Silver specks of light flooded into her mind, and a strange melody bloomed in her ears. The tune was entirely unlike anything from this era. Though jarring at first, she soon found herself swept away by its emotion.
It was like soaring over a vast grassland under a blue sky dotted with white clouds; a sense of freedom and serenity washed over her. Yet, as she savored it, a lingering trace of sorrow and bitterness remained, its origin a mystery.
An indescribable feeling flowed through her, as if a question that had long troubled her had finally found its answer. In that instant, her heart felt immensely lighter, the accumulated frustration and bitterness of late completely melting away.
Jenkins watched as Hathaway's expression visibly softened, and he was pleased with the result. But then, he suddenly sensed a disturbance in the surrounding spirit. He activated his Eye of Reality and scanned the area, surprised to see a torrent of white spiritual energy, like a reverse tide, surging into Hathaway's forehead.
Within a few breaths, a brand-new ability materialized. At the same time, the woman standing before him was no longer Hathaway Hersha, the Level 4 Enchanter, but Hathaway Hersha, the Level 5 Enchanter.
Chocolate seemed equally perplexed by the change, reaching out a paw to bat at the lingering silver ribbons of light in the air. Jenkins, worried the cat might fall, gently pushed its head back down.
"Should I say... congratulations?"
He hesitated, unsure of what to say. It was just a piece of music, after all, and her reaction seemed a little... dramatic.
"Hm? Oh, you mean the name of the song? Yes, that's it."
He was still a bit bewildered, not fully grasping what had just transpired.
The vacant look in her eyes gradually faded as she came back to herself. She reached out, as if to grab Jenkins's shoulder, but then hesitated. Her gaze held a trace of dreamy wonder, but it was overshadowed by a profound curiosity—a curiosity about what other secrets the man before her held.
"Oh, congratulations. You see, I just barely managed to reach the same level as you, and now you've already taken a step ahead."
He was referring to their rank, of course. In an actual fight, Hathaway would likely be more than a "little" weaker.
"You know, it hasn't been that long since I advanced to Level 4."
Jenkins knew. He even knew the exact month.
"I thought my next advancement wouldn't be for another five, maybe even ten years. By average standards, my talent isn't anything special. Reaching my current level is entirely thanks to divine grace."
She spoke with exceptional slowness, allowing Jenkins to catch every single syllable.
"What exactly did you experience just now? I mean, for me, it was just a very moving tune. Why did you..."
Jenkins was still intensely curious.
"Because I'm a follower of the God of Music. Jenkins, I saw a completely different kind of music. It wasn't the solemn music of the court, nor was it a frivolous little tune. It was like a blend of a serenade and a 'Song of Nature.' I truly saw it—I saw an entirely new realm."
She tilted her head and stared at Jenkins with wide eyes, like a young child peering into the mysterious night sky. But the man before her was even more enigmatic than the heavens. Gazing at him was like staring into an abyss, one that tempted you to plunge headfirst into its depths.
"Well... I'm glad you saw it."
The act had also earned Jenkins a small amount of spirit. It counted as both creating "new knowledge" and engaging in a musical activity. The gain was minuscule, but it was essentially free, and Jenkins had a particular fondness for anything free.
Much like the free cat he'd picked up off the street, now nestled in his coat. Latest content publıshed on NoveI[F]ire.net
Chocolate once again tried to squirm out from his collar.
"Do you need any more melodies? I could probably come up with a few others."
He was eager to experiment. It was a rare opportunity to probe the relationship between an Enchanter and the spirit of the world.
"No, this is enough for now. I haven't quite grasped what it was I discovered in that moment. But... I saw an entirely new path."
Hathaway gently shook her head, then stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Jenkins. He felt something soft being squeezed against his chest—it was the cat, now under duress.
The blonde girl stepped behind the curtain, intending to greet Hathaway, who had walked ahead of her. But through a gap in the drapes, she saw them—embracing in the center of the stage.
She froze. Even though she had prepared herself for this, seeing it for real sent a complex cocktail of emotions churning within her.
Sadness? No, there was no reason to be sad. This was what she wanted.
Glee? No, not glee. She had, after all, been betrayed.
Anger? No, she couldn't be angry. She felt no anger at all.
Excitement? No, it wasn't excitement. She wasn't some kind of deviant.
Anxiety? No, there was nothing to be anxious about. She even felt a strange urge to laugh.
A shiver started at her scalp and traveled all the way down to the soles of her feet. It reminded her of the thrill of seeing the ocean for the very first time, and yet also of the lonely terror of reading horror stories under the covers as a child.
Even without looking, she knew her pale skin had broken out in goosebumps.
As she spied on the embracing pair, she suddenly saw Jenkins push Hathaway away and frantically pull open his coat to check on Chocolate. The cat hadn't moved for a while, and he'd thought it was a goner.
Briny suddenly felt the urge to laugh but knew it wasn't the right time or place. She felt a twinge of sadness, but also an immense sense of luck. No matter what this life had in store for her, at least she had truly met two of the right people.
Wiping the corner of her eye, she looked down to straighten her clothes. Then, she deliberately tapped her high heels against the floorboards, a signal to the pair on the other side of the curtain.
With a smile that came from the heart, Briny stepped out from behind the curtain and onto the stage. The light from above cascaded down, enveloping her in its glow. Hathaway and Jenkins stood side by side, waiting as she approached, and the shadows of the three of them slowly drew together.
Alright, the shadows of three people and one cat slowly drew together.
As he bid farewell to the others and turned to leave the opera house, Jenkins's keen intuition told him that something of great importance had just occurred. He didn't know what it was, nor did he realize that Briny had just come within a hair's breadth of discovering the secrets of the extraordinary world.
He glanced back at the theater, knowing he would return someday. He just wondered if his next visit would be on another such complicated night.
But there was no need to worry that this interesting evening was over. He couldn't go home just yet. A young couple, ready to elope, was waiting for them to say goodbye.