The Ordeal

“You will face consequences you’re not prepared for.”

Elysia’s words hit them like a truck, her eyes narrowed as she uttered the words.

“What do you mean, Elysia?” Evelyn asked, a sense of worry etched upon her face.

Elysia let out a quiet sigh before continuing.
“If you insist, Harmony will be pitted against the representative band from Ballad-tier.”
“And should you fail…” she paused,

“The entire Concerto bands will lose its right to enter the Final Sonata.”

“What?!”
 Harmony and Sugarpetal collectively gasped, stunned by her words.

“Wait—how do you know any of this?” Catherine pressed, curiosity flashing in her blue eyes.

“Because…”

Before Elysia could finish, a sharp voice cut through.
“Big sis, what are you doing? We’ve been searching for you.”

Victoria Evergarden stood a few steps away, her long ethereal white hair swaying as her fierce blue-red eyes narrowed at the scene.

“Pardon me, but I’m afraid my time here is over.”
“It’s been pleasant to meet you, Harmony and Sugarpetal.”

Before leaving the scene, Elysia’s gaze lingered on Eluera.
“And… Eluera Valentine,” she said as her eyes softened.
“Good luck in the Final Sonata.”

Eluera blinked, slightly caught off guard. She wasn’t sure why Elysia suddenly addressed her, but the tone in her voice felt unusually tender—so much so that it left Eluera quietly puzzled.

And with that, the two sisters of Evergarden disappeared into the distance. Leaving Harmony uncertain of whether they should consider Elysia’s advice or not.

—

Dusk settled over Aria Luna, the academy's still busy with students roaming the grounds. Some were playing outdoor jams, others chatting in groups, the atmosphere was lively even at this hour.

As Harmony walked across the grounds, they felt the shift. Dozens of student eyes gazed upon them; it was clear now that everyone knew Harmony’s carrying the entire Concerto's fate in their hands.

“Tch, this is infuriating. We’re basically nobodies, but somehow we are responsible for them now.” Catherine said, frustrated.

“Take a look on the bright side, Cat. If we succeeded, we would save the fate of Concerto.” Evelyn said as her blue eyes softened with positivity.

“And if we fail… we’d be condemned by them.” Catherine added, utterly pessimist with the situation.

As Harmony walked closer to the Sound Garden, at the front of the gate, they noticed a group of students gathered around a girl. She wore a red beret hat, her magenta eyes brimming with tears as she plead for help.

“Hey!”
Catherine—being the tomboy type she is—was the first one to react.

“The heck you girls doing?” she added, her blue eyes locked on them.

The group surrounding the girl turned around.
They appeared to be a Concerto-tier band.

“Mind your own business.” said the leader.

Catherine crossed her arms.
“Oh yeah? How about you mind your own business and leave that girl alone.”

“Oh? You dare to speak so nonchalantly against Rosemary band? Very well,” their leader declared.

She stepped up to Catherine, their eyes locked in open hostility—until a voice from the distance cut through the tension.

“Do you mind letting us through?”

A soft voice echoed from inside the Sound Garden, followed by four figures walking out in unison.

“Oh, you’re… Please excuse us,” the Rosemary leader stammered, before retreating in a hurry with her band.

The four figures stopped before Harmony.

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience, Harmony,” said the soft-voiced girl, her long pink hair swayed in the evening breeze.

“No, we should be the one apologizing for the commotion.” Evelyn said as she bowed gently.

“Wait… you know us?” Catherine asked, tilting her head in confusion.

“Yes. As the representative of Concerto-tier, it’s only natural that you’d be known,” the pink-haired girl added.

“My name is Sylvia Heart, the leader of Clarity.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Harmony.”

The pink-haired girl introduced herself as she fixed her round glasses. Her soothing voice leaving Harmony momentarily quiet.

“Hey, orange-haired girl, what’s your name?” said the girl with red hair who stood beside Sylvia, her tone furious.

Catherine crossed her arms with pride.
“Me? I’m Catherine Solvine. The one who triumphs among others.”

The red-haired girl stepped forward.
“Oh? Talking about ambition are we? I like your energy girl.”

“The name is Cinder Ember, be sure to remember it.” She grinned wider than Catherine ever could. Her orange eyes burning with passion.

“You were so brave earlier, not many students here have that courage.” Cinder continued.

Catherine smugged.
“Eh, I just make myself known so they wouldn’t dare to even lay a hand on people.”

Speaking of laying a hand, Catherine did not realize that the girl who teared earlier had vanished, oh silly Catherine.

“Moshi moshi… sorry to interrupt but we’re currently in hurry.” Said the girl with short navy-hair, her golden eyes half lifted.

Listening to her words, Sylvia stepped forward.
“Sorry for Misty’s rudeness.” she bowed politely.
“But I am afraid we must depart now.”

