Nobles and the chosen congregate toward the ballroom's stage. They whisper and place bets amongst themselves as Sarah and Emily walk towards the stage. Cologne, flora, alcohol, and tension were palpable, lingering in the air in a strange cocktail of aromas. Emily smirked at Elijah as he gave her a thumbs up, while he leaned on the wall next to Shiyu and Arthur. The chandelier cast dim shadows across the marble floor. A silent hush fell upon the other chosen as they fixated their attention on Sarah and Emily as they stepped on stage.
"Let's see," Sarah said out loud with a smile as she picked up her violin. "I really hope you don't get stage fright on me, Emily of Leonore," she joked as she rubbed her hands across the violin. "You impressed the ENGINE, me, and Tilly here want to see if you're not a one hit wonder."
"You named your violin Tilly?" Emily asked as she watched Sarah tune her instrument.
"Of course, I had Tilly since I was a little girl," Sarah explained as she smiled at Emily. "You should feel honored. I don't bring out Tilly unless I think my opponent is actually good."
Emily bit her lip but didn't reply as she walked over to the cello between a harpsichord and drums. A deep sigh relaxed her muscles as she ran her hands over the wood and strings, feeling the instrument's weight and quality. She flicked each string with her fingernail, then tightened or loosened each string to her preference.
"Alright," Emily said with a smile as she glanced at Rachel. "Let's get this show started... I got waffles to win."
Sarah chuckled. "How... uncivilized," she mocked as she gestured the orchestra to take their positions on stage. "Tilly here doesn't appreciate being looked down on. She will make you take this seriously."
"I am taking this seriously."
The choir hummed a delicate rhythm as a harpsichord and drums layered the beat, as Sarah sat across from Emily. Sarah gripped her violin and played. Emily's eyes narrowed as she felt Tilly's tune in her chest. A beautiful solo with emotional highs and lows that complemented the orchestra's layered beat. Sarah's strumming slowly increased in intensity, matching the choir's humming, then ended in a harmonious crescendo. The crowd clapped and cheered as Sarah nodded to them before glancing back at Emily.
Emily scratched her nose, gazing around at the crowd before running her hands through her hair.
"The stage is yours, Emily of Leonore," she said with a smirk as she crossed her legs in her chair.
"That was really good... not going to lie," Emily smiled as she held her cello. "I guess Tilly has my attention."
"Good... now let's see if you can impress her," Sarah replied, leaning forward and staring at Emily.
A sharp, deep, resonant hum echoed from Emily's cello as she began strumming a tune before the choir even set a rhythm. Emily's strumming was choppy and unorthodox, with sudden highs and lows mixed with long notes of melancholy. The orchestra built a rhythm to complement her solo performance, as the two blended into a harmonious melody. The choir's humming intensified as Emily's fingers smacked the wooden frame, mimicking the sound of clapping. Her solo ends in a climactic crescendo, followed by an off-tune fluctuation, before she strummed a lingering, haunting melody.
The crowd clapped, their eyes widened as they whispered amongst themselves. Sarah leaned back in her chair, her eyebrow raised as she glanced at the crowd's reaction. She then nodded and smiled at Emily as she held her violin.
"That sounds like a draw," Sarah said as she looked around the ballroom to see if anyone disagreed. "One-one it is then. Unique playstyle you have there, Emily of Leonore... but it works. Who taught you how to play like that?"
"Taught myself... I just feel and then play that feeling," Emily replied as she rubbed her hands on the cello.
"The word you are looking for is improv, dear."
"If that is what you call it…sure."
Sarah nodded and then clutched Tilly as the choir layered the next beat for the second round. Tilly hummed an intricate, soft tune underneath harmonic drums and a harpsichord. Brass and a hammered dulcimer wove into the melody.
"Ohhhhhhhhhh...ohoohoh... ohhhohhhoh... Ohohohh," Sarah hummed alongside the choir as she felt the rhythm and intensified into an orchestral drop over a pump organ drone. "Ohhhhhhhh....ohohohoh...ooohoh. ohohhoh....ohohoho..hmmmmm."
Her bow danced across the strings over a commanding contrabassoon. The orchestra hummed along, weaving multiple instruments over a rhythmic and dynamic melody into heavy bass. Sarah's violin carried forward while the minor-key piano added texture.
Emily's eyes widened as she felt the smooth tune coming from Tilly. The harmonies had swelling highs and deep lows that gripped the heart with harmonious balance. The beat quickened as Sarah strummed multi-layered tunes that bled into the orchestral supporting melody. Tilly ended with a lingering note, strummed over deep orchestral humming.
