The World Listens

Chapter 20: The Whisper Violin



The next morning…

Noen didn't talk much.

Neither did Toren ask anything.

But his father's eyes… they saw everything —

the shadows under Noen's eyes,

and his hands… as if they had touched the sounds of another time.

Mira placed some bread on a plate and softly said,

"Don't overthink… you are music.

And music… it can never stay silent."

---

By afternoon, the caravan had set up camp near the local market.

Everyone was busy — tuning, cleaning, fixing their instruments.

And Noen…

he was just walking.

By himself.

No direction.

Just wandering.

As he passed an old shop,

he heard a strange sound —

like a broken string snapping and falling inside.

It was a small instrument shop.

Locked.

Dusty.

Falling apart.

And beside it… a narrow alley.

A small, crooked board hung there: "Old Melodies: Not for Sale."

Noen stepped inside.

Dust.

Silence.

And the scent of old memories.

---

There was a wooden box —

completely covered in spider webs.

He carefully opened it.

Inside — a violin.

Old. Cracked.

Missing strings.

The bow was dry, almost dead.

But… something was carved into its body.

A small line — scratched, almost like a secret:

> "The music may have fallen silent… but I never did."

---

Noen picked up the violin.

And just then… a folded paper slipped out.

An old note.

It read:

> "If you're reading this,

you've probably felt something… that night.

Silencia isn't just a kingdom…

it's a pain that's terrified of sound.

My music has long been silenced…

but yours hasn't.

Play for them.

Even if they hate you.

— A Bard Who Refused to Stay Silent."

---

Noen gently touched one of the broken strings.

And for a second…

he heard a sound.

No one else heard it in that dusty shop.

But Noen did.

A hidden memory.

A whisper.

---

That night, he didn't play his guitar.

He held that broken violin in his arms,

and with his eyes closed… he imagined a melody

that maybe only that unknown bard had ever played.

And quietly, he whispered to himself:

> "I won't let your music disappear."

---

End of Chapter 5

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