Chapter Eight

The room was filled with silence as I stared at the emotionless face of Jazz. I could hear the swallow breathing of my brother beside me.

Jazz raised his eyebrow. "As you can see, he's not well."

I looked at Max but he averted his eyes from me. He lied on his bed and put his hand on his face.

"I'm sorry, Ley. You shouldn't be here. You are safer when you don't get involved in this. And I should have stayed dead, in your memory at least.",

My heart sunk as I stared at my brother in disbelief.

"What? Don't say something like that, brother. Haven't you glad we're together again? Don't worry, I'll find cure for you." I said as I held back tears.

I looked at Jazz but he had his usual face. He didn't seem surprised that I just called Alto my brother. Maybe he knew already?

"Jazz, can you tell me details about what happened to my brother? What do you mean he's dying? Is he that sick? I just found him and now he'll disappear again?" My voice broke as tears escaped from my eyes.

I just got reunited with my brother whom I thought was dead already. He always protected me ever since we were young and looked out for me. Shouldn't I do the same? I couldn't let go of him again.

Jazz sighed. "Questions. So many questions. Why don't you take a look at his hands first?"

I frowned and turned to my brother right away. I took hold of his hands and that's when I noticed it. He didn't wear a ring. His instrument.

"Max, where's your ring?" I asked him but he stayed silent. I looked at Jazz instead, waiting for an answer.

Jazz took a seat on a small chair and faced me. "He lost it."

"What?" I cried out but Jazz just sighed again.

"Do you remember what King Orpheus told you? That the ring is our instrument as Songs, and it holds our lives. Looking at Alto, it seemed that he lost the ring miles away, or that possibly it fell to the wrong hands."

"Wait, I still don't get it."

"Medley," said Jazz and I froze. It was the first time he called me by my name.

"The ring holds our lives. Once we lost it, we won't be able to cast our melodies and our lives will slowly fade away. In short, we will die."

I stared at the floor as I let it all sink in. My brother lost his instrument that holds his life and now he was dying. So the only way to bring him back to his state was to find that ring?

Jazz told me that Max's ring was lost two months ago. His body started to weaken after a month of the absence of the ring on his finger. Within this year, his life would end if the ring wouldn't be back on his position. Max didn't know where he lost it and was always avoiding anyone's questions. He never left his room since his condition gotten worst.

Max stayed quiet the whole time. I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. He returned the gesture and I let out a small smile.

When I asked Jazz why he was called Alto, he told me that their names were changed after they became Songs. And as Songs, they must start using their new names.

"Well, this is quite a scene."

We turned to look at where that voice belonged and there was Rhap, leaning against the door as he watched us.

"And to give you another information, milady, this life we have doesn't belong to us in the first place." He said, a dark shadow befalling on his face.

"What do you mean?" I asked and I felt my brother's hold tightened.

Rhap and Jazz stared at each other that felt like an hour. It was like they were having serious conversations through their stares before Rhap went on.

"I guess ,since you're a major key now, you should know about it. We, Songs, were supposed to be dead already. But this lovely king, visited us on the verge of our death and summoned us to be a Song. By summoning us, we've been given a chance to continue living, but not as mere people anymore. We are bound to the Kingdom." Rhap explained, staring on the floor.

Songs were complicated ones. As Rhap had said, they must be summoned on the verge of their death. They would be given new names and would be bound to the Kingdom until the last of their breath. The ring, which was a Song's instrument, would appear on their fingers after they'd been summoned.

It felt like the Songs were only borrowing the lives they have right now.

"It's a curse, Ley. I never wanted to be a part of this in the first place, but it gave me another chance to protect you." Max muttered and I clenched my teeth as I realized that my brother was supposed to be dead right now.

So something happened to my brother. My heart twisted in pain as I thought about that. If he wasn't summoned as a Song, he'd be dead already. But when was he summoned? I clenched my fists as I thought of not having the chance of seeing my brother again.

"Oh, Ley? You gave her a nickname. How cute." Rhap said teasingly.

"And it seemed that you know each other and you're protecting her. Is she your girlfriend or something?"

I shot him a look and he raised an eyebrow at me. "Don't tease Max." I snapped at him.

Rhap's face changed, his eyes darkening. "Max? Could that be his old name?"

I frowned. " Yes. And he's my brother,"

Rhap froze for a moment then laughed suddenly. "So you're siblings? This is rather amusing. I didn't know Alto still has family left." His expression hardened as he glared at me.

"But milady, please refrain from calling him by his old name. It's prohibited by the kingdom."

"Just shut up, Rhapsody." Max hissed then looked at me.

"Why did you become a Major Key, Ley? It isn't safe for you. Just live your normal life, please."

I heard Rhap snorted and I glanced at him. "See, milady? That guy never listens. He always do what he wants and always put himself in trouble. He always break the Kingdom's rule." He glared at Max. "And now that he's dying, he doesn't even think about the ring and just sulk in this room. Fix that guy first."

He gave Max one last look before leaving the room. Jazz watched him leave then rested his face on his hand. "Couldn't blame that guy's attitude. He was fond of Alto, they're good friends." He muttered.

Max caressed my hand, a weak smile was plastered on his face.

"You can still call me Max if you want. Just don't mind that guy."

Max always think about me, but never himself. I decided that this time I would repay him to everything he'd done for me. I would save him. I would't just let my brother die like this.

