Requiem

Seraphine's arrival eased the gloomy atmosphere that had settled over the workshop.

She was a lively and cheerful girl, a little timid at first, but as soon as she heard your soul singing a beautiful melody, she'd immediately become warm and effusive.

"Katarina sis, you have a younger sister? What's that like?"

"Haha, your soul is singing a heartwarming, gentle tune, with a hint of sweetness in its warmth. Your sister must be adorable."

"Orianna, everything will be alright, the melody of your song has changed. There's nothing more exciting than a turning point in a piece of music!"

"..."

Exhibiting her abilities in front of outsiders for the first time, she seemed to have an endless stream of words, chattering around Orianna and Katarina, speaking words of encouragement.

Although she never mentioned Ryan in her words, her curious gaze frequently fell upon him. After all, he was the first person whose soul song she couldn't hear.

Everyone's soul sings its own unique tune, sometimes flowing, sometimes intricate, sometimes joyful, sometimes sorrowful.

She enjoyed friendly interactions with people whose souls sang songs of sunshine; it made her heart happy.

"Oh right, I haven't asked properly yet. Orianna said she needed my help. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Seraphine swayed her body to a certain melody, her pink hair swirling behind her. This was the rhythm of Orianna's soul song.

Salvation from despair, hope descends. She loved this beat!

Orianna's expression remained serene. She turned her gaze to Ryan, silently pleading for help.

"The body is an extension of consciousness; consciousness and soul are inseparable. Seraphine can not only hear the voice of the soul, but her voice can also reach directly into the soul. Magic may not always preserve life, but the soul's song can."

"Do you mean to have Seraphine perform during the heart transplant?"

Orianna hesitated. There would only be one chance, and she wasn't sure if Seraphine could do it, nor was she certain she could maintain machine-like precision under such circumstances.

She would be performing the surgery herself, not on her own damaged body, but on her beloved father.

"Heart transplant... What's that?"

Seraphine tilted her head, a bewildered expression on her face.

After Orianna explained her previous preparations again, she clenched her hands slightly, nervously watching Seraphine, whose mouth was agape in surprise.

"That's crazy! No wonder the songs you've been singing lately, Orianna, have been changing. But... I have no experience."

Her small hands intertwined, anxiety spreading across her face.

Kind-hearted as she was, she always wanted to help others, but she had never done anything this important and was afraid she wouldn't do well.

"I have a Requiem here. If Miss Seraphine can sing it, the success rate of the surgery will be close to 99%. The remaining 1% depends solely on your determination, Miss Orianna."

Ryan looked at her, awaiting a definitive answer.

"Mr. Ryan, what is Requiem? Is it beautiful?"

Seraphine was the first to raise her small hand, blinking as she asked, much like an eager student seeking knowledge.

"It's a song sung to the soul, originally meant to bring peace to the soul. But someone altered the piece, changing 'peace for the dead' into 'death for the living'."

Ryan thought of that Requiem, his expression a little strange.

Immortal Bastion had too many scrolls about souls, most of them books left from centuries ago.

He had reason to suspect that LeBlanc was not a studious lover of books. A true lover of knowledge wouldn't let these scrolls slowly be buried as time passed.

Of course, Noxus had almost no scholars; everyone brutally forged their own paths, disdaining to refer to the traces left by their predecessors.

Countless books recording the mysteries of Magic wept in unknown corners of Noxus. He was exceptionally looking forward to the changes in three months.

If conditions allowed, he hoped Swain would slaughter the nobles. The scrolls collected in their homes would contribute even more to Noxus.

"Death... If I sing that piece, will I..."

Seraphine thought of something bad, her body involuntarily trembling slightly.

To use Requiem to kill people, how wicked must the person who modified that piece be!

"You're different from those madmen. I believe that through your performance, it will revert to its true form as Requiem."

Ryan's lips curved slightly upwards. His hand and the ring on it glowed with Shimmer, gently tracing through the air.

Countless water droplets floated out, like obedient soldiers, arranging themselves into characters in the air:

"Try to harness your most beautiful emotions, to sing, to perform. Don't worry about anything going wrong; I'm here for you."

The comforting words seemed to soothe Seraphine's unease. She stared blankly at the characters formed by water droplets in the air, unconsciously letting out a clear sound from her mouth.

"％@&"

She softly uttered three notes. In that instant, it was as if a faint, pale green light descended from the sky, enveloping everyone.

But soon, a curtain of water rose, significantly dimming the green light.

"Canción por la vida"

Another segment of lyrics was sung by her to her own melody, but for some unknown reason, she had intended to sing joyfully, yet her voice not only lacked that emotion but also carried threads of sorrow.

Even with the water curtain blocking it, everyone except Ryan showed expressions of pain. Even the objects within the workshop began to tremble slightly.

Seraphine also looked pained, but she still unconsciously continued to sing along with the characters. At this moment, she seemed to have forgotten her original intention.

As she sang, it was as if everything was being buried, as if all life and souls were finally finding their rest.

To that final destination—

Death!

The pale blue pillar of light grew brighter and brighter, and everyone could feel the agonizing sensation of their souls being torn apart.

"Lavidallegaráaldescanso."

The singing grew louder, the sorrowful notes turning fervent. Just as the song was about to reach its climax, a hint of struggle appeared on Seraphine's face.

"Let it become your melody, Seraphine."

Ryan's gentle words whispered in her ear, causing Seraphine to tremble involuntarily.

In that moment, it was as if she returned from the place of rest, back to the workshop, remembering her goal.

She didn't want to sing of death; Requiem shouldn't lead to death!

Seraphine pursed her lips, her young face filled with stubbornness.

The melody of Requiem shouldn't only mourn souls; it should also bless the living and celebrate the past of the departed!

She squeezed her eyes shut, singing on, word by difficult word, but the notes she produced completely changed.

No longer sorrowful, no longer fervent.

From sorrow to joy, singing praises for the accomplishments of life's past. From fervent to fond, recounting cherished memories.

In an instant, the blue pillar of light vanished into thin air, replaced by a pink beam of light.

The light beam emanated from Seraphine's body, transforming into countless specks of light in the air, slowly drifting down and merging into the bodies of the others.

The specks of light and the song smoothed away their pained expressions, replacing them with a relaxed, genuinely smiling demeanor.

"The song I sing is one that brings joy and inspiration!"

Seraphine's eyes opened again, her hesitation replaced by determination.

Her voice became smoother, more rhythmic.

The song had completely changed.

That Requiem, which had brought death, transformed under Seraphine's impassioned performance into a melody that awakened living beings' yearning for life.

She sang of the beauty of life, praising the emotions worth cherishing.

The song ended, but the sentiment lingered.

Thank you to "Fusu Gongzi2, Famous Throughout the Land" for the 1500 tip!