It was a tranquil afternoon at Mythag University. Winter lingered just beyond the horizon, and the air held a cool promise of falling snow. Across the campus, students and Awakeners were quietly immersed in their own preparations for the coming holidays. The scene evoked the spirit of an old London academy — dignified, peaceful, and rich with history.

Within the vast theatre hall, Hameln stood alone at center stage. His baton traced elegant arcs through the air, conducting an orchestra that could not be seen. With each precise motion, instruments emerged from ripples of sound, shimmering into existence as his magic wove them together in flawless harmony.

‘The Blue Danube Waltz’ flowed seamlessly into ‘The Voice of Spring,’ the melodies entwining into something both ethereal and stirring. The music filled the empty hall, haunting yet radiant, like winter breathing softly through marble walls.

As the final note dissolved into silence, a gentle creak echoed from the theatre doors. Hameln stilled, his attention drawn toward the sound. At the entrance stood Sasha, the Keeper — one of the rare few whose presence commanded genuine respect among Awakeners such as himself.

Lowering his baton, Hameln turned to face them and inclined his head in a graceful bow. “Keeper,” he spoke evenly, his voice calm and composed, “your presence honors me. I hope the performance was to your liking.”

His words lingered in the stillness, mingling with the fading echo of the waltz that had yet to fully leave the air.