Chapter 237: Twenty-sixth Episode: Chapter 2 (1/2)
Chapter 237: Twenty-sixth Episode: Chapter 2
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
If one would like to know the soul of music, they should visit one of the rehearsal rooms in Vielonna. Some musicians carried out rehearsals in the elegant courtyard and spacious, brightly-lit mansion, most of which were supported by some rich noblemen who adored this art.
In Vielonna, when asked about the oldest performing group with the best skills, everyone would agree on ”Vielonna Philharmonic Orchestra”, which was also the world's top symphony orchestra. The rehearsal room of Vielonna Philharmonic Orchestra was located at the Imperial Opera House by the river. The theatre was the base of the orchestra. Each of their performances took place here.
On Monday, the 23rd day of the 8th month, it was the working day of Philharmonic Orchestra. Early in the morning, the servant in charge of cleaning the rehearsal room was surprised to find the rehearsal room empty. There were no musicians who came to practice in the early morning.
The servant began cleaning the house while murmuring to herself. She cleared the cigarette butts on the floor, arranged the scattered high-back seats and the music score rack and the podium. The servant changed a bucket of clean water and used a new towel to wipe the conductor's podium until it was shining brightly. The beautiful lines on that rosewood surface were even giving out a faint woody aroma.
”This is really rare!” the servant looked at the time while cleaning the desk clock. It was already eight o'clock. The sun was hanging up high in the sky but there was still no one in the rehearsal room.
The tranquil rehearsal room made one feel unusually depressing. On the other hand, the rude Imperial Guards stationed at Don River who were constantly shouting commands were terribly upsetting. It reminded the servant of the man in her house. Like every other man under the sun, he was of nothing good and could not be counted on at crucial times like these!
At times when the evil Farans broke into the house, the man in the household should have packed up some valuables and brought their wife and children to seek refuge in the inland. But how smart he was! If not mistaken, he had joined the independent division established by some Lord Count that set off the city since the middle of the month and left with no news up until now.
The evil Farans were near the immediate vicinity of Vielonna. The servant heard from the noble women of high status that the banner of the invaders could block the noon sun. What did that mean? The woman had no idea. She only knew that if the musicians were not coming to the rehearsal, then the rehearsal room would always be this clean and tidy. In other words, she would be unemployed. What about her eldest son and younger daughter? Although classes were suspended for the moment and the shop that her eldest son worked as an apprentice was closed, but she was, after all, the mother of her children. She had to provide for the two small mouths that were waiting to be fed.
”Just wait for a little longer!” the woman comforted herself. Since she was young, she knew that the musicians were highly responsible people. Even if the heavens have fallen, they would not put down the instruments in their hands. If one would like to be a part of the Vielonna Philharmonic Orchestra, to love for music much more than life was the only requirement for them to be accepted. Fortunately, the musicians in the band did have this quality.
Shortly after nine o'clock, four drummers rushed into the room. They were not wearing a tuxedo. Instead, they were dressed in civilian clothes covered in dirt and dust.
”Thank God! Thank Heaven!” The woman started clapping her hands in delight.
”Aunt Sigo, you are still here!”
”Why would I not be here?” the servant named Sigo was surprised. Had she been dismissed from work?
A drummer beat heavily on the timpani, ”Don't you know yet? The city is in chaos. The Fifth Region commander announced that today will be the last time they open the city gate and main road leading to outskirts. The streets are full of people who flee to escape the war. We would not be late if we were not blocked by the stream of people on the road.”
”It seems like everyone is late!” Another drummer announced happily.
”Opening the gate and main road for the last time? What do you mean?” the woman was not bright to begin with. She was illiterate and did not know how to count. Her concept of common sense was also incompetent.
”Listen...” the drummer explained, ”It is estimated that the evil Farans in the south of the city will launch an attack tomorrow morning. Those arrows and trebuchets do not have eyes. General Gondol Abassia admonished the people to evacuate as soon as possible...”
”General Gondol Abassia!” the frightened Sigo placed a hand on her chest, ”I know him! General Gondol Abassia is a hero!”
”That's for sure!” another drummer echoed. They wanted to discuss further on the current situation but the door to the room was opened and their colleagues entered gradually.
Violinists, cellists, harpists, pianists, trumpeters, percussionists, flutists, and piccoloists... Around ten o'clock, Vielonna Philharmonic Orchestra resumed its organizational system although some of their members blended in with the fleeing crowd to escape the city. However, from the perspective of the orchestra, they were just a person of no consequence to the team. They loved life more than music and that made them of little significance.
The chaos that was happening in the city made the musicians' encounter exceptionally rare. Everyone did not hurry to flip open their musical scores or be in a position with their musical instruments. Instead, they expressed sympathy and sent regards to each other while exchanging embraces. They lit cigarettes and took out private bottles of wine then gathered around to discuss the city defense movement. Using the most appropriate word choices, they cursed the life of Farans who had provoked countless troubles to the people of Vielonna.
