Chapter 7: Harpist Academy (26)
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Even though the melody had stopped and the scene was enveloped in silence, Edith’s hands remained suspended near the strings, as if she had forgotten how to let go.
Ever since the performance of “Battle Overture” was rudely interrupted, she felt more like a floating weed in a stream, convinced that only by following the currents could she continue to move forward. Any deviation from this thought or action would get her swept away by the overwhelming flow, lost forever in a watery abyss.
So, even through this unknown piece she later played, she stuck close to the main melody like a loyal guard dog at a noble’s side, skillfully providing appropriate accompaniment.
During this mystical musical odyssey, it felt as though she had acquired divine powers, capable of wandering into people’s dreams at will. She could even vividly feel the suffering of those facing d*ath and despair.
The devastation of the Imperial Capital and the near-total annihilation of survivors shocked her to her core.
Like many skeptics, she had reason to believe that this was the foreign woman’s malicious melody, designed specifically to bring everyone to their knees.
Anyone who heard that piece would have similar nightmares, playing different roles, but ultimately meeting their doom in the massacre of their dreams.
It was undoubtedly a cruel, psychological torment. Those who believed the future to be this way would likely become despondent and anxious.
She had to do something, yes! Warn the citizens that no matter how real those dreams seemed, they were just a trick of the harpist’s magical skills—certainly not the future! The Empire had survived for thousands of years; how could it possibly collapse in an instant?
But as soon as this thought crossed her mind, her entire body felt bound by countless threads, unable to move a muscle.
She suspected she had been completely ensnared by the eerie power of the “Nightingale” tune, and as long as that foreign woman didn’t release her, she feared she might become a vassal to her, powerless to resist in any way.
Yet, in the eyes of others, she appeared utterly entranced, lost in the afterglow of her performance, completely oblivious to the strange behaviors of those who had heard the “Nightingale.”
So when Edith saw Dean Janet marching straight toward Lin Nan, her heart suddenly leaped with surprise.
At this moment, only the Harpist Academy’s pillar of strength seemed capable of turning the tide, washing away all the dark powers that had plagued everyone.
If this person remained in the Imperial Capital or even garnered the title of harpist, wouldn’t that mean she could rightfully send everyone into a panic, while fishing for unimaginable benefits in troubled waters?
“Janet, please do it!”
Not only Edith, but everyone who witnessed that sultry figure confronting Lin Nan grew increasingly excited. Many found the imagery from the dream utterly repulsive, particularly the nobles.
They subconsciously believed that such a d*ath-bestowing technique from dreams must be pure dark sorcery.
Thus, even if the foreign woman was a harpist, she was still an evil harpist. How could she compare to the upright harpists trained in the Empirical Capital’s academy? Heretical elements had to be dealt with quickly to prevent her from sowing further chaos in the Empire and causing irreparable harm to everyone’s well-being.
Brite stared intently at Janet’s figure, fantasizing about the scene where her harp sound utterly crushed Lin Nan.
Until this moment, he could not determine whether that intensely realistic scene from his dream was truly his future.
He was filled with dread, repeatedly questioning whether he really was a waste who resorted to hedonism to combat despair?
No, this couldn’t be! This had to be an evil harpist’s scheme.
Under the apprehensive gazes of the crowd, Janet steadily approached Lin Nan.
As the brilliant harp appeared in the clearing, it instantly overshadowed even the sun itself.
Edith gritted her teeth as she watched the two face off, a surge of glee swelling within her.
With Janet’s power, there were few in the Empire who could stand against her, much less a mere foreign woman.
Trissa and Adeline instinctively clenched their hands, feeling the bursting energy radiating from Janet.
Though Lord Lin was a messenger, they had no idea if there was really a gap between a messenger and a peak SS-level harpist.
“k*ll her! k*ll her!”
“That wicked sorceress who creates illusions! How dare she curse the downfall of our Empire? That woman has ill intentions and must not be spared!”
“Is Lady Janet going to defeat her the proper way? Truly the Empire’s strongest harpist—she should d*e, but d*e with clarity.”
At this, the gathered crowd began shouting, incited by those with agendas.
Undoubtedly, the bizarre glimpse of a future had stirred anxiety among the people, making them think that only by vanquishing the evil harpist who had led them into the dream could they put an end to all this.
If that happened, that terrifying future wouldn’t come to be.
Yes, it had to be like that!
But just as the battle between these two harpists was about to kick off,
Janet, who was even taller than Lin Nan and always looked down at everyone, slowly knelt in front of him.
The magnificent harp on Janet’s right suddenly erupted with dazzling brilliance.
In this instant, everyone was utterly dumbfounded.
Sani had thought the dean would take down her opponent with a thunderous force, but this scene left her gaping, completely shocked.
Who was that foreign woman, really?
Edith nearly fell over in disbelief.
If even the dean treated her with such reverence, it was clear that this woman’s identity was extraordinary.
Edith trembled; the remnants of “Nightingale’s” force made her heart race. In an instant, Lin Nan appeared ever so towering in her eyes, and the ominous aura she had attached to him evaporated like mist.
Because she knew that the person Janet was venerating could hardly represent evil!
Brite, Betty, and all who could witness this were left like statues, shocked beyond belief.
Only the audience outside the academy were in a blur, as the loudspeakers were extraordinarily quiet.
All they could feel was a vague anxiety, as if something monumental was about to occur.
Just as they were wondering if the loudspeaker had broken, one voice boomed through it.
“Current Dean of the Harpist Academy, Janet, pays homage to the Messenger of the God of Harmony.”
“Boom!”
In everyone’s minds, it was as if thunder had struck; the overwhelming feeling of suffocation forced them to gasp for breath, their hearts racing wildly.
No… it can’t be!
That foreign woman is the Messenger of the God of Harmony?
No wonder she could use the harp despite not being a demon—this was the reality!
“Homage to the Messenger of the God of Harmony!”
At Janet’s insistence, everyone in the testing area stepped forward and knelt, speaking in unison.
Lin Nan’s expression remained as calm as a still lake, as if this were exactly how things were meant to be.
