Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 231 - 218 Sadness, Sorrow, Peace (Editor’s task that’s all: 4/6)

Requiem of Mourning, where all the performers inject the power of their souls into their singing, allows the audience to be immersed in the impact of the Voice of the Soul, is a very high-level music performance. Because the pure Voice of the Soul is extremely impactful, it is also praised by the chaotic side as the highest grade and most effective Specter Transformation Ritual, the latter being just a side effect of this auditory feast. Many famous musicians are very willing to participate in such a soulful festival, turning into ghosts with music as their souls while enjoying the process. This alone speaks volumes about Alianna’s musical achievements.

"Lyle, such a concert might be too... intense for you," Alianna said, not meaning to dislike his ghostly transformation, but feeling he should appreciate life’s value more.

Seeing Alianna worry and awkwardly trying to soothe him, Lyle felt a warmth in his heart. He grabbed her phalanges, perhaps calming these jittery little bones would soothe her too. "Alianna, actually, I want to learn Soul Scream, and I’ve been told that you could show me how."

"Soul Scream, indeed, the Requiem of Mourning can easily achieve that, incidentally turning you into a real specter. If you want to study Soulology, Lyle, there’s no need for that trouble. Helena is a master at manipulating souls, and she could easily fulfill your wish, much more safely."

Lyle shook his head, but then Medusa would be at risk, he always felt that woman Helena was hiding something. Her thoughts were deeper, and she wasn’t an easy person to deal with.

"Can’t I safely attend the Requiem of Mourning, Alianna?"

"It’s best not to, Lyle, you should avoid even a scratch."

"Sister, Lyle could use the backstage," Beatrice suggested her own idea, "Doesn’t the opera house’s backstage have a tranquility effect? The tranquility effect could diminish the power of the concert, causing at worst a slight headache for Lyle. Perhaps the weakened Requiem of Mourning could just be what he needs to learn Soul Scream. Moreover, sister, you too wish Lyle to stay with you until the performance ends, don’t you?" Beatrice suggested with a smile on her face, purely wishing to see Lyle in discomfort.

"May I use the backstage, Anna?" This seemed like his chance.

Alianna looked at Lyle in front of her and eventually agreed.

"Yes, Lyle, I will discuss it with Mr. Moles to let him lend the backstage to you, where you can listen to the Requiem of Mourning from behind the scenes."

"Us? Sister?" Beatrice seemed to catch something.

"Yes, Beatrice, since this was your idea, I think it’s best if you are there as well. Not just for Lyle, I would also like my sister to be with me until the Requiem of Mourning ends." Alianna’s tone was firm as if stating a fact about to happen, she turned to look at Lyle. "Take care of yourself, Lyle, vampires have much sharper senses, and when Benny can’t stand the singing anymore, I want you to leave with her."

Alianna called a specter to take Lyle and Beatrice to a backstage area, at the edge of the stands, separated from the center by only a curtain. As most of the performers of the Requiem of Mourning were incorporeal specters, there was no issue with blocking the way, and for a long time after, Beatrice stood arms crossed, puffing with anger, eyes glaring at Lyle.

Waiting was always torturous, and Lyle would occasionally lift a corner of the curtain to look out at the audience. When the seats were all taken and the cheers lasted for thirty minutes, the lights went out, focusing on the stage.

The performance of the Requiem of Mourning was divided into three parts: the sorrowful singing at the beginning, the painful singing at the climax, and the peaceful singing in the end.

The initial sorrowful music began with a solo by a specter, her voice melodious, echoing the sound of raindrops hitting the ground. Soon, this sound became heavy and grand with the addition of chorus voices. As the mood grew somber, every audience member fell silent, living beings closed their eyes tight, the soul flames of the Liches dimmed.

Just like a corpse, freshly sealed in its coffin, in the rain. He was carried by the flowing waters to memories where time stood still, accompanied by sorrow.

Every soul began slowly sinking, like ice congealing. Within the deep graves, they could only rust and rot slowly inside their coffins. All sounds ceased, just like the ending of a dead man’s time.

At the end of sorrow, pain started to breed, like flames scorching within the heart. Alianna began to sing aloud, everyone’s bodies started trembling, their souls longing to break free, to unleash their voices unrestrained. Death is not the end; life’s final moments should not be the day of the soul’s demise. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

In agony, they howled, in shock, they burned. Alianna’s appearance, accompanied by her high notes, drew all gazes to her; she was the flame, and we, the moths.

Quivering, on every muscle of Lyle’s body, blood boiled, flesh twitched, Nia emerged from Lyle’s body, taking control over it. But Nia’s condition was not good either. Her tentacles stuffed in her outer ears, she could feel the trembling of her tendrils; she was, like Lyle and all the audience, enduring the trembling of the soul.

While Lyle’s consciousness was still somewhat clear, he still had the strength to wonder if the silence had failed.

Then, what he saw before him was a human in the audience seats—exploding.

His skin fissured, blood and flesh scattered into the air like fireworks. Soon there was nothing left but his trembling skeleton, soul-flames ignited in its eye sockets.

He had become a Lich.

Alianna’s singing rose to another level, all the Liches started vibrating, their teeth began to rattle, their bones at war with each other.

Click-clack, click-clack.

Lyle could not hear the sound of bones falling apart, but he could imagine the scene of the Liches crumbling to pieces. Their bones disassembled, becoming piles of bone seated in the chairs. But the soul flames burned even more fiercely in the air.

White smoke took shape upon them, tracing humanoid outlines along the soul flames, now thinner and spreading to every corner of the smoky figures. It became transparent, ethereal.

They had become Specters.

In Alianna’s singing, all the Specters together sung the song of the soul.

Alianna’s singing part ended, she retreated backstage, leaving the stage to the Specters, and came over to Lyle to check on him. After finding that there was no immediate worry for him, Alianna breathed a sigh of relief, relying on the limp Lyle, listening quietly to the final serene performance.

The serene performance was a grand chorus, with singers and present Specters alike; they formed a soul vortex spiraling mid-air, singing praises to the tranquility beyond death.