”Conductor? Has anyone seen the conductor?” a reckless musician yelled as if he had discovered the new world. Everyone from the orchestra had already noticed this. The conductor's apartment was only located across the street from the Opera House. Each time it was the famous conductor who arrived first at their rehearsal practices. He would distribute music scores and arrange relevant matters for the rehearsals but today...or maybe, the conductor was not that kind of a man. In the past, he had had a great sense of responsibility toward the orchestra, music, and the city.
When he noticed that his question was not getting any response and there was an awkward silence that filled the room, this mindless man immediately figured it out. He had just raised a thorny question. Could an orchestra without a conductor still be an orchestra? Especially for Vielonna Philharmonic Orchestra, the conductor and that thin metal baton in his hand were the souls of all these musicians. Their planet could only operate around this metal baton.
However, there was still a way!
Four bored violinists finally broke the long silence in the rehearsal room. They made beautiful gestures with their hands and quickly played the cheerful melody of Mendelier's quartet in G minor. That brought back smiles to the musician's face. They listened with all ears, then slowly nodded their heads following the rhythm. Moments later, the timpani and triangle made a sound and instantaneously the rest of the violinists joined in. The third syncopation in the first part of the melody was left open with a tail hence the trumpeters and cellists took the opportunity and responded immediately so the movement continued. The joyful atmosphere affected everyone in the venue.
The sound of music traveled afar and attracted the crowds who stayed near the Opera House. Young children tiptoed by the window sill, revealing only their small heads, adults gathered outside the doorway and tall and strong soldiers occupied the porch, either sitting or standing. All of them were listening intently to the wonderful music. Although the audience watching the rehearsal was still a lot less compared to before, everything was still the same, apart from the absence of a conductor.
The ensemble movement suddenly stopped midway as they turned into the fourth part. All the musicians turned around in unison to the flutist who ruined the moment. The flutist stared at the door with his eyes widened as an awkward-looking figure dressed in a knight armor appeared from the door. ”Conductor! What is it with you?”
Those in the rehearsal room were panic-stricken. The musicians rushed forward with their respective musical instruments and surrounded the white-bearded conductor. Each one of them threw several questions at him.
”Stay quiet! Calm down! You are not parrots learning how to speak. You are the members of Vielonna Philharmonic Orchestra!” The conductor as well as the leader of the orchestra shouted loudly. His voice was not that harsh, but the musicians were used to shutting their mouths in his presence. They examined their conductor in a curious and somber manner. He was dressed in an armor instead of the usual well-tailored tuxedo. This was a very rare sight! It was something that the musicians found difficult to accept!
”Let me ask you a question!” the conductor in the armored suit erected its baton toward the ceiling, ”What is the purpose of Vielonna Philharmonic Orchestra? Or should I ask, what is the purpose of music?”
”Shapes one's value...” ”Play up the beauty in the world...” ”Purify the soul...” ”Leave behind the luxury...” ”Return to natural...” ”Gives people a sense of aesthetic enjoyment, to express their thoughts and joy...” -- It seemed that every musician had a different understanding of music.
”As for me personally!” the conductor of the orchestra laid down his thin metal baton. His armor glowed brightly under the shine in the hall. ”Music — whatever it brings to humanity and human society, as the music itself, it has a soul! One of the greatest things it can do is to deliver a heart of optimism, the fearlessness of oppression, longing for freedom and love and peace to a person who loves music and who understands the soul of music!”
”It's the heart, my colleagues!” shouted the conductor, ”The motherland has been invaded. The city of music has been attacked by the savages! As a person who loves music and listens to the soul of music, I cannot sit still and ignore the problems in front of us. I cannot retreat to the safe space or look for shelter. Are the Farans' bones tougher than my metal baton? Is the number of enemies more than the notes in 'Radetzky March'? I have to see for myself!”
The musicians looked at him in stunned silence. They were also a group of people who loved music. They understood the soul of music, so to speak...all of them had a heart that has been molded and shaped by the soul of music.
On the afternoon of the 23rd, Vielonna finally settled down after a long hectic morning. There were no janitors collecting garbage scattered in the city, nor traveling businessmen or tourists that shuttled back and forth the streets. This grand city seemed to have somewhat fallen into reduced circumstances. Imperial Guards guarded the city walls in the West and South sides, built tall barricades, forts and various defenses along the banks of Don River. The area which was once a city of music was now prepared for battle with countless sharp spears around the streets, looking like a curled-up hedgehog.
The headquarters of the Titan Empire Fifth Region was vacant like a haunted house. There was no hustle and bustle like before the war nor the annoying noises of operating mechanisms.
”Where did the people go?” asked Aunt Sigo who hid behind the back of the conductor, frightened. She was carrying a cotton bag in her arms. On her face was a thin layer of powder.
”God knows!” The conductor walked past the empty corridor and stopped in front of an open-door office.
There was finally a living soldier who was occupied with what was laid on the table. The conductor knocked at the door gently and the other party raised his head from his work.
”How can I help you? The headquarters of Combat Department have transferred to the south city, in the war history museum near the riverbank. If you wish to look for the commanding officer, then there is where to go.”
The conductor looked at the sign outside of the office door then returned his attention to the Captain inside.
