Shy laughs break from the class, though Mr. Verim seems to be stern. Not upset, just ready to continue. The class finishes giggling and Lawrence opens his eyes again.
"Sorry, sir."
His voice shakes as his head falls in shame.
"Sorry? For what, Mr. Lawrence. The lesson went as it should have. I'd actually be more bothered if you played it perfectly."
The boy raises his head meekly. Mr. Verim pushes against his arm, moving over beside him now.
"It's as I thought,"
Mr. Verim speaks out to the class now. He takes back the horn and shows it to the class, raising it above his head.
"See, I chose this very horn because I'd hoped it would be one that you've either never seen or heard before."
He lowers it to chest level.
"Lucky us, huh?"
He leans his head over, feigning a popped eardrum. The class shares in laughter.
"He's funny."
Melody catches herself, again complimenting their teacher. This time her cheeks begin to rosen and warm.
"Ahem. Now, Mr. Lawrence, if you would-"
He lends the horn out flat to Lawrence again, still standing next to him, using one arm to hold the other at just above the elbow.
"Wha-"
He exclaims, and the class likewise turns their ear away again.
"Ah! Patience, class, patience."
Mr. Verim holds one hand out, with an individual finger pointed up.
"Play a song for us, but this time- "
Mr. Verim moves in closer, intensely looking into Lawrence's brown eyes.
"Let your Blessed energy flow into it."
He speaks softly, but enough that the entire class could hear.
"Wha-"
"Really-"
"Like we do with our weapons?"
"How is that-"
The class wonders aloud as if reading Lawrence's own thoughts. Quickly trying to turn his head over to the class, attempting to share in their quizzical humor, Lawrence is stopped by Mr. Verim- he steels Lawrence's eyes with his own, His silver eyes telling Lawrence to do it.
"Yes. it's a technique you should have been taught early on, helping you to fight at a slightly better advantage- but let's see what happens, shall we?"
Mr. Verim lets go of Lawrence's gaze, speaking to the class now. He backs away a step from Lawrence, lending him the stage.
Nodding his head in half-submission, Lawrence breathes in assuredly again, closing one eye. Gathering focus, Mr. Lawrence closes the other eye. Blowing out into the instrument touching his lips, that same rough beat of vibrational sound escapes the front of the horn. But then, the sound begins to even out. Inside of Lawrence's cheeks, a soft and yellow light begins to glow. It hovers inside his mouth and crawls its way into the instrument. The sound of the horn becomes music, resonating with Lawrence's Blessed energy.
From its rough beginnings, the song starts and wipes any bad thoughts of the previous sound. The song coming from Lawrence's horn frees the room of any held breath. Putting the class into a sway, Lawrence can see out of his one opened eye that the music playing in the room is actually his. He opens his other eye and watches the smiles and heads nodding to his tune. An orange-yellow haze begins to seep into the room, not dense enough to really see, but it's felt in the sound and dance of his music.
Shocked at his surprising ability, Lawrence abruptly quits playing and laughs, chortling really, with confidence and joy. The glow fades quickly, and the class stops swaying.
CLIP CLAP CLP CLP CPCPCPCPCPCPCPCPCPCPCPCP
A thunderous applause breaks from this classroom, all pointed toward Mr. Lawrence who takes a half-bow.
"Yes! Mr. Lawrence!"
Mr. Verim comes up to him, shaking his hand with most of the movement coming from him as Lawrence is still in a daze. Not skipping a beat of this excitement,
"Through our Blessed energy, we've been able to glean some interesting skills that our predecessors, the Angels, have been depicted to have."
Mr. Verim takes back the horn and shoves it forward at the class. The class quiets and listens.
Mr. Verim then starts to walk towards his desk, reaching to pull a piece of paper free from the mess.
SHFF
He pulls one free, displaying it for the class to see. On it, there are several depictions of Angels in an elegant painting.
"See here, these Angels appear to be playing in some sort of lively musical."
One of the Angels is holding the very Tenor Horn that Mr. Verim places down on his desk.
Photocopied on a piece of paper is an elegant painting. One Angel plays the horn, another holds a harp mid-strum, and the third is holding his hands in the air, projecting his assuming lovely hymnal voice. Mr. Verim goes on,
"Now, it does take great care and practice to get anywhere good and useful with an instrument- at least to the level that the Angels could use them."
He posits, extending his arm out in mock singing.
"But that's just one of the many ways that those high-beings have mastered their Heavenly power."
He lowers his hand, dropping the sheet of paper back into the mess of his desk.
"Now, who else would like to try?"
Mr. Verim reaches both hands outward, inviting the entire class forward. The rush of students pushes Melody off to the side, lost in a daze at her teacher. Her thoughts begin to catch up to her.
"I really want this man to teach me something."
"What!? Did I just think that?!"
Melody flusters, burying her red face in her hands.
"Kyaaaaa!"
At the front of the class, surrounded by questions and laughter, Mr. Verim smiles out to his students. The end of the day draws near, and Melody is stuck wondering further about her Teacher, Mr. Verim.
Continued in PART TWENTY-FIVE…