Valeriana could only stand with her mouth agape like a fish out of the water, her eyes bulging out of their sockets. The Twelve was not different, their stupefaction incontestable.

Aneeka's smugness was like a splash of red on white, tugging on the corners of her lips with her arms crossed and her hips cocked.

As though the items were uncovered treasures from the deep, blue sea, Valeriana came forward excitedly and ran her fingers over the smooth edges, sterling silver accentuating the obsidian black with a matte finish.

"How did you get this?" She asked, her amazement coating her words. "Like, seriously, how? And in just a span of . . . a day?"

"Well, let's just say I'm great and it's a secret." Replied the tenth-ranker. "These instruments are made with synthetic metal, meaning the sounds they produce have outstanding reverberation!"

"What about the sound system I was talking about?"

"That's just it." Aneeka said. "I could not exactly replicate the results you described, but I was able to find something sufficient to 'amplify' the sounds. The microphones and other things were easy enough to do."

"Okay." Genevieve raised a brow. "You didn't do this, did you?"

"Of course not, I don't know how to make these even if I try. Let's just say I relied on a friend."

"It isn't Alessa, is it?" Rowe guessed.

"No." Aneeka glared at the lord, making him chuckle. "Anyhow, if you want, you can give it a try."

"Right! It's time to see Valeriana's skill!"

The twins clapped simultaneously.

"Stop copying me!" They yelled at each other.

At this statement, the girl felt herself clam up. Sure, she knew how to play the drums, but she hadn't been practicing lately and god knows how long it had been since she last grabbed those dreaded sticks.

"I don't know." She simpered, eyeing the wooden pair resting on her right. "It's been really long I don't even know If I can remember anything."

"Just play a basic beat. Promise we won't laugh if you make a mistake." Tamara swore, her right palm facing forward by her shoulder. "And that's coming a lot from me since I love laughing at people's miseries."

Breathing in deeply, she grabbed the stool and pulled it below her so that she could sit comfortably. Grabbing the sticks, she twirled them between her fingers to get that feeling back. They were lighter than a sword, that should be a fact. Her muscles were flexing from just the thought of reaching forward to hit the notes.

With her foot properly positioned before the bass drums, she started with the necessary adjustments she was comfortable with--not to mention what she first learned. After finding everything ready, she opted to play the most basic she learned from her father.

The overlapping beats it formed brought her nostalgia, if it weren't for the fact that she could not remember what to play next. She paused further to admire the beauty of the instrument and the music it was capable of creating. Laughing at her own foolishness, she momentarily stopped to apologize for her clumsiness and continued.

"Tat, tanat, tatatat tanat!" Keelan cheerfully sang along.

The natural staccato and the jumpy, upbeat sound made some of the Twelve tap their foot along. Corvan looked impressed, anyhow.

"I like it. It's groovy." Keelan commented, smiling wildly. "Although it's not quite 'traditional'."

"Do you know any songs?" Genevieve eagerly queried.

"Without the melody, it's quite useless for me to play." She stopped.

"Oh."

Charles came forward and grabbed the bass guitar, causing eyes to turn to him in question. Not minding the looks he was given, one by one, he fingered the strings as though trying to adapt to the change.

"Is this a complicated instrument or does it work the same way as a violin?" He asked, turning to the girl with his sharp, cobalt-blue eyes.

"I don't think so."

"Is this tuned, then? I wish to listen to the pitch."

Valeriana raised a brow. "Maybe no, not yet. I remember what Cole told me before though, those strings have names based on the notes they play untouched. Um, lemme see." She pulled the guitar away from Charles with a small 'excuse me' and listened carefully if it was out of tune or not.

"Who's Cole?" The ninth and younger of the twins asked.

"Our bassist." She smiled. "I used to play with my friends during high school. We did this all the time, jamming and everything. I learned a lot from those people."

It was hard to imagine what sort of life Valeriana led when she was still living on Earth. To the Twelve's point-of-view, they were unused to seeing her this way. Who were her friends? What sort of house did she go home to? What were her family like? The cities? The places? What had those eyes seen?

Perhaps they needed to know more about the girl.

Her mouth twisting in doubt, Valeriana approached the keyboard and checked if it was plugged in. "How does this thing work?" She turned to Aneeka.

"They're powered by the natural force of Valemnia's power pressure. What do you need it for?"

"To check if this thing's alright or not."

This should be the first time they would see Valeriana knowing what to do without needing any sort of help from others.

They watched the girl press keys on the keyboard repeatedly. Afterwards, she would adjust the knobs on the guitar and pluck the string simultaneously as she played the key. The same thing went for all the strings present. When she was done, she handed the object back to Charles and watched him eye it dubiously.

"I see . . ." He whispered, plucking.

"You place two to four or something of your fingers on different strings."

