Grand Heroic Hymn in G Major

Thinking about standing here all day made Lux feel completely drained.

Fortunately... Karya's ancient wisdom was actually useful. After a moment of thought, he proposed an unconventional method.

"How about you go talk to Sona about playing the zither? I know a little bit about how to play this Ionian ancient zither."

"What good is it if you know?" Lux looked utterly bewildered. "I don't know how to play the ancient zither--"

"It's fine, if I know, then you know." Karya quickly formulated a complete plan. "This ancient zither is a magic item. Others can't play it, but you can."

"Magic item?" Lux never expected this. "Does it talk too?"

"Please don't use me as a general standard for judging magic items," Karya said somewhat helplessly. "I am a Darkin—though you might not know what that means, but in short, normal magic items aren't like this."

"Even if I could control a magic item, I still don't know how to play music!" Lux said helplessly. "I've been to concerts, but I never learned any of this..."

"Relax, all you need to do is wiggle your fingers." Karya was clearly prepared. "Just treat it like a music game. I'll tell you which finger to use, and you hook the corresponding string. I won't trick you!"

"How exactly do I do it?" Lux asked, half-believing. "You say which finger, and I move that finger?"

"That's right." Karya replied confidently. "The Ionian ancient zither has ten strings, corresponding to each finger. I'll say which finger to move, and you move that finger to pluck the string!"

"But—don't I need to press the strings?" Lux still felt unsure. "I've seen harps. When playing a harp, you need to press the strings, and the timing and technique of plucking also matter..."

"You don't know how to do that, so just lean me against Aihua, and I'll handle that part." Karya took it all upon himself. "Don't worry, I can play things like the Ionian ancient zither!"

"Then I'll borrow Sona's zither? Isn't that a bit rude?" Lux blinked. "She cares a lot about that zither..."

"It's not just you borrowing the zither, it's you inviting Sona to play together!" Karya corrected her. "Play together, on one zither... Let's play the Grand Heroic Hymn in G Major. I saw the sheet music before and memorized it. You just need to tell Sona to play the chords for you."

"Chords? What's that?" Lux was even more confused. "Is it a single string?"

"Chords aren't strings..." Karya instinctively started to explain, but realizing it couldn't be explained simply, he skipped the topic. "You haven't studied music theory, so it's hard to explain, but it's not important. Sona will definitely know. You just need to tell her."

"Wait, you mean, Sona and I play together?" Lux finally understood Karya's meaning. "How is that possible? An ancient zither isn't a pipe organ, how can two people play it together? We'll get in each other's way!"

"I can solve that problem. Besides, no one here understands the fingering for the ancient zither. At most, they'll think Sona is pressing the strings for you while you pluck them!" Karya offered a solution. "There's no time. Starting now, your left pinky is one, your left ring finger is two, and so on, up to your right pinky being ten. Got it?"

"Uh... Got it!"

"Now try this: three, three, six, four, five, one, seven, two, six, three!"

Following Karya's instructions, Lux expressionlessly hooked her fingers.

"Very good, just like that. Two more syllables--"

"..."

"..."

And so, without anyone knowing, before Sona arrived with her adoptive parents, Lux and Karya conducted a last-minute rehearsal.

Lux didn't know what a music game was, nor did she realize that Karya's "idiot-proof teaching" method skipped many important parts. She didn't understand music theory, and knew nothing about fingering or chords.

But trusting Karya, she decided to give it a try.

Soon, Sona arrived with her adoptive parents at Lux's side. The ladies and young ladies from various families were surrounding them, exchanging pleasantries—Sona, unable to speak, simply offered a smile.

Lux took a deep breath, mentally reviewed her lines one more time, and finally spoke.

"Uncle Buweier—Congratulations to the Buweier family on gaining another musician!"

Hearing Lux's words, Barrett Buweier's face broke into a smile. Although he was a top noble of Demacia, and a close friend and confidant of Jiawen III, personally, he preferred to be called an artist.

Nobility was his job; music was his life.

Lux's compliment hit Barrett right where he wanted it. He smiled broadly and said humbly, "I'm just an amateur at best. My little Sona has been playing since she was three. Her future in music will surely take her much further than mine!"

"Then, future master performer." Lux seized the opportunity and extended her arm towards Sona. "Little sister Sona, may I have the honor of playing a duet with you?"

Lux's sudden request caught Sona off guard. She held her ancient zither and hesitated for a moment, seemingly searching for a polite way to refuse. However, when Lux's waist sword accidentally brushed against the ancient zither, Sona couldn't help but widen her eyes.

The next moment, as all the surrounding nobles wondered why the usually polite little princess of the Crown Guard family had made such a seemingly rash suggestion, and were contemplating how to defuse the situation before it became awkward, Sona nodded.

She agreed!

The surrounding nobles were extremely surprised but quickly cleared a space. Barrett, both surprised and delighted, personally brought over a music stand and two chairs. While from an etiquette perspective, he was a little displeased with Lux's forwardness, seeing that Sona had agreed and even took Lux's arm, this displeasure instantly turned into immense joy.

Barrett knew very well that if Sona could perform a duet with Lux here, and even become friends, it would greatly help her integrate into Demacia's noble circles later on!

This was the little princess of the Crown Guard family, and her presence and witness today represented the Crown Guard family!

Even though the Buweier family's status was no less than the Crown Guard family's, this friendship, witnessed by all the nobles present, was incredibly precious!

