The Grand Heroic Hymn in G Major, along with all the nobles present, bore witness to the birth of a precious friendship.
When Lux and Sona left the hall arm in arm, most people watched them go of their own accord. No one thought their leaving "partway through" was rude. They simply envied the two girls for finding a kindred spirit in music.
Guided by Sona, Lux entered the Buweier family's private quarters for the first time. They left the hall, crossed the garden, walked along the covered corridor, and finally reached Sona's bedroom.
After setting Aihua, the ancient zither, aside, Lux and Sona sat facing each other on opposite sides of the dressing table.
Their bright eyes met, equally clear and blue, like reflections in a mirror.
The subtle feeling that each had found another version of herself in the world filled both girls with surprise and delight.
There was no doubt about it: this was a genuine case of love at first sight, a resonance between their souls brought about by music.
"You have a talent for magic too, don't you?" After gazing at each other for a long while, Lux removed her sword and set it aside. Then she took Sona's hand and spoke first. "Your zither—when the music played, I could feel emotions thrumming like its strings."
"So could I." Though Sona wasn't holding Karya, her voice still appeared clearly in Lux's mind. "And I heard another voice as well."
"That was Karya, my... well, my teacher."
Lux wanted to call Karya a scoundrel, but after hesitating for a moment, she decided to give her teacher some credit. After all, this time Karya had done a truly splendid job.
"His name is Karya?" Sona blinked, a hint of admiration in her eyes. "He's a true master of music. Aihua usually refuses to cooperate with anyone, but just now, he used Aihua to let me hear his voice... And if I'm not mistaken, he taught you music too, didn't he?"
"My music... sort of." Lux awkwardly waved her empty left hand. "He didn't teach me music theory or chords. He just numbered my fingers, called out the numbers, and I played."
"Using numbers in place of musical notes!" Sona seemed to grow excited at once. "Yes, why didn't I think of that? Numbers are a much more direct and intuitive way to express pitch than special letters or symbols. What a genius idea!"
Lux knew nothing about music or sheet music, so she clearly had no idea what Sona was getting so excited about. But she soon shook her head, putting the subject of music aside for now. She did her best to look serious and earnest, then met Sona's eyes again.
"We can talk about music later. The most important thing right now is that you, Sona, are a mage by birth!"
"...Perhaps?" Sona replied uncertainly. "Aihua has been with me since I was little. If what you say is true, then I suppose I am a mage by birth."
"But magic is forbidden in Demacia!" Though she had suspected as much, Lux still couldn't help pressing a hand to her forehead now that she had confirmation. "In Demacia, anyone who uses magic is exiled—"
"How can that be?!" Sona could no longer maintain her gentle smile. She stared at Lux in disbelief. "You mean I'll be driven out and forced to leave Demacia? But... I heard the Noxians have blockaded the coast. If I leave Demacia, I'm afraid I won't be able to return to Ionia either—"
"So, Sona, you mustn't let anyone see your magical talent. Absolutely not!" Lux lowered her voice and gripped Sona's hand tightly. "My teacher told me that magic isn't necessarily evil. The truly evil ones are people with wicked intentions who use it. I still haven't figured out whether he's right, but at least for now, I believe you're not a bad person."
"..."
"But I don't even know if I can hold on myself," Lux admitted, sounding a little dejected. "Karya says I have extraordinary talent and that I'm destined to become a great mage, but sometimes I really wonder whether magic is truly as inherently harmless as he says."
"..."
Sona said nothing. Having been unable to speak since childhood, she was a perfect listener. Even though she could now communicate directly with Lux through thought, she could see that Lux had a lot on her mind, and quickly settled into her role as the perfect listener.
"Do you know, Sona?" Lux's voice was low, and she looked deeply upset. "My uncle left me three months ago. It was a curse cast by a Noxian mage."
"..."
"That was also the day I discovered my talent for magic and met my teacher." Lux had kept these words bottled up for a long time. "I've been trying my best to learn and master the power of magic as my teacher instructed, but I'm also afraid. I'm afraid that one day I'll fall into the abyss of darkness, just like the evil mages in stories."
"You won't." Sona smiled and shook her head. She gently lifted the golden strands of hair that had fallen over Lux's face as she bowed her head. "You believe I'm not evil, and I believe in you too!"
