Robin lowered her gaze slightly, a gentle smile blooming on her lips, and replied softly:
"Senior, you flatter me. There is still much I need to learn when compared to you."
Just then, a slightly bolder child, perhaps six or seven years old, timidly tugged at Robin's sleeve, looked up, pointed at Bai Luan, and asked curiously:
"Big Sister Robin, who is this Big Brother?"
Hearing this, Robin smiled, patted the child's head, turned her gaze to Bai Luan, and introduced him to the children in a gentle tone:
"He is a Songblight, and a senior on the path of music, just like your sister.
He is a singer... who is even more formidable than your sister."
Robin's words made Bai Luan break out in a cold sweat. What do you mean, 'a singer more formidable than you'? I'm not, I didn't, and I never said that.
I only practice desperately in the Little Black Room so that I can do justice to the effort the original composer put into creating this song.
To put it bluntly, I am just a porter and trainee who relies on the time difference in the Little Black Room and the valuable legacy left by the original composer to practice desperately and strive for faithful rendition.
Compared to a singer who possesses the power of Harmony, I certainly don't measure up, let alone be called 'strong'!
But since Robin had told the children this, it was impossible for him to open his mouth and explain right now.
Hmm... Now I can only hope this child doesn't follow up with a request like, "Then Big Brother, please sing a little something for us"... Bai Luan hadn't even finished his silent prayer when he heard the child speak.
"More formidable than Big Sister Robin!?"
The child looked at Bai Luan in disbelief.
His gaze towards Bai Luan instantly filled with astonishment and scrutiny.
If anyone else had said this, he definitely wouldn't have believed it, and might even have loudly refuted them to defend Big Sister Robin, the best in his heart.
But since these words came directly from Big Sister Robin herself... it must be true!
Thus, the astonishment in the child's eyes quickly turned into pure anticipation. He looked eagerly at Bai Luan and requested in a clear voice:
"Big Brother! Could... could you sing a little bit for us? Just a small part!"
"..."
He silently looked at the child who had spoken first, then glanced around at the small faces filled with expectation, and finally cast his gaze upon the instigator—Robin.
He saw the songstress standing there elegantly, her hands gently folded in front of her, a serene smile on her face, yet her eyes were also sparkling with unconcealed anticipation.
Seriously... Robin, why do you look so expectant too... Bai Luan muttered a complaint.
Ark, I need your help. Can you simulate some of the power of Harmony?
Soon, Ark replied.
It said no problem.
As expected of you, Ark.
Always so reliable.
At the same time, to prevent Ark's existence from being exposed prematurely...
『Therefore, I made my move』
Hmm, the System is also beginning to understand human nature.
『Can your double standards be any more obvious!?
Ark is reliable, but when it comes to me, I'm just beginning to understand human nature!?
You're not even pretending!?』
System, don't you understand?
You are special.
『Heh, growing up, are we? Learning how to talk?』
You are a lunatic just like me, so of course what I say to you cannot be the same as what I say to Ark.
『...
Are you trying to bond with me over our shared stay in a mental hospital?
Wait! That's wrong!
You almost dragged me down with you!
You can keep the crazy title for yourself!』
Seeing that the System had reacted and hadn't been tricked by his logic, Bai Luan couldn't help but feel a little regretful.
Alright, since all the problems have been solved, there is only one thing left to do now!
Little Black Room!
Activate!!!
A moment later,
Bai Luan emerged from the Little Black Room.
This meant that the song had at least received the approval of Herta within the Little Black Room.
"In that case, I shall sing a short song."
As he spoke, Bai Luan conjured a wooden guitar in his hands as if by magic, eliciting a low, astonished, and excited chorus of "wows" from the children.
Then, Bai Luan casually found a spot to sit down and tuned the wooden guitar in his hands.
Robin's gentle humming just now reminded him of a song.
Time Machine.
The song's tone was gentle and soothing, carrying a faint sense of nostalgia and hope, perfectly complementing the tranquil atmosphere Robin had just created.
It was also suitable to sing to the children in such a quiet setting.
The song's style is very gentle and soothing, making it perfect to sing to children as a bedtime lullaby.
Although the lyrics contained a hint of sadness and melancholy, the children hadn't had enough experience to resonate with them.
So, listen closely, children.
Bai Luan's slender fingers plucked the strings, and a soothing, slightly nostalgic guitar prelude gently began.
