Sound of Your Heart

07: KING'S MARCH

After that, Daniel's grandmother prepared food and had the two join them. It was quite joyful and nice occasion, save it for the few times when Violet and Sebastian engaged into arguments or stood up to start fighting, but thanks to Irene and Daniel's presence, there weren't any injuries.

Except for Violet's ego.

As they finally left the place and promised to come tomorrow again for Violet to start her lessons, who had nothing better to do decided to stroll around the city. Violet didn't have time to do so yesterday seeing as he just arrived and spent most of it running away from Daniel or questioning her life decisions.

"What to grab a coffee?" He asked noticing a little Cafe on the road.

"Do you think they have hot chocolate instead?" The only coffee Violet knew was black coffee and she honestly wasn't a great fan of sour things.

"It's a Cafe, if it didn't have hot chocolate they'd be shaming their own reputation," he grunted before heading towards it, "Want to get inside or sit outside?"

"Outside will do, this place has a nice view, but you do realize that I'm moneyless at the moment, so I can't pay for anything?" Ah, how pitiful is it to not even have money for a cup of hot chocolate...

"Don't worry, it's on me," in any case if Daniel had vast amount of something, it's money, "Consider this me congratulating on you taking a first step to becoming famous."

"..."

Choosing a table that was in a shade of the nearby tree, he sat down as she followed after him.

"The city sure is different from a village," she mused.

"How so? Bigger and more appealing, isn't that right?" He nodded before grabbing a menu. After living in America for two years and getting used to the poison known as coffee, Daniel seriously couldn't pull through a day without a single cup of it in the morning. His grandparents weren't that great lovers of it, and they never have it in their house, so he can never get to drink it. But if he doesn't drink a cup of coffee in the morning, he'll get a headache through the day and be extremely sleepy — and having to teach bunch of noisy and wild kids later would only make his headache worse.

Life sure is tough when you're an addict.

"No, it stinks. It reeks of cars and pollutions, but inside the Caffe reeks of smokes and it's too noisy, so I have to chose between two evils."

Her answer caught him off guard, so he remained silent for few seconds before suddenly bursting out in laughter. Well, he must say that she wasn't that wrong.

"You get used to it, it took me a while too," he said before pointing to the menu.

"I recommend to try cheesecake, unless you hate them. But a hot chocolate would be too much to go with it..." He also had a sweet tooth, but not too much, "How about getting a cappuccino instead?"

"Eh? Is it sweet?" She asked.

"Mn, really," he seriously nodded and she considered his suggestion. It was about time to try some. They had one place in the village that served like a Caffe, but people inside only knew to make a decent black coffee and nothing else. Violet shivered when she recalled the hot drinks they made.

"Alright then," he was paying anyway, and she decided that he wouldn't trick her for such a tiny deal.

His eyebrow twitched and he couldn't help but wonder how he managed to get entangled with this girl. If he was a psychopath, he could've tricked her easily. She's too simple to manipulate. Who in their sane mind would even live with a stranger... Eh, no, isn't this how renting a place to stay works?

Something is seriously wrong with this world, you doubt those close to you, but trust strangers because of a money deal.

They both ordered a cheesecake and drinks they wanted, and Violet turned her gaze to the bustling city. People were rushing fro and back, every single of them had their own story unbeknownst to the people around them. Violet wondered how many tales had played on this street, how many people have crossed each other without knowing the other's story.

If two people who had the same story passed this street unaware of each other, would some kind of miracle make their existences collide and bring about a brand new story?

All it takes is a single moment for a new story to begin, a mere coincidence that two people came to the same place or a chance meeting between the two who's paths would've never crossed.

What is the beginning? What is the end?

Can the two's story begin the moment they meet for the first time or is the beginning something that happened far, far away in their past? There is a reason the two people meet and if it's not their past actions that led them to that moment now...

Violet begun to muse a silent melody as she tapped on the table with her finger. It was unconscious action of hers who was trapped by her own word. She only ever knew of music. Every humming of the birds, every breeze of the wind, noise of the crowd, the silent thoughts that were never put into words... To her, every single one of them was a melody on it's own. A beautiful melody she could create and beautiful melody that is yet to be born.

She did not think of the rules or notes when she created a piece, a person movement in itself was a note waiting to be scribbled down.

