"M-Master Lloyd! It’s true the Holy King’s performance was on par with Saria-tan’s, but to actually entrust him with her role is..."
"It’s a pretty good idea, even if I do say so myself, don’t you think?"
By letting the Holy King—who possessed skill and name recognition that exceeded even Saria’s—take over, the success of the Live Fest would be guaranteed.
On top of that, I could savor a Divine Melody to my heart’s content, and the prospect of the Holy King performing a song I had composed was intriguing in its own right.
It was the perfect idea to make everyone happy. Honestly, I was almost scared of my own genius.
"Now hold on a minute, Lloyd-kun. Think about Lady Saria’s feelings for a second. She must be frustrated as hell that she can't play anymore. She was definitely looking forward to the Live Fest, too. And yet, you’re gonna let the very person responsible take her place? That’s just too damn cruel, no matter how you look at it!"
"You think so...?"
If she couldn’t play anyway, someone had to take over. If it were me, I’d just pretend to be depressed while spending every waking moment on my research.
"Whoa there, Lloyd-kun. Do you have no heart? Try to put yourself in her shoes. There’s no way she’d agree to let me, the culprit, serve as her substitute—"
"Fine. You do it."
Saria spoke with flat finality, catching the Holy King off guard.
"Eh?! A-Are you sure? I feel quite guilty about this... Wouldn't it be better to reconsider?"
"What? Are you a man who takes back his word once it’s been spoken?"
"I didn't mean it like that... But you haven't even really heard me play, have you?"
"I can tell just by looking at you that you have the skill."
It was said that a master swordsman could discern a person's true strength simply by their bearing and movements. To Saria, a prodigy of music, his talent was likely obvious without her even needing to listen.
"But... I suppose you're right. I need to make everyone else accept you. Lloyd, run along and call the others."
"Y-Yes!"
Kicked out of the room by Saria, I went to gather the rest of the family. As I left, I heard the Holy King give a wry chuckle. "She’s a strong one, isn't she?"
I eventually returned with Albert and the others. I had explained the situation on the way, but they all wore looks of total disbelief.
"To think Saria has become unable to play... I find it impossible to believe..."
"And the Holy King is her substitute? I have no clue what the hell is going on anymore."
"Will Saria-neesan be alright...? I’m worried about her..."
"I don't know who this Holy King is, but if he’s even a hair inferior to Saria, I absolutely won't accept him as a substitute!"
"Yeah, we’d be better off leaving the spot empty. Well then, let’s see what he’s got."
As everyone voiced their skepticism, Saria shoved the piano toward the Holy King.
"Go on. Show them what you can do."
"Yes, yes, I understand... Well then—"
With a wry smile, the Holy King let his fingers glide over the keys.
The performance was beyond reproach.
It wasn't a Divine Melody, but it didn't need to be. Everyone stood in silence, moved to tears by its excellence.
"...I’ve got no complaints. He’s got real talent. Good as Saria, I’d say."
"Yes, it was a magnificent performance. Personally, I find the situation quite disagreeable, but there is no issue whatsoever with his skill."
Following Birgitte, even Sylpha gave her stamp of approval. Naturally, no one else dared to raise an objection.
"...But are ya really okay with this, Saria? Givin’ it up to a guy like this? If ya don’t like it, ya can still back out, ya know."
"I don't mind, Gilbit-neesan. The success of the Live Fest is my only wish."
"If that’s what ya say, then I guess it's fine... And it’s Birgitte, got it?"
Since Saria herself had insisted, there was nothing more anyone could say.
The festival was fast approaching.
On the night before the event, Saria sat at the piano under the moonlight. She held her hands ready and tried to strike the keys, but they wouldn't move. She tried desperately to force her fingers down, but her entire body began to tremble, and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
"...Ngh."
A loud, discordant bang echoed through the room as she slammed both hands down. The noise rang through the quiet night before dissolving into the darkness. Saria’s shoulders shook as her breathing grew ragged, and she clenched her fists until they turned white.
"...It’s no use. I just can’t play...!"
She had tried countless times since the encounter, but the spark was gone. She had wanted to perform in the Live Fest. She had wanted to play alongside Isha. She had wanted to play the song Lloyd had composed. But it was no use. At this rate, she had no choice but to step aside for that man.
A matter of the heart, huh?
The Holy King had supposedly done something to her, but that was likely just the trigger. For some time now, she had been dissatisfied with her own performances. Somewhere deep down, she had felt that the day she would no longer be able to play was coming.
Even though she had been somewhat prepared, the reality of it weighed on her with crushing force. She wanted to play but couldn't; she had never experienced this before, and she had no idea how to fix it.
"What am I... supposed to do...!"
Would she stay like this forever? If music—the only thing she cared about—was taken away, what would be left of her? Would her life even have value? Dark thoughts swirled in her mind, and she could do nothing but curse her own helplessness.
Behind Saria, a shadow stretched along the wall. In an instant, accompanied by a sensation like a blade pressed against her throat, the shadow spoke.
"Your origin—perhaps the hint lies there."
It was the Black Man. His figure was almost invisible within the shadows, but his sharp eyes pierced the darkness, fixed on Saria.
"In any artistic field, it is common for a creator's hands to simply stop. When that happens, one must look back at their origin. That initial motivation is often the key to a revival."
"My... origin...?"
"The reason you started music, the feelings you had at that time... Think on that."
As he prepared to melt back into the darkness, Saria called out.
"Wait!"
She stopped him, her eyes narrowing.
"You're one of the bad guys, aren't you? Why are you giving me advice?"
"Hmph. Don't misunderstand. This is for my own sake. Your performance was reasonably good. I simply thought it a waste for talent capable of soothing my ears to remain buried. That is all."
With that, the shadow dissolved into the night and vanished.
"So arrogant..." Saria muttered, looking down at her palms. In the silence, she began to dig through her memories.
"Now that I think about it, when was it? The first time I played an instrument..."
It was probably when she was about three years old. She remembered playing with her brothers when a court musician had come in to teach her. She recalled telling him, "I have no interest in being taught by my inferiors."
He had given a wry smile and started to play, and she had silenced him by outperforming him on the spot. Since then, countless musicians had visited her, and she had soundly defeated every one of them. Then she met Isha. Recognizing her singing ability, Saria had designated her as a lifelong rival.
They had always performed together... Isha had surely just been enjoying herself, but Saria realized now that she had been competing and keeping score in her heart during every single session.
Yes, her foundation was built on a competitive drive.
"But is that really all...?"
Something felt off. A sense that she was overlooking a crucial piece of the puzzle drove her further back into her memories. Even after meeting Isha, she hadn't been quite as obsessed as she was now. She used to play with her brothers every day and would occasionally go days without touching an instrument. She had been a normal child.
Four, five, six years old... brothers were born, sisters were born... and then, when she was seven, Lloyd was born. And then—
"Saria-neesan?"
A voice spoke close to her ear. It was Lloyd.
"Lloyd..."
"I'm sorry for startling you. But are you alright? You're sweating quite a bit."
Saria realized she was drenched. Intense fatigue and lethargy washed over her, making her vision swim.
"I-It’s nothing..."
"It’s definitely not nothing. Your face is pale. Let’s get you back to your room. Here, lean on me."
"...I'm really okay..."
She had almost grasped it. If she could trace her memories just a little further, she might find the answer. Just a little more...
But her body betrayed her. Saria’s strength gave out, and she collapsed.
"Saria-neesan?! Are you alright?! Saria-neesan!"
As Lloyd’s frantic voice faded into the distance, Saria’s consciousness slipped away.