The Goddess's Decree: Modifying the Silveri

In the end, it was decided that the Silveri would undergo some modifications, as the goddess had proclaimed. I carefully examined the Silveri that Stella had brought. The instrument itself showed clear signs of meticulous craftsmanship. It wasn't quite on the level of Lady Selenie's Silveri, but it was still top-quality. However, there were several differences from the cellos I knew. If I had to pinpoint it, the Silveri resembled a Baroque cello more than a modern one.

"May I take a closer look myself for a moment?"

"Ah, yes."

I took the Silveri from the saintess and inspected it more closely. The biggest difference from a modern cello was the lack of an endpin. The endpin attaches to the bottom of the cello to anchor it to the floor. Without it, the Silveri is played wedged between the legs.

"It's not as uncomfortable as it looks on the surface, but..."

Still, having an endpin versus not having one makes a huge difference. You can play faster and more delicately without tensing your legs. It's also easier to use wide up-and-down hand motions. I explained this to Stella as well.

"Right here. We'll install an endpin at the bottom. That way, you can play without any wobbling, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and depending on the material of the endpin, we can even alter the tone color."

"That's a great idea!"

The concept of an endpin wasn't too complex, so Stella quickly understood and nodded. Monica nodded along from the side.

"And we'll also change the string material. The current strings feel a bit rough and textured to me."

If I switched them to the metal strings I had in mind, they'd produce a clearer, straighter sound. This would be trickier than the endpin. We'd need to draw uniform metal strings. But this world had plenty of skilled metalworkers, so it should be fine. After examining the Silveri a bit more, I looked at Stella.

"I think just these changes will make a sufficient difference."

To make it closer to a modern cello, we'd also need to adjust the string height and bow shape, but that would require too much work. For now, swapping the endpin and strings would create enough of a contrast.

"Sounds good! So, shall we start working on it right away?"

"Ah, for today, let's start by listening ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to the piece. You'll need time to get familiar with it."

"Got it."

I'd planned today as an introduction to the piece anyway. Monica and I had prepared accordingly.

"Then, let's play it right away."

I glanced at Monica and slowly raised my violin into position. She placed her hands on the piano keys. Her expression had turned serious, making her earlier tension seem like nothing. With the bow resting on the strings, I said to Stella,

"The piece I'll play for you now is Spring from the Four Seasons, the first movement."

I gave Monica a nod, and in that instant—

Da-da-dan—dan—dan!

The bright, vibrant melody that anyone on Earth would recognize spread out vividly. It was like the earth awakening from its long winter sleep, stretching languidly. Pulsing life filled the space before our eyes. At the same time, my bow glided effortlessly over the strings, drawing out bird-like trills.

After that exuberant spring piece concluded,

"Next, the finale of Summer."

The peaceful air chilled in an instant. Monica's piano began growling low and heavy, and I pressed the bow hard against the strings.

Shwaaaak!

As the pre-storm tension filled the room, I unleashed a frenzy of bow strokes. Summer, third movement. Presto. The part violinists on Earth always pulled out to show off their technique. The passionate violin poured down like a sudden downpour. It felt like lightning strikes and hail. A complete 180 from the earlier Spring, the melody brimmed with nature's overwhelming majesty and terror. My hands moved faster and faster, the violin shrieking piercing high notes.

Skipping from Spring's first to Summer's third amplified the impact even more.

"Huuu."

After finishing Summer's third movement, I caught my breath and spoke.

"Next, I'll play Autumn and Winter."

The goal was just to convey the overall atmosphere, so I selected one movement each from Autumn and Winter. Even so, a fair amount of time passed. By the time we finished, sweat dripped down our foreheads—Monica's and mine.

We weren't on a stage, but we'd poured everything into it regardless. This was the Armonia Church, after all, and its saintess stood before us.

"Th-that was incredible."

As the performance ended, tears streamed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠down Stella's cheeks.

Incredible. That was the first thought in Stella's mind when the performance ended. Normally, she'd have rattled off a flowery critique laced with ornate praise upon hearing a new piece. The church had drilled that into her during training. But after Arden and Monica finished,

Stella couldn't muster any elaborate words.

"A piece this... this beautiful. It's just..."

She could only repeat that it was incredible. The performance had been that shocking.

But that passed quickly. Once her mind cleared, Stella took a deep breath and said,

"It's as if the very essence of the seasons' cycle is woven into the melody."

Stella had seen it. The spring meadows bursting with new life. Summer's storm devouring everything. Autumn's world dyed yellow and red. Winter slumbering in wait for spring.

When the instruments sang of spring, she smelled flowers at the tip of her nose. Summer placed her in the storm's heart, making her tremble. Autumn brought scents of abundance, drawing a natural smile. Winter's biting cold froze even her heart.

It was that vivid. Illusions so clear and beautiful passed through her one by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one. When it ended, she'd sighed in regret.

"How did you compose this piece...? I can't even imagine how you captured the seasons so exquisitely in melody."

Arden smiled in response. It was a forced smile, but Stella couldn't tell.

"I just transcribed the flow of the seasons onto sheet music."

The explanation was short and simple. It had to be—Arden hadn't actually composed it. But Stella, unaware, just nodded in admiration.

Her eyes sparkled as she said,

"I'm truly honored to perform this with you."

"No, the honor is mine."

"No!"

After a brief exchange of humble deflections, they realized it could go on forever and moved on.

"So, how should we practice today?"

"Hm. Let's first outline the general progression. Full practice can wait until after the endpin modification."

The endpin wasn't just a stand. Its presence would change everything from technique to posture. So instead of serious practice, Arden discussed the rough stage flow in detail.

Arden, Monica, and Stella talked for nearly three hours before wrapping up that day's session.

"You've worked hard."

"No, it was no work at all. It was a delightful time. Thank you both so much."

Stella smiled as she said this to Arden and Monica. The two soon boarded their carriage and left. After seeing them off, Stella headed to the deepest part of the temple—the prayer room reserved solely for her as saintess.

"Lord Armonia. Your faithful servant offers prayer."

She closed the door, knelt before the small statue of the goddess, and recounted the day's events without omission. It was her daily routine; she expected no special response.

But as she neared the end,

Paaat—!

Bright light poured down from the ceiling. Stella's eyes widened as she looked up.

And then she heard the voice.

In simple terms, it meant to record them and play them during prayers. And not to worry—she'd receive the highest-grade recording tool.

"Yes! I shall obey!"

Stella bowed her head in acknowledgment.