"Then promise me, Sona." Lux took a deep breath. "Promise me that if one day I really become a bastard who's fallen into the abyss, a depraved and unforgivable criminal, you'll help me put an end to my crimes."
"!!!"
Lux's words left Sona dumbstruck. She never would have imagined that Lux would make such a request!
"This is the only way I can think of. Teacher Karya shouldn't be a bad person, but he doesn't have a body, after all. So, Sona, let's study magic together and learn to master it. We'll keep each other in check. Promise me, okay?"
Sona's mind had frozen.
On one hand, she was grateful for and cherished Lux's trust, and longed to keep the life she had now. On the other, Lux's request left her at a loss.
Keeping each other in check and ending one another's crimes if either of them fell into depravity was a little too intense for a young girl who loved music!
Fortunately, Lux didn't press her for an answer. She simply looked at Sona in silence, waiting for a thoughtful response.
And so, under Lux's unwavering gaze, Sona fell into deep thought.
Sona thought of many things.
She thought of her days at the orphanage, of the extra piece of candy the matron gave her each time, of the wandering singer who had introduced her to music, and of the little secrets her fellow orphans confided in her whenever they were troubled.
She thought of the night she fled Ionia, of the stranger who carried her on horseback to the port, of the foreign soldiers who escorted her all the way to Demacia, and of the parents who truly loved her and the mischievous little sister who made her smile.
Sona couldn't speak, but she was good at listening. She had a natural ability to distinguish truth from falsehood, sincerity from deceit. In Lux's plea just now, she heard a kind of resolve—like that monk who had carried her to the port on horseback, then turned around and ridden back into the night, as though he had already prepared himself for everything.
Sona's thoughts tangled together like a jumble of notes, impossible to untangle.
Even so, she bravely made her choice.
Under Lux's expectant gaze, Sona pressed her lips together, nodded, and held out her little finger.
Lux blinked, then understood what Sona meant and held out her own little finger.
Their little hands hooked pinkies, and their thumbs pressed together.
Two girls living in a kingdom that forbade magic had made a vow to walk side by side.
There was no magical pact, no swearing to the heavens—only a heartfelt promise between two people who could hear each other's innermost thoughts.
Lux and Sona talked about many things: themselves, Karya, and Demacia.
When Lux picked up her sword again, Karya was surprised to learn that he had somehow acquired another student.
"Haha, how about that? I convinced Sona to study with you!" Lux sounded smug, with no hint of the doubts and resolve she'd shown earlier. "Lux really admires you, doesn't she? You said you were good at music, so don't embarrass yourself in front of her!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Karya sensed that something was off. "Still, I can't help feeling you're hiding something from me. Taking off your sword so deliberately seems a little suspicious. Looks like our Crownguard young lady has secrets of her own!"
"That's a girl's private business!" Lux proudly lifted her chin. "You wouldn't understand, Karya. Anyway, starting today, Sona is my little junior!"
"But I never agreed to take her on as a student." Karya put on an air of restraint. "I don't accept just anyone. You can't just take on an apprentice in my name and expect it to count!"
"...Aren't you always saying how much you love teaching?" Lux froze. She hadn't expected Karya to reject Sona for her magical talent. "Sona... How could you possibly— No, you have to take her!"
Feeling Lux's anxiety, Karya finally burst into laughter. When she heard his malicious, completely unrestrained laughter again, Lux realized she'd fallen for his trick once more.
"If I didn't want to take her as a student, would I have gone to all that trouble to give you a crash course and teach you to play?" Once he'd laughed enough, Karya pointed out the obvious. "I don't care about the little secret between you two. That's your business. But if you're going to be my students, you'll have to work hard."
"I'm not afraid!" Sona said firmly. "I'll work hard!"
"Then I look forward to seeing what you can do." Karya laughed again, delighted. "I hope the two of you can support and encourage each other on the path of magic... All right, enjoy your free time together while you can. Lessons begin tomorrow morning!"
Karya's words made Sona a little nervous. She had decided to take her fate into her own hands, but for some reason, hearing him say that gave her an ominous feeling.
Well... Master Karya was a brilliant musician. He couldn't be a mean-spirited person. The bad things Lux had said about him must just be because he was too strict!
Yes. That had to be it!
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