[Stage Fever (Minor)] [Music Resonation (Minor)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]
.
Until you show the flas in you
I will smile and keep these three words for myself!
I cant wait!
Just watching you makes feel so anxious
I dream of the day that you will hold
You are it, my Fireheart!
Say those words!
Dont just stand there and keep your mouth wide, dummy
Cant you feel the rhythm of our heartbeats
Say those words, my Fireheart!
.
Loud applause erupted from the nurous adventurers relaxing and eating inside the hunters guild. So were shouting for to sing another song, while others turned their attention back to their food and companions at their table, knowing I would continue regardless. Others didnt cheer or clap, simply enjoying the atmosphere or minding their own business, probably knowing this was just another day in the guild.
On the other hand, several were giving looks of unease. Those people were the ones with a [Bard] related Job, or at least that is what I assud, considering they were the people who usually played on their instrunts or sang a tune whenever I visited the guild. Now, most of them were looking down at their harp-, flute-, and lute-like instrunts with dejected eyes.
A few of these bards were surrounded by their parties, being comforted by their wryly smiling companions. The loud cheers and general rambunctiousness of the guild made it hard for to eavesdrop since all these sounds mixed together. I might have been able to listen in, but that would require to properly focus. Plus, at the end of the day, I had no interest in ddling with everybodys lives.
Seventh song; a success like the others. Hmm, this makes it hard for to choose
While seeing and hearing most adventurers asking for encores and praising for my singing, aside from a few perverts who were shouting so M-for-mature comnts, made quite happy about myself, it also gave valuable information on how people received my songs.
My geigler play at the marketplace during the Binding Festival gave so idea of which genres were popular among the people of the lower town. While I couldnt be sure if they ca for my tunes or the sll coming from Saoris impromptu food stand, the way they danced around us and the lack of criticism must have ant that they were interested. I only did the instruntal version last ti, so I was including my vocals this ti.
I decided not to dance this ti in order to prevent the guild from having the idea I was so sorta ritual dancer or sothing. It would be a pain to resolve that misunderstanding afterward, after all. I also shouldnt expect them all to like my dancing like the villagers from Carine village did, so I was going about it slowly.
I activated my party bracelet, opened up the notes function, and ticked off another well-received song from a list of them while sipping so fruit juice from a wooden tankard. Saori and Tasianna werent around. Theyd wanted to ask Ruld when he could guide us to the blacksmith he recomnded, so they left here and asked lia, one of the hunters guilds receptionists and our Quest handler, to supervise . Or, how I would like to call it, babysitting.
Hey, hey, co on, little lizard cleric! Another song, co on!
Yeah, one more! Oh, dont forget to co over to the tavern! We could use so good songs to end the day! Ill even listen to a sermon about the Goddess if you do it in song, ha ha!
Guys, give so ti for a break
When the sky started to turn orange, most adventurers working outside the town since this morning would co back to town, and subsequently head to the guild building or tavern for the evening rrint. Most of these hunters and rcenaries were low rankers, which included G, F, and E rank adventurers, and had to work over winter as they lived paycheck to paycheck from what they earned through their Quest rewards.
In contrast, all the D rankers and the most prosperous E rankers werent too keen to freeze their toes off in this cold and had saved enough money to last them until spring ca. Most of the people listening to today belonged to the latter group, although there were also a few low rankers whod finished their quests early.
That didnt an all adventurers who went out of town this morning would return this afternoon. I wasnt talking about them dying, of course. lia explained a few Quests would require you to travel long distances that could last for multiple days even when its freezing outside, usually enticing Quest takers with higher pay.
Apparently, that skorr Quest my party took last week wouldve taken a normal E rank hunter party at least three days to complete if it went flawlessly. The first day to travel to the farrs and confirm information, the second day to plan the attack and execute on it, and the third day to co back to Firwood. Our party finished it in a single day since we were a bit over-leveled.
Whew! The next song please, little miss priestess! Cheers, ahaha! a hunter shouted as he raised his ale tankard to bang it with his friends.
While their enthusiasm was nice, a singer needs to take breaks from singing once in a while during an extended session. Our most valuable tool is our vocal cords, after all. Although, couldnt I simply heal them if they ever get sore? My throat hasnt even gotten tired once since I ca over to Peolynca. Can I even get a sore throat with Peolyncas System? Would my Health drop if that happened? Maybe my Vitality is protecting from it, or maybe even my Wisdom since [Draconic Roar] and [Idol] improved my acoustic attacks? Was it being influenced by my skills?
OopsIm overthinking things again. How about we deal with this problem when it actually happens, eh, parallel minds?
