Chapter 308: The Musician’s Funeral

Translator: Kris_Liu Editor: Vermillion

The sky was covered with dark clouds, and it started to rain. Everything in Aalto was shaded with a thin layer of a veil, as if nature was also crying for the young musician.

The black hearse pulled by the four bulls kept moving forward slowly and steadily. More and more people gathered along both sides of the street in the rain, watching the hearse leaving.

The splendid concert that made the whole city crazy was held just a few days ago, and the melodies played were still lingering in the air. People felt that this was like a dream, a more than painful dream.

For the spirit of perseverance that Lucien Evans brought to them, and for the precious and pure joy Lucien Evans presented, people voluntarily stood along both sides of the street to see off the young and talented musician.

The fine rain drops fell on their faces, mixing with their tears.

If it had been a week later, or if it had not been in Aalto, it was almost impossible for one to see this grand and solemn scene. It seemed that people of the whole city were out to send Lucien Evans off.

When the hearse was about to leave Aderon, some more people who admired Lucien Evans a lot rushed down the street and joined the funeral procession.

Wearing black suits, those heartbroken people made the funeral procession grow bigger and bigger.

So, when the hearse arrived in the noble district, the nobles who were invited to attend the funeral were shocked. They saw a huge crowd behind the hearse, like black tides safeguarding the last part of the journey of the beloved young musician.

Except for the municipal square during the music festival, they had never seen so many people gathering together for the same purpose. The nobles had this feeling that these people, when uniting together, were unstoppable with their overwhelming power.

Some nobles were so impressed by the fact that Lucien Evans was loved by this many people that they thought to themselves, “If I could have these many people sending me off when I die, it would be such a glory… I wouldn’t have any regrets if that was the case.”

When the hearse passed by, the nobles also joined the procession, although they were not quite willing to stand this close to the common people, this was part of the funeral manner of the Saint Truth.

When seeing the massive crowd, the look on Gossett’s face slightly changed. Standing in front of the Golden Cathedral, he unconsciously crossed and said in low voice, “Only truth lives forever!”

After the hearse was sent into the Golden Cathedral, the common people who were not invited to the funeral refused to leave. In the fine rain, they stood surrounding the cathedral and prayed for the musician.

The scene made the pastors and cardinals feel that they were going to bury a saint.

…

In the cathedral, the coffin was placed below the cross, showing that the musician was a loyal follower.

The funeral music stopped. Holding a white cross in his hand, Gossett said in a solemn way, “Merciful God, here we shall pray for our brother, Lucien Evans, who has finished his path in this world and is now heading for the path toward Mountain Paradise. We firmly hold true that all of us who believe, who accept, who follow, and who respect will finally be saved by you, Father, and we will rest in peace forever in Mountain Paradise.”

The nobles, musicians, and instrumentalists sitting in the cathedral all started to pray with their eyes closed.

“He was a pure and devout nobleman. His music has your power and has brought people faith and joy. Wish he will continue to play the paean in your kingdom…”

Finishing praying, Gossett looked at Natasha, Joel, Alisa, John, Victor and Lucien’s other friends in a merciful and loving way, “Lord teaches us that death is like the dark night, but when the dark night is over, light shall return. One shall not fear death, as all of his followers will eventually reunite at Mountain Paradise. We shall be together, we shall always be connected, and we can always pray for each other.”

Then, Lucien’s relatives and friends started to speak one by one on the stage, recounting Lucien Evans’ life story. Some could not stop weeping; some hid the profound pain in their heart; some followed the Lord’s instruction and comforted the rest of the people to stand strong for a better future.

At the end of the funeral, Natasha walked onto the stage and stood beside the cardinal.

Wearing the long black dress, with the black veil covering her tied-up long hair, the princess recounted the happy moments she spent with the young musician. Then, she calmed herself down and said formally, “He once told me that if he had passed away without leaving the will, he wanted me to donate his manor, Brons, to the Musicians’ Association.”

Hearing that, Othello slightly nodded. Lucien Evans was for sure born for music, and his love toward music was precious and pure. He had decided to donate most of his asset to the association.