Daniel looked on the side and seemed like he was caught in some trance. He didn't know why, but at that moment, the figure of this red haired woman humming a melody became the center of his world, truly taking his breath away.

The melody she mused was like s spell slowly taking over his soul and he willingly surrendered to the tune before closing his eyes. Enjoying the peaceful moment and wanting for it to never end...

In the end, because she hummed that melody for too long and he listened to her with his eyes closed, both their drinks cooled down making the two sigh regretfully. They found out that neither could stand drinking cold coffee (and cappuccino) which somehow made them closer to each other.

"But why didn't you stop me, it's so cold now," she protested as she vented her anger on the cheesecake, angrily stabbing it with a fork.

"Why should I be the one to interrupt you? Didn't you hear the saying that artist have but a chanced moment of epiphany and that interrupting them is a sin itself?" He defended, but even so decided to drink that coffee, shuddering as he did so. Ah, he felt like he got shot in his heart, cold coffee is evil itself!

"I feel like my insides are turning and greeting the afterlife," he cursed silently and she shook her head. Cappuccino, although it didn't have the same taste like warm one, wasn't that bad like coffee. It was still... Drinkable, but Violet really couldn't help but regret not having ordered a hot chocolate. At least, when hot chocolate cools down, it's still as tasty as ever!

"Don't die yet, brother. I need you to pay for this and take my phone back," she hesitated at the beginning, but now that she was in his care and met his loathsome grandfather, she no longer felt shy around him. In any case, she'll return him money once she gets her phone back — so why would she reject his kindness. In any case, when you're drowning, you cannot refuse a helping hand just because of your stupid pride. Only an i***t would reject help when he desperately needed it!

"That being said, you aren't from here either?" She suddenly remembered what he mentioned earlier about getting used to this city.

"No, I was born and raised in Russia, why?" He finished his own cheesecake while she still had half left.

"Is there really different than here? Is the place really covered with snow entire year?"

"It's Russia, not Antarctic!" That stupid prejudice that Russia is land of snow and eternal cold...

"Really? So my entire life has been a lie?"

"..." It's no wonder she's so easy to trick. She absolutely lacks the common sense.

"Although we do not have snow over there through the whole year, it's colder compared to America. It's rarely boiling hot outside and most of the year there's a scent of snow of frost in the air, so it is somewhat more refreshing compared to here, I guess."

"Scent of frost? How does that smell?" She furrowed her eyebrow. In the first place, can you even smell the snow?

"You know when it's snowing outside and there's just that unexplainable smell in the air that's unique to the winter and all? It's not fresh... But it's not decaying either, it's just make you feel it's cold outside, you know?" He also raised an eyebrow. It was truly hard to explain.

"For some reason I feel like I know what you're talking about although I've no idea what are you talking about at the same time," it was quite frustrating when you can't put something into words, after all.

"I know right, but it's the kind of scent that makes you think: "Ah, it's winter now," although I really have no idea why. It's like trying to explain what s feeling is or warmth or something..." Why is he even having this conversation with her, again?

"Yes, I feel like I understand you even more now," she soon finished her cheesecake too and nodded in content. This place had some really nice sweets, she should come here often.

"Shall we go then?" He stood up and went to pay as leaned on her chair before gazing at the sky.

Grandma, I met an odd man. He offered me a place to stay and I'd currently helping me with my wish I'm exchange for listening to my music. He's suspicious and does not speak much of himself, but I oddly feel like I can trust him.

Say grandma... Am I doing a right thing staying by side?

It didn't take long before he returned, so she shook her head and stood up as well.

"Let's go," she smiled as she clutched her violin case. He did not say why he needed to hear her violin, but she felt that it was something important. Therefore, she really didn't want to disappoint him.

It was an odd feeling, one she couldn't understand herself either.

By the time they arrived at the skating ring, it was already noon. Although Daniel didn't seem to be in hurry, he was actually nervous inside. That's why he got ready a bit faster than usual. Once he got to the skating ring, Violet was already waiting for him with her violin ready to be played.

"I'll need some time to stretch out and prepare, if you wouldn't mind," he said and she nodded. Compared to his casual clothes from earlier, he wore a simple black short and trousers that only made him look taller and slender. Trying his hair into a simple man bun with, he gave her a simple smile before starting to stretch out.

As Violet watched on the side, she noticed that the most of his stretches were similar to those Sebastian made her do this morning.

