by Feng Yue
“Don’t space out. Your posture is wrong!” With a rarely seen strictness, Abraham whacked Charles’ knees. “What did I tell you? Keep your knees together. Did you not eat? Keep this position for two hours. You’ll start over if you move…”
Charles cried, “Junior, come save me!”
Ye Qingxuan sighed and tried again. “Professor, it really isn’t his fault. It’s all because of me.”
“A junior’s mistake is always because of his senior’s wrongdoings.” Abraham shook his head. “Charles has been like this for a long time. It didn’t matter before, but now he should act like a senior.”
“Okay, let’s ignore him and start our class.” Abraham gestured at the chair before the messy table, and told Ye Qingxuan to sit. “I had planned on letting you read some books first and learn about the theories. But it seems that we don’t have that much time now.” As he spoke, he climbed up the ladder to take an old book from the shelf and placed it on the table. Using his metal hand, he flipped it open.
This seemingly ancient library had all types of books scattered about. The air was filled with the scent of ink and paper, but nothing was moldy or damp. Someone had worked hard at dehumidifying the library.
Other than the three walls filled with heavy books, the ground was also covered with books, and tea cups. There were notes strewn over the table too. It was obvious that Abraham did not organize often.
Then again, anyone would become clumsy if their right hand had been turned to metal.
This was Abraham’s own office. After Ye Qingxuan and Bai Xi entered the school, it became their classroom too. There would at least be enough room if it was organized a bit more.
“First, let’s define what it means to be a Musician.” Abraham wrote some words with chalk. There were Samnite words, Asgard runes, the previous version of the lingua franca, and some Latin words.
“In the earliest Samnite language, ‘musician’ meant ‘conveyer of missions.’ In the Rune language family, it became Vanaheim. In their belief, the world was divided into nine levels. ‘Asgard’ was where the gods lived. Vanaheims settled in the Yingling Temple, fighting with demons. They would die at night and be reborn in the morning. They were immortal gods to fight for eternity.
“Vanaheim has many meanings, including ‘God,’‘power,’‘sorcerer’ and ‘death.’ They saw musicians as fated to die. One could not defy this fate. It was also a glory that should not be defied. It was worth it to die in battle.
“In the long-gone Romulus, ‘musician’ was the same word as ‘messenger’ because they also had the duty of sending commands. Though musicians were very powerful in their descriptions, they weren’t deities and didn’t have powers.
“They referred to musicians as ‘Dark Dukes.’ They would be the messenger during a wedding and go between the two families for the groom. He would also participate in the Torch Sacrifice of the families. In the end, he would act as the bride’s father and chase her out of the home. He was also the groom’s father and accepted the girl. They had the power to break others’ familial relationships, but were also responsible for finding homes for those without a family. From the perspective of the society, they weren’t very high up. They were more like a government official and were a part of the entire nation…
“In the lingua franca, the definition of ‘musician’ is the simplest, but also the most unclear. If you look at its root, it’s created from two roots. Put together, it means ‘controller of aether’.” Abraham paused here, but heard the youth mumbling to himself.
“Aether is the messenger, bringing the descendants of the rebels back to the Originator…” The words left Ye Qingxuan’s mouth without him realizing. He had suddenly remembered this phrase, but he did not know where he heard it from. It just felt very familiar.
Abraham was stunned. He looked at Ye Qingxuan, as if he suddenly did not know him. After a long time, he said softly, “Ye, your comprehension is higher than I thought. Yes, ‘musician’ means ‘messenger of the Originator’.”
—
It was undeniable that, in many cultures, there were many types of legends. But in all of these legends, there was something like the Originator.
Some myths told that the world was first an insignificant dot in the universe. But after who knows how long, the dot exploded, and became the vortex known as the Originator. From there came four basic elements, which created the world. According to other legends, everything was dark at first. God lived in the Originator. He said he wanted light, and so aether came into existence.
The Indians believed that the Originator was a sea. In the sea was a great tortoise, and on the tortoise were four elephants. On the elephants was a disc-shaped world. Musicians were the messengers that the elephant gods chose.
But no matter what legend, there was one similarity: the Originator was the source of all aether, the core of all mystery, the assembler of all meaning and…the site of all power!
Countless musicians through history had searched tirelessly for the Originator, hoping to enter it.
Apparently, an Indian prince was willing to abandon his own country to become a musician. After traveling for more than ten years, he meditated under a sycamore tree for seven days, defeated multiple natural catastrophes, and finally entered the Originator.
But there were too many legends. Ye Qingxuan could make up a few with just his creativity. He had once thought that the world was created from a bowl of noodles. Of course, that had been when he was starving.
In this world, the only place that had evidence of deities was in the sacred city. It was a power that was enough to reverse common knowledge, and the world—even death.
Seven days after the first pope died, he was reborn under everyone’s eyes, and entered Heaven. From then on, every pope would inherit the divine power under the witness of the cardinals. They would be pierced through the heart at the coronation ceremony, and be reborn in the halo of the holy temple.
