"Terrible news, Miss Eden, the pianist's hand is injured! He won't be able to play for now!"
"What?!"
The sudden bad news made Eden drop her wine glass. Today, one of the songs she was set to perform was brand new. If the pianist couldn't play, there wasn't even a substitute available.
What's more, Eden's accompanists were all top-tier musicians. They couldn't just find anyone to replace them.
"Everyone, don't panic. It's fine—we'll use a recording for the piano part. Though it'll lack flexibility, there's no other choice."
Eden forced her expression to remain calm as she addressed everyone, though inside she regretted that tonight's concert might not be perfect.
After all, using a recording meant there would be no chance for improvisation or live adjustments. Eden's voice was free and unrestrained, but this would bind it with chains.
Just as she was resigned to performing stiffly and by the book—
"Looks like you've run into trouble, Eden. But I happen to know a thing or two about this. Need my help?"
Elias offered himself as he lightly patted her shoulder.
"Hm? Mr. Elias, you can play piano?"
Eden was surprised, but not entirely shocked.
"A little bit~"
"…Thank you, but I'm afraid not. One of today's songs is new, and it might be too demanding."
"Oh? A new song?"
Elias blinked, genuinely surprised. Eden's music was rare in that it resonated with him—it could stir his heart. And now, to find out tonight held a new piece… it was an unexpected delight.
He glanced around and spotted the sheet music on Eden's vanity. Quickly, Elias looked it over once. To the shock of everyone present, he then said:
"Mm, I've already memorized it."
"What?"
"As expected of you, Eden. It's beautiful."
Elias spoke as he walked to the other side of the dressing room.
The organizers had truly given Eden the highest treatment. The room was over a hundred square meters, with not only a vanity and wine but also a selection of instruments. Perfect for Elias to show off a little.
He lifted the lid of the piano, a nostalgic look flickering in his eyes, then casually began to play.
Eden: "!!!"
A graceful, melodious tune filled the room.
Everyone present was struck with awe.
From the moment Elias picked up the sheet to setting it down, less than half a minute had passed. Yet now, he was already playing flawlessly. What terrifying memory and talent!
Elias: (That's it? Compared to the Moonlight Throne's design, thicker than a dictionary, this single sheet is as easy as memorizing a sentence!)
In truth, he had only looked at it for five seconds. The rest of the time, he was thinking about how to improve it.
"Well, Eden? Can I be of help?"
After finishing a rapid playthrough, Elias turned his head with a proud smile.
"Of course! Mr. Elias, you've given me a wonderful surprise. Please, perform with me tonight."
Eden, visibly moved, extended her hand.
"OK. And just call me Elias."
Without hesitation, Elias clasped her hand.
Truthfully, this time he was being selfish.
Normally, Elias always chose the optimal solution. Here, he could have simply healed the pianist's injury with the Herrscher of Rebirth's power. Unless the man's head had been chopped off, Elias could have restored him—even regrown the hand if it had been severed.
But Elias wanted to perform with Eden.
On the other side, Eden had also guessed this.
She had witnessed firsthand Elias curing the wheelchair-bound woman earlier, even healing terminal illness like magic. How could he possibly fail to treat a pianist's hand injury?
But she, too, was curious.
Eden wanted to hear Elias' music.
She wanted to know what kind of melody would be played by this white-haired boy who could say: "Tragedy is not the end, but the beginning of hope."
"Then I'll be in your care, Elias."
"Of course. Let's enjoy our performance."
...
"Why isn't Elias back yet? No way, no way—it hasn't even been that long. Don't tell me something already happened to him?"
From her seat in the audience, Elysia grew anxious. Other Eden fans who had gone backstage were already returning, but her white-haired boy was still nowhere to be seen.
Just as she was biting her lip, debating whether to sneak backstage as a Pink Agent to investigate, the lights in the hall dimmed. The concert had officially begun.
At that moment, a striking figure of white on stage caught her eyes. Elysia was so shocked that the milk tea in her hands slipped and spilled onto the floor.
"E-Elias?! On stage?!"
Her lips parted slightly in disbelief.
She didn't know what had happened…
But Miss Pink Elf was completely stunned!
She couldn't even imagine how, in less than half an hour, her boyfriend had managed to join Eden's accompaniment team—and as the pianist, no less.
