When the sun rays sing

Promise?

Apricus was not a small kingdom, horses trotted, children played and birds soared. The kingdom was filled with happiness and warmth which was all they ever needed, after all it was the kingdom of sunshine. Huang Renjun was one of the many residents of the sunshine region, he lived with his mother who was a palace seamstress.
They resided in a modest house in a village located on the edges of the kingdom. It took an hour cart ride to get to the main town where markets bustled with an effervescent radiance. Renjun and his mother would take a trip to town whenever they needed food or sewing supplies, but would end up buying a sneaky pastry or two.

One thing to know about Renjun is that he loved music, especially the piano, whenever he wasn't helping his mother with her job or chores he was playing the piano. It wasn't anything fancy, just a standard piano which Renjun's father had left behind when he moved to the neighboring kingdom Florens, the blooming region; to pursue a job as one of the king's knights. He was a sensitive topic in the Huang household so he was rarely ever spoken of, yet they still ate his favourite dinner on his birthday every year.

Renjun had been diligently practicing the piano since he was around the age of 5, it was his one true passion, one of the only things that brought him genuine happiness. So when he heard the palace was looking for a new piano player for the court he immediately jumped at the opportunity. The only thing he had to do was audition at the palace on Friday which was 2 days from now and he had no idea which song he was going to play, so he went to his mother for advice.

Walking down the hallway to his mothers sewing room he sees her light still on progressing to knock on her door. He knocks softly “Yes darling?” He opens the door slowly to see her with a dress laid across her lap. “I need a song to play for the audition but I can't seem to pick one and the audition is in 2 days”, he hears his mother hum in thought “Well darling is there any song in particular that speaks to your heart?”. Well yes, yes there is… there was only one song that could speak to Renjuns heart in a way no one could possibly understand. “...Yes, yes I do” he responds just above a whisper “And what might that be love?” his mother asks with doting eyes lined with a hint of curiosity. “The song father wrote for you on your wedding day” his mother goes quiet you can tell she wasn't expecting that answer “Oh, well id be happy to lend you the sheet music if you'd like… you just have to promise me one thing” he nods slowly, “Promise me you will take treat this piece of music like a piece of fine china, you must play this piece with your entire soul pouring out every ounce of love you have onto the keys of the piano”.

Renjun stands there a little shaken but nods, “That is the only way you can play this piece Renjun, that is only way it will have true meaning, if you give it meaning”, she cocks her head to side and smile softly “Can you promise me that darling” she asks reaching into her drawers and pulling out the music, “Yes I promise you” she smiles wider and hands over the music “Well I trust you will do great darling, now go practice if you want the pass that audition” she adds with a chuckle “Of course, Love you” he says as he exited the room.

He made his way back to his bedroom overjoyed that he had finally found the right piece of music, slipping onto the seat of his piano he let his nimble finger run across the pearl like keys breathing deeply. “I must do this right, I promised her”.

__________

The day had finally come, the day of the audition. Renjun had been practicing his piece non stop, trying his best to evoke as much emotion as he could. Now he was on the cart making his way to the palace, he had on his best shirt and pants which he’d ironed earlier to make sure he not only looked but felt his best. As soon as he made it to the palace front a few nasty looks were thrown his way but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. Holding his head high with his shoulders pushed back he waltzed over to the front gates where many pianists from all over Apricus were lined with their music, majority of them were in polished clothes, some in suits. He looks down at his outfit, a plain white long sleeve dress shirt tucked into his only pair of nice dress pants coloured a deep brown, paired with his brown formal shoes he thought his outfit wasn't too bad earlier now Renjun was questioning if he was even supposed to be here.