Soon, a simple performance stage was set up. In the entire hall, regardless of what they were thinking, all the nobles tacitly fell silent. The grand hall was completely quiet—to speak now and disturb the atmosphere could easily offend two top nobles, and no one would court disaster at this moment.

Under everyone's gaze, Lux was actually a little nervous. But encouraged by Karya, she smiled and said in a perfectly modulated voice, "Little sister Sona, I heard you just arrived in Demacia not long ago, and you must be unfamiliar with the local music. So, I'll play the main melody, and you can help me press the strings and play the chords, how about it?"

"..."

Sona said nothing, but her slender fingers moved nimbly across the strings, producing a series of beautiful notes, and she nodded.

"Then... let's play the Grand Heroic Hymn in G Major!" Seeing that everything was going according to Karya's script, Lux finally breathed a sigh of relief. "My playing isn't very good, little sister Sona, you'll have to help me a lot!"

Saying this, Lux took a deep breath. Almost in sync with Sona, she tied her long hair up into a high ponytail that wouldn't interfere with her playing. Then, she extended her arm and naturally, though not perfectly, rested her fingers on the strings.

The Grand Heroic Hymn in G Major, performance begins!

The Grand Heroic Hymn in G Major is a tune familiar to the ears of Demacians.

This piece, born from a war song, is the most classic composition by Demacian composer Dobe. A thousand years ago, the ancestors of Demacia, humming the tune of this song, forged their path through thorns and brambles to arrive at this land protected by the magic-inhibiting trees.

After that, generation after generation of Demacians, inspired by this song, fought enemies from various regions. Demacia does not have the concept of a national anthem; this Heroic Hymn is, for Demacians, not much different from one.

And now, in the grand hall of the Buweier family's auditorium, this stirring and inspiring piece is being played by two nine-year-old girls on the ancient Ionian zither, Aihua.

Unlike the version performed by the orchestra in the Golden Hall, this rendition has a simpler arrangement and no other instruments accompanying it. Lux's playing skill is quite poor; her fingers are stiff. If Aihua weren't a magical artifact, the strings would have snapped eight times by now.

An unsuitable place, unsuitable people, unsuitable instruments, yet they produced an astonishing effect.

It is precisely because of Lux's stiff strumming that this version of the Heroic Hymn possesses an ineffable power.

It is precisely because the auditorium is not as large as a concert hall that the sound of the ancient zither resonates in everyone's ears like a soul's chant.

If the symphonic version of the Heroic Hymn is an inspiration, then this version is more like a eulogy to courage!

Lux's plucking rings with the sound of metal striking metal. The main melody she plays, much like her golden hair, represents the golden, fearless heart of the Demacians.

Sona plays the zither, her fingerwork flowing like water. She plays in perfect harmony with Lux. Her chords, like her hair color, are like the highest good – water, nourishing all things silently.

Lux's main melody is the fearless warriors on the battlefield, united in purpose, clad in armor, advancing and retreating together.

Sona's chords represent the countless logistics personnel who fight for Demacia, even if their bodies are not on the front lines.

These might be the porters supplying food and fodder, the blacksmiths forging weapons, the herdsmen managing livestock, or even the wives and mothers waiting for their husbands or sons to return.

Karya fully unleashed the soul-stirring power of the ancient zither Aihua, elevating the music's infectiousness to another level.

And the nobles present... which family hasn't had a few warriors who sacrificed themselves for Demacia?

As the strings dance, they stir the emotions of the nobles, and at the same time, they evoke their memories!

Yes, the Heroic Hymn they usually hear praises the warriors on the battlefield. How many people realize that the families behind the lines also worry endlessly?

Demacia has countless heroes.

And behind these heroes, there are countless hero mothers and hero wives!

"The bones lie by the river, forgotten, yet they are dreamt of in the spring chambers!"

As the piece reached its climax, many ladies present couldn't help but tear up, their eyes reddening, and even shedding tears. It was only when they wiped their tears that they suddenly realized that the two playing the Heroic Hymn were, one had recently lost her uncle, and the other was about to lose her country...

This... this is the voice of their hearts, isn't it?

By the time the piece concluded, the auditorium was filled with a chorus of sobs. Many ladies lowered their heads, covering their faces with fans or wiping their eyes with handkerchiefs.

After a long while, applause, led by Bullet, gradually began to rise, eventually converging into a thunderous roar.

This was the most beautiful Grand Heroic Hymn in G Major they had ever heard!

Amidst the thunderous applause, Lux finally came back to her senses. She blinked and saw Sona's sapphire-blue eyes, so similar in color to her own, seemingly filled with concern.

Then, just as Lux was about to stand up, she "heard" Sona's voice.

"Are you alright?"

Sona can speak?

No!

She could hear Sona's thoughts, just as she could hear Karya's words!

Wait, Karya said he could communicate with her because of the flow of magic.

Then, if she could hear Sona's voice, doesn't that mean Sona is also a natural mage?!

The amount of information was overwhelming, leaving Lux momentarily stunned. Fortunately, she had just completed an amazing duet with Sona. Seeing her motionless, the nobles would only assume she was immersed in the music.

After a long while, when Lux finally processed everything, she took Sona's hand again, raised her head slightly, and met Sona's gentle gaze with a determined look.

Lux didn't speak.

But Sona also heard Lux's voice: "I want to talk to you."

"Okay," Sona replied without hesitation. "Right now, we can go to my bedroom!"

In the next moment, as if their souls resonated with a shared understanding, the two pairs of sapphire-blue eyes narrowed simultaneously. The two young girls, hand in hand, carrying the ancient zither, left the auditorium.

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