they all thought that Nicholas was just making an over-complicated plucky, since it also happened to use strings.
Since Nicholas has been in this world since birth, he quite understood what Gratrosa was questioning. "No no no… this is not just another plucky. For now, let's just see if it works. Can we assemble it inside?"
Of course Gratrosa wouldn't mind. They all walked into Gratrosa's workshop and gathered around a table. Nicholas waved his hand and some objects appeared on the table.
Iledoya was a bit surprised because he didn't think that Nicholas would actually practice his magic. When he met Nicholas, he could see the dark blue coloured magic coming out of him, which shows that he has Space attribute magic.
Looking at the objects on the table, Iledoya frowned in confusion as he still doesn't know how this 'violin' will be played. On the table, there was more stings, nail-like objects, and a long stick with strings attached to it that makes it look like a bow.
Nicholas started assembling the 'violin' while explaining the objects. He picked up the nail-like object, inserted it into one of the 4 holes on one end of the violin and winded a string to it "This here is a 'peg'. By attaching one end of the string here and the other end to this part here, I am able to change the tune of the string" After he finished turning the peg, he plucked the string to let them hear the sound before turning the peg again to let them hear the difference.
When the trio heard the first plucked, they were entranced by the sound. The three of them one way or another, has once heard what a plucky sound like. And when compared to the 'violin' in front of them, they felt that there was more peace and solemnity to it. When they heard the different tune when Nicholas turned the peg, they all thought 'That's a very inconvenient way to play a different tune. Wouldn't that make all the songs very long and boring?'
As if hearing their thought, Nicholas pressed the string at a certain point and plucked the string. "Well of course there is a way to play different tunes other than turning the peg" He said while grinning at the trio.
"Ha… hahaha…" Having their thoughts read, the trio could only laugh awkwardly.
Gratrosa could see that there was 2 other strings on the table. He could tell that it was made with the same material with the string he coiled with metal, as it was also given by Nicholas.
Finished putting on each string, they could see that there was 2 strings coiled with metal and 2 that was normal.
Iledoya can't help but ask "What's that string made of?"
To which Nicholas answered with a grin "The hopes and dreams of teenagers with no money"
"WHAT!?" Iledoya couldn't believe it. He has never heard of magic that could condense hopes and dreams into solid materials. He tried to imagine a scene of Nicholas taking away the hopes and dreams of people and he thought it would look pretty cool! While trembling in excitement he asked "Can you teach how to make it?"
Nicholas was shocked "You believed me? I was just joking…" Actually, even Gratrosa thought Nicholas was being serious, as he was already paying respect and feeling sorry for the hopes and dreams of these people. But then came Nicholas' second line "It's just made from the intestines of a sheep-looking monster that I happen to found"
Iledoya became disappointed and sad. While Gratrosa ran to another room. Sounds of flowing water could be heard from that room.
Nicholas picked up the 'long stick' and introduced it "This may sound weird, but this is called a bow"
Contrary to Nicholas' expectation, the duo nodded their heads as if they understood him. 'Yeah it makes sense. Though there is a lot of strings, it does resemble a bow' is how they thought about it.
Gratrosa came back with wet hands and asked "So where does that go?"
"Nowhere. This is what you use to play it" Nicholas picked up the violin with his left hand and placed one end of it above his shoulder, holding it in place with his chin while holding the long part of the violin with his hand.
With his right hand holding the bow, he slide it perpendicularly through the strings. There was no sound.
The trio was bewildered. Nicholas then explained "I have to rub the bow with this rosin first to make the sound. I just wanted to let you all listen to it before rubbing it"
He picked up the amberish stone which he called a 'rosin' and started rubbing the strings of the bow with it. After a few minutes of rubbing it, he picked up the violin again ready to play it.
*sounds of violin that I do not know how to type into words*
He placed the bow's string to rest on top of the violin's string. As he began to pull the bow, a strange yet beautiful sound emanated from the violin
Nicholas played a simple song. Listening to the unique sound of the 'violin' the trio cannot help but be endlessly amazed
Beautiful!
