《The Legend of the Virtuoso Schumann》


 Prologue - The Legend

    A young girl bounced up the stairs of a majestic mansion while holding onto a thin pamphlet. Printed on the cover of the pamphlet was a picture of a middle-aged woman as well as some bolded words above the photo. The child excitedly listened and immersed herself into the sweet and lingering music that was floating in the air like a thick layer of pleasant fog. As if guided by the musical tune, the young child arrived at the entrance of a slightly-opened door.


    KNOCK! KNOCK!


    "Come in!" A scratchy voice answered after the young girl rapped on the door.


    The child pushed open the door to reveal an elderly woman sitting beside an aged but well-maintained piano. The song, the elderly woman was playing earlier, was a well-known piece that many piano experts knew by heart. It was Richard Strauss''s Symphony in F minor.


    "Great Gramms! What''s that song called? It''s sooo beautiful!" The young lady beamed as she dove into her great grandmother''s arms.


    The elderly lady shook with pleasant surprise and cheerfully combed her great granddaughter''s brown locks. "My dear, this is Symphony in F minor by a well-known Musician named Richard Strauss. Do you know of him?"


    "Oh! I learned about him in class last week! He''s famous for his operas."


    "Haha, that''s right! Can you name a few? If you can name one, I''ll play the piano segment of it for you. How about that?"


    "I''d love it! Let me think for a bit...." The young lady scrunched up her adorable little face and thought long and hard. With a flash of delight, the young girl lit up her eyes and exclaimed. "The Knight of the Rose! I remember it because it sounded so romantic!"


    "The Knight of the Rose? Der Rosenkavalier? Haha, alright! Come sit over there and listen to your Great Gramms play the Rosenkavalier Waltz."


    "Ehm!"


    The elderly woman, despite her wrinkled and gnarly appearance, spun to life as her fingers danced along the white and black keys. As the pianist continued to play, an image began to form from the surroundings. It was an image of two people, a gentleman and a lady, twirling along with the beat of the song.


    The young girl gasped in surprise as she saw the animated depictions. She lightly clapped to the song and giggled with entertainment as she watched the tender and clumsy love shown between the couple. Soon, the song ended and the young child gave her dear great grandmother a big round of applause.


    "How was it, my dear?" The elderly woman asked as she stood from her seat.


    The child hopped over and hugged the old woman. "Great Gramms! You''ve broken through to Favola Note! Congratulations!"


    "Haha, it''s nothing special. Clara, you are the young genius here who''s already at the Recitative Note. Now that''s something to celebrate about."


    The young girl giggled and stuck out her tongue coyly. The old woman patted the young child''s head and remarked. "So, what brings you here? Surely it''s not just to listen to my playing, right?"


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Oh! I almost forgot! Who''s this, Great Gramms?" The girl held up the pamphlet in askance.


    "This is!" The elderly lady grabbed onto the pamphlet and gasped in astonishment. "Clara, w-where did you find this?"


    "It was stuck between a photo album. Who''s the lady in the picture?"


    "That, my dear, is Clara Wieck Schumann. She''s your ancestor and my Great Gramms. You were named after her."


    "Great Gramms''s Great Gramms?"


    "That''s right. Clara Schumann was one of the world''s most powerful and most tragic Virtuosos of the Romantic Era. Unfortunately, she perished after failing to pass the last tribulation of Musical Notes. Have you learned about her in class?"


    "I haven''t."


    "Ehm, Clara, can you tell me what music is and what are the Seven Notes of Music?"


    "Music is a type of ability that everyone has, but only a select number can condense that music into a core known as Harmony. The Seven Notes of Music are the seven stages musical ability is divided into. The stages are Door, Recitative, Minstrel, Favola, Soul, Lament, and Time. They are often shortened to Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, and Ti."


    "Very good, it seems you paid attention in class."


    "Naturally! Clara is a smart girl!"


