章 10: Chapter 10 - All Wrapped Up and Ready to Go
Talon and Alice then spent some time researching suitable songs to sing at weddings on YouTube and Google. They chose songs with a level of vocal difficulty that was not too challenging for Talon, as his vocal range was not too wide. Otherwise, it could ruin his performance. They also wanted to find enjoyable song themes that would be popular with everyone.
"This is quite an old song," Alice said, showing him the song. "It's called 'You're Perfect' and it was released fifteen to sixteen years ago. Have you heard of it?"
"Yes," Talon replied quietly.
The song titled 'You're Perfect' is an incredibly popular choice for wedding celebrations, not least because of its romantic lyrics and melody. Its simple yet repetitive chord progression ensures that many will recognize and enjoy it, creating a beautiful and memorable atmosphere at the wedding party.
Talon was considering making some changes to the vocal part of the song. He wanted to add a guitar part to the opening so that it would have a more dominating guitar presence. He was also planning to invite the audience to sing the song in the middle so that he could minimize his overall singing time.
He then immediately began playing his guitar, attempting to make the smallest modifications possible that could still have a visible impact. After he was satisfied with the changes, he tried singing the song and glanced over at Alice, who gave two thumbs up.
"That's decent," she remarked.
Talon nodded and restarted the piece. This time, Alice recorded the entire performance and was quite pleased with the results.
"I think the vocal part could be improved, but your guitar playing more than makes up for it. I'll send this recording to the bride, and I'm sure she'll be pleased," she added.
Alice continued, her voice filled with curiosity. "You said you don't usually sing due to a lack of confidence in your voice, even though I think it's better than mine. But, when you get this kind of opportunity, an audience this big, you suddenly feel more confident. Where does that confidence come from?"
Talon paused, considering his response. Of course, he wouldn't be able to tell her the real reason for his optimism.
"I just want to perform in front of as many people as possible. I want to play music, sing, and be accepted by them," he finally said.
Alice nodded slowly. "That's great…I hope we get some feedback soon."
After several minutes of waiting, the answer they had been eagerly anticipating finally arrived. Alice beamed with enthusiasm as she showed him the message she had received.
"Look, she is really satisfied with your guitar playing and singing, and she has requested you to perform at her wedding. And since Maya will be the main performer later, you will perform before her." She explained.
"Yes, I can't wait for that time." He answered slowly, his heart filled with excitement as the news sunk in. It was evident that he was overwhelmed with enthusiasm. Even his heart was racing with anticipation.
***
At last, the day Talon had been eagerly awaiting had arrived. He had chosen his attire carefully - a blue shirt with white trim and black jeans - and Alice had made a similarly impressive sartorial choice with her blue dress. As they saw the guests beginning to arrive, Alice took his arm, and they made their way in.
Talon glanced briefly at Alice's hand wrapped around his arm and then remained silent.
"What's with that look?" she said to Talon.
"No, sorry, Alice," he replied.
Alice chuckled in response. "Don't be too confident because I took your hand. I did only because others did the same thing."
"No, I wasn't," he answered casually.
Talon walked confidently, exhibiting a tall and toned physique that belied the fact that only a week ago, he had been busking on the streets. Even Alice's extraordinary beauty that night only further emphasized the allure of the two of them.
"Are you enchanted by my beauty?" Alice asked, her voice tinged with amusement.
"You are truly beautiful. That is beyond doubt." Talon answered quietly.
Alice gave him a suspicious glance. "You seem to know how to use the right words. Is this genuine, or are you being sarcastic?"
"How would you like me to respond? I meant it sincerely," he replied.
"Now, you're getting bold and flirting with me? Just remember that you haven't paid me rent for the apartment yet," she said.
"I will settle the payment immediately after this event." Talon continued.
Alice then spotted Maya in the distance, along with her boyfriend and another friend, yet they didn't appear to make an effort to come closer and confront her.
"That's Maya," she said, "and her boyfriend."