"I see now." The fourth nodded. "I think I know what to do."

Curving his fingers and placing them on points, he played a perfect G major. He adjusted his position and played a C. He then did an A, followed by a C and a D in succession with different octaves.

A victorious smile formed on Charles's face. "I will play this instrument. This is not very foreign. . ."

Valeriana smiled and clapped. "Amazing. I don't really know much, but you just did everything I ever knew."

"You play this . . . aside from those drums?" Rowe questioned.

"It's called the bass. Not really. I just learned the basics, but my hands are not made for strings." She laughed.

"Then this one . . ." He pointed to an acoustic guitar. "Is it the same as Charles?"

"In a way, yes." She nodded. "But there is a bit of a difference . . . I think this one's supposed to be higher. I'm not sure. Let me check."

Going through the same procedures as she did before, she gave one satisfied nod and handed the instrument back to the gentle lord.

"Uhuh, all up and ready."

Rowe tucked the guitar under his arm and strummed fondly, his fingers gracefully flicking. The second-ranker chortled and tapped the surface once.

"Such a beautiful melody." Raziel sighed.

"This one is fit for a romantic serenade." The second-ranker commented.

"Exactly correct!"

"Let me see. This is the way to play it, yes?"

It seemed teaching the Circle would not be too much of a trouble. Because of their backgrounds on music, they somehow automatically knew what to do without having to coach them individually. Valeriana was glad for this. She wouldn't know what to do if it was required.

"How were you so confident this would be successful?" Corvan wondered, his first words since they all arrived.

"How." Brindon quipped.

"I just felt as though it would." She scratched her head. "You guys are amazing, after all. I didn't think it would be hard for you. Besides," she relaxed on the stool before the drums and smiled. "I wanted to share something from my world, that I do and I love."

Valeriana's emotional confession made the Twelve feel her sentiment. Smiles popped on their faces and happiness bubbled inside their chests.

"So, with this thing looking like a piano . . ." Tamara tapped on the keyboard. "My guess is that Corvan will play it?"

"Hopefully, if he'll accept."

No words were said, only knowing eyes and cheesy grins given to the young lord. The pressure from their gazes made Corvan huff loudly, his frown deepening and the displeasure on his face further emphasized. At first, they were expecting him to complain in his usually autocratic bearing. However, he all shocked them when he walked forward silently and ran his hands across the keys.

The quick rythm of his notes fluttered throughout the room.

He then said, "What song?"

They laughed.

"I did not just jest." Was his angry remark.

"We didn't think you did." Tamara's boisterous cackle rose above the rest.

"Now we only need somebody for the electric guitar."

Nobody moved.

"I don't think anyone else can play as good as you people." Aneeka shrugged.

Elfre shook her head. "We can learn, but it might take us a while."

"What about you, Zevlin?"

The older of the twins shrugged. "Making or playing music is not really my thing. But if you need some dancing, we can talk."

"Then I'll do it!"

A figure abruptly jumped forward and snatched the object away. Midnight blue hair swept swiftly, the loud roar of the sustained notes from the gadget ringing noisily that some had to cover their ears.

"This is what I call a killer!" Zion's jubilant howl made them do a slow burn.

"What in the world are you doing here and how did you get in? Who even let you in?"

A sly grin that was twistingly mischievous appeared. "Didn't anyone tell you? Your windows were big enough to be doors. I saw one open so I helped myself."

"Well, at least he finally came around." Elfre smiled. "Looks like Valion ain't done."

"Corval!" The twins firmly argued. "We stay Corval!"

"Can you please quit speaking as though we aren't here?" Valeriana turned to three, her cheeks rosy. "What sort of business are you going at, anyway?"

"A shipping business!" They chorused cheerfully.

"A trend back in your world." Gen started.

"Where we try to get a feel of this OTP things." Zev continued.

The fifth cleared her throat. "Aren't you two supposed to be fighting?"

The two realized this immediately. As though shot by lightning, they jumped away from each other and refrained from talking.

Anyhow, Valeriana wondered what bid the person to visit when she practically hadn't seen him since the Twelve resumed classes.

Anyhow, she probably shouldn't ask that.

"So this works like this? Sweet! This is as easy as pie." Zion whistled, easily fingering the strings like he was a pro rock-star.

"That is very . . . wild." Raziel critiqued.

His outstanding skills made Valeriana's jaw drop. Where in the world did he learn to play like that?

"Did you learn somewhere?" Val asked.

"I just saw you guys do this and that." He winked. "Does it interest you I can play this well? Wanna know how I did it?"

Rolling her eyes at his flirtatious advances, she decided to bite, "How?"

"I just knew!"

They gaped at him.

"Just kidding. I might know a thing or two." His laughter was evident.