But these were just things that Ye Qingxuan had heard of. He thought that these were probably rumors. But he could not ask the priest about these things.
But the Originator’s significance toward the musicians of the world was undeniable.
“Both mankind and musicians have kept trying to research the secrets of the Originator since the Dark Ages. The Nine Levels of Musicians were created after countless investigations and inductions. But that was the standard result after clashes and discussions between all of the different schools.” Abraham quickly scribbled something on the blackboard. “The most important to you right now are the first three levels.”
—
The so-called Nine Levels of Musicians included apprentice level, rhythm level, musician level, resonance level, and others.
For a student, the first three were the most important. After all, most musicians in the world could not move past the first three levels.
For a musician, the most basic thing was the interaction between mankind and aether. To be able to sense the aether and use it to create a note counted as the first step—the apprentice level.
Those who were in that level would learn new notes, and start researching how to sing the right syllables. It was something that everyone had to do because everyone was different. Whether it was the voice, habits, or key, there were slight differences. And so the experiences of others could only be used as a model. The key part could only be achieved through personal trial and error.
This was also why Wolf Flute had thought that Ye Qingxuan could never become a musician. Adding that to the fact that he could not sense the aether, it would have been impossible for Ye to complete the first level. Even if he made it past somehow, he would be a horrible musician who would accidentally kill himself.
If an apprentice was able to learn hymns with multiple notes and perform a piece well, he could enter the next level. It was the step that decided a musician’s future—the rhythm level.
—
If the first apprentice level was just accumulation, then the second ste
p required decisions.
After using multiple notes, and performing a short piece of music without help, the apprentice would choose a complete piece under the guidance of his professor to research and analyze.
But before that, he must make an important decision based on his performance and experience as an apprentice. The result would decide his future path. No one could fully learn everything, so some things must be abandoned.
Once an apprentice entered the second level, he would choose the school and specialization he was best at. All seven schools were enough for one to study for their entire life.
To make learning more efficient at the Royal Academy of Music, this choice was put in the first step. The student could not choose the school; instead, the representative from each school chose their students.
This process lessened the trouble. After the accumulation of experience in the first level, the students could receive professional guidance immediately after entering the second level.
The owner of the clock shop, Sir Hermes, scoffed at this. “Choosing your own path after deep research cannot be compared with being chosen for mass production from the beginning? The first creates artists. The latter is just a group of average smiths. It is so crude…”
It had only been a few moments, but Ye Qingxuan could tell that Hermes disliked the Royal Academy of Music.
64 Equal Temperamen
During the research of the rhythm level, a student no longer had to deal with single runes, but with an entirely new and much more difficult structure, ‘syllables,’ created by combined notes!
The effect was entirely different from single notes. Whether it was from the level of cohesiveness, or its effect, the same amount of separate notes could not even be compared to a measure. A measure was more stable and complete, a step closer to systematization.
The ultimate goal of this level was for the student to combine several measures through research and create something whole. At that point, the measures would transform into a complete musical piece with its own life and energy.
This marked the start of the third level—the true musician level
—
One could only move on from being a student to a true musician recognized by the Musician Union and the sacred city after they reached the musician level.
Most musicians were at this level. Before this level, everyone else would only be seen as students, or seeds of musicians.
Only those that had reached the third level were seen as truly useful because at this level, musicians no longer needed to manipulate aether for rushed live performances. They could store their musical scores into an instrument beforehand, and activate them using their thought.
The tight structure of music scores meant that they were extremely independent. Even if they were taken out, they would not scatter quickly. Instead, they could be stored in another medium. Even a simple measure could set it off.
The danger of musicians also sharply increased at this level. As long as they had stored the correct music sheet, a musician would be able to fight no matter what.
At the musician level, a good instrument could be the reason behind life or death in a battle. This was why the Rain Artist had been so furious when he discovered that his instrument had been stolen.
As for Wolf Flute, all of the music sheets that he used in his battles were stored beforehand. During a battle, each musician’s instrument would bear the brunt for them. Otherwise, Rain Artist’s instrument would not have exploded so easily.
Thus, a good instrument was like an assassin’s sword or a poet’s pen—it was a musician’s life.
—
“But for you, the musician level is still a bit far away. You’ll spend a lot of time in the apprentice level.” Abraham did not continue, yet Ye Qingxuan rubbed his hands excitedly.
“Professor, when will you teach me the music notes?” Ye Qingxuan fluttered his lashes in anticipation. “Let’s start now.”
Abraham closed the old book in his hands and knocked Ye Qingxuan’s head three times. Shaking his head, he sighed.
“Professor, I understand!” After pondering, Ye Qingxuan’s expression hardened. He stood up and said seriously, “I won’t disappoint you.”
“Huh, wait! Don’t go yet, I didn’t even say anything yet!” Abraham looked at him, stunned. “What do you understand?”