”Hi! I'm not looking for the commanding officer. It's you who I'm looking for!”
”Me?” the young Imperial Guards Captain was puzzled. He had been left idle for about half a month.
”Yes! All local nobles' independent armed forces must come to you for registration. Only after your review that you can turn it into the military headquarters for decision. Is this not true?”
”I supposed so! And you are…?”
The conductor extended his hand outward but quickly retrieved it as he suddenly thought of something.
”Salute, Captain! I'm Count Holmsinki, the descendant of the feudal lord of Hucknald prefecture. I brought with me the family's seal, heraldry, and the certificate signed by His Late Majesty Morisette VIII from six generations ago,” the Imperial Guards captain took over the documents and the silvered hair conductor continued speaking, ”According to the provisions of Titan Codex, a Count of military hereditary can establish independent armed force up to a division organisation during wartime, but currently I only have the manpower of one group.”
”Okay, okay!” the Imperial Guards Captain did not mind having another brave fighter in the war to defend the motherland. ”I will report to the battle post tonight, so please settle all the procedures by then. Your group should be the last independent armed forces in the five southern provinces, but there should be enough time.”
”Says who?” Aunt Sigo who had been silent all the time was not happy, ”It has been more than 100 years since it was first established!”
The Imperial Guards Captain did not seem to hear what the small potato was saying. He filled in the noble title and name on the application for the establishment of an independent armed noble according to the statute and attached a military certificate signed by an imperial emperor at the end of the document. This thing would best explain the problem.
”Alright! One final step…you have to register a name for your group! Why not Holmsinki Independence Group? Isn't that the name of your house?”
”Never!” the old conductor pushed his chest forward in pride and gestured to Aunt Sigo next to him. The servant then spread out her masterpiece that she had spent the whole afternoon working on it. It was a brightly-colored military flag.
”We are the Vielonna Philharmonic Orchestra!”
The captain in charge of registration widened his eyes in disbelief, ”What? What is the name again?”
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”Imperial Guards Fifth Region Second Corps City Defence Third Division!” General Gondol Abassia shouted aloud a designation number. Almost immediately, a tall and strong local man among the crowd of military man replied ”Here!” in a dialect with a hoarse voice.
The commander of Imperial Guards Fifth Region took a flag from the flag bearer behind him. His face full of scars glowed with excitement. His empty left sleeve made a noise when he turned around swiftly.
”I now confer your troops the military flag of Lanas Independent Division which have established great feats in the defending battle of Vielonna. Hopefully, your troops will overcome all difficulties and fight until the end along this hero banner!”
”Yes, general!” the new division commander of Lanas Independent Division received the flag respectfully and performed a military salute.
”Next...” the officer in charge of reviewing registration of local independent armed forces mentioned that the military headquarters had transferred to Imperial Guards Vielonna War History Museum near the south city garrison. General Gondol Abassia had only been here once. What impressed him most was not the long history of war but the hall filled with flags of heroic units that had made great achievements in the previous city wars.
The soldiers' souls awakened some buried memories. Numerous completely worn-out flags that contained a long history were on display in the huge showroom. General Abassia and Hercules Mendez were discussing how they could utilize these banners to ignite the spirits of the warriors.
”Why don't we just gift them to the troops on the front line? Do you want them to become the loots of Faran? We'll be sent to hell for this,” Mendez was impatient to solve the problem. He did not know he had just suggested a brilliant idea.
General Abassia made a prompt decision to call all the commanders of the garrison force. Corps was given corps military flag, the division was division flag, and the group was given group military flag. While encountering the souls of heroes, nothing could explain the problem better than the broken military flags. The southern army had stepped up many times when their home was invaded. With their blood stained on these historical remains, they left behind the most intuitive patriotic education for the future generations.
”This is more effective than pre-war mobilization meeting!” Abassia smiled as he looked at the scene in front of his eyes. The commanding officers who had received the military flags ran to inspect the historical data. Brief moments later, they would know the flag held in their hands were carrying the dead and stories of countless martyrs. The one-armed general closed his eyes comfortably and a scene immediately appeared in his mind. The soldiers gathered around their commander who had the flag in his hands. The commander would recite the story of these flags and their symbolism to these lovely soldiers. The soldiers would tremble with anger when they heard about the climax, then shed a tear or two as the narrative took a sad turn. Finally, their commander would raise his arm in the air and the martyrs' flag fluttered as the wind blew. The Farans would be scared to death, be defeated and flee in a great disorder.
”This is really ridiculous!” Mendez Blane exclaimed suddenly when he was inspecting a document.
General Abassia brought himself back to the reality and turned around. He became serious as he checked on that document but seconds later, a wide grin resurfaced on his face.
”This is indeed a city of music!” the senior official of the Fifth Region grabbed the quill and wrote on the bottom of the document, ”Approved to be established!”
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On the early morning of the 24th day of the 8th month in Church's year 801, the Faran Kingdom Army which was also known as Anti-Titan Alliance Southern Army arrived at the city of Vielonna after a month long of war. Their troop consisted of 14 corps and 42 divisions with a total of 150,000 people.