Once again, the crowd erupted in cheers that reverberated across the ballroom. Sarah spun around and nodded to the crowd once more, then waved.
"Try to keep up, Emily of Leonore," She said as she twirled around with a smug expression as if she already won.
Emily glanced up at the ceiling, staring at the chandelier hanging overhead. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath; a smile crept onto her face as she readied her cello. Her eyes remained closed as she strummed a frenzied tune. Drums echoed underneath her solo while the choir hummed. A delicate harpsichord layered the melody before the pump organ drone entered, as Emily's cello layered sudden dips and high-pitched notes before lingering on a single note. The tune slowed, with deep bass and choir chants, before escalating into an orchestral drop. She ended the round with a quick, rhythmic note that swelled into a crescendo.
Rachel smiled as she was the first to clap, and the crowd erupted shortly after Emily's turn ended.
Emily smiled at Rachel as Sarah turned towards the crowd.
Sarah nodded as the crowd's cheers were just as loud as hers.
"Two, two?" Emily asked as her eyes floated across the ballroom.
"It appears so... you're going to make Tilly work for this," Sarah replied, turning back around and sitting down in her chair. Sarah took a deep breath as she gazed down at her violin.
"You're holding back, are you, Emily of Leonore?"
Emily shrugged. "So are you."
Sarah nodded with a smirk as she readied Tilly. "I won't be this time," she said with focused eyes, then snapped her fingers.
"Ohhhh...ohoh....ohhhhhhh...," Sarah hummed as the choir hummed along with Tilly. "Ohhhhh....ohoh...ohhhhhhh.....ohhh...ohohohohohoho."
Tilly erupted into a complex, multi-layered solo with massive highs and lows. A harpsichord, drums, and bass layered the melody as Sarah played. Each note was flawless, smooth, and delicate. Sarah's voice was intoxicating, and nobles' eyes watered as they stood transfixed. Her violin commanded all ears while the contrabassoon and heavy bass thumped off the chests of everyone in the ballroom.
All eyes were on Sarah as Tilly cried a competitive, romantic melody while the choir hummed along. Her heels clicked on the floor, layering a unique clicking effect that complemented the drums that layered the solo. Each strum was brimming with energy that reverberated throughout the ballroom. Emily stared at Tilly as Sarah's hands swept back and forth as she strummed. She felt each note in her chest just as much as in her ears. A smile stretched across Emily's face as she closed her eyes and felt the passion coming from Tilly. Her head bobbed and weaved alongside Sarah solo until she ended in a beautiful orchestral drop.
Sarah turned and bowed to the audience, who erupted in deafening cheers. She waved and then basked in their approval as a smile stretched from ear to ear on her face.
"You hear that, Tilly... they love you," Sarah said as she glanced at her violin before taking her seat. Her eyebrows raised as she noticed Emily was still moving to the melody with her eyes closed. "Captivated, are you?"
Emily did not respond as she grabbed her cello.
Her fingers attacked her cello, then she took a deep breath.
An eerie Cheshire smile stretched across her face while her eyes remained closed. A deep, resonant note ripped from Emily's cello as she escalated the pitch in slow, long notes. The choir humming accompanies her cello, layering a broody tune—deep drums and industrial bass mixed in, layering a melancholic rhythm, followed by a delicate harpsichord.
Her unorthodox methods continued with drastic stuttering highs and lows, followed by lengthy emotional notes that ended in orchestral drops. The choir hums turned into chants as Emily plucked higher and higher notes, then lower. Her cello wept a melancholic, defiant lullaby with only the bass as support. Emily accelerated to unworldly speeds as the pump organ drone bellowed. She did not let up; each tune cried as Emily strummed it relentlessly until the orchestra could not keep up.
Silence lingered in the ballroom as everyone stared at Emily, their expressions mixed with awe and concern.
Sarah blinked as she stared at Emily's cello. Her eyebrow raised, but she did not speak. She then took a deep breath as she bit her lip. Nobody clapped, nobody said a word as the orchestra behind Emily stared wide-eyed at her as she finally opened her eyes. Sarah glanced down at the floor, eyes wide as she held Tilly. She then looked back at the crowd and nodded. Nobody said Emily won the round because they all felt Emily had won that round.
"Two-three?" Emily asked with a smile as she glanced around the ballroom, while nobody but Rachel and Elijah clapped. "Why are you all quiet?"