"Yes, well . . ." Charles grimaced at the non-ranker as he gripped his own instrument. "Though the manner through which you carry yourself leaves me aghast sometimes, there is no denying how your skill can be of use."

"I suppose what he just did was sort of impressive." Keelan sulked. "If only I was as good as Rowe or Charles . . ."

"If." Repeated Brindon.

"Well, I don't think anybody else can play that well." Tamara grimaced. "Che! Let me try it! I'll do it!"

"Stop!" Keelan and Brindon jumped forward to stop the third.

"If you break the guitar!" Aneeka shrieked. "I'll probably be killed!"

Complete. Corvan on keyboard, Rowe on acoustic, Charles on bass, Zion on electric guitar, and Valeriana on drums. There was only a few things left on the checklist.

"We need a vocalist, then." Valeriana's statement made everyone pause. "And two backups. The girls, probably. Can you guys do it?"

Aneeka, Elfre, Genevieve, and Tamara froze in place at her suggestion.

"Singing?"

"I don't know about that!" The healer exclaimed. "I'm no singer!"

"Tamara." Charles gazed at his half-sister from the corner of his eyes.

"Nah. Am no good at that." The third-ranker dismissively waved, her head turning the opposite way. "You guys said it yourselves, I'm not good at anything else aside from fights and talking big."

Valeriana saw a strange flare on Tamara's aura. It seemed the other girl was hiding something. If this was Tamara, she would, no doubt, be horrible at it.

However, that was not how the earth-girl saw things.

Besides, Charles wouldn't have spoken if he didn't know anything.

"How about what you said? You know better than to listen to us. We love teasing you, after all. Why not give it a try?" She encouraged.

"Won't laugh." Brindon supported.

"Yeah! What Brindon said!" Keelan snickered.

"Just this once," said the fourth. "I am willing to make a bet with you."

The red-haired ranker perked up. "What sort of bet?"

"If you can somehow cause less damage than Valeriana had when she sang--"

Ouch.

"I shall allow you to bring two more weapons into your room."

Tamara gave Charles a critical look. "How can I be sure you'll really keep your word?"

"Everyone has heard."

"Fine." She huffed. "But don't blame if I leave your ears bleeding."

Keelan instinctively moved to cover his ears. Everybody else found a way to somehow block off the sound from the third's mouth. Zion only stood and watched while Elfre panicked.

Charles made no move to hold her back. He was all laid-back and calm.

"Nanananana!" She screamed. "As dawn comes rolling! Like night they come riding! Down the river enchanting!"

Valeriana did not expect to hear the opening music of Kingdom Knights. Like she had, Tamara just broke their eardrums.

She certainly regretted having recommended she try.

"I suggest you get serious." Charles warned. "Or the deal is off."

The third-ranker gave a glare his way. "I don't think two weapons are enough--"

"Additional of three and I will turn a blind eye on your horrible manners until next week."

Tamara breathed.

Keelan was laughing like a madman. Several of them who wished to not make a scene were trying hard to control themselves from suddenly cachinnating. Zion was not trying to hide his reaction, instead, he was just as loud as the eleventh.

Valeriana chuckled with the others.

Blinking her blue eyes, the redhead gazed at her comrades and realized maybe just this once. Maybe just this once she wouldn't make a joke out of herself.

With a deep intake of air, she opened her mouth.

"Eltres vu enchantres si." The ancient words flowed softly from her tongue, the words so delicately spoken as though she was handling shards of broken glass.

Their laughters ceased, the room fell into a state of quietness. Charles gave a rare smile.

The fifth went still, the incredulity in her eyes just as clear as in the others'. Like a voice of a sweet angel, Tamara's song brought the hair on the back of her neck standing.

"Siellum dos de Seigmond li. Ah, lheuim vu antres shan. Galdes van en . . . kula. Enchantre."

Who knew Tamara's voice was so . . .

"Beautiful." Raziel's eyes were teary. "Just, utterly, absolutely beautiful! I've never heard the Eltres sang so beautifully! Beautiful! Unexpectedly beautiful!"

Recovering from her stupor, Valeriana was overjoyed. "Our band is complete!"

"What's this for then?" Keelan pointed to a DJ's booth.

"Ooh." Valeriana snapped her fingers. "Almost forgot about that. I don't really know much about DJs but I guess this'll come in handy if ever."

"DJ?" The eleventh's eyes brightened. "What does a DJ do?"

"Mix music?" She paused. "Play awesome beats? Practically the music master?"

"Can I do it? Can I do it, oh please?"

"If you can, why not?"

Keelan ran for the booth, almost stumbling over his own foot at his own excitement. He started pressing random buttons that made a crazy, upbeat combination which made the entire group laugh.

Along with it was his voice. "I'm a DJ!"

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