Talon nodded slowly. "So, her boyfriend has made a full recovery and has been discharged from the hospital," he commented.
"Do we need to talk to them?" Talon continued.
"No, that's not important," she answered. "Just let them be."
Talon heard from Alice that Maya's boyfriend was aware that she was performing at the bar with Talon and that there had been an altercation between them stemming from the boyfriend's jealousy.
Talon simply smiled faintly, realizing that even though he had no malicious intentions, he couldn't be responsible for how others reacted to his presence.
The wedding party was held in an extravagant building, with hundreds of guests in attendance. Talon felt as though this was the moment he had been waiting for, and, in a setting like this, it would be effortless for him to get five hundred people to listen to his performance at the same time. There was no better opportunity than this.
After confirming the schedule, Talon got ready without delay. When the master of ceremonies opened the event and asked Talon to come up, he swiftly went up to the stage with his guitar, a look of composure plastered on his face.
"Who brought him to perform at this party too?" Maya's boyfriend asked with an annoyed expression.
"I don't know," Maya answered slowly, "but I guess the bride must have known him from when we both performed in the bar and invited him too."
"I think he is too confident in taking this opportunity," he continued, his voice filled with disapproval. "He will sing and play guitar at the same time, right? Where does he get his self-confidence from?"
Nodding slowly, Maya replied, "Yes, I didn't know he could sing either."
Her boyfriend looked at Talon with an exasperated expression, clenching his fists. "His greediness as a busker really shows in the way he makes decisions," he said, shaking his head. "He is so shameless."
But Maya was still curious about what made Talon so confident in taking this opportunity, especially since Alice had said that Talon was not good at singing.
The bride had a beaming smile when Talon began to ascend the stage, and she addressed the groom.
"He's the guitarist I told you about. His guitar playing is good, but I had no idea he could actually sing too!"
The groom asked, "Are you certain we should give him this opportunity? You said his singing wasn't extraordinary, is that correct?"
The bride nodded with assurance. "Yes, I did say that, but he can make music with such emotion, and I'm sure he can put on a performance that, while it may not be perfect, will be incredibly memorable for us and everyone present."
The groom concluded, "Let's see what he can do, then."
The guests who had come didn't seem to be particularly interested in the on-stage proceedings; Talon's presence had failed to capture their attention. Seeing as they were unfamiliar with him and his performance was unlikely to provide them with any form of amusement, they simply continued with their conversations and ignored what was happening on-stage.
Greeting the guests assembled, Talon said, "Ladies and gentlemen, may I please have your undivided attention for a moment?"
Continuing, Talon said, "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two souls, and in the midst of this joyous occasion, I could not resist expressing something from my heart."
"If it is alright with you, I would love to take you on a journey through a song that has been tugging at my heartstrings. I thought, why not share it with all of you? So, I invite you to join me in listening to 'You're Perfect.' I believe this song will bring an extra dose of joy to this wonderful celebration and to the bride and groom. Without further ado, let's enjoy this musical experience!"
Talon's skilled fingers moved gracefully over the strings of his guitar, producing a magical sound that filled the room with its warmth and resonance. The guests who had previously been disinterested in the on-stage proceedings were now drawn to the sight of Talon and his captivating performance. The stage was lit up with colorful lights, highlighting the stage's stunning backdrop adorned with flowers and decorations.
[Number of Audiences: 380/500]
His tempo increased gradually as if he had intended to linger on the opening guitar part.
[Number of Audiences: 437/500]
Those who had been chatting and enjoying themselves were now drawn in, captivated by the music.
[Number of Audiences: 472/500]
Talon could see that the people around him were gradually becoming more enthralled with his guitar playing, and they were captivated and immersed in his music. He was about to transition into singing when, suddenly, something unexpected appeared before him.
[Number of Audiences: 532/500]
[Congrats! You've just accomplished the quest and earned a well-deserved reward for your hard work.]
[You've been granted one additional skill - Creative Skills - Song Writing, level 8. Plus, you also earned ten skill points!]
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