“It’s been pleasant to meet you, Harmony.”

With that, Clarity dispersed into the distance, their movement rhymes with each other as they walked further.

—

Night settled over Aria Luna quieter than a sleeping lion. Harmony had gathered in their dorm, nestled in the living room, yet Eluera seemed quieter than usual.

“Hm?”

Catherine was the first to notice. She reached over and gently patted Eluera’s shoulder.
“You okay Lu?”

“Ah… sorry.” Eluera said softly as her focus returned.
“I was just… thinking. So many things have happened lately.”

“At first, I thought we’d just study like normal... coming into this academy.” Her yellow eyes lowered slightly.
“But… the pressure of the Final Sonata, and now Sinfonietta…”

“Oh... yeah. It’s overwhelming at first,” Catherine admitted with a shrug.
“but we’ll get used to it as time goes on.”

She gave Eluera a reassuring look.
“Just don’t forget why we’re here in the first place.”

“Yeah... But I wish, things were simple like we were back in our little home.”

“Then, let’s jam—like we always did back in our communal house,” Evelyn suggested softly.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Oh yeah! Boy, I’ve really missed those days,” Catherine said, a bright grin on her face widened.

Without further thinking, Catherine and Evelyn grabbed their instruments, while Eluera prepares her vocal. Catherine fine-tuned her signature orange-white blend guitar, fingers adjusting the strings with ease. Evelyn carefully set up her electric keyboard.

Once they were ready, the jam began.

Catherine struck the first chord, crisp and sharp, filling the room with burning energy.
Evelyn followed, letting the keyboard hum gently underneath, bringing soft melody within.

Eluera closed her eyes. She remembered their old shared home—the way laughter once filled their everyday lives; the endless hours of fun that made their little house a home.

Though Eluera’s voice trembled several times mid song, she kept going, trying her best to compose her voice.

As Harmony lost themselves in the nostalgic jam session, time flew by unnoticed. For the first time in what felt like forever, they genuinely laughed, one of those rare moments they wished it could last longer.

Catherine sprawled on the couch, exhausted.
“Not bad Lu—not bad.”

Evelyn sat on a cushion in seiza position, sipping her delicate tea.
“Leader wasn’t bad indeed. However, Catherine was.” She said teasingly.

“Ugh, here we go again.” Catherine sighed.

In that comical moment, Harmony felt a sense of relief, even just for a bit.

—

As the night went on, a couple of soft knocks sounded from the door. Eluera opened it to reveal Fluffy and Cherry, holding something in their hands.

They immediately stormed in without permission.
“Heya! Do you miss me?” Cherry grinned brightly.

Fluffy, ever so smug, strolled in right after.
“If this were a written story, the readers must have wondered where we’ve been.”

“You two must have plotted something, to visit us this late.” Catherine responded teasingly.

“Oh, no no no~” Cherry replied in a British accent for some reason.

“We came here to give you guys something.” Fluffy added.

Fluffy and Cherry opened their gift boxes wrapped in fancy red ribbon. The gifts revealed to be a couple of coloured hair clips and a written note.

“I have picked these hair clips based on you guys’ favourite colour.” Cherry added.

Eluera received a yellow hair clip, Catherine an orange coloured, and Evelyn a blue coloured.

“And… what’s more important is the note, please read it, read it.” Fluffy’s enthusiasticly waiting.

Harmony opened and read the note.

—
Dear Harmony,

It feels a little strange putting all of this into words, but we wanted you to know how much you mean to us. Ever since we first met, we felt hope—a hope that gave us courage to keep chasing our own dreams.

Now, with the Sinfonietta on the horizon, we know the weight that rests on your shoulders. Carrying the entire fate of Concerto is no small thing, but if there’s any band who can do it, it’s you.

We believe in you, not just because of your talent, but because of the way you make people feels hope. And that hope is something we’ve held onto during our own journey.

So please, go out there and give it everything you have. Win the Sinfonietta, not just for yourselves, but for everyone who believes in you.

With all our hearts,
Sugarpetal
—

The moment Harmony finished reading, Cherry suddenly hugged Eluera, burried her face in Eluera’s chest.

A faint sob were heard as Cherry hugged Eluera tightly.
“Please, win…”
“For the fate of Concerto, for our future.”

Seeing Cherry sobbed faintly, Eluera tightens her embrace tenderly.
“We will… give our best.” Eluera declared.

In that fleeting moment, Harmony and Sugarpetal felt a sense of camaraderie, that they’re fighting for the same goal.

Meanwhile, in a place distant from Harmony, inside Clarity’s dorm.

Sylvia sat comfortably at her desk, the soft glow of a lamp spilling across the pages of her diary; her pen moved slowly.

“Harmony is sure interesting,” she wrote with a faint smile.

“For whom we will crush in the Sinfonietta.”