Devil’s Music

After the stage performance ended, Kiska sat on the sofa in the annex with Ben as the staff, who had been waiting, immediately started testing the cameras, and the audio director, who had been struggling to equip Kiska with a microphone, finally allowed her to do it herself after trembling hands made a mess of it, earning a scolding from Director Richie.

As the preparations continued for a while and things started to stabilize, Richie noticed Olivia next to the main camera.

Although she was the most respected veteran camera director, she was also the main PD of this program.

Olivia checked the overall situation and approached Richie, asking, "Director, are you ready? Is everything set with the audio and lighting?"

After exchanging glances with the other directors, Olivia looked at Ben and Kiska and said, "Ben? Please proceed as per the script. Thank you, Ms. Miocic."

Ben nodded slightly in response, and Kiska responded with a gentle smile, "Just call me Kiska."

As Ben cleared his throat and nodded slightly, Olivia cued him to start speaking.

"Hello, viewers. I am Ben Richmond, hosting the New York Report's 200th Anniversary Special Program, 'Where Two Gods Dwell'."

Ben naturally gestured around the sofa, adding, "It's hard to believe I'm sitting here. Today feels like the most honorable and proud moment of my career related to broadcasting.

As Olivia waved her hand, other cameras began filming the area Ben was describing, while the main camera kept its focus steady on him.

"You might remember this location from 'The Song of the Piano' and 'Flowers and the Swing Leave Behind Love and Longing.' And it also appears in the recently published 'The Song of Words.' Now, you must have guessed who our guest today is?"

The camera lens pulled back to a full shot of the sofa as Kiska, who seemed too youthful to be in her seventies with her elegantly tied golden blonde hair and dressed in a grey sweater and long, wide brown skirt, hands on her knees, sitting straight, smiled at the camera. After seeing Olivia's signal, Ben continued.

"Hello, professor? May I call you Professor Kiska?"

Kiska smiled warmly, the wrinkles around her eyes hinting at her beauty from her younger days, stunning Ben with her enduring charm.

"Hehe, yes, please do."

Caught briefly off guard by her beauty, Ben took a moment before speaking, "Ah... yes, ah! Sorry, you're so beautiful that I was momentarily mesmerized."

"Hehe, I appreciate the compliment, but what's pretty about an old lady like me?"

"No, professor. I really mean it."

"Hehe, thank you."

Ben casually flipped through the script on his lap as he continued, "I've mentioned the program's title earlier, but as a special broadcast, it's called 'Where Two Gods Dwell.'

You've all noticed, right? It's an interview at the mansion where the goddess of literature, Kiska Miocic, and the god of music, Kay, used to live."

As Kay's name was mentioned, Kiska's expression turned somber. Noticing this, Ben delicately broached the subject.

"First... congratulations on your recent Nobel Prize in Literature, professor. By the time this broadcast airs, the award ceremony would have already taken place, so feel free to speak freely. You've now surpassed even your previous record for most awards."

"Thank you. It's all thanks to the love from all of you."

"This latest work is titled 'The Song of Words.' May I ask why you chose this name?"

Kiska's expression became distant as she gazed out the window with the white frames, ignoring Ben's question momentarily. Seeing this, Ben glanced at Olivia, who signaled to continue at ease since it was a recorded show. After a while, Kiska spoke.

"I wanted him to acknowledge my writing, at least. I had no talent for singing, unlike him."

Understanding her deep love for him, Ben's expression grew sorrowful.

"You must miss him a lot, professor."

With a sad smile, Kiska nodded.

"I miss him every day. The man who would smile as he handed me coffee every morning, who always sang sitting at that piano, who walked with me at the Bronx Zoo, who would show up with blueberry chunk ice cream from the ice cream shop that recently closed, smiling— I think of him every day, every moment."

Kiska's sad expression seemed more heart-wrenching than if she had been openly crying. After a moment, Ben took a sip of water to clear his choked throat and continued.