“Did I misunderstand?” Ye Qingxuan sat back down awkwardly. “Doesn’t closing your book mean that you won’t teach me so easily? Hitting me three times means that I should come here at midnight to wait quietly. Shaking your head means that this path is difficult and I should prepare myself…”
Not knowing what to say, Abraham could only stare up at the sky and sigh. “You’ve only been here for three days. Why is your imagination wilder than Charles? I just wanted you to stop being so impatient.” He paused and scratched his head. “Let me finish what I’m saying. Before officially teaching you runes, you must take a vow.”
“A vow?” Ye Qingxuan was confused. “Vow that I don’t tell outsiders about our secrets? I understand. Let’s go!”
“It’s not that simple.” Abraham stood up in the silence.
Outside the window, the wind quieted down.
—
“These are the three vows set by the Three Kings. All musicians must follow them, even if it’s just in theory.”
The time-weathered man stood before Ye Qingxuan. Gazing down, he reached out a hand and pressed down on the youth’s forehead. “It has become just a superficial ceremony in many places now, but I hope you can complete it seriously. So, I will treat it seriously as well.”
Instantly, all light dimmed. The noise and bird calls outside the window disappeared as well.
Ye Qingxuan’s pupils contracted automatically.
All was quiet. In the silence, he seemed to be able to hear his own breathing. The wind entered his lungs, left through his mouth and nose, and reverberated in his body, creating deep vibrations.
Abraham stood before the light so that Ye Qingxuan could not see his face clearly.
In the sound of the breathing, a faint but delicate murmur came from afar. The sound was too vague, almost like a hallucination. It was as if countless souls were watching them from the darkness.
“Calm your mind,” said the hoarse voice. And so Ye Qingxuan’s mind calmed.
Abraham’s hand pressed against his forehead. It was the metal hand, but it was not scary like a sword or dagger. His shadow protected the youth, blocking the eyes in the light, and the souls in the dark.
“Let us begin. Listen to the voices,” he said quietly. “Do not let the pioneers pace for too long.”
“I understand.” Ye Qingxuan closed his eyes.
—
Abraham’s hymn began in the silence.
It seemed to come from afar, but it reverberated in Ye Qingxuan’s ear. There was an undercurrent of metal and stone scraping, as if wind was scraping rusted metal.
Formless awe filled the youth’s mind. He heard low rumblings like thunder. It was the sound of hundreds of voices chanting in unison. The voices guided his will, forcing him to join them, speaking with Abraham.
The silence was shattered. Ye Qingxuan’s voice became sharp like a blade, carving the vow in his fate and soul.
“Obey fate and all life until death.
“Follow restrictions, as human ability is limited.
“Revere the aether; only the Originator is eternal.”
When the last chant ended, all that remained was the last echo of the metallic vibrations dissipating in the air. The youth suddenly woke up from the trance. He did not know when he began to sweat.
In his extreme fatigue, he heard Abraham murmur, “Revere the aether.”
“—Revere the aether,” he replied tiredly with eyes closed.
“Rest for a bit,” his professor said. “I will teach you the first class for all musicians in two hours—Equal Temperament.”
—
Two hours later, w
hen Ye Qingxuan was brought back to reality, he found the library packed.
It had already been a tight squeeze with piles of books. Now, not only was Charles still standing in punishment before the table, Bai Xi had heard that there was something fun happening and came back from playing outside. Even Old Phil came to check it out.
“What are we waiting for? Hurry up and start!” Charles rubbed his hands in excitement.
“Senior, you stepped on my foot,” Ye Qingxuan said dryly.
“Ah, so sorry, sorry…Ow! Pain, pain, pain! Old Phil, let go, let go, it was an accident, I’m sorry!” The idiot had stepped on Old Phil too.
“Stop fooling around! We’re in class!” Bai Xi slammed her hands on the table. The room became quiet instantly. But the problem was, she was the least serious one. There were still two apples in her hand that she stole from somewhere, and she was having a great time munching on them.
Ye Qingxuan was pushed to the back by two excited humans and one dog. His chair had been taken over by Bai Xi too. He could only sit on the floor and sigh.
“This is my class. What are you guys doing here? Bai Xi, didn’t you say you’re just here to play, not learn? And Senior, you’re almost graduating. Why are you here?”
“You learn something new whenever you review. I’m here to review the basics.” Charles pulled out a cluster of bananas from somewhere and started eating.
“It’s so much fun to be in class!” Bai Xi’s face was full of excitement. She was here only to watch the show. “Cousin, this is your first time. I have to witness it. It’s so meaningful!”
Old Phil barked.
“…” Not knowing how to reply, Ye Qingxuan rolled his eyes.
Abraham coughed and hit the old book in his hand. “Everyone, quiet down. Class is starting now.” He paused. Seeing that everyone had quieted down, he nodded and showed Ye Qingxuan and Bai Xi the booklet in his hand. “This is something that no Western musician can skip when entering the trade. It is the basics created by Mr. Bach, one of the Three Kings. We call it the ‘Equal Temperament.”
“Oh, oh, I know!” Bai Xi raised her hand excitedly. “It’s the same as the Pentatonic Theory from the East!”