Natasha continued, “Lucien hoped to use the profit of the manor to set up an award and a piano competition. The award is for the most outstanding music piece across the continent selected every three years by the members of the Musicians’ Association of Aalto. The competition is also going to be held every three years in order to promote the development of this new musical instrument and encourage more young pianists to devote their passion to this career.”

Lucien’s manor, Brons, was selected by Natasha. When the princess gave Lucien the manor as a present, it was worth a few thousand Thales, and its annual profit was also quite good, which was around a hundred Thales, equal to a famous musician’s a whole year’s income. Therefore, three hundred Thales was a lot to a young musician who just got started.

“Mr. Evans had a kind heart made of gold. He cared about the development of music all the time as well as the growth of other young musicians.” Othello stood up and showed the appreciation on behalf of the association, “Here I suggest that we name the award as ‘Evans Music Award’ and the competition as ‘Continental Evans Piano Competition’. Also, the association has decided to build stone figures for each music master who made a great contribution to the development of music. The stone figures will be built on the top of Mountain Kaseya beside Belem River, so everyone who comes to Aalto and every child who plays beside the river shall see the figures and remember the brilliant names.”

Christopher, Victor, and other association members all nodded.

People applauded in a serious but warm manner to show their respect toward this lofty and gracious musician and his love and passion for music.

At this time, Natasha added, “I’ll add the profit of one of my personal manors on top of the prize, so the prize of both Evans Music Award and Continental Evans Piano Competition shall be three hundred Thales.”

“It’s very generous of you, Your Highness.” Othello slightly bowed.

Lucien’s relatives were also fine with the decision.

Only the red-robed cardinal, Gossett, frowned slightly. In his eyes, Evans Music Award sounded very much alike Holm Crown Prize or Immortal Throne Award. Maybe Lucien Evans was inspired by the princess or Professor.

But in such an occasion, Gossett could not oppose the proposal. And there was also no serious reasons other than that for him to say no.

After setting up the award and the competition, the memorial part of the funeral was completed. The funeral guests started to sing hymns led by the choir. The funeral was sacred and solemn.

In the end, Gossett sprinkled holy water on the coffin to wash off all the sins from this world.

The coffin was lifted up again toward the cemetery beside the Golden Cathedral. Lucien’s relatives and close friends followed while other nobles and musicians were ready to leave.

As soon as they walked out of the cathedral, the nobles were shocked. They did not expect that the crowd was still waiting.

Seeing that the nobles were leaving, people started to flow to the noble cemetery nearby. On the other side of the iron fence, they saw the black coffin slowly sinking down into the ground.

The rain had stopped for a while, and a few rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds. But when mud started being thrown on top of the coffin, the grief became unstoppable again.

The mud slowly buried the coffin, as if it was cutting off the last piece of string connecting the dead and the mourning. Alisa, Felicia, and Elena could not stop crying, while Joel, John, Victor, and Natasha closed their eyes.

People on the other side of the iron fence also started weeping.

At this time, a girl started singing in her slightly hoarse voice:

“Joy, bright spark of divinity, Daughter of Elysium…”

Although the theme of Ode to Joy did not fit the atmosphere of the funeral, its spirit matched the impression that Lucien Evans left to people.

When facing darkness and pain, do not give up.

When facing darkness and pain, one shall still head for the destination where there are brightness and joy.

More and more people joined the singing.

“Fire-inspired we tread… Within thy sanctuary…”

The singing became louder and louder. Felicia and Elena cried even harder, while Natasha also joined the singing.

“All creatures drink of joy,

“At nature’s breast.

“Just and unjust,

“Alike taste of her gift…”

Goodbye, Lucien Evans, the young musician who once brought people the pure joy, the ultimate beauty of music.

“Joy, bright spark of divinity, Daughter of Elysium…”

In the singing, the tombstone was erected, on which there was a short line of the epitaph.

“Here was buried an angel of music.”

…

In the late night, in a noble villa.

John and his relatives were sitting on a couch. They could not fall asleep.

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