    "Haha, you''re right. Well done! Now, can you describe to me what each Note is about?¡±


    "Okay! The Door Note refers to being at the gateway of Music. Every person in the world is blessed with a certain amount of Do. With enough Do, they can attend Academies to condense and increase their Harmony.


    Recitative Note refers to the stage where young apprentices are able to remember the musical songs they had learned without the need of looking at the score. Those of the Re Note can even use music while speaking and doing normal-day activities. It is at this stage when the apprentices learn to use music songs to combat and defend, taking note of the musical significances within words.


    The Minstrel Note is the stage where young apprentices can truly call themselves Musicians. At this stage, they are able to mix songs of different genres and even compose new ones. Once Musicians are able to create depictions of stories from their music, they will have broken through to the Favola Note...just like you Great Gramms!"


    "Haha, exactly! What about the other Notes? I know that music has degenerated nowadays and most Musicians are only able to reach the Favola Note, but surely, you''ve been taught about the last three Notes. Did the teacher cover these topics?"


    "Yes! Only briefly though. Do you know about them? Can you tell me?"


    "Sure. Let''s see here, the Soul Note is the stage after Favola. Legends say that in order to break through to Soul Note, one must undergo a tribulation of sorts. According to the legends, in order to break through to the Soul Note, one must be able to compose a song that describes his or her own life story.


    By doing so, that person will have infused his or her own soul into the music, allowing his or her Harmony to take form. Now, some geniuses are able to easily create a story about their life, however, many others needed to create many stories before even attempting to make their own. Failure to break through could prove devastating to one''s cultivation."


    "Wow, that sounds tough. Do you know anyone who had broken through to the Soul Note?"


    "Not personally. My Great Gramms had done it. In fact, she went beyond Soul Note."


    "B-Beyond? To L-Lament and Time?"


    "Yes! Now, let me describe Lament and Time. At the Lament Note, Musicians are able create musical pieces that contain great dissonance in their sounds while still keeping in song form. These dissonant songs are generally used to attack and have been proven very effective against Disease Demons."


    "Disease Demons? Like the Cold Demon Jack had last week? Aren''t they weak? We didn''t even need music to defeat it."


    "Haha, just like the Cold Demon your brother was able to defeat last week. However, we have science to thank for that. Back then, though, science was not powerful enough to do the job. Therefore, they had Lament Note Musicians handle the Disease Demons."


    "Oh, I see."


    "However, like Soul Note, the Lament Note required a tough trial to pass. A potential Musician must be able to compose a dissonant-style song in order to break through. Some can do this right off the bat, however, a typical Musician must experience some suffering and tragedy before being able to incorporate that pain into their songs. Like the tribulation for Soul Note, failure to break through into Lament Note can prove disastrous to a person''s Harmony and hinder them greatly from breaking through with another attempt.


    After the Lament Note, we have the final stage of Music - the Time Note. Little is known about how one reaches Time Note though. Even I have never heard of it from my parents. Anyways, for Musicians of the Time Note, they have the ability to quickly use their musical abilities without the need to sing or play their songs out loud. When they play their music, it would feel as if time itself had stopped. They are the pinnacle of Harmonization and have been compared to gods. Legends say that there were only around a hundred Musicians who had reached the Time Note. Some notable ones were the Nine Muses of Ancient Greece."


    "Wow! That''s amazing!"


    ¡°It sure is. However, the legends say that there is a Note above Time Note. That Note is known as Higher Do Note. Whereas the Time Note Musicians are compared to gods, the Higher Do Note Musicians are gods. Little information is known about this legendary stage and within the entire history of Music, no one has ever reached that stage."


    "When I grow up, I''ll reach Higher Do Note for sure!"


    "Haha, that''s a good aspiration to aim for. I''m sure you''ll be able to. Now then, let me tell you the story of Clara Schumann, her rise to fame, and her tragic life."