"Aren't those stretching poses meant for ballet?" She asked, recalling the words that loathsome grandpa said.

"Ballet... Well, more for flexibility, but I do guess I picked them from ballet lessons."

"You were a ballerina?" He glanced at her unusual expression before cracking into a smile.

"Professional ice skating asks for a precise control over one's body. Skaters also need to be very flexible and have a huge stamina since some pirouettes request for far more than a simple human body is capable of doing," he begun explaining.

"Ballet is the same, ballerina is requested to stand on top of her toes for hours when there's a play and she must not show exhaustion when making various pirouettes in the process. That is very stressful to one's body, so if they don't practice from their childhood, they will find it extremely hard to make up for it in the future."

Violet nodded, she did not fully understand his words since she was never interested in ballet, but she got the meaning behind his words.

"It's actually not unusual for ice skaters to practice in a ballet studio and since it was more or less in my family, I naturally had access to it since my childhood. When I was young, I even went to practice at my grandpa's studio for a while before incorporating the knowledge from there into my skating program. There are many possibilities when you're still young and undeveloped, and as someone aiming for the gold in competitions, I naturally didn't reject the plan my coach had in mind."

Violet nodded. She left a mental note to check this guy on Google and YouTube, he said he competed for gold, so there should be some official records of his performance.

"I guess that, although I'm not as flexible as back then, it remained a force of habit to me to still do those exercises," he didn't stop even for a second with what he was doing as he told her about his past.

"I see," she could see that skating to this person was as precious as music was to her, "You must really love ice skating."

For if he didn't, he wouldn't do something so bothersome as putting effort into practicing other things to improve his own performance. If he didn't like ice skating, he wouldn't be doing those same boring stretches after so many years.

"That, I did," with a smile on his face as he finished with those exercises, he stepped forward on the ice, barely calming down his excited heart.

Did? Why did he stop loving skating then? That smile of his seemed honest, if nothing else.

"So please, Violet. For the sake of letting me experience that love once again, play your violin for me like the last night. Please, let me hear that music once more."

His expression was gentle. The smile on his face was full of serenity and calmness Violet has never seen before in her life. At that moment, she didn't need to need this man's story. She felt like she was one of those passer-by on the street that met another person without knowing their past, yet oddly being at the right place and time.

She didn't need to know his past at all. He said that he wanted to hear her music once again, and his entire body was screaming that it wanted to hear the melody that will release it of some dark shackles. Therefore, she will play for him.

"Alright," striking a pose to play her violin, Violet's eyes were no longer confused and filled with innocence. Instead, they were like the eyes of an eagle, locking down its prey; unwilling to let even a single movement escape its gaze.

She will play for this man and give birth to another melody in this world.

Likewise, the serenity in his eyes slowly faded away, replaced by indifference and arrogance of a king of ice. Moving backwards, he begun to drag himself across the ice, followed by the sound of violin immediately after.

The king surrounded by his loyal army, walking steadily into a fight with destiny — that's how Violet saw him. But every march into war asks for a battle cry... 'Therefore, let me play a battle cry worthy of your arrogance, king!'

A deafening echo of march echoed through the vast ice rink, together with his calm and detached movement gave impression of calm before the storm. But even so, the music didn't show any sign of calming down until the moment Daniel raised his hand.

Like a king who stood in front of legendary army, a raise of his hand was a sign to prepare soldiers, they all bared their weapons. The raise of his other hand was a signal for archers to prepare the bows, as finally the music began to pull a long wails — those were cries of soldiers willing to die for their king. The enemy was numerous and powerful, but they didn't show fear.

Baring their teeth at enemy army, they bravely marched forwards after their king, not an ounce on their hesitation.

Their king, the one who they all trusted in and revered moved faster than anyone, advanced more bravely than anyone, slew enemies cruelly than anyone. All burdens the soldier had to bear will be borne by him before anyone else!

That's the kind of ruler they all followed! That's the kind of arrogance than made him stand above anyone else!

First swing of his sword in Violet's head was executed by Daniel performing a double loop. Since it was beginning, he didn't want to go too far, a habit developed by his inability to perform his best for two years.

But the heroic music following his every move made him change his mind, like a king who landed a first killing blow, he turned around and slew another enemy! A triple loop. Followed by triple Salchow. Using a dagger on his belt, he slew another enemy behind him at the same time, disregarding both like unworthy opponents.