Point taken, original mind. Say when you want to continue and well start playing so music, parallel mind #1 said.
Hey, its not like we can take a break, parallel mind #2 interjected. We still havent tested [Idol] out yet, and its cause you cant decide on a song, original mind. All weve been doing is lazing around in our room when we have free ti!
Hey, give a break. The number of tis I could just laze around up until now could be counted with our hands. It has been such a long ti since I had a free schedule.
Original mind, kinda dont wanna tell you this considering you are , but arent we being too lazy? Its like we lost a lot of our drive after our debut and were just playing around with all the new RPG-like stuff, parallel mind #3 pointed out. Sure, Aurena told us to take it at our pace but I dont like the fact we havent even tried out [Idol] once yet! This is our skill. Since when do idols sit on their laurels and stop practicing and training each day? Just look at SNSD, Twice, or ITZY for examples, girl.
Pondering at what my parallel minds have said, I had to agree I have been neglecting my traininga bit. Since we left Carine village, the last ti I actually had this much free ti wasWait. I dont think Ive ever had this much free ti.
Before I t Saori in the Belzac Forest, I was forced to train every single mont I could purely to survive, even inside that cave. After eting up with Saori and Tasianna, my ti was used practically in the sa way, the only difference was that I wasnt always responsible for cooking. Even in Carine village my schedule was filled with idol training, Master Kushs lectures, and visiting Ellaine.
Now that I think about it, the last ti I really exerted myself during training was that one single duel I had with Saori and Tasianna to get rid of [Battle Frenzy]. Training Ellaine was, not to be rude, nearly effortless. My life could be compared to a young Earth teenager nowadays. Shouldnt I be tinkering with my skills more and trying to make more custom spells?
Empty vessel was the proper term for a magic skill that didnt give its owner any System spells but allowed the creation of custom ones. Either they could be created through mortal hands or given to them from gods like what Shiterno did to . In any case, to actually use these magic skills properly, they must be used as the base for new spells.
Sure, I could use my two empty vessel skills without needing a spell for them, but looking at how I created [Sanctified Blaze] with [White Flas] and what that spell could do, in comparison, to how lonely [Corrosive Fire] is looking, I should probably kick my ass and do so proper work.
I an, [Idol] was made just for , but I still havent chosen a song for it. I had two slots while [Idol] was level one. I could just choose Promise or even Sea of Trees for my first song and test it out. Even if I couldnt delete songs after registration, it would be worth it to just try.
In my ntal space, parallel mind #2 was nodding her head vehently. You really should, Dummkopf. Saori and Tasianna have been busting their asses to bring their restaurant idea to fruition, but what have you been doing? We had our successful debut and made our dream co true, yes, but can we, please, get back to our usual schedule? Go back to training, original mind.
Did my drive really drop after the concert? I thought. It felt awkward to consider, honestly.
Sighthirsty. Noticing my tankard of fruit juice was empty, I was about to call for one of the two waitresses going around serving the other adventurers at the bar area for a refill, but a couple of people approached .
Erm, pardon us? Uh, Miss priestess? A man wearing a brown cloak carrying around sothing similar to a lute called out to , acting like a representative for the four people behind him.
Waving my hand to greet them, I kept it short and said, Hey, nonchalantly.
Flinching from my casual response, the representative massaged his neck, looked back to the people behind him, before clearing his throat. Uhm, we are a couple- a few humble bards who witnessed your storytelling and we were quite stunned by your serene voice. Pray, fair maiden of heavenly light, whence did your music coth and goeth, for it enthralled our ears and mind without being here for us to see?
What? Blinking my eyes in confusion, even my parallel minds couldnt decipher what he just said. Was he curious where I learned my songs, or what now? C-Could you repeat that please? Im sorry, I know you want to sound eloquent, but it is hard for to understand your intentions if you dont make yourself clear enough. Simple Common is just fine.
As if a dagger had pierced his chest, the man pressed his hands on his chest and dramatically recoiled back a bit. However, after noticing the look I was giving him, he straightened up his back and began speaking in a less flamboyant way. Uh, sorry about that, Miss priestess. What I wanted to say is that were wondering where your music ca from. Your voice is like a gift presented by the Goddess herself to grace us, her humble servants-Ow! Before he could continue his exaggerated description, one of the bards behind him smacked him on his head.
To summarize what he said, ignoring his frequent use of colorful words, the bards were confused about how I was able to create my music without an instrunt, as well as what so of the sounds were. I assu they were talking about stuff like the piano or electric guitar, as I was mostly playing ani songs. It shouldnt be a surprise that they werent able to identify so of them.
