Chapter 2: Discordant Streets

The air was heavy with discontent as people poured onto the streets of Rivera, their voices a cacophony of outrage and despair. The news had spread like wildfire: all music was banned, effective immediately. Musicians, shopkeepers, and everyday citizens all mingled together, united in their shock and dismay. As she navigated the crowded streets, Lena's eyes scanned the sea of faces, searching for any sign of her brother, Kael. A violinist, Kael had made music a part of his very being, and she knew he would be especially devastated by this sudden ban. She spotted a familiar figure in the distance – his messy brown hair and bright blue jacket made him stand out in the crowd. As she reached his side, Kael turned to her with a look of desperation in his eyes. "Lena, what are we going to do?" he asked, his voice barely audible over the din of the crowd. Lena took a deep breath and tried to think of something reassuring to say, but her mind was a blank. She had always known that the city's ruling council, the Orden, had the power to make drastic decisions, but she had never thought they would actually ban music. The Orden's leader, the enigmatic and feared Director Arcturus, had appeared on the city's central square just hours before, flanked by the city's militia. His voice had boomed through the loudspeakers, declaring that music was a "distraction" and a "disruptor of social order." The announcement had been met with stunned silence, followed by the chaos that now filled the streets. As Lena and Kael stood there, a group of musicians began to play – quietly, defiantly – on the corner of the street. A lone guitarist strummed a melancholy melody, while a young singer's voice soared above the crowd, her words a poignant lament for the city's lost music. The crowd began to swell, drawn in by the music. Lena felt a lump form in her throat as she listened, her heart aching for the beauty and joy that music brought to their lives. But as the music continued to play, the militia began to move in, their batons at the ready. Director Arcturus's face appeared on the giant screens that lined the city's buildings, his voice cold and unforgiving. "Citizens of Rivera, I warn you: any further instances of music will be met with swift and severe punishment. The Orden will not be defied." The guitarist and singer faltered, their music dying away as the militia closed in. The crowd began to disperse, but Lena and Kael stood frozen, their eyes locked on the spot where the music had been silenced. As they stood there, a small piece of paper was pressed into Lena's hand. She unfolded it, her eyes scanning the hastily scrawled message: Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight. Come alone. The note was unsigned, but Lena felt a spark of curiosity ignite within her. Who could be behind this mysterious message, and what did they plan to do about the banned music?