"I'm sorry, but I will protect you this time. You're Max, my brother. And you'll always be who you are to me. But I will start calling you Alto if that's the rule of the Kingdom. I won't let your life be in danger anymore than you already are." I looked at Jazz with a firm face.

"I will find the ring, I will save Alto. I'll do everything I can to help brother and tune you all."

Jazz stared at me with a straight face then nodded. "Alright."

Alto looked at us in disbelief. "What? Don't be ridiculous. Don't put yourself in trouble, Ley." He hissed at me but I just shook my head.

"No brother, this is something I decide for myself. I will save you and this country no matter what."

My brother stared at me for a while then slowly his mouth curved into a soft smile. He didn't say anything and soon he fell asleep.

Jazz and I silently left his room and headed to the main hall where Banjo was waiting for us. I gulped as he stood up, his cold eyes boring into mine through his glasses.

"So you already met the Ninth Song." He said in a quiet voice.

I lowered my eyes and opened my mouth to say something when the door opened as Brio joined us. Fredrik prepared us tea and sweets then I told them about Alto being my brother, earning surprised expressions on their faces. Banjo frowned, emptied his cup of coffee then left without saying anything.

Jazz was quiet for the whole time but he soon left after Banjo, saying he'd take a nap.

"So you want to find the ring to save Alto's life?" asked Brio.

"Yes. I will do whatever I can."

Apollo put down his cup of tea and his eyes turned to me. "And you know, of course,that we've been doing it for two months now."

"And still, we came up empty." Reed sighed and my heart sunk.

Brio lowered his head. "We already paid a visit to all jewelry stores, but no one was familiar with our rings. Whoever found the Ninth Song's ring, he hadn't sold it yet to any stores."

Apollo furrowed his eyebrows. "And we keep wondering why. Since our rings are real and rare, anyone would have attempt to sell it for the most price. But it seems that the person who found it, decided to keep it. That's what we're wondering why."

"But we already informed all the jewelers to report to us once that ring was brought to them." Brio said and I felt a knot in my chest.

So they were doing it for two months now but still no clue about the ring's whereabouts. But no matter what, I will save my brother's life. I will find it.

The door opened and Canon, the young Song emerged. Faint pink spread across his cheeks as he slowly approached us. He sat on the couch across us and we all watched him as he stared on the floor.

"What's the matter, Canon?" Apollo asked and Canon looked at us sheepishly.

"N-nothing. I think it it would be rude for me to not entertain the newly summoned key." He said in a trembling voice.

I blinked then smiled at this cute boy. Then suddenly I remembered what Rhap said back at Alto's room, that these Songs should have been dead already. And as I stared at Canon, I suddenly felt a knot in my chest to think that this little boy in front of me had nearly died when he's this young.

I scanned my eyes at these guys around me and wondered what happened to them.

My eyes flickered back to Canon and smiled. "That's so sweet of you."

Canon gave me a sheepish smile then Fredrik came with a cup of tea and sweets for him. When he picked up the cup, it slipped from his hand and fell to the floor with a loud crash. Canon's suit was stained with tea and he abruptly stood up.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to.. I'm so sorry..."

Canon kept apologizing, eyes glistened with tears. We tried calming him down while Fredrik cleaned up the mess.

The door opened and a handsome tall guy with a long silky dark hair entered. I remembered him, his name was Harp, the Seventh Song and Dream Prince.

He sighed when his eyes landed on Canon who kept apologizing and to Fredrik who was cleaning the floor.

"Now, what have you done?" He asked Canon, his voice was calm and quiet.

His eyes met mine and bowed his head to me. "I'm so sorry about this, Miss Medley."

I was surprised at how elegant he was and courteous that I stood up and bowed my head to him also. "N-No, it's okay. I understand. Really, it's okay," I stuttered.

"Yeah, we all know how clumsy this Canon can be." Reed chuckled and Canon's face flushed even more.

Harp smiled apologetically at me. "C'mon, kid. Let me lead you back to your room." He said to Canon whose head was lowered.

He put his arm around the small boy's shoulder as they headed back to the door but then Harp stopped for a second and looked back at me over his shoulder.

"Would you like to stay for dinner, miss Medley?

I was taken aback at his offer and waved my hands.

"Thank you for inviting me, but I should get back at home before night comes."

Harp raised his eyebrow in response then smiled before they disappeared through the door. I sighed and took a sip on my tea.

"You really don't want to eat dinner here? Since you're the Major Key now, you should get used to the castle and us. Don't you think so?" Brio said, a wide smile on his face.

"He's right, Medley." Apollo said and I glanced at him. "But if you're not really available today, you can still join us anytime. We'd really like to eat dinner with you."

My face reddened and I smiled sheepishly at him. "Thank you. I'll think about it."

"What? It's just having dinner, you don't have to think over it. But yeah, anytime you're free." Reed said and I just smiled at them.

The truth was, I still hadn't gotten used going here in the Sky Castle and thinking about having dinner with these lovely Songs still makes me nervous. But since my brother was one of them, I realized that summoning me as the Major Key was the best thing happened because I wanted to be the one helping Alto. And I know I'm the only one who could help him.

As a summoned Major Key, I was even more determined to save Cradle, and Alto.

"Oh, and please don't let Alto skip meals, okay?" I told them and Brio nodded at me.

"As you wish, young lady. We'll take care of that grumpy song." Brio answered and I yawned as tiredness suddenly hitting my body.

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