After leaving Jade Heart Palace, Valerius Evander's steps grew heavy. His heart longed to be close to Ethan Caelan, but the chasm between his desires and reality was too vast. As the king of a nation, he couldn't afford to be entangled in scandals. This world was filled with harsh taboos, and love between men was always subject to ridicule. As the ruler, he had to exemplify the dignity of a sovereign, unable to allow himself to become the laughingstock of the world.
After Valerius Evander departed, Ethan Caelan was left alone in the quiet room. He sighed softly, feeling a sense of unease at the favor Valerius showed him. Everything seemed to be unfolding exactly as Varric had orchestrated:
"Could it be that Valerius truly has feelings for me? If not, why would he care for and protect me so?"
Ethan Caelan sank into his thoughts, resolving that for now, he must maintain a distance from Valerius to prevent matters from worsening. As a prince of the kingdom of Aria, he could not allow his honor and that of his royal family to be tarnished.
Three days later, Ethan Caelan's health was fully restored. He went to The Imperial Academy to begin his duties as a Grand Scholar. The Imperial Academy was more lively than usual today because a discussion among the Grand Scholars was about to take place. When Ethan arrived, the large discussion hall was already packed with scholars seated around the center where the Grand Scholars were positioned. Ethan quietly found himself a modest seat near the scholars.
At this moment, Adrian, the head of the music department, was presiding over the discussion. Seeing Ethan enter, Adrian stood up, approached him, and respectfully said:
"Your Highness, please take a seat in the principal row."
Ethan replied humbly, "Thank you for the honor, Master Adrian."
He followed Adrian to the principal row, sitting next to an elderly Grand Scholar named Alistair. Alistair respectfully bowed and said:
"Your Highness, I have long heard of your reputation. It is a great honor to meet you today."
Ethan smiled modestly, "You flatter me, Grand Scholar. I hope we can learn from each other."
The discussion began, and Adrian stood up to formally introduce Ethan to the Grand Scholars and scholars:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the kingdom of Aria has long been celebrated as the land of the celestial lyre. For a long time, I have hoped to meet a renowned musician from Aria. Today, we are graced with the presence of Prince Ethan Caelan, the foremost talent of Aria, as a Grand Scholar of The Imperial Academy. This is indeed a precious opportunity for us."
The room buzzed with murmurs and whispers. The scholars and Grand Scholars all looked at Ethan with admiration. Alistair respectfully spoke:
"Your Highness, most of the popular music in the kingdom of Helios today is composed in Aria. I have long admired the musicians of Aria and wondered how they create such wonderful compositions. Could you share your insights with us?"
Ethan smiled and replied:
"There is no great secret. Music is the language of the soul. When the heart is moved, sound naturally flows. From those emotions, imagination guides us, transforming them into melodies."
Another scholar asked, "Could you elaborate on your creative process?"
Ethan nodded and explained:
"When I compose music, I use my imagination to transform those emotions into soundscapes. For instance, if I want to depict a beautiful spring scene, I imagine and listen to the sounds that scene might create in my mind. It could be the gentle rustling of the wind through the trees or the melodious chirping of birds. These sounds become the melody of the composition."
The Grand Scholars listened attentively, some beginning to take notes on what Ethan was saying. He continued:
"Once I have envisioned the sounds, the next step is to bring them to life. I begin playing the melodies I have imagined on the instrument, experimenting with different notes to find the ones that best convey the emotion I want to express. This process can take time and requires patience, but it is the only way to turn emotions into music."
At this point, another Grand Scholar spoke up:
"Your Highness, how do you remember and record those sounds so that you can recreate them later or share them with others?"
Ethan smiled and responded:
"I use a system of musical notation to describe the sounds, rhythms, whether they are played fast, slow, forcefully, or gently. This system can also record subtle variations in how each note is played, allowing the performer to better understand the composer's intentions."
The Grand Scholars began to murmur among themselves about what they had just heard. One of them curiously asked:
"You say that each note is represented by a symbol. Are you referring to a completely new system of musical notation that can more accurately convey the composer's ideas?"
Ethan nodded and continued to explain:
"Exactly. This system allows not only the recording of notes but also how those sounds are performed. The performer can immediately understand how to play that note with the intended emotion—whether it should be powerful, gentle, or profound."
Another Grand Scholar, astonished, asked:
"Your Highness, this is truly different from what we have known. Can this method be applied to all musical instruments, or is it limited to certain types?"
Ethan smiled:
"This system is designed to be flexible and can be applied to various musical instruments, from the zither to the flute, the monochord, or any other instrument. The important thing is that it helps the artist better understand the composer's intention and perform it accurately according to the original idea."
The discussion hall fell into a silence filled with admiration and contemplation. Clearly, Ethan Caelan's ideas were unlike anything they had ever considered. After a moment, Adrian spoke with a voice full of reverence:
"Your Highness, your knowledge and creativity truly represent a breakthrough in music. We are very eager to witness how you apply this notation system to a specific piece of music. Could you perform a composition for us?"