9 This Grand Piano Remembers It All
Stepping into the realm of magic was an extraordinary experience.
For Eli, she can feel that there is an abundant source of power within her body, making her feel like she is the most powerful being in the universe. She could also feel the magical energy in the surroundings, emerging from the earth, freely floating to who knows where, waiting for a creature to turn them into their own magical power.
"Now let's get to summoning!" Eli, feeling pumped up, cheerfully told herself.
She was about to make another 'google search' on how to safely perform summoning magic. However, when she summoned back the book, it appeared to be glowing in a subtle golden aura.
"Huh?" Surprised by the change in the book, she immediately uttered the password in her heart and checked it out. Upon opening the book she heard a chime sound in her head followed by the sound of joyful trumpets, the kind of sound you will hear when you finally finished a quest in a game.
Then, out of nowhere, a childish voice cheerfully announced - "Congratulations Eli-chan~~~ for opening a path and officially stepping into the magical world!"
The spooked Eli nervously replied, "Who's there…?"
"Over here over here!!!" A blob of white light slowly emerged from the front page of the book.
After completely emerging, it materialized into a barn owl. It was tiny, but its heart shaped face looked cute and adorable. It's dark round eyes seemed like it can see through your soul, but won't be judging you, as it was looking pure and innocent due to its snowy white front body and underwing. The rest of its body was brown, as if it's snow white body has been painted by droplets of cinnamon tea.
Eli's maiden heart had only one word inside "Kawaii!!!" It was so cute she wanted to pet and cuddle it.
"Hmm??," Seeing that Eli is frozen by surprise and admiration, the barn owl tilted its head sideways. "Halloooooo, Eli-chan~~~" it inquired, looking so charming.
'Badump!' Eli was struck again with the cuteness attack! It was very effective! Eli couldn't take it anymore, she immediately scooped the barn owl into her bosom and cuddled it affectionately.
While rubbing her cheeks against its fluffy feathers, Eli exclaimed, "Kyaaaa! So cuddly! So Fluffy!!!"
"AAAAAckk! Please be good to meeeeee!!!" The poor bird was terrified that it was suddenly seized and imprisoned with affection.
"Hello, little owl! What should I call you?" Still cheerfully cuddling the poor owl she asked fondly.
"I am the spirit of this knowledge book, I have not been named. The Great One said that you can do the honors to give me a name." The owl answered, still trapped in Eli's 'prison' like an unfortunate hostage.
It was a book spirit especially made by the Great One to guard this book of knowledge!! Now, it was being treated like a pet owl by a human!!! It lamented the fact that it had been hostaged by its own master.
"Hmmm.. name, how does Owly sound?" Eli said with her eyes squinting in delight.
"..definitely a no! I am a wise owl spirit! I am knowledgeable and adorable! Think of another befitting name.." It grudgingly said.
"How about Smarty?"
"Nahh, sounds like an insult," it replied.
"Snowy?"
"Eeeh, do I look like a weakling??"
"You are adorable~~~ Erm how about Wisey?, Like, wise? Wisey!!" Eli still teasingly said.
"Wise huh.. You lack naming sense. Hmmm but it's not that bad.." The owl spirit conceded.
Delighted that the little owl was satisfied she gave her another cuddle. "Yay!!! Nice to meet you Wisey!!!!"
"Aaaaaaaakkkk, Please don't do this when someone is around. Gotta protect my dignity!!!" The poor owl pleaded.
"All right all right." Feeling recharged by cuddling a cute animal, she finally calmed down.
Wisey quickly recovered and explained. "Eherm eherm.. Again congratulations for awakening your constitution! Due to your awakened sense of magical energy and mana, you are finally able to communicate with me!
"The Great One also wanted to give you something the moment you awakened your constitution, so he prepared a gift in advance!"
"A gift?" Eli was surprised, at the same time she was touched. From the moment she accepted this new life, the Great One has arranged many things for her. He also tapped the generous and trustworthy guardians. Upon her descent, everything was laid out well for her.
It was the first time she felt like being spoiled, after her mum died. Eli started feeling emotional.
"Follow me!" Wisey said as she beckoned Eli to follow her around the spacious corner of the living room.
Eli got curious, what's in that corner? She remembered that she had already toured around the house. She didn't find anything that would look like the Great One's gift. But she still quietly followed.
Reaching in the certain spot of the living room Wisey gave a tiny cute hoot. Then a magic circle emerged from the tip of its beak and expanded as high as the living room's ceiling.
