The Creed's Emergence

Chapter Four: Ripples and Thorn

Anika woke up to pitch black darkness once again. No sunlight, nothing. Having to adjust to the constant night would be exhausting. But things were different. Anika had to adapt one way or another. She got out of bed and tip-toed towards the door. There was distinct chatter outside of the room, and as she opened the door, she only saw a small group of Esoterics and a few men in brown robes chatting. They were across from the hallway and didn't pay attention to Anika. They acted as if she was one of them.
Anika snuck by and began strolling down the hallway towards the Throne Room again. The halls were full of people, more than it had been previously. She weaved through the groups of people, hoping to get to the Throne Room before it was full. She assumed it was morning, as she noticed many people sauntered and stumbled out of their rooms with sleepy looks on their faces. Some were still putting on their shoes or putting on helmets. One man was even trying to fix his sword belt as he ran off to guard someone. It would be a busy day it seemed. However, it was perfect for Anika to play the piano. There would be plenty of people to hear her music. Just like when she was back at home where she would always play with her windows open. People walking by would hear the warm sound of the piano drifting out of the window.
She gazed at people lighting the chandeliers and candelabrums with tiny matches. The candles let off a lovely warm orange glow. It illuminated the hallway, the light reaching every dark nook and cranny. Shadows were casted onto the walls as people wandered the halls. It looked like something that had come from a movie. Instead of women in sparkling ball gowns, it was people in dark robes. It was as if they were heading to a fancy ball held by the king and queen of the kingdom. Of course, it couldn't be a fancy ball without a handsome prince. A prince that all ladies would come to try and impress. Anika still wondered to herself if she would ever meet a prince, or someone similar. Moon and Crow seemed far too old for her. Of course, they were only about three years older than she was.
Anika picked up the pace, now strolling faster. She arrived at the Throne Room quicker than she would have if she hadn't been shown where it was. Once she was at the doors, she could see just how crowded it was. People were everywhere, whether it be regular civilians, or high-ranking members. The civilians weren't here before. But they were watching members duel or play chess. Everyone was interacting in peace. There was no conflict, no drama. No one spoke loudly or harshly. When someone was defeated, they and the victor exchanged tips and congratulations. No one fought because they believe that they should have won. While back home, if a politician lost an election, he and his followers would go wild. She recalled one politician that lost an election, and his followers raided the Capitol of the city. It was a mess. Thankfully most of them were arrested, some never to be seen again. However, all of them were gone now. Blown away by the bomb.
Anika looked up towards the balconies above. No one was there. She dashed over and up the winding grand staircase, heading towards the dusty piano on the balcony. She slowed down, waltzing around the abandoned instrument. She brushed off the dust from its shimmering black surface. Then, she gingerly dusted off the velvet stool which was tucked close to the piano. She sat down and brushed her fingers against the white ivory keys, listening to the soft sound they made when she lightly pressed down on them. After getting a feel of the piano, she played a simple scale to make sure it was tuned. To her surprise, it was tuned. Someone had to have played the instrument before, as pianos had to be tuned at least once a year. She smiled and cracked her knuckles, mentally picturing the musical sheets she had memorized. She could see the notes to Ave Maria in her mind as clear as day. Without a second though she began to play.
People looked up as they heard the music reverberate around the Throne Room. They wondered where it was coming from, and their voices hushed down to mere whispers. They peered up towards the balconies, seeing Anika sway her body to the music. Many were moved, some could only stare with eyes glittering with tears.
Anika poured emotion into the piece, playing more intense as she reached climaxes within the song, then softening the tone as it became quiet. She focused on her mind, making sure that every single note was played with such delicacy. She could not miss a single note, not even the most minor of notes. She wouldn't skip a beat, if she skipped over one thing the entire song would lose its meaning. A song without meaning wouldn't be a song at all. It would be nothing but a mix of lost notes and tempos.
However, behind her, the air began to ripple. There was a slight disembodied hum, then silence. The air was normal again. Yet Anika hadn't noticed. She continued on, playing her piece until the very end. Once she had reached the final note, she pressed down on the keys, letting the sound thunder and echo. Slowly, she retracted her fingers. Down below, she heard the sound of clapping slowly rise. A wave of relief and joy overcame Anika, having realized that she had played the piece well. She let out a sigh and stood up. She turned around, now wanting to show her face to the people down below. Before she could take a step forward, she saw the air ripple again. It was near a candelabrum now. The candles were blown out by an invisible force.