    The elderly woman sat on the bench next to her great granddaughter and began narrating the life of the Virtuoso Schumann as the young girl listened with enthusiasm.


    "Clara Schumann was born as Clara Josephine Wieck in the ninth month and thirteenth day of year 1819 at Leipzig, Germany...."

 Chapter 1 - The Father and the Daughter

    The Door Note refers to being at the gateway of Music. Every person in the world is blessed with a certain amount of Do. With enough Do, they can attend Academies to condense and increase their Harmony.


    - Virtuoso Antonio Vivaldi


    **********


    "Clara, from now on, you will be living with me," A haggard and disheveled middle-aged man pulled at his young daughter.


    "What about mommy?" The young girl asked as she looked back at her mother who had just walked out the door.


    "Don''t mention her again! S-She doesn''t want you anymore."


    "W-Why? Is it because I''m a girl?"


    "No, my dear, it''s because of your singing. You know your mother is a famous singer. She abandoned you because of your lack of talent in singing and your insufficient Do. But don''t worry! We''ll show her! We''ll prove to her that even without talent, you will rise into fame as a Musician."


    "Uhm!"


    **********


    That was the year Clara Wieck''s parents divorced each other. Clara was the second child of Friedrich Wieck and Marianne Tromlitz. Clara''s eldest sibling died young but at least she had two younger siblings to play with. Her mother was a famous Singer and her father was a notable Pianist. They were both at the Favola Note. Just a couple of days ago, Clara''s father was trying to break through to the Soul Note. However, at his critical moment, he caught Clara''s mother conducting scandalous affairs with his best friend!


    That shock and pain not only caused him great grief, but also caused him to fail in breaking through. The tribulations mercilessly bombarded his core and he suffered severe damage to his Harmony. Since then, he was unable to build up enough Music to carry out another attempt at Soul Note. And so, Friedrich divorced Marianne and Marianne brought away their youngest children, leaving behind the less talented Clara.


    Clara was born with less than average Do. Unlike the children of typical Musicians, Clara could not cultivate enough Do to be considered by any academy. However, her father did not care about it. Unlike Clara''s mother, Friedrich believed that enough hard work and determination could top talent any day. Thus, the father and daughter began their lessons in music.


    Using teaching methods that he personally created, Friedrich would spend at least six hours each day teaching young Clara musical theories on piano, violin, singing, harmony, composition, and counterpoint. Then, Clara would spend around two hours afterwards on practicing music. Clara spent four entire years honing her abilities and improving her Harmony. And, in those four years, her hard work and will power had paid off. On the first month of 1828, young Clara broke through to the Recitative Note.


    **********


    "Congratulations, my dear!" Friedrich smiled as he hugged his young child. "How do you feel?"


    "I feel fine, father." Clara spoke softly as she reveled in her new abilities. With just a thought, she could instantly recall every note and every detail of the songs she had spend weeks on perfecting. So this is Recitative Note? I can even remember exactly how many Fermates there are in a song! Incredible!If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    "That''s good. That''s good." Clara''s father nodded in satisfaction. "I think you''re ready."


    "Ready for what?"


    "Nearly three months from now, there will be a tournament for young apprentices like you. Do you want to join? It will be a perfect opportunity to test your capabilities."


    "Okay! I want to know where I''m at compared to others around my age."


    "Good, good! I like your confidence! You stay put at home, I''ll make a trip to the next city to register. I won''t be back for lunch, but I''ll definitely make it by dinner."


    "Uhm!"


    Friedrich quickly packed a few things and left for Halle. Being a Favola Note Musician, his stamina and endurance were at least three times stronger than an average person. In only a little more than four hours, he was able to arrive at his designated city. He glanced up at the sun and realized that he had time to spare. There''s still a good amount of time left before registration ends. So, Friedrich reached into his bag and pulled out a loaf of black bread. While chewing on his lunch, the middle-aged man leisurely strolled through the streets towards the administrative building.


    "Kyaaah!"


