NOVEL FROG In the Hall of the Mountain King
As the lingering echoes quietly faded, Tenuto spoke to me in a calm voice.
"That was an amazing performance."
His voice carried deep admiration mixed with a hint of playful mischief.
"Care to dance with me inside the mansion?"
I was flustered by being treated like a girl, and though I wanted to reply, my mind raced, but no words came out. My voice caught in my throat, leaving only silence. I couldn't write, and gestures wouldn't get through either. So, I decided to convey my message through music, taking up my saxophone.
I wanted to tell him that Forte was imprisoned in the witch's mansion, and that I wished to go save her. As the sound of the saxophone filled the air, Tenuto quickly grasped the meaning.
"I see, this melody is from another world’s Norway, 'In the Hall of the Mountain King.' That pursuer must have come from a palace-like place."
The next song I chose was 'Waltz of the Sleeping Beauty' from another world's Russia. It wasn't a piece suited for the saxophone, but I had no other choice. As the melody played, Tenuto nodded quietly, weaving his words with understanding.
"Ah, Tchaikovsky, huh? So, you're saying there's a girl trapped somewhere, sleeping in a mansion-like place."
With each growing understanding, a sense of relief began to fill my heart. Finally, I played Schubert's 'Military March,' and Tenuto’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Ah, so we’re off to fight and rescue her, are we? Very well, I was getting bored anyway. With two cute little bunny girls like you, it's a perfect situation."
Without another word, we exchanged a silent agreement and set off together toward the witch's mansion. Tenuto smiled.
"I can't let a lady walk down such a rugged path."
He summoned a hologram of a piano in the air. Then, as he lightly played the challenging piece 'Flight of the Bumblebee,' wings like those of a bee sprouted from our backs, allowing us to fly low through the forest as if we were dancing through the air.
Incredible. Using classical pieces from another world to cast spells—such a thing was unheard of. I grew up in a rural town, but surely, in the cutting-edge cities, new kinds of magic using instruments were being developed. I could only marvel at it.
The sound of the wind brushing past us echoed in our ears as we flew through the trees. The night forest was draped in a pitch-black veil, with only occasional beams of moonlight piercing the darkness. But even that darkness was powerless against us. Like bees, swift and nimble, we weaved through the trees, heading straight for the witch's mansion as the forest creatures watched us in astonishment.
"Which way is the mansion?"
Tenuto asked, and I pointed in the direction, leading us deeper into the forest. It didn’t take long to reach the witch’s mansion. However, even from the outside, a malevolent aura seeped from the building, signaling its ominous presence.
Taking a deep breath, I readied my saxophone. As I played a wind spell, the heavy door crumbled with a groan, and we stepped inside. There, my original body lay cold and still in a coma-like state. The witch was nowhere to be seen. Could she be away?
"Ah, so it’s a man."
Tenuto shrugged, clearly unimpressed, and began to play 'Morning Mood' from the 'Peer Gynt Suite.' "If it's just a simple sleeping curse, this should do the trick."
Despite his complaints, he was helping, and I gave a grateful bow. He was kind. As Tenuto’s fingers glided over the keys, waves of magic spread out, and my sleeping body began to stir ever so slightly.
"Now, my lady, are you ready for battle? It seems the enemy has no intention of letting us leave peacefully."
The moment his words ended, a swirling purple mist took form, slowly transforming into the figure of the witch.
"Now that you've discovered the research I've been conducting here, I can't let you leave alive! Prepare yourselves!"
The witch screamed as she unleashed her dark powers.