Staring at stars, watching the moon~
Hoping that one day they lead me to you~
The soft guitar sound played, accompanied by Bai Luan's soothing humming.
At this moment, the power of Harmony simulated by Ark began to take effect, causing everyone who heard the song to recall comfortable scenes matching the song's atmosphere.
It was like lying in bed, looking at one's mother by the bedside, and listening to her softly sing a lullaby to coax one to sleep. An ineffable sense of security filled the listeners' hearts, making them unconsciously focus on enjoying the song.
Wait every night, cause if a Star falls~
I'll wish to go back to the times that I loved~
The lyrics Bai Luan had just sung caused Robin's lips to curve up slightly, unconsciously.
The children might not resonate with the lyrics, but Robin could.
Although she was young, she had experienced family upheaval, a change in identity, the pursuit of dreams, and the weight of responsibility.
However, the lyrics first evoked not grand narratives, but an extremely small, yet incredibly clear fragment of memory.
It was a conversation one night, with her older brother singing a lullaby beside her.
During that brief, warm moment, she had also asked her brother if shooting stars could truly grant wishes.
Brother... is he doing well?
Bai Luan's singing continued:
Why do the stars shine so bright in the sky~
If most of the people are sleeping at night?~
Why do we only have one chance at life?~
I wish I could go back in time~
As if to give Robin more time to recall the memories awakened by the lyrics, Bai Luan began to hum softly, just as Robin had done earlier.
The humming melody carried the previous emotion but was more ethereal and soothing, as if leaving the listener a corridor of their own memories.
Within Bai Luan's song, it seemed even her memories sang out loudly along with it.
Sometimes, it was as if she were deaf, completely unable to hear his singing; only her memories were singing loudly.
She recalled many, many things... those beautiful memories she had treasured, even though they hadn't realized how precious that moment was at the time.
Soon, Bai Luan's gentle humming faded, and he sang again:
Each time I fall asleep~
I always see you there in my dreams~
It's like going back in a time machine~
I know when I wake up, your time with me will end~
So don't let me fall asleep~
I don't wanna meet you there in my dreams~
Hearing this, a trace of sorrow inevitably colored Robin's eyes.
The person in the lyrics could only meet the one he cared about in dreams; wasn't she facing a similar situation?
The Harmony Grand Ceremony ended early due to unforeseen circumstances, Penacony was in chaos, and she didn't know if she would ever see her brother again... There were too many things to deal with... The future was uncertain,
and possibly sad.
While Robin was feeling sentimental, the first rendition of the song ended, and Bai Luan started humming again.
Amidst that gentle humming, the emotion in Robin's eyes shifted once more.
The future,
might hold many, many challenges she needed to face, and this time, her brother wasn't by her side.
But... she was never a weak person.
She wasn't afraid of them.
When Bai Luan began singing again, Robin also opened her mouth, adding Harmony to Bai Luan's voice.
Having heard it once, Robin already knew how the song should be sung.
The moment she started singing, Bai Luan turned his head in slight surprise to look at her. Robin simply offered him a gentle smile full of inner strength, a smile that seemed to say:
"Senior, let's finish singing it together."
Bai Luan understood instantly and returned an equally warm and knowing smile.
He wholeheartedly sang in Harmony with Robin, providing a perfect conclusion to the song:
I know when I wake up, your time with me will end~
So don't let me fall asleep~
I don't wanna meet you there in my dreams~
I know that we'll never build a time machine~
It's time for me to try and wake up again~
I fall asleep~
But honestly~
I wanna see you in my dreams~
I'm trying to wake up again~
The final few guitar notes were gently plucked from Bai Luan's fingertips, the lingering sound winding softly, like the last starlight quietly fading into the dawn, slowly dissipating in the tranquil air of Dreamflux Reef.
The song ended.
Whether children or adults, everyone was still immersed in the mood of the song at the moment it concluded.
Robin took a deep breath. This song had touched her in many ways.
The final line of the lyrics.
It reminded her of something she had once said to her brother:
"Brother, the dream must end."
Truly... a wonderful song.
Robin looked at Bai Luan and asked:
"Senior... what is the name of this song?"
Bai Luan put away the wooden guitar in his hands.
"It's a song I wanted you to sing, 'Time Machine'."
(Credit - mj apanay) (feat. aren park)