    A piercing scream erupted as a young woman crashed into Friedrich. Clara''s father grimaced at the dropped piece of bread and turned his attention towards the lady.


    "Are you alright?" Friedrich asked as he held out his hand.


    The young woman scrambled to her feet and bowed apologetically. Before she could say anything, a couple of angry voices interrupted her.


    "Where''s that slut?!"


    The lady squeaked in terror and hid behind Friedrich, however she was still spotted by the three angry men who were looking for her. As the men rushed up to them, one guy sauntered forward and spat out.


    "Don''t think I don''t see you back there. You! You better stay out of this or I''ll break your bones!"


    Friedrich frowned slightly at the vulgar speech and held up a hand to protect the girl. When the man saw Friedrich''s slight movement, he sneered. "I warned you, but you seemed to be too stupid to listen. Men, get ''em!"


    Friedrich frowned again and sneered a little inside. Pushing the young lady back, he held up his hand and began channeling the music within him. With a sonorous boom, he released the music within him.


    "Klavierunterricht...Erster Abschnitt!"


    A phantom set of piano keys appeared before Friedrich''s outstretched hands. The magical sight stunned the three men and the young lady, each showing a different expression. The young lady had a face of relief while the three men had a mixture of horror, confusion, and anger.


    "Don''t let him finish his chant! Attack!" The leader of the three men roared as he charged towards the Pianist.


    Friedrich smiled and winked at the young lady. "Don''t worry, miss. I''m here. Mit Hineinlegen in the Tasten zu spielen, und zwar langsam!"


    With a smooth and flowing manner, Friedrich elegantly lashed out the first notes of the piano techniques he had created in order to teach Clara piano.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    With each measure completed, a vibration formed before the Pianist. After three vibrations appeared, Friedrich combined the three fluctuations with a triad. Using one solid chord, he sent the combined attack flying towards the enemy. One hit, knockout! All three were knocked unconscious. After retrieving his music, he turned towards the young lady and assured her that everything was alright.


    "Thank you very much! My name is Clementine Fechner. May I ask your name, benefactor?"


    "Friedrich...Friedrich Wieck."


    "Ah, so it''s Mr. Wieck! Thank you once again for your help!"


    "No problem. Why were those men chasing you?"


    "Cause they''re beasts!"


    "Beasts?"


    "Ah, no...t-they''re loan sharks. My brother...he''s a painter, but he met with some problems and borrowed some money. However, when I helped him return the loaned amount, those bastards decided to renege and forced me to pay interest. When I wasn''t able to, t-they wanted to...to use me...."


    "Hmph! Bastards indeed." Suddenly, the middle-aged man''s stomach growled and he looked about embarrassingly.


    Clementine saw the dropped loaf of bread and apologized once more. "How about I treat you to a meal as thanks?"


    "Ah, I don''t think I have the time. I got to head over to the administrative building before it closes."


    "Then...afterwards?"


    "S-Sure."


    "Here, let me show you the way."


    "Thanks."


    **********


    So, the two head over to the administrative building where Friedrich was just in time to register his daughter for the upcoming tournament. When Clementine found out about Clara, not only did she complimented the young girl''s musical skills, but Clementine also stressed about wanting to meet such an adorable child.


    After the registration, the two arrived at an inn and ate a hearty meal. They continued to converse with each other about their personal life and their aspirations. Hours went by and it was time for them to part. Clementine, having taken fancy of Friedrich, asked if she would ever see him again. To which Friedrich replied that only time will tell. With those parting words, Friedrich headed home.


    He, too, felt something with Clementine. But, he was afraid that Clara might not be accepting. Nevertheless, when March comes, he will take Clara to the tournament held in Halle and find the time to introduce her to Clementine after the competition. If everything works out, maybe he will be able to provide Clara with a mother she sorely needed.

