Chapter 7 — The Song That Reached Beyond the Walls
The next day, Lyric Academy was unusually quiet.
News spread like soundwaves — someone had played a hauntingly beautiful duet in the old recital hall the night before. No one knew who it was, but everyone talked about it. Some said it made the walls vibrate. Some said it made them cry.
Ren and Kai tried to act normal in class, but their hearts were still somewhere in that room — in that melody they had finally completed together.
Professor Reva entered, carrying a folder of forms. "Attention, everyone," she announced. "This year's Winter Duet Competition will include a special performance — one selected by an academy scout from a recording sent anonymously last night."
Whispers rippled through the class.
Ren's fingers froze around his pencil. Anonymous recording?
Professor Reva continued, "The scout left a note: 'To the duet who played in the old hall — your sound deserves the world.'"
Kai's eyes widened. He turned to Ren.
"You don't think—"
Ren's expression softened. "Someone must've heard us."
Before Kai could reply, Professor Reva called out, "Ren Evander. Eris Lian. You've been requested for a private audition this Friday."
The room erupted in murmurs.
Kai's face turned red. "Private audition? For what?"
Reva smiled faintly. "For the academy's elite composer's program. Only one duet is chosen each year."
Ren blinked. "But we didn't even submit anything."
Reva raised an eyebrow. "Then maybe fate submitted it for you."
The class laughed, but Ren and Kai were speechless.
They exchanged a glance — that same unspoken connection that music always carried.
The thought of performing again, not just for themselves but for something greater, both thrilled and terrified them.
That night, Ren sat at the piano again, his fingers trembling over the keys.
Kai entered quietly, violin in hand.
"So," Kai said, smiling shyly. "We're doing this?"
Ren smirked. "If we're going to play for the world, let's make them feel what we feel."
Kai nodded, stepping closer. "Then we'll make them hear it — the song that smiled back."
The two began to play, their notes intertwining — soft, steady, unafraid. Outside, the wind carried their music through the open windows.
People stopped in the courtyard below, looking up, listening.
And somewhere deep inside Lyric Academy, a single red light blinked on — the recording camera from the academy scout, capturing every note that would change their lives forever.