(My dear Elias, you really are just as good at creating surprises as ever. I don't know what you did with Eden, but… nice!)
A moment ago, Elysia had been sitting rather lazily. Now, she immediately sat upright, waved at the boy on stage, and perked up her elf ears in eager anticipation.
If it had been just Eden's concert, Elysia would of course look forward to it, but not to this extent. But now that Elias was part of the performance, it was a completely different matter!
Her anticipation shot through the roof. In her heart, Eden's concert had already been renamed Elias' concert. She wasn't going to miss a single second of the music that followed.
Meanwhile, Elias also spotted Elysia in the crowd. At once, he decided to give it his all—not just to perform with Eden, but to show off in front of the girl he loved most.
The first piece, naturally, was the tragic song.
At this moment, Eden's emotions were perfectly aligned. She lived up to her title as the greatest musician of the Previous Era. With the first lyric she sang, she already had the audience in her grasp.
The sorrowful, desolate melody became all the more hauntingly beautiful under her voice.
People had once said that science knows no borders. Elias didn't fully agree. But if there was one thing he believed without question, it was that music knows no borders!
Music was the most beautiful language in the world. It transcended all barriers. Even without words, the emotions woven into melody allowed all people to understand each other.
Eden's voice surpassed even that. She unified the emotions of every listener present. As they listened, tears began streaming down the faces of the audience.
Suddenly, Elias turned to Eden in surprise.
He had thought this was purely a song of sorrow.
But at the end, Eden changed it—she suddenly raised her voice, turning what should have been a quiet, fading close into a powerful climax, as though hope itself lay just ahead.
(Hah! Brilliant!)
Elias praised her silently, adjusting his playing to match her impromptu change, blending in flawlessly.
(Oh? He can keep up?)
Eden resisted the urge to turn her head, surprised that Elias could follow her lead.
Her change had been completely spontaneous, without any prior discussion. Yet the white-haired boy had answered her with perfect accompaniment.
And not only that—even though this was their first time performing together, Elias matched her so seamlessly that he outshone accompanists who had played with Eden for years!
(What an incredible person… But I still haven't heard your own melody.)
From start to finish, Elias had only been supporting her, never showing his own style. Eden felt restless inside, as though a cat were scratching at her heart.
She was burning with curiosity about what Elias' music would sound like.
(Finally, we're in sync.)
Elias narrowed his eyes slightly. In just one song, he had gauged the abilities of the other musicians and part of Eden's as well. The corners of his lips curled upward.
Now—it was his turn.
The second piece was Eden's new song.
The introduction and first verse contained no piano. While listening to Eden's soaring vocals, Elias enjoyed the moment as he flexed his ten fingers.
Then, when Eden's lyric ended and the piano was to close the phrase, the instant Elias' fingers touched the black-and-white keys—the air of the entire hall transformed!!
Eden: "!!!"
Everyone: "!!!"
If one were to describe it in a single phrase—it was the performance of a king!
The moment Elias began to play, he seized the emotions Eden had stirred and reshaped them into his own with even greater power.
What should have been only accompaniment instantly rose above every other instrument. It was as though he refused to share the stage, even taking command of the other musicians' melodies!
Powerful, beautiful, elegant, meticulous—
Everyone felt a shock run through them, scattering the lingering resonance of the previous song. Their scalps tingled, and their entire bodies trembled uncontrollably.
The other accompanists instinctively followed Elias' lead, lost in the boy's piano like soldiers following their king, reshaping their performances around him.
(So this is his sound? To such an extent!)
Eden couldn't hold back—she turned her head at last.
She was utterly shaken, filled with surprise and joy.
(So this is your melody? I've never heard anything like it. Ah—what? It's changing again!)
Elias shifted his tempo slightly. The overwhelming tone of a sovereign suddenly softened.
In truth, he was not merely a ruler standing above all. Anyone who had ever known Elias understood how deeply gentle this boy truly was.
And now, his music wrapped around everyone present.
Under the guidance of his melody, even the other accompanists transcended themselves, playing harmonies so exquisite they could scarcely believe were their own.
At times he was fierce, at times passionate, at times tender.
All were immersed in his music.
By now, the accompanist Elias had already seized the lead.
In reality, this was a highly discourteous act.