As it wasnt a secret, I told them about my [Aerokinesis], even showing them how I was able to mimic different instrunts and play a literal air piano. When they asked where I heard the more modern instrunts, I just told them the truth; that they ca from where I was born. As they thought I was a lizardman, instead of a dragonewt, theyd probably never visited the far easten swamps before, so they didnt argue back.
Oh, while were at it, could I ask you guys a question? I asked the bards, to which they agreed. You five are adventurers, right? How do bards fight or support their companions?
The representative eyes widened at my question. Miss priestess, you dont know? With your fine musical talents? Arent you a bard and cleric?
False, Im not a bard, I denied his claim. Im a mage and priestess. I think this should be clear from my white robes.
There were even a couple of white-robed priests inside the guild right now, drinking and eating with their adventurer parties. From what Barathan told , not only nobles but also mana sensitive commoners were able to receive a white robe and learn holy magic. Considering they were active guild mbers, it seems it wasnt forbidden for priests to fight monsters with warriors and rogues.
Aside from maybe manners and the skill [Noble Aura], the only way for sobody to distinguish a commoner from a noble, or at least a rich commoner from a poor one, was their white robes. The more wealthy and more influential you were, the more embroidery and decoration were tailored into your robes. Most priests I could see here had plain white robes.
I did have the option for the [Bard] Job, but I wasnt sure if I should take it. I didnt know how bards fought, and taking the mage- or cleric-based Jobs are far more beneficial for my growth. I didnt want to waste a Job change for sothing uncertain, I explained.
Ahh, that seed to have made it clear enough.
Nodding their heads understandingly, they began their explanation. Apparently, once a person gets the [Bard] Job and its advanced versions, they receive the [Bardic Magic] Job skill. Essentially, it worked similar to my [Idol], except that each song was counted as a spell and had their own effects, beneficial or otherwise.
From what I understood from [Idol]s description, the [Idol] skill itself allowed to transfer all the buffs I currently have onto other people. It was like an automatic [Synergists Oath] that didnt require mana to use. With the [Idol System], the System created for this skill, I could register certain songs to grant additional buffs or use them to attack sobody. That ant the latters effect must have been inspired by [Bardic Music]. However, this System was created by Aurena for . It cant be that simple, right?
La la la la the bards began to hum, stringing their harps and lutes while so blew into their flutes. Using [Mana Eyes], I was able to see hints of their Mana entering their instrunts and being spread with each tune they played. I could feel a similar sensation when I would use buffing spells like [Swift Winds] or [Sturdy Earth] on myself. However, unlike normal spells, the amount of Mana used was far smaller than expected, which resulted in a lesser impact.
Do you five have the [Mana Control] skill? I asked, to which they shook their heads. This ant that you didnt need to be versed in magic to know how to be a bard, but even if each song cost less Mana than a normal spell, seeing as how it continuously drained your mana the longer you played, a bard should still have more Mana than a normal warrior.
The bards admitted they couldnt play for too long and that once they stopped playing, the effects of the songs would end. Compare that to buffing spells which could last even if the mage wasnt around, and you could see the disadvantages to [Bardic Magic]. A mage could stand on top of a hill and be useful, but a bard had to stay close to his allies to support them if he or she didnt have wind magic to spread their music.
That fighting style does fit . I am a mage but Im still mostly a front liner anyways, since neither Saori and Tasianna could act like tanks. In the worst case, I could just use [Aerokinesis] to spread my songs over a whole battlefield.
Still, that didnt help figure out which songs I should choose.
As I was listening to the bards sing their tales, I noticed a few other bards hiding among the adventurers, looking at us with troubled expressions. When I asked why the latter didnt step up like these five, I learned they had so reservations about . Seeing enchant the whole building with my music and receiving everybodys applause and cries of the encore, these bards saw more as a rival or a target of envy.
Usually, people only treat us as background music, as another part of the atmosphere. We bards travel the world, from towns to villages to cities, sotis even ruins, to gather all the lore and experiences this world can provide us under the origin gods eyes. Impressing the local townspeople or a new adventurer is easy, but we require so seriously impressive adventures to impress a veteran, the representative admitted. Dont get wrong, veterans love stories and tales as much as anybody else, but I dont think anybodys been able to catch the whole guilds attention like that, before. Your songs of love and fiery passion coupled with daring tales to evoke the adventurer spirit from within during this freezing season. All sung by a muse with a heavenly voice, la la la, the priestess of red showed us a glimpse of the goddesss serenity
Before he continued singing, he stopped as he saw frown a bit. Is sothing the matter, fair priestess?