The magic circle glowed red and a complicated looking array was revealed in the certain spot. It was then deactivated.
Eli's eyes widened in surprise, not because of the magic that she witnessed, but what the array had revealed.
It was a grand piano, the exact piano that her mum painstakingly got for her when she said that she wanted to pursue music. It was just an entry level grand piano, but only she knows its true value in her heart.
Her hand trembled as she slowly walked towards it. Tears are threatening to fall from her reddened eyes,
That familiar wood bench, where she and her mum would squeeze together whenever she taught her a piano piece.
She lifted up the fall board that revealed the familiar white and black keys. She still can remember how their fingers would play around these same keys and happily enjoy learning music.
A teardrop finally fell on the white polished keys, as she remembered the memories with her mum with this piano.
Her mum, who took all her life savings and signed a large loan amount, just to give her a decent piano the moment she learned that Eli wanted to follow her steps and pursue music.
Her mum, who would affectionately walk her through the toughest passages and the sweetest notes. Ensuring that she learned the piece right and well.
Her mum, who would proudly stand behind her back on every successful recital and performance.
Her mum, so steadfast, that Eli's day would end in a smile even on days when she lost a competition.
"This grand piano remembers it all.. I remember it all," trembling with sadness and longing, she uttered the words.
Wisey, who stayed silent since the reveal, uttered with a soothing voice, "The Great One wanted to leave you this, for He knows how you value your mum. In this world, where not even her shadows appeared, He wanted you to hold on to this,"
"Hmm..." Crying rivers of tears, Eli only managed to give her a whimper and a nod in response.
"Why not try to play it? Your mum would be happy if you played this again right??" Seeing that Eli may get too emotional, Wisey suggested. Trying to change her mood.
With a nod, Eli composed herself. Her fingers hovered along the keys.
A gentle melody was heard in the living room. Every note filled with emotions and memories as the sound drifted past the walls of the house and travelled through the forest. It was a piece full of longing and sadness.
The day her mum collapsed, was the day she stopped playing this piano, and ultimately left her dream to pursue music.
Her mum had fourth stage breast cancer. Her world crumbled upon knowing it. She cannot lose her mum, the only God Given person she had in this world.
Immediately, she quit her plans to go to music school and proceeded to look for a job to pay for her mum's treatment. After her mum's firm stand against quitting school, she reluctantly just shifted to a 'ladderized' [1] engineering course on the side, while doing a day job.
She worked to earn money in the daytime, and studied during the night. Afraid that she couldn't keep up with the expenses, she tried busking and doing gigs in the bar during weekends. Soon, she was able to have enough money to continue the treatment and hope came for the two of them.
Seeing her mum also fighting to live, Eli didn't mind how tiring it was to earn money. She also didn't mind how the bills grew bigger and bigger, she would always enter in her mother's ward with a bright and assuring smile on her face.
Upon going out, all she could think of was her mum's chances to live. She worked, studied and worked, everyday hoping that her mother would recover and be healthy again.
However, her mother's body couldn't keep up with the strong treatments. It soon broke down. Eli also didn't realize how painful it was for her mother to fight, how much her mother was suffering just not to leave Eli alone in this world.
Eli remembered her mum's dying words - "Eli, my daughter, you are the most treasured gift that I received from the heavens."
"However, Mum can't make it anymore, so I'm sorry. My body does not have any strength to fight.." Her mum said with great effort.
"Promise me Eli, that you will live your life on, and live it to the fullest," She said with a smile, her breath so weak, that she was not able to make it until Eli's reply.
--
The last section of the piece contain all of Eli's pain and heart brokenness.
Soon the music stopped, the piece was complete.
Wisey said in a calm tone, "It is a great piece, well done."
Eli didn't reply, she just nodded and wipped her tears to compose herself again.
"What do you think of the Great One's gift?" Wisey inquired.
"Very much appreciated.. I love it from every corner of my heart." She emotionally replied.
The Great One had given her something so valuable. Just like how she would imagine a father would spoil her child. She was very touched and grateful.
'Is this the feeling of having a father to rely on?' She said to herself.
'This feeling is not bad,' She smiled and whispered from the bottom of her heart.
"Thank you, Great Father!"
----
In a deep part of the Silver dew Forest, a large furry creature curled in slumber.
Soon a rich, sorrowful melody was heard in the forest.
The creature's eyes opened, awakened by the sound.
It lifted its head up towards the sound and sniffed in the air.
"A pure mana carrier has approached.." It said in a deep ethereal voice.
