Ste''s violin sang with exquisite beauty, every note pouring from her fingertips and filling the hall with a luminous, living melody.


    Tonight, she didn''t y Moonlight; instead, she chose to perform another one of her ownpositions-"Moon over the Ocean." The graceful notes drifted through the auditorium like bright, dancing sprites, weaving a spell over the entirepetition.


    Unlike Moonlight''s mncholy, "Moon over the Ocean" felt serene and gentle. In the minds of the audience, an image began to form: a tranquil sea beneath a brilliant new moon, its silver glow reflected in the softly rippling water. The hush of the waves seemed to wash away every trace of anxiety, easing the taut nerves of everyone listening. The moon''s reflection swayed atop the gentle tides, and in the face of such natural beauty, all of life''s troubles and worries faded into


    insignificance.


    There was a kind of magic in Ste''s music, drawing everyone in, holding them captive. Even Ste herself seemed changed as she yed; in that moment, she was like the distant moon in the sky, untouchable, glowing softly,manding all eyes. To the audience, she was the only person in the room.


    Antoney, who often practiced alongside Ste, had heard "Moon over the Ocean" before. Lately, Ste had been practicing more than ever, her skill nearly returning to its former glory. Even at seventy or eighty percent of her best, she still far outshone Antoney''s current abilities.


    Watching her on stage, Antoney-once considered a prodigy himself-could only sigh in admiration. "She really is a genius," he murmured.


    At the beginning, Rena and her friends, who had been waiting for Ste to embarrass herself, whispered dismissivements, unconvinced. But as the music flowed on, surprise crept over their faces, and before long, even they were swept away by the performance.


    Only Mr. Walden, gazing at Ste''s silhouette on stage, seemed lost in deep thought.


    When the final note faded, the hall was plunged into a breathless silence. For a moment, no one moved. Then, someone began to p, and suddenly the room erupted in thunderous apuse that echoed throughout the venue. Faces glowed with delight and longing for more.


    "Is it over already? I could listen to this all night."


    "What was that piece called? I''ve never heard it before."


    "Me neither-has anyone here heard it?"


    A gentle buzz of conversation swept through the crowd, but no one could name the song.


    "It''s incredible-how can such a beautiful piece be a mystery to everyone?"


    "Didn''t you all say Ste''s talent was just hype? Watching her tonight, I wouldn''t be surprised if she took first ce."


    "Well, I only heard what people were saying online-they imed she had connections, that her videos were all edited, and they sounded soo convincing I almost believed it."


    "You can''t trust everything you read online," someone else scoffed.


    vel


    As the crowd chattered, the host stepped up onto the stage with a warm smile: This year, the organizers had gone all out to attract attention, even adding reality-show-style twists to thepetition. Not only were there judges present, but viewers could also vote for their favorite contestant online. The audience could show support for whoever they thought was the most talented.


    Of course,


    these votes wouldn''t


    affect the final oue-the winner would still be chosen on merit, not poprity. Still, whoever received the most votes would win the chance to travel abroad with the team. Even if they didn''tpete themselves, they''d get to witness international performances-a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn and make connections with top musicians from around the world.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!