Shaking my head, I replied, Its nothing. I just feel a bit bad that they think that. Im only trying out so songs, I wasnt intentionally trying to steal their spotlight. Urgh, sorry about that. I guess you five feel the sa?
Music is the art of touching the souls of thousands to empower and heal them, was one of my favorite quotes my papa told . It was his motto. I might have made a few people happy and smile but I didnt want my fellow musicians to feel threatened by . We are all in this together.
Another breeze in the wind, fair priestess. Being jealous of other bards is part of being one because it drives us forward to seek tales of heroics
Nodding my head with a smile, I could only say one thing, Oh yeah, Im not a bard. Im an idol. This caused them to tilt their heads, but before they could ask what it was, I simply offered them to play so music with . It would be a great chance to experience so actual dieval music, after all.
However, before we could start, a bunch of adventurers stord inside the guild, shouting and screaming, Priests! Clerics! We need healers! Seven hunters carried in three others on their back. All three looked pale, sweaty, and had their eyes closed.
Put them on the benches! lia shouted as most of the receptionists ran out from the counter, carrying bottles of red and green liquids. Without questioning it, the adventurers close to the door listened to her orders and helped lay the three down. Once on the benches, I could see bandages wrapped around their bodies even as the stench of blood exuded from them.
What happened?! lia asked one of the hunters. He looked quite young, probably around my age, so it took him a few tries to stop stuttering at lias questioning. Once the few white-robed priests announced they would look after the injured with the guild staff, the young man finally felt relieved enough to start his story.
An ambush! Our party was out to take down so wolves when we were attacked by a bunch of kobolds and goblins on the way to town! My friends got hit by arrows and theyve looked like this ever since! I-If it wasnt for them, we probably would have been wiped out! the young man said as he pointed at the five more experienced looking hunters who helped him carry his three injured friends.
While lia spoke with the young hunter, another receptionist questioned the others. I saw four kobold archers, four kobold warriors, and seven goblin fighters. They took out the backline first, those two girls and boy there, and were about to overwhelm the frontline. We managed to kill three goblins before driving them off, the archer of that party reported.
The kids are poisoned! Two minors and one moderate! Two minor cure potions, one [Cure], and three minor health potions are enough, one of the priests told a receptionist. anwhile, the other three priests began giving the two girls bottles of a green liquid and the boy received [Cure]. After the paleness slightly subsided, the priests administered the red liquid.
The three priests then raised their hands, directed a ring at the soundly sleeping young hunters, before confirming they were not in critical situations anymore. We pray to the Goddess for the safety of their souls, the four priests announced in a prayer pose.
As the chaos of the situation subsided with the cheers of adventurers, lia and the other receptionist called the young hunter and the leader of the rescue party to co to the reception for a full report of the situation.
Phew, thankfully everything went well. I dont have to be the hero for every situation, especially when those priests competently handled everything without any issues.
A feeling of relief swelled in my chest as the tragedy was prevented. I didnt know where they learned holy magic, it could be here in Firwood or from another church, but they left with a good impression. The [Cure] took a bit as the priest needed to say the whole chant, but how they were quickly able to assess the injury and how to heal it was inspirational.
Aurena did tell to learn more about her religion, which included her priests and priestesses. Maybe I should use this chance to ask them about it before I ask the local temple?
Tch, didnt even move a muscle. Probably has no talent, and shes been instantly made D rank. Dafuq is wrong with the guild?
As I was smiling at this sight, my ears suddenly picked up so annoying gossip from behind . Turning around with a confused frown, my eyes directed at a dark-red haired young adventurer glaring at with hatred. As our eyes t, he snorted at , rolled his eyes, before turning back to his party, who were already complaining at him. I wondered who he was, but that's when one of my parallel minds reminded that I saw him on the day I t the hunter's guild master and registered as a hunter. He was the asshole who gossiped about !
Hey, hey, hey, that piece of shit! Its that guy again!
For so reason, hearing him ridiculing not only ticked off but made feel like my pride as a mage was insulted. I thought I was used to mockery, due to my past with the other idol trainees, but it seems I hadnt built up a tough enough shell yet.
Fueled by anger, my feet moved by themselves, moving towards the table with the red-haired brat. My parallel minds were complaining and warning I was acting childish when I could just ignore it. Words hurt, but that didnt an I had to react to them every single tiWell, maybe that argunt would have cooled down if I were older, but it was a bit too early for to behave that maturely.
Hey, Standing before him, I called him out as my aura skills were leaking my irritation. How about you tell that directly in my face instead of hiding behind a crowd with your tail tucked behind your legs, you rooster head.
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