 Chapter 2 - The Prodigy

    Recitative Note refers to the stage where young apprentices are able to remember the musical songs they had learned without the need of a score sheet. Those of the Re Note can even use music while speaking and doing normal day activities. It is at this stage when the apprentices began to learn offensive and defensive songs, taking note of the musical significances within the words.


    - Virtuoso Antonio Vivaldi


    **********


    "I''m home! Clara? Where are you?" Friedrich called out as he opened the front door.


    "Over here! I''m in the kitchen!" The young girl responded.


    The middle-aged man could hear the sizzling crackles of heated food. He pushed open the door to the kitchen and saw his daughter stoking the pot of vegetable stew. "I got it, Clara. You go set the table."


    "Okay."


    As Clara headed towards the dining room, Friedrich took a sip of the stew. "A bit bland, but overall delicious. My daughter is a natural."


    With a lighthearted smile, Friedrich added some seasoning before carrying the pot out. Clara had just finished setting up the table and was currently adding some pieces of bread to each plate. The young girl''s father maneuvered towards the table and placed the piping hot pot on the center of the table. With a ladle, he scooped a hearty helping onto Clara''s bowl before filling up his own.


    "Here you go, my dear. Eat up."


    "How did the registration go?" Clara asked after she gave thanks.


    "It finished smoothly. There wasn''t any problem. After all, your father is a piano teacher in his own right. Having my own daughter as my student is not against the tournament rules."


    "That''s great! When is the tournament?"


    "Mid-March. So, you need to prepare yourself."


    "Okay!"


    **********


    Time flew by quickly for the two mortals and soon, March arrived. The father and child had decided to head towards Halle during the end of the first week. They quickly packed a few necessities to bring along the trip. For a Favola Note like Friedrich, going to Halle won''t take a lot of time. However, for a Recitative Note like Clara, the middle-aged man had to slow down considerably. Nevertheless, he figured that they would need at least eight to ten hours.


    And so, Saturday arrived. Friedrich and Clara left for Halle early in the morning. Clara slept in the carriage, covered with some blankets to ward off the morning breeze, while Friedrich gently urged the horses down the dirt road. Along the way, the two encountered a small band of highwaymen. Clara got to see her father''s combative skills in action. While Friedrich fended off the attacks of the bandits, he explained to Clara the strategies involved.


    Then, just as the middle-aged man was about to kill the last robber, Clara stepped in like an angel and pleaded for the robber''s life. The young girl then turned to her father and asked for a few coins. Curious about her actions, Friedrich agreed and handed Clara some silver. The young girl handed the coins to the outlaw and asked him to train with her so that she could get some experience. Realizing what she wanted, Friedrich agreed with his daughter''s decision and gave a stern look towards the bandit. The man agreed, seeing that the other choice might not be favorable to him. And so, the highwayman spent two hours sparring with Clara.


    At first, Clara was clumsy with her attacks and defense, but after a while, her moves started to flow more smoothly and her defense became more solid. Soon, she was able to defeat her opponent ten times out of ten. Friedrich beamed with satisfaction and praised his daughter. He dismissed the outlaw and they continued towards Halle. Seeing the two Musicians leave, the outlaw quickly left the vicinity for fear that Friedrich would change his mind.


    Later on in the future, the outlaw would become the legendary Schinderhannes II, which was natural as he was the son of the first Schinderhannes - Johannes Buckler. This outlaw was called Jakob Schweikart, named after his father''s fake identity. And like his father, his encounter with the Wieck family allowed him to turn over a new leaf and become the Robin Hood of Germany. One time, when asked what influenced his actions, he would reminisce about that fateful day when his life was spared by the angel in blue.


    **********


    "We''re here! You feeling hungry Clara?" Friedrich reined in the horses to a stop and paid the city guard a vehicle fee.


    "I''m fine." Clara shook her head as she sat all prim and proper, but her stomach betrayed her causing her to hide in embarrassment.


