で̶き̶な̶い̶　やらない

However, it wasn’t just the dancing that was so enchanting. The music...

To Albedo, it seemed as if a musician was the true prince of the ballet rather than the one that danced by the lady’s side. It was truly a beautiful sight to behold. So he decided then and there that this was what he wanted. He was never one to make an effort on to build relationships but after what he just witnessed, he wanted it more than anything in the world.

The bond between a musician and a dancer.

One couldn’t completely exist without the other. To put it simply, he was curious to what it was like. One who could understand him better than most. What better way to express his thoughts through music as his princess would dance along to his melody to convey them.

After the performance was over, he tugged on his mother’s dress and begged for her to let him take music lessons. She asked him why. Why? Would would he want to do such a thing all of a sudden?

He remembered his eyes were full of hope as he told her: “I’m looking for someone. Someone important.”

Just one look at his expression and she complied without question. She figured this was just a quick hobby he would do before passing on to the next. Eventually she would sign him up to take on the violin.

He did not stop, however.

For years, he continued to play the violin much to his mother’s amazement. And for years, he was called many things: a virtuoso, a prodigy, a genius. But he cared not for such titles. It was not the empty praises he sought out for but the one he would eventually learn to call his muse.

Everytime he closed his eyes as he played, he would envision his muse smiling back at him, dancing along to his tune. Both following to each other’s rhythm, moving in perfect harmony. It always managed to make him smile. And everytime he finished his piece and opened his eyes, his expression would be replaced by the same vacant expression he always wore. Reality would come crashing down on him like a tidal wave, reminding him that he wasn’t quite there yet.

Yet...

Of course. There was still time to meet them. He was still young.

He chuckled.

It’s funny really. He continues to be inspired by a person he has never even met, yet. Perhaps they were just inspiriting enough that they could reach out to him no matter how far apart they are. No, no. That would be ridiculous.

Or maybe...could he have been pursuing a pipe dream all along? A ghost of a person that may or may not exist?

Over the past years, he had attended to many recitals, seeking out the right person, but almost no one had managed to grasp onto his attention. As for those that did, they usually turned out to not be as moving as he hope they would be. Make no mistake, they all were wonderful but they didn’t really have that sort of...spark. Well, that and they found him to be quite distasteful. He didn’t really understand why though. He was certain to be patient and polite towards them. What was what it that made him to be so aversive?

He hummed. He began to suspect that they were unnerved by his so-called ‘cold’ demeanor. Sure, he wasn’t as expressive than he ought to be, but that was just the way he is. Maybe he should smile more next time?

That didn’t work either.

Albedo could only sigh as he watched the last dancer storm out of the conservatory in a hurry. They complained how they couldn’t keep up with him. That he was either going to slow or too fast for them to go along with. They both were simply not compatible it would seem. And they found his forced smile to be too unnerving.

He looked up at the dim stage lights as his bow and violin swayed by his sides. He always considered himself a patient man, but after many failed attempts, his patience was starting to run thin. Maybe his muse was nothing but childish dream after all—

“Excuse me?”

Albedo looked down from atop the stage, blinking away the murky colors that clouded his vision so he could see the owner of the voice more clearly. He mentally cursed himself for being so foolish as to look directly into the lights.

Once his vision became more clear, he saw a young lady sporting a white camisole, black leggings, and white pointe shoes. She had short pale blond hair with golden yellow eyes that shined like stars. She was beautiful, truly. But her appearance didn’t really matter. The fact that she was a ballet dancer had piqued his interest.

She adjusted the strap of her gym bag before speaking up again. “I heard auditions were being held here. Are you...?” She trailed off as she noticed a violin in hand.

“The accompanist?” She finished. Her face was nearly as expressionless as his was. But her eyes told a different story. Her eyes told him that she was ecstatic but also quite nervous, definitely for the upcoming audition she will eventually go through.

He shook his head. “No. The director allowed me to borrow this place until judges come in. La Sylphide?”

The girl only nodded in response.

La Sylphide, The Sylph. One of the oldest ballets in the world. Which also happens to be a romantic ballet that ends in tragedy. The story starts off with the male lead sleeping by the fire until the Sylph comes in and falls in love with him. Before he wakes, she kisses him and disappears. Afterwards, he spends most of the 1st Act trying to seek out to what everyone assumed was just a fantasy.

“What role are you trying out for?” He asked.

“The Sylph.”

Ah, how befitting. There certainly was an ethereal beauty to her. It’s as if she was born for the role, but the judges won’t settle on looks alone.

Oh, right. Where were his manners?

“I’m Albedo. It’s a pleasure to meet you...?”

“Oh, Lumine. The pleasure’s all mine.”

It was in that moment that the room seem to lit up at the mere mention of her name.

He closed his eyes and whispered, “Lumine...”

Albedo was just about to lose hope in finding that special person, but true to her name, she appeared as shining ray of hope that pierced through the darkness. This time...this time he was absolutely certain she was the one.

“May I play a song for you? Think of it as practice for the both of us.”

Lumine gasped lightly over the suggestion, before a small smile graced her lips as she nodded. Albedo bit back a smile and offered her a hand, to which she so graciously accepted. He could tell how light she was as he pulled her onto the stage. Well, it made perfect sense given her profession. And fortunately, it was not to the extent that one should particularly worry about.

“A piece from La Sylphide?”

She smiled again. “I was hoping you could play The Waltz of Flowers.”

“Is that so? Very well...”

He closed his eyes and slowly raised his bow to the violin and created a strong, sweet tune.

Lumine watched in awe as he played the piece so perfectly. The bow moved so swiftly and fluidly. The way his fingers would press the firm string over the fingerboard. They all were right about him. His virtuosity knew no bounds. Of course, she heard about him. Everyone knew of the famous young virtuoso, Albedo. However, she wanted see it for herself on just how good he was, and he certainly did not disappoint.

Before Lumine knew it, she was swaying along to his tune. Her heels were pressed to together. She took one step, then another. And the next thing she knew, she was dancing. She skipped, she leapt, she twirled. Of all her years of ballet, this feeling she had, was not something she had ever felt before. It was a sort of giddy feeling that she couldn’t exactly name.

Albedo couldn’t see it, but he just knew that Lumine was dancing along to the Waltz, looking back at him a few times and smiling, giving him the feeling unrefined bliss. Yes, this is what he had always wanted, what he yearned for. He had imagined this beatific scenario hundreds, maybe thousands, of times! But it would last only for a small moment, an ephemeral euphoria.

Finally he had found the one. No longer would he have to dream them up as he played. No longer did he have to be afraid to open his eyes to find no one there whenever he finished playing.

He had to...he had to look and see if she was still there.

And open them he did.

The sight before him immediately took his breath away. Better than any scenario he ever dreamed of. It almost made him stop playing. The dim rays of light that rained down seemed to focus solely on her. The way she dance with such grace, how she held herself with poise, and her confident smile. It was all so...so...surreal.

But it’s all real. He had found his muse. A source of inspiration. He only hoped that Lumine would feel the same and become constant in his life.

Lumine looked back at Albedo who returned her smile. And she noticed how he was swaying and dipping, and even taking a few steps here and in there in sync with her movements. All without missing a single note.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Lumine wasn’t the only one dancing on that stage. It was as if they were performing their very own pas de deux.

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A/N: there’s a specific reason why I chose the Waltz of Flowers for these two. Anyway, I got inspired by this thread and artwork and it hasn’t left my mind since!