He moved forward, every swing of his sword was sharp and precise, taking someone's life, every move he made across the ice allowed no room for mistake.

Four stood in front of him and four behind him. Were they a challenge, though? No, not a single bit.

He bravely advanced and did another combination. Quadruple Salchow and loop combination this time.

His arrogance was vast, but arrogance was a weakness too.

He failed the loop and it turned into triple instead of quadruple, but did that stop him or make him hesitate? Not at all, it's from mistakes that he learns.

Continuing onto a toe loop, he did not allow enemies around him to trap him, no matter their numbers. He slew anyone that dared approach him before moving forward.

A foot sequence.

Crossing a raging river of corpses standing between him and enemy leader, he did not hesitate no matter how heavy his feet were. No matter how many hands grabbed his legs, slowing him down, he bravely advanced forward.

He was the king his men believed in. If he fell, what were they supposed to do?

A second half, by now he wasted much of his stamina. He was sweating, but his sight was clearer than ever. The annoying buzz in his ears didn't disturb him this time, raging flames of the war music echoed in his ears, pumping his thirst for battle.

He can do it! No, he WILL do it!!!

If corpses filled the ground he walked on, then he needs to jump high enough where they won't be able to reach him.

Another Salchow. Triple wasn't high enough, quadruple was more like it.

And so, the river of blood was crossed.

But he came to a standstill. Letting his skates drag him across the ice on their own, he gasped for the air, the music became much quieter. But that silence was an inferno of emotions before the final showdown.

He gazed at his enemy, their eyes locked into a silent battle of willpower. The first to remove his gaze will be the one to lose, so he stood unwavering, despite the war around him.

The enemy couldn't stand it any longer, so he gave up first. Daniel followed.

His body suddenly lunged forwards, everything will be decided in one move. Calculating the distance, he jumped in order to execute the most perfect combination, another loop and Salchow combination and finish it all with a spin.

But he didn't calculate well enough, his sword reached his enemy, but did not kill, while his enemy cut off his leg. He collapsed on the ground after the combination, his enemy mocked him from above.

You are a weak king, your arrogance is your downfall.

Violet on the side frowned.

'Why do you lie on the ground? Why are you giving up after reaching this far? Is this your limit?'

'Don't screw with me! If you need a hand to push you forward, then I'll give you that hand. So stand up! Stand up and finish what you started! Stand up and break those damned shackles that bind you down!'

The harmonious music suddenly took a sharp turn and became even more violent.

Stand up!

I cannot.

Stand up and fight.

My legs have been crooked!

But your arms haven't!

That's right... I still have my arms and my sword!

I, your soldier, am yet to give up, so what are you doing giving up before me? Didn't you say you'll shoulder most of my burden?

That's right. I said so. I must stand. They're still standing!

Despite being drenched in sweat, despite his whole body aching. Despite being on a verge of collapse... He used his hands to push his body up and continue moving forward. Once you fail a move in professional skating, there is no room for repeats. You rise and continue.

So he did the same. He still had strength for one last move.

Lunging forward, with the loudest cry he could make, he beheaded the foolish king looking down on him, using his sword to stand tall instead of his other leg.

'That is right, if I can't use my leg, I'll use my hands. If I can't use my hands, I'll use my teeth to bite my enemy! Even if I'm left to only glare at him, I will not stop until I'm truly dead.'

As he moved to make his last performance and do the finishing spin combination, the music slowly died down like the army that has stopped fighting around him. Just as he finished with his spin as well and straightened his back, the music suddenly pitched up once again, like the king his gaze to the battlefield.

Gaze... That showed that he was far from done.

Even if crippled... He could still fight.

As they finally finished, the silent ice rink was suddenly filled with duo's panting before he collapsed on the ground. Violet, who's hands were shaking like crazy likewise dropped down and put down her violin and bow. She'd be lying if she said that this wasn't her most extreme piece ever.

'There, I played for you. Are you satisfied yet?'

Daniel, lying on the ground smiled. Yes, he was satisfied. This feeling truly was the one he loved the most.

Yet unbeknownst to duo, someone's eyes in the darkness shined brightly as he pressed to button to stop recording the video.

But at this moment, even if the world was to end, the two would really not give a damn at all.