Sarah forced a thin-lipped smile. "Give me a moment," she said as she stood up and walked over to Arthur. She whispered something in his ear, then sighed. Emily shrugged as she looked at Rachel.
"Three-two?"
"How about we switch things up a little bit for the final round?" Sarah asked as she walked back towards the stage.
"What do you mean?" Emily replied as she watched Sarah take her seat.
"How about we add singing to the last round? Why should we limit ourselves to only our instruments? Sarah explained, clutching Tilly and then looking at the crowd.
Emily shrugged as the crowd cheered their approval of Sarah's suggestion."Fine by me, I guess," Emily replied as she glanced at Shiyu, Elijah, and then Rachel.
"Excellent...how about you go first this time?"
Emily sighed, then shrugged. "Whatever."
Her cello wept as she strummed the first note of the final round.
Emily's body slowly bobbed and weaved to a beat that nobody heard. The orchestra slowly accompanied the cello, layering humming, deep bass, and 808s. The harpsichord filled the beat as Emily's cello swelled, drenched in baroque tunes and a͎ṅ̶̻̖̝ả̷̙̖͙͎l̢̛ͮ͘ȍ̤̀͠_͇͟gͩ m̰̽ͣ̆̒̕o̗̦o̭g̨̰͑ͩ?
"Pull the thread through chosen cloth," Emily sang, her voice oozing with melancholy.
"Stitch the stars into starlight."
"Silver needle, blackened string,"
"Sewing fate to orphan skin."
Delicate chimes accompanied Emily's note, followed by a bass drop and layered 808s. Emily's eyes flickered mulberry as an unsettling smile stretched across her face. The lights flickered mulberry overhead as she played her cello. Stuttering hi-hats, syncopated 808s and aggressive percussion hits slammed into the sound, though the instruments were not available to the orchestra.
"Double-stitched, the fabric glows."
"Sown the pattern, count the days."
"ɆVɆⱤɎ ₴₮ł₮₵Ⱨ ł₴ ₳ ₥Ɇ₥ØⱤɎ ł ₥₳ĐɆ," Emily sang, her voice layered and pitch-shifted.
Her voice crackled with static and a digital vocoder. "ɆVɆⱤɎ ₭₦Ø₮, ₳ ₵₳₲Ɇ ł ₥₳ĐɆ,"
Nobody moved, nobody blinked, everyone frozen in place as if time had stopped.
"Ť̫̬͈ͨ̔̌̕͟͡ĥ̃re͙͎͖͒́ͧ͛̎͋́͘á̞͐̉̈́͋ͮ̓d̽ͤ̌̐͡ a̷͓̹͎̻̥̐̋_̠̎n̪̩͇̟͚̫̬ͮ͋̚͢d̷̵̞̲̙͆ͮ̍̕͟ n̴̯̑͂ͯ̓e̶̲ͤ͟ḙ͝d̺̥̞͎̄l̰ͥͣ͛ͤͦ̍̂e͓͙͎͒̉̊́."
"₮ⱧⱤɆ₳Đ ₳₦Đ ₦ɆɆĐⱠɆ."
"₩Ɇ₳Vł₦₲ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ ł ₵₳₦'₮ Ʉ₦ĐØ."
"Ť̫̬͈ͨ̔̌̕͟͡ĥ̃re͙͎͖͒́ͧ͛̎͋́͘á̞͐̉̈́͋ͮ̓d̽ͤ̌̐͡ a̷͓̹͎̻̥̐̋_̠̎n̪̩͇̟͚̫̬ͮ͋̚͢d̷̵̞̲̙͆ͮ̍̕͟ n̴̯̑͂ͯ̓e̶̲ͤ͟ḙ͝d̺̥̞͎̄l̰ͥͣ͛ͤͦ̍̂e͓͙͎͒̉̊́."
"₮ⱧⱤɆ₳Đ ₳₦Đ ₦ɆɆĐⱠɆ,"
"T͉͇̘h̄̐̓e̸͕̫̦͕ Eͬ͌̔̀N͎_G̛̒I̢̮̩̾ͭͨ̂N̠E̙͛̏ i̛͇̘ͦ͜͞s̲͕̞̪̀̈̀ waͦͭ̑tc̛̗̦̘͈ͤ͜h̻̅i̱͍n̖̯ͤͭ͡g̳̀ͯ t̳͂oͯͧo̩̅."
A mulberry aura surrounded Emily as she played.
Instruments manifested out of thin air, layering a complex beat. Industrial bass, distorted 808s, and analog moog carried the beat as Emily's voice pitch shifted like a stuttering cassette tape.
