Chapter 25 - Dawn's Spark

Talon's turn to introduce himself brought a different atmosphere to the room. Unlike the previous contestants, his appearance was more understated, his demeanor less flamboyant. While his outfit was modish, it lacked the flashiness of the other male contestants. He walked to the front with a calm demeanor, sitting opposite everyone without making any overt attempt to draw attention.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Talon," he said calmly. "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to meet all of you here. I must say, each one of you seems to possess exceptional qualities."

Talon's introduction was humble and straightforward, a refreshing change from the boastful introductions they've heard so far.

While watching Talon, Derek couldn't resist making a remark. "Handsome? Attractive? I wouldn't say that. He just looks like a regular guy."

Marcus speculated on Maya's earlier interaction with Talon. "I'm sure Maya did that just to provoke drama among the contestants," he said. "Or Maya just underestimates Talon because he is the least attractive compared to the others."

Leo, observing Talon's introverted demeanor, expressed his skepticism. "What is he doing? He's not serious about being an introvert in this kind of show, right? How is he going to get voters' attention if he's that passive!" he remarked, puzzled by Talon's approach.

Ethan, with a faint smile, offered his own theory. "I'm sure he uses the guitar to cover up his shortcomings in his vocals," he suggested. "As a former rock band vocalist, I'm the only one who has the most exceptional singing technique here."

Maya, however, had a different perspective. She smiled faintly, a hint of knowing in her expression. "They will be surprised at Talon's talent."

Claire looked at Talon with a genuine smile.

Emily leaned forward, her curiosity evident. "Let's see how interesting he is."

Talon's decision to sing and play guitar simultaneously stirred a mix of reactions among the judges and contestants.

"Talon… Please tell me, do you intend to sing and play guitar at the same time?" Xander asked, his curiosity evident.

"Yes..." Talon replied, his voice calm yet firm. "And, can I sing my own song?" he asked, adding another layer of surprise to his performance.

"Whoa… Interesting..." Xander responded with enthusiasm. "This is a really bold move from you, right? But I'm sure this will add an interesting element to this contest. Yeah, sure, go ahead."

"Thanks," Talon said, nodding in appreciation.

Derek watched Talon with a sarcastic smile. "A very bad move, Talon," he muttered, doubting the wisdom of Talon's choice.

Marcus, reflecting on his own experience, said, "I think he's too confident here. Performing your own song is always a risk."

Leo was intrigued by Talon's decision and couldn't help but comment, "Interesting, it seems he's not one to be underestimated. However, with his passive behavior, he might have a hard time catching the attention of women. You know, women are drawn to men who are cheerful and friendly like me. Ha ha!"

Ethan raised his eyebrows, a look of skepticism on his face. "I have to say, this doesn't seem like the best move. I mean, no one even knows this song he's written. Is he absolutely sure it's any good?"

Maya, with a frown, expressed her surprise. "Since when did he learn to compose his own songs? A few weeks ago, he didn't even have the confidence to sing! And now?"

Celine, observing the situation, commented, "It seems that so far, Talon has been the bravest to make this move. I'm sure this is a big gamble."

Oscar, intrigued by Talon's unconventional choice, turned to Sofia for her opinion. "What do you think, Sofia? Is this a good decision, singing his own song?"

Sofia pondered for a moment before responding, her interest clearly piqued. "I'm very interested in seeing how Talon will surprise us with his performance. It's quite a confident move to perform his own song. It could be a game-changer," she reflected, acknowledging the potential impact of such a bold decision.

Heejin, sharing her thoughts, expressed her anticipation. "Singing his own song is risky, but considering how calm he is, who knows? He might have something truly special up his sleeve."

David nodded in agreement. "It's a clear sign that we have extraordinary talent on this show. It's not every day that someone takes such a bold risk in their first performance."

Talon continued. "I wrote this song in the last few days when I was inspired to strive for more in my life. And I perfected it while on my way to this island. So, you might understand why I gave the song title 'Dawn's Spark,'" he explained softly.

As Talon began to strum his guitar, a gentle, melodious tone filled the room, gradually escalating into a catchy tempo. His guitar playing immediately caught everyone's attention. Even those who had initially been skeptical couldn't help but acknowledge the skill in his fingers as they danced across the strings.

Verse: ♬♪♪*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Sun kisses the sky, whispers "hello."

Dancing in the breeze, life's aglow.

Dreams tucked away, it's time to flow.

Stride into the day. Let the magic show.

♬♪⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

When Talon started singing the first verse of his song, the room was enveloped in a wave of surprise and delight. His voice, clear and expressive, perfectly complemented the uplifting melody of the song. The song was surprisingly fun.

Derek, however, remained unconvinced, his competitive spirit making him critical. Clenching his fists, he muttered, "The opening verse may be interesting, but who knows if he won't screw himself up."

Celine, with her expertise as a vocal coach, was visibly impressed. "His voice is beautiful," she commented, her eyes wide with admiration.

Sofia, one of the judges, stared in awe. Her jaw dropped at the unexpected excellence of Talon's first verse, her expression one of sheer amazement.

Heejin, beaming with excitement, couldn't hide her delight. "Extraordinary," she exclaimed.

David, another judge, added his approval. "Yeah, this is good," he said, nodding in agreement.

Pre-Chorus: ♬♪♪*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Each hurdle, a step to the stars,

In the galaxy of life, we're the avatars.

Sparkling dreams, healing the scars,

Chasing the light, breaking the bars.

♬♪⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

As Talon delved deeper into his performance, it was evident that he was not just singing a song; he was sharing a part of his soul. The transformation from his earlier reserved introduction was striking. He seemed to be entirely immersed in the emotions of the song, his demeanor changing to one of joy and engagement.

Talon smiled as he sang, making eye contact with the others, creating a connection that transcended mere performance. It was as if he was conversing through his music, and the others, captivated, found themselves being drawn into the narrative of his song.

"The song… is… so fun," Emily commented.

Marcus, observing Talon's impact on the others, remarked, "This guy sure knows how to draw attention. His approach is bound to make the other contestants want to take him down."

Chorus: ♬♪♪*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Shine on, in the dawn's embrace,

Leap over shadows in this cosmic race.

Illuminating dreams, in our chase,

Shine on, with elegance and grace.

♬♪⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

As Talon moved into the chorus, the charm of the song shone even brighter. The melody and lyrics combined seamlessly, showcasing Talon's talent not just as a singer but as a songwriter as well.

Maya watched Talon with a broad smile, visibly proud to have known him before the others did. Her face showed a mix of admiration and joy.

Rachel, observing Talon, noted, "I think he truly puts his heart and soul into his songs."

Outro: ♬♪♪*ੈ✩‧₊˚

So shine on, let your spirit soar,

In day's dance, open every door.

With each step, brighter than before,

Shine on, now and forevermore.

♬♪⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

The room fell into a hushed silence as Talon approached the ending of his song. His final notes lingered in the air, leaving a profound impact. When he finished, the silence continued for a moment, a testament to the depth and resonance of his performance.

Then, as if breaking from a spell, the room burst into applause.