    Clara''s father laughed heartily and drove the carriage towards the nearest inn. He leaped off and signaled for a stable boy. He handed the teenager a small pouch of coins.


    "Boy, take this carriage to the stables and feed the horses. The rest is your tip. Go on!"


    As the stable boy hurriedly led their carriage around to the back of the inn, Friedrich led his daughter inside. They were greeted with a merry atmosphere. Men and women were chattering away as they dined and drank at their tables. The Wiecks found an empty table and situated themselves. While Clara looked around at the novelties, Friedrich ordered some mutton roast, pasta, and water.


    "Don''t look around too much Clara, you might cause some unwanted trouble." Friedrich warned the young girl who couldn''t help but wander her eyes.


    Clara nodded and turned her attention towards the sheet music in her hands. Soon, their dishes arrived and the two dug in eagerly. Compared to the meager and bland meals they usually have, these rich dishes were a feast. Suddenly, while they were engrossed in their food, the front door of the inn opened with a thundering crack. Three people sauntered in with sneers plastered on their faces.


    Although Friedrich did not pay any attention to the commotion, the inexperienced Clara couldn''t help but look at what was going on. The three people that walked in were all relatively young - two males and one female. They were all about eleven to twelve years old. The two boys seemed to follow the young girl around as they surveyed their surroundings. The trio approached an elderly man who sat by himself and threatened him to give up his seat. When the old man tried to protest, the young girl flashed a badge at him.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The old man couldn''t help but gasp when he saw the badge. "Y-You''re a student of Schutz Academy of Organists!"


    Upon hearing those words, many bystanders watched in disbelief. The Schutz Academy of Organists were the reigning champions of last years'' Musical Prodigy Tournament. Students of this academy specialized in the difficult instrument known as the organ. For the young girl and the two older boys to be here, they must be their school''s representatives for the upcoming competition.


    "Hmph! Now that you know who we are, get out of that seat! It''s ours right now!" The brown-haired boy to the right of the young girl smirked rudely.


    The old man sighed in defeat and quickly grabbed his dishes. As he left the table, Clara felt sorry for him and invited him over to her table. Seeing Friedrich nod his head in agreement, the old man thanked the two profusely before sitting next to Friedrich.


    "Thank you kindly. My name is Friedrich Carus, you may call me August."


    "Friedrich? What a coincidence? My name is Friedrich as well...Friedrich Wieck." Clara''s father remarked in surprise.


    "Coincidence indeed. It''s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wieck. And who, may I ask, is this young one?"


    "This is my daughter, Clara."


    "Oh ho! Clara...what a suitable name for a bright young child."


    "Thank you for the compliment. Clara, say thanks."


    Clara blinked adorably at the old man and elegantly thanked him. She then continued to eat and study her music sheets while the two adults moved on with their conversation.


    "So, what brings you to Halle? You''re accent betrayed you." Friedrich asked as he poured the old man a cup of water.


    "Oh, I''m just here on vacation from my teaching job before I transferred to Leipzig. I heard about the upcoming music tournament and wanted to see the show."


    "Oh? Teaching at Leipzig? We live at Leipzig. Maybe, when the time comes, we can show you around."


    "That''ll be great."


    "What do you teach about?"


    "Philosophy. I''m a philosopher and a preacher. What about you?"


    "I work as a Pianist and a Composer."


    "Really? Then, are you here to see the tournament as well? Is your daughter also sightseeing?"


    "I am, but my daughter is participating."


    "That''s incredible! She''s what? Seven or eight years old and she''s participating in the Musical Prodigy Tournament already? She must be a genius!"


    "Genius? That brat? Ha! Don''t make us laugh!" Just when the old man finished, the three children from the nearby table couldn''t help but overhear the chatter and sneered in disdain.


    Friedrich frowned and cautioned the trio. "Don''t go overboard. Mind your own business."


    "How dare you talk to us that way? Old man, do you know who she is? She''s the twin sister of Robert Volkmann - Carolina Volkmann!"