For this was Eden's concert. Right now, Elias was like an uninvited guest barging into someone's birthday party, sitting at the head seat, eating the cake, and taking the gifts. And yet…
(Eden, you've never felt satisfied, have you?)
From the previous song, Elias had already understood. Eden had never once shown her full strength—because her voice was too beautiful, too perfect.
Though her accompanists were skilled professionals, they simply weren't worthy. They couldn't keep up with her, forcing Eden to restrain herself.
She was like a bird with wings that could fly anywhere, but locked in a narrow cage—hitting the limit of the cage before ever truly soaring.
But now, Elias had opened her cage.
He became a boundless blue sky.
Now, Eden could finally unleash her full power.
Elias: (I've elevated the accompaniment several levels. If it's you, you can handle it. But if you can't, Eden…)
Eden: (If I can't rise to match this performance, then this concert of mine will become Elias' concert… is that what you mean?)
Music could speak directly to the heart.
In this moment, Eden understood Elias' intent. Taking a deep breath, she sang in answer to his accompaniment.
And in that instant, the concert leapt across multiple levels, reaching an entirely new peak!
Eden's voice and Elias' playing intertwined, weaving together into a miraculous harmony.
The audience trembled at this unprecedented experience. Their spirits and souls felt uplifted, as though they had reached heaven itself!
It was as if the pair's music commanded their bodies, seeped into their souls, and stole their hearts.
But no one resisted. On the contrary, they were enraptured, lost in ecstasy, bewitched and intoxicated—wishing only to give themselves wholly to this miraculous sound.
(I can go even higher. Do you want it?)
(Yes! Please—give me everything.)
Eden's emotions soared. Though it was somewhat impolite to the audience, at this moment she faced only Elias, yearning for the boy to bring forth even more beautiful music.
The two no longer needed even a glance.
Music itself had built an invisible bridge—
Connecting their hearts as one.
Elias and Eden were both enraptured by the duet. Without extraordinary sensitivity to sound, one could never experience this peak of bliss.
This was no longer Eden's concert, nor Elias' performance. This was a true musical union—Eden and Elias' concert!
Both had surpassed each other's expectations.
Voice answering voice, sound answering sound—
This was the etiquette of true musicians.
(Such a passionate symphony. I wish time could freeze this moment.) Eden's beautiful eyes narrowed in bliss. She was certain she had never felt anything like this before.
At this very moment, though already standing atop the pinnacle of her era, her musical realm ascended yet another level through Elias' performance.
And Elias too felt joy like never before—an unknown, unimagined delight, a rapture of the soul!
The two exchanged a single glance as voice and piano continued to fuse together.
And this was only the second song.
Afterward, the miraculous concert of Elias and Eden continued for a full three hours.
At the very end, as the final note fell—
Eden, still an ordinary human, her stamina long past its limits, swayed on her feet, about to collapse.
Fortunately, Elias caught her in time.
And the next second—
"UOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH—!!!!" ×N
Like thunder rolling across the heavens, the cheers shook the entire venue.
The audience roared and clapped with all their strength, sending the two on stage their most heartfelt applause. This was a concert they would never forget.
Every single person felt as though they were ascending to heaven!
And it had lasted for three hours straight!
"You've given me a surprise beyond imagination, Elias. I've never felt anything so wonderful."
"Haha~ Same here. Pure bliss."
Elias looked at his ten fingers trembling slightly, his face lit with the pure smile of a boy. In this moment, all worries and burdens vanished from his mind.
Instinctively, his eyes turned toward the audience. Spotting a certain pink elf bawling her eyes out in joy, his smile grew even brighter. He raised his hand and flashed a peace sign.
"Uuuuuu—! Too beautiful, far too beautiful! My Elias is number one in the world! I'll accept no rebuttal! Miss Pink Elf is a lifelong stan! Starting tomorrow, let's quit Fire Moth and debut as idol singers together!"
Elysia clapped until her hands turned red.
In that moment, she realized something of utmost importance: Elias' hands were never meant for fighting the Honkai. His hands existed to play the most beautiful melodies in the world.
Quit! Quit Fire Moth without hesitation!
Let Kevin and the others handle saving humanity.
As for Elias—he should debut at once! And she, Miss Pink Elf, would be his exclusive manager!