Arc 2, Chapter 1: Resonara, the City of Music

???: “Whoa… Mizuki, you got the highest in the whole cohort again!”

Many of my classmates and students from other classes will usually crowd around me, giving me a barrage of questions that I don’t really want to or know how to answer.

???: “So, what are you going to do after you graduate? Go to university? And become someone really successful??”

Honestly, I never really thought so much about what I want to do in the future.

Even though I receive top grades, awards, and recognition that make others proud, inside, I feel nothing but emptiness.

Everyone sees me as Mizuki, the ideal student. However, the Mizuki who feels like a mannequin is not visible to them.

Until one day, when I was walking out of my classroom, something caught my eye.

In an empty classroom, a girl is playing the guitar and singing at the same time.

Her voice, her laughter, the way her fingers moved over the strings... It was alive, sloppy, and flawed. And in that moment, something inside me sparked.

***

???: “Mizuki, wake up!”

Mizuki: “Hm?”

Mizuki woke up from her sleeping bag and gently rubbed her eyes.

Mizuki: “Ah… It’s that same dream again, huh?”

Mizuki mutters under her breath before turning to whoever called her up.

Mizuki: “Wait… Who are you? An intruder!?”

Mizuki yelled as she looked at a young woman with dark hair, small horns, and a maid costume.

Mizuki: “You must be… The demon race that the stupid goddess mentioned, right? Are you here to assassinate me or something!?”

???: “No, no, you got it all wrong!!”

The young maid starts waving her arms frantically as her face turns beet red.

???: “I…It’s me… Lyric. This is my “human” form… Do I really look that unpleasant!?”

Mizuki was speechless.

Lyric: “I knew it… My human form is just like my dragon’s… I look like an old hag despite being a teenager in human ages!!!”

Mizuki: “No, no…I’m sorry, it just caught me off guard. You look beautiful, actually.”

Lyric: “Oh… Thanks…”

Lyric starts fidgeting as she glances away shyly.

Cute.

Frida: “What’s taking you two so long? Eillia just made some breakfast!”

Frida stood outside the tent and yelled, which made Lyric flinch slightly.

Lyric: “W…We are coming!”

Mizuki, instead of preparing, covered herself with the sleeping bag.

Mizuki: “Can I sleep a while more…I’m exhausted…”

Frida stomps into the tent and grips her arm, trying to pull her out.

Frida: “The food is going to be cold by then!”

She struggles and turns away from Frida.

Mizuki: “After so many Old Maid games with Lyric’s dad… I just can’t… He’s too strong…”

Frida: “Urghh! Eillia! Help me drag her out of the tent!!”

Mizuki: “Alright, alright…”

Mizuki immediately stood up and walked out of the tent like a zombie.

I definitely do not want to be thrown like a javelin again!!

***

As the girls are enjoying their stew, Mizuki hungrily gulped one whole bowl in seconds before talking.

Mizuki: “Since our band is finally formed, what’s the MLC’s structure by the way?”

Eillia: “Well… I’m glad that you at least asked before the tournament started.”

Eillia swallows her last spoonful of stew before continuing.

Eillia: “In MLC, since it’s a popular tournament, you can expect more than 1000 bands. And out of all those bands, the top 32 bands will be chosen through votes from everyone in Aria.”

Frida: “32 out of more than 1000??? That’s insane…”

Eillia: “Yeah. And the band that wins out of the 32 gets an invitation to the World Finals. And winning the World Finals gets you the chance to get your wish granted.”

Lyric: “Being the best 32 bands out of more than 1000 sounds overwhelming…”

The bowl of stew on Lyric’s arms starts shaking slightly, while Frida starts fidgeting nervously, and Eillia glances away from the group with some worry on her face.

Frida: “The Goldenshield family will most likely be there…”

Eillia: “Even after meeting the Punky Twins… The feeling of meeting the other ex-bandmates just makes me slightly nervous…”

Seeing her panicking bandmates, Mizuki clapped her hands hard, causing the other three’s attention to turn to her.

Mizuki: “Hey, hey, hey! Stop trembling like broken maracas! More than 1000 bands? 32 slots? All we need to do is beat 968 plus of them!

Frida: “That’s… still insane.”

Mizuki: “Absolutely! Which adds to the fun! Anything less feels easy if we aim for the impossible!”

Lyric: “…She’s crazy.”

Eillia smiles softly.

Eillia: “…But somehow, I feel calmer.”

Mizuki: “Alright! After we are done eating, let’s pack up and head to Resonara immediately! We have no time to waste!”

Mizuki points forward and declared, while the other 3 smiled and nodded in approval.

***

They finally arrived at the magnificent city of Resonara after a long walk.

Mizuki's mouth fell open.

The city spread out before them like a living painting, with streets filled with people of all races, and their voices blended into a vibrant chorus. A faint echo of instruments drifted from the distant towering amphitheaters, their marble arches shining in the sunlight.

The main avenue was packed with vibrant booths brimming with handcrafted charms and glittering trinkets. A group of kids cheered as a bard played a lute by a fountain. The air smelled of sweet pastries and roasted meat.

Mizuki: “Whoa… This place is like Akihabara, but music instead of anime merch!”

Frida chuckled.

Frida: “Leave it to Mizuki to make a strange comparison none of us can understand.”

Eillia smiled faintly, her gaze softening.

Eillia: “This city has always been the heart of music in Aria. Once in a while, Resonara hosts the MLC, and it feels like the whole world gathers here.”

Despite being in human form, Lyric's tail flicked behind her as she nervously tugged at her sleeve.

Lyric: “I…I didn’t think there would be that many people…”

Seeing a random human man walk past near them, Lyric panicked and frantically ducked behind Mizuki.

Mizuki laughed, giving her a pat on the shoulder.

Mizuki: “Relax. We’re here to play music, not get eaten alive.”

The group eventually arrived at a wide building that looked like a guild hall and a large concert hall after navigating through the busy streets. A sign that said the following was carved into the stone above its doors:

“Melodia Registration Hall – MLC Applications Open!”

The doors were lined with hopeful musicians, some carrying instruments, others pushing whole carts of equipment. The walls were covered with posters of well-known previous winners in dramatic, victorious poses.

Mizuki: “So this is it, huh? The starting line of our legend.”

Eillia: “Yes. Once we sign our names here, Eclipsera officially enters the stage.”

Eillia said calmly, but with pride in her eyes.

Lyric: “Uh... I feel sick all of a sudden. Is it legally binding to sign? Like…no retreating?”

Mizuki grinned.

Mizuki: “Too late for second thoughts, Lyric. If we back out now, I’ll drag you on stage myself.”

They all started laughing and overcame their nervousness as they moved forward in line.

***

After the registration process was finished, the four of them were back outside with a stamped piece of parchment bearing the MLC's crest.

Eillia: “We’re officially contestants. The first round begins in a week.”

Mizuki stretched her arms behind her head.

Mizuki: “Sweet! That gives us time to explore. C’mon, this city’s basically begging us to check it out!”

In agreement, the others decided to split up and go exploring for a while.

Dazzled by the sights, Mizuki wandered down the packed street, her gaze darting from stall to stall. Then her steps froze as she turned a corner.

A girl with flowing golden hair and a guitar case slung over her back stood idly among the crowd just ahead.

Mizuki felt her heart skip a beat, and she muttered under her breath.

Mizuki: “...Stupid Goddess?”