Wonderful!
Amazing!
All sorts of praises came into mind for them. As the world was culturally behind in terms of music, the trio was easily impressed with the sound of the violin.
"This piece was called Ode to Joy. Doesn't it make you feel happy?"
The trio nodded together. They did feel like happy hearing it. If there was a way to listen to it again, they would definitely want to hear it again every time they want to celebrate.
"I guess this world would definitely think it sounds good" Nicholas sighed as he thought to himself 'If my violin teacher heard me play, he would've stabbed me with his bow maybe'
"Though the 'violin' was just randomly made to look the same, it did sound pretty decent. Thank you Iledoya, thank you Grat, thank you Dranky" Nicholas bowed to the three to show his thanks. "Here's the payment as promised"
Dranky felt pretty awkward accepting the payment, as the only thing he did was show Iledoya the blueprint. He wanted to give it to Iledoya but Iledoya refused it.
"Well then, my business here is done so… I'll be going back first. See you guys next time!" Nicholas didn't wait for a reply before walking out.
Iledoya was about to chase after him before remembering "Old Grat, can I ask you to make a cauldron later? I don't have the materials now but once I get it, I'll bring it to you!"
"Hm? Sure. As long as it's not as ridiculous as making them into those small threads to coil around intestines, it should fine" It was mentally painful for him to make those strings. If he was asked to make them again, he would definitely reject them.
Hearing Gratrosa's answer, Iledoya chased after Nicholas outside. He found Nicholas in an alleyway using magic sense to search for him. "Hey, Nyikelaos! There's something I want to ask you"
Nicholas turned around with his mouth twitching while answering "Oh Iledoya. What do you want to ask about? Is it about the violin?" He still had his kind, amiable expression on him.
Iledoya shaked his head "Do you still want to take revenge?" When Nicholas heard this question, his kind expression turned cold and grim. With a wave of his hand, a black L-shaped object appeared in his hand and there was hole in it. He pointed the object to Iledoya's forehead, touching it.
"How do you know about that?" Nicholas asked. The object in his hand made a click sound. "This is a modified Magnum 44 pistol. At point blank range like this, tell a lie and your brain might land on the ground"
Iledoya wasn't someone to fear death. There is a saying that says 'Curiosity killed the cat' and was proven when Iledoya answered Nicholas' question with "I was the knight that killed Reunard"
BANG
Iledoya's brain splattered on the ground.
BANG
BANG
BANG
BANG
Nicholas kept on shooting the already dead Iledoya. After a while he stopped. Iledoya's body was filled with holes now. 'Damn it, that's impossible. There was no way the knight was this short'
He looked up to the sky and sighed 'mama… just killed a man…'
His train of thought was disrupted when he suddenly heard gurgling and splashing sounds from in front of him.
Iledoya's body stood up and his head grew back. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I wasn't serious. I just wanted to know what the object in your hand does." He looked at his clothes that was full of holes and was quite shocked with the power of the object in Nicholas' hands. Being able to make a hole in his clothes made purely out of magic and exploding his head, it can't be more clearer to him that it is a weapon.
While Nicholas was staring with mouth a gaping mouth and bulging eyes. 'WHAT!? DID HE JUST CAME BACK TO LIFE!?' though he was quite happy that he apparently didn't killed someone.
He calmed down and asked again "I'm sorry for that. Seriously now, how do you know I want to take revenge?"
Iledoya thought about a way to answer that question for a while. He didn't want to say that he spent some time in Death's plane so he tried to make an answer that will reveal as little as possible. So he answered "As someone who can come back to life, I had a time when I met your worker, Reunard's soul. I was able to gain his knowledge and memories. From there, I saw how he died"
Nicholas was smart and he could tell that Iledoya was leaving out some information. But he felt that it was quite believable that he met Reunard's soul. He gave out a long sigh.
Hearing the sigh, Iledoya could tell that he is about to hear what he wanted find out for quite some time
"It was business just like any other day. If it wasn't because of that egoistic noble, Reunard wouldn't have died…"
[edited by ed]
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