"ł₮'₴ ₮ⱧɆ ₮ⱧⱤɆ₳Đ ₱ɄⱠⱠɆĐ ₮ł₲Ⱨ₮."
"Aͤ͢n̈́͗͞d͙ I a̪m̊ thé̬̩ n̈̏ͮe͈̎̅ė̸dľ̷̯ẽ͙̬'s͇ ey͐e."
"₱łɆⱤ₵ł₦₲ ₮ⱧⱤØɄ₲Ⱨ ₥Ɏ ₥ØⱤ₮₳Ⱡ ₴₭ł₦."
"₴₮ł₮₵Ⱨ ฿Ɏ ₴₮ł₮₵Ⱨ ł ฿ł₦Đ."
"₮ⱧⱤɆ₳Đ ₳₦Đ ₦ɆɆĐⱠɆ ₥₳₭ł₦₲ ₥Ɇ."
"̶̡̤̠͈̅́͛ͮ́̋͛͋̈́̌ͨ̀͜͜͜͝P̲̥̪̯͈̺͙ͣ̓̅̑̀͠͠͞R̡̛̬̲̲̘̻͖̩̤̽́̊̄̈͑͗̔̌͒̀̒ͣ̀͐̅͗͒͟͟͟͠I͢M̰̼ͭ̓̇́̄̂̒̐ͥE̸̦͍̦͈ͥ̌ͦ̉͋̆̚"̴̸̘̪̜̙̳̬̼̃̏ͦ̆̓ͬ͒͛͋̃ͥͤ͜͡͞
Emily's voice cracked with distortion as her eyes violently glowed the ENGINE'S pulsating mulberry hue.
Mulberry divine light bathed the ballroom as the air temperature plummeted. Instruments flickered in and out of existence as Emily's aura swelled.
"₵₳₮ⱧɆĐⱤ₳Ⱡ Ɇ₵ⱧØɆ₴ ł₦ ₮ⱧɆ ₴Ɇ₳₥₴,"
"₴Ɇ₩ł₦₲ ₦ł₲Ⱨ₮₥₳ⱤɆ₴ ł₦₮Ø ĐⱤɆ₳₥₴,"
"₮ⱧⱤɆ₳Đ ₳₦Đ ₦ɆɆĐⱠɆ,"
"₮ⱧⱤɆ₳Đ ₳₦Đ ₦ɆɆĐⱠɆ,"
"₦Ø₮Ⱨł₦₲'₴ ɆVɆⱤ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ ł₮ ₴ɆɆ₥₴."
Orchestral pop flourishes and glitch pop percussive cuts interplay, pushing the danceable energy forward. Heavy bass drops with whispered harmonies over an arrangement that layers melancholy with rhythmic movement, blending French Baroque ornamentation and lush pop drama in a swirling, mysterious tapestry as Emily continued to play to a frozen audience.
"₩₳₮₵Ⱨ ₮ⱧɆ ₦ɆɆĐⱠɆ ₱łɆⱤ₵Ɇ ₳₦Đ ₱ɄⱠⱠ."
"ɆVɆⱤɎ ₴₮ł₮₵Ⱨ ₳₦Ø₮ⱧɆⱤ ₴₮₳Ɽ."
"₴ⱧɆ ₴₳Ɏ₴ ₣ØⱤ ₮ⱧɆ ₣Ʉ₮ɄⱤɆ ₱Ɽł₥Ɇ," Emily's eyes flickered back to emerald green as she breathed deeply, wide-eyed.
Her audience thawed, their limbs moving as their eyes fixated on Emily. The orchestra resumed its melody as Emily raised her eyebrow, glancing around the ballroom.
"What's wrong?" Sarah asked.
Emily shook her head as she rubbed her neck, then looked at her cello.
"Are you okay?" Elijah asked as he walked up to the stage alongside Rachel and Shiyu.
"Do you need a minute?" Shiyu asked.
"Yeah... just I feel really light-headed right now," Emily replied with a dazed look in her eye as her hands quivered on the cello.
Sarah stood up and grabbed Tilly. "How about we resume this down the line... we have a week after all?" She asked, forcing a smile.
"You sure?" Emily replied. Sarah chuckled and nodded. "Of course, let's resume this in my home country of Tyrial? Bigger crowd, bigger stage, home court advantage for me seems only fair since this is your homeland?"
Emily nodded as she gazed down at her cello, her hands still quivering, though she did not know why.