    Bystanders gasped at the introduction. Robert and Carolina Volkmann were famous, young Organists nicknamed as the Harmony Twins. Their skills in the organ were unparalleled within their age group. Both were rumored to have reached the Recitative Note. Though Robert was much more reserved, Carolina liked to strut around and display her musical aptitude. It was known that two boys always followed Carolina around like servants. They were Heinrich Bach and Ernst Becker, both decent Organists at the peak of Door Note.


    "Hmph!" Carolina glanced around her before focusing on Friedrich. "Scared? Compared with my genius abilities, what can a baby like her do? She should just forfeit the competition to save herself from humiliation."


    Friedrich rubbed the bridge of his nose and shook his head. The path of a Musician was a harsh one. One would often meet with idiots like these. Well, at least it''s good practice for young Clara. The middle-aged man looked at his daughter and replied.


    "Clara, treat this as practice and defeat them. Remember, never let anyone belittle you or your loved ones. Understood?"


    "Ehm!"


    "What''s this? Want to fight?" Heinrich sneered as he stepped forward with his palms out.


    "Let''s take it outside." Clara nodded as she too stood up.


    "Dealing with you won''t even take much effort."


    "You''re right. Dealing with you really won''t take any effort at all."


    "You bitch! Bach''s Toccata and Fugue in D minor!" Heinrich roared as he began channeling music around him.


    A grand organ appeared in the place of the condensing music. The keys lined up in rows before the young boy while the pipes situated behind him, pointing towards Clara like cannons. Heinrich floated upwards as pedals appeared below his feet. Overall, he looked majestic like a war god in full battle armor. The young boy pulled out his sheet music and began playing the piece. Starting off with a flurry of slow notes, he began to build up his attack.


    Clara also raised her two arms and countered. "Since you''re going with a Fugue, then I will as well! Czerny''s Capriccio Fugato!"


    A number of white and black keys floated within hands reach. Seeing that the young girl did not pull out her sheet music, the bystanders viewing the spectacle all gasped in shock. No sheet music? Does that mean this young girl was in the Recitative Note? Genius! The opposing trio also frowned upon this sight but Carolina dismissed it quickly. She glanced at Ernst and signaled him to support Heinrich.


    Ernst jumped into the fray and stretched out his hands as well. Similarly, an organ appeared with its pipes pointed towards Clara like cannons. A pamphlet was spread out before him.


    "Bach''s Prelude and Fugue in A minor!"


    Ernst immediately began playing the prelude of the musical piece, sending out sixteen beats per measure. Coupled with Heinrich''s twenty-two beats per measure, a flurry of vibrations emerged in the air like wind blades aiming towards young Clara. However, in order to unleash an attack, the Musicians must at least complete a measure. Though the two boys were able to deal large combos, the activation took time.


    Because they had to look at their music score, Ernst needed at least four seconds to complete his first measure and Heinrich needed at least five seconds. Clara, on the other hand, did not need to waste precious time to look at her score. Thus, the amount of time needed to activate her attack was lessened by a second. She immediately finished the first measure in exactly two seconds.


    A Punktierte followed by two Sechzehntels and two Viertels emerged before Clara. With a wave of her hand, the five fluctuating attacks smashed into the two boys, canceling their charging move. Heinrich and Ernst frantically tried to set up defensive parameters, but Clara had quickly finished another measure of Sechzehntels. The swarm of sixteenth notes bombarded the older boys.


    Fortunately for them, Clara had chosen a mezzo piano segment so the attacks weren''t too painful. Nevertheless, the youths fainted briefly before waking up from their defeat. Embarrassed, they hid behind Carolina. The young girl squinted at the shrinking figures and humphed in disdain.


    "Useless idiots." Carolina spat as she glared at Clara. "Well, no matter, even without their help, I can defeat someone as weak as you. For your information, I''ve been at the Recitative Note for two months now. I bet you just recently broke through, right? Come! Kneel down and accept your defeat. Maybe, I''ll forgive you for your insolence."