"The broadcast will air on the fifth anniversary of Kay's passing. Today, we'll not only share stories from Professor Kiska but also remember the god of music, Kay. Let's first look at some footage."

Though the broadcast would be edited as necessary, the actual shooting continued without cuts. Olivia held up an enlarged photograph next to the camera.

The photo showed a young Kay embracing Kiska from behind.

"This photo is quite famous. It's one of the few beautiful photos of the century's romance. Can you explain the background and timing?"

Kiska looked at the photo with a tender smile.

"I remember clearly. This was during the European tour for Kay's debut album 'The Nature.' I had joined him in England after a trip with his family across the US, and this was near a river park in Prague."

Ben, checking the details, asked, "So, would you say Kay's legend began with 'The Nature'? It was his first major activity, after all.

Ah, of course, the singles he released before were also excellent. Let's take a look at the records. Historically, it's the first album where every song alternated at number one on the Billboard charts, right?"

"Yes, that's right. The first song to hit number one was the rock music 'Song of Fire.'"

"Correct, and exactly two weeks later, the hip-hop music 'Song of Earth' topped the charts, followed by the strikingly choreographed 'Song of Wind' after its music video premiered. What's amazing is that songs from 'The Nature' occupied the top four spots."

"And finally, 'Song of Water' reached number one."

"That's right. Initially, it was quite unexpected for an instrumental to top the Billboard charts.

But as it kept playing on various radios and broadcasts, 'Song of Water' eventually became the most beloved song, staying at number one for 13 weeks. In total, Kay maintained the Billboard number one spot for 25 weeks with just four songs from 'The Nature.' Can you believe that, everyone? There are 48 weeks in a year, and he dominated the top spot for over half that time. Ultimately, he swept all the awards at that year's Grammy Awards."

"Hehe, yes. The tour was also successful."

"Right. It started with the first live performance in South Korea, right? Although it was just one song, 'Song of Earth,' in front of a large audience. Then the world tour began, and he briefly returned to the US to graduate school, continuing the tour for about a year worldwide."

"Yes, I was with him, so I know very well."

Olivia then held up a new photo. It showed Kay wearing a graduation cap with Kiska giving him a peck on the cheek.

"Here's the next photo. Is this Kay's graduation photo?"

"Yes, that's right. He graduated during the tour, and the dean of Juilliard insisted he return for the ceremony or he wouldn't graduate.

Hehe, turned out it was their last chance to get his autograph on a CD, hehe."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Ah, I see? That's a funny story about the dean, who has since passed away. What are the people in the background of this photo doing now?"

As the camera focused on people visible or partially hidden in the background, Kiska remembered each one.

"First, the person whose wrist is visible on the left end is Director Son Lin of Fantagio. To Kay and me, he was like family."

Ben leaned forward, surprised, "Oh? I couldn't recognize him since his face isn't visible. This is Director Son Lin, who has won the 'Best of the IBA Awards' at the 'International Business Awards' ten times, the first and most awarded person in the music business to win this award, very famous indeed."

Kiska smiled and said, "Yes, that's right. After Kay passed, he soon followed."

"Ah... I see. I didn't know he had passed. Sorry. Despite his fame, there wasn't any news of his death."

"He passed quietly. Only close friends were there."

"Uh... okay, and the person next to him, not visible, who is that?"

"Professors Sharon, John Corigliano, and Leontine Price."

"Ah! The famous professors from Juilliard. Professor Leontine Price passed away near the age of a hundred, her albums still legendary today."

"Yes, that's right. And Professor John was like a mentor to me. He passed away at ninety-two, and my brother and I were with him at the end."

"Ha, you still use the term 'brother,' right? It's Korean, isn't it? I've seen you on broadcasts calling Kay 'brother,' and many people have picked up the term, helping spark an interest in Korean."

"Hehe, yes, that happened."

"Professor Sharon... has she passed away?"

"Yes, Professor Sharon passed a month after Kay became the wind."

"Um... it seems like those around Kay were there for him until the end."

"I think so too."

"That must have been a great blessing."

Kiska smiled wistfully.

>

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