Chapter 375:

Elyse lingered in the dreamy soundscape long after her violin's final notes faded. Blinking, she slowly reconnected with the room, then lifted her chin and met Irving's gaze. "Don't call me average," she declared.

Irving, caught off guard by her fiery retort, chuckled softly. Lowering his head, he plucked the violin from her grasp. With a casual tilt of his head, he coaxed the first note from the instrument, sending a shiver down Elyse's spine. He was playing "Winter," a piece notorious for its intricate complexities. Each note painted a scene. Elyse stood frozen in a desolate landscape, the biting wind and icy snow threatening to consume her. Irving's fingers danced across the strings, a relentless storm brewing in his music. The final note hung in the air before Irving opened his eyes, his gaze lingering on the mesmerized Elyse. Perhaps unfazed by her reaction, he tossed the violin back to her and sauntered away, muttering, "Just average. Utterly average."

Elyse's brow furrowed in confusion. Gavin, sensing her distress, offered a placating pat on her shoulder. "Don't take it personally. That's just Irving. Sharp tongue, maybe not the warmest soul, but an undeniable violin prodigy."

Elyse frowned. Was Gavin implying Irving was a one-trick pony? Just good at the violin and nothing else? A voice interrupted their exchange. A woman with a gentle smile, dressed in jeans and a sweater, breezed into the room, her long hair trailing behind her. As she approached, a soft fragrance tickled Elyse's nose.

"I'm Fiona Evans. Apologies for my tardiness. Here's the bread I brought for everyone. I got held up making it." She produced a steaming loaf from her bag and handed it to Gavin, sticking out her tongue playfully. "For the love of bread, Gavin, don't tell Mr. Tucker I'm late, alright?"

Gavin feigned helplessness, touching the warm bread. "Alright, alright. Sealed with the sacred pact of bread. Your secret's safe with me."

Still confused, Elyse patted Fiona's head and asked, "What time is considered late?"

"Half past nine," Gavin replied.

Elyse's eyes widened. "Then aren't you all..."

Gavin's hand shot up, covering her mouth. "Let's just grab a bite before Mr. Tucker arrives," he interjected. Elyse, speechless, watched him effectively shut down her inquiry.

As they began to enjoy the bread, even the ever-solitary Irving joined them. Fiona, curious, took a bite and asked, "I heard you were once the concertmaster of the Celestial Sounds Symphony. Why the switch? Did you leave to focus on learning from Mr. Tucker?"

After a thoughtful pause, Elyse explained her reason for leaving. Gavin's face creased in surprise. "They kicked out a talented composer like you? Sounds like the Celestial Sounds Symphony is on a downward spiral. Rotten leadership from the top, I bet."

Taking a sip of coffee, Irving said calmly, "Word on the street is there's a power struggle within that orchestra. Your incident suggests the assistant director might be gaining the upper hand."

Fiona, realizing she'd touched a sensitive subject, reached out to comfort Elyse. "Don't fret. Here, your talent will flourish, not be stifled."

Elyse nodded. "Honestly, while I was initially sad about leaving, now I'm grateful. It feels like here, I can truly focus on my music."

"Free music," Fiona chimed in, "a world away from the rigid constraints of an orchestra." Elyse's eyes sparkled with excitement.

As they finished the bread, Irving cast a curious glance toward the door. "What's keeping Mr. Tucker? Is he not interested in taking you on as an apprentice?"

Panic flickered across Elyse's face as she looked helplessly at the others. Gavin shot Irving a warning glare. "Watch your words, Irving. Don't scare her. Mr. Tucker must be busy. No need to worry."

Irving snorted and returned to his coffee. The clock ticked closer to lunchtime when the studio door swung open, revealing Cody holding the hand of a small boy. The eight-year-old wore a backpack and had a delicate face that, despite his age, held a serious expression.

Cody offered Elyse an apologetic smile. "Apologies for the delay. Had to pick up Forrest."

Elyse hurriedly reassured him. "It's alright, Mr. Tucker. I've been getting along well with Gavin, Irving, and Fiona. Don't worry."

Cody then turned to Forrest. "Forrest Greene, say hello to Elyse and introduce yourself."

Forrest looked up, his voice sweet as honey. "Hello, Elyse. I heard about you from Mr. Tucker. I'm Forrest Greene, sort of your senior in the studio. Feel free to ask me anything."

Elyse was taken aback by Forrest's words.

...