    "Enough talk, make your move." Clara frowned as she held out her hand.


    "You''ll regret it! Fantasia Opus 25 First Part!"


    The song matched well with the young girl''s agitated behavior. The young girl started out mezzo forte but as she continued to play, her music progressively intensified. After playing a little more than one and a half measure, Carolina launched her attack with a sforzando Punktierte Chord. The thirteen Sechzehntels flew towards Clara like a barrage of piercing arrows.


    Clara flashed her eyes as the gears in her mind began to whirl. Immediately, she recalled a suitable counter near the bottom of the next page and began lashing out a couple of chord-filled measures with increasing intensity. Because her segment were filled with chords, she was able to form a solid defensive wall before her. The notes from Carolina smashed into Clara''s barrier and could only break the wall apart.


    August narrowed his eyes at the sight and muttered under his breath. "Evenly matched!"


    Friedrich overheard the old man''s words and gave him a knowing smile. "Keep watching."


    "What? Could it be?" August gasped and turned towards Friedrich, but his attention was attracted immediately by Clara''s next words.


    "Time to end this!" Clara roared as she started to move her fingers.


    The sounds she played were so soft that people had to hold their breaths in order to hear them. But, as soon as the soft music started, it was soon replaced by a series of sonorous booms like raging thunder. The lightning struck Carolina''s brittle defense, causing it to light up like a bonfire. Bound by this delusion, Carolina screamed in utter pain as she rolled about on the floor, trying to put out the illusory flames.


    Carolina fainted from the mental attack and was carried away by Heinrich and Ernst. Once they left, the inn burst out with applause and cheers. People were praising Clara as a genius...a musical prodigy. Everyone came and introduced themselves, hoping to become acquainted with the young girl. August even asked Friedrich if Clara wanted to perform at his son''s house sometime in late March, in which Friedrich agreed. After a while, when all was settled, the two Wiecks headed out to the tournament''s arena.


    **********


    And so, Clara proved her worth and defeated last year''s champions in an unofficial match. Because of the injuries, Schutz Academy of Organists had to forfeit. Clara continued to easily defeat the other attending teams and snatched victory from their grasps. She even received praises and favor from some of the attending Virtuosos.


    As she was receiving her prize, the family of Carolina Volkmann arrived and protested. They threatened Clara for hurting their precious daughter and ordered her to apologize. However, Clara''s father stepped in and unleashed his power. Although the Volkmann family also had a Favola Note Musician, he was only a mid-level one. Compared to the peak-level Friedrich, they were worlds apart. After suffering a defeat by Friedrich, the Volkmann family could only swallow their anger and head back home.


    Afterwards, just as Friedrich and Clara prepared to head home, they met Clementine. Friedrich introduced Clementine to Clara and the bright young girl could immediately see the attraction her father and the woman had for each other. To save the two adults'' awkward situation, Clara asked if Clementine would like to visit them and teach her how to cook. Clementine agreed while Friedrich looked on with a happy expression. Because of those words, he knew that Clara had accepted Clementine. With this, he could pursue his love with no worries.


    Days later, Clara attended the social gathering organized by August''s son - Dr. Ernst Carus. She played a couple of showy, popular songs for the crowd and attracted the attention of a seventeen year old young man by the name of Robert Schumann. Intrigued by the young girl''s piano prowess, Robert vowed to give up his scholarly pursuits and someday study piano under Friedrich. Clara, unknowing of what was occurring in Robert''s head, continued to greet the other guests.


    About a few days after the social gathering, Clementine arrived to help Clara cook. However, most of her time was spent with Friedrich. The two adults were like a young couple. They went on long dates and attended many concerts. Soon, after a few months, the two got married. Clara, now with a kind mother who loved her, could not be any happier. Life was good for the young pianist.