Chapter 145
Chapter 145:
Griselda grasped the banjo carefully, steadied her breathing, and placed her fingers precisely on the strings. She began the opening notes of NoMo’s “Vast Universe.” Her posture was elegant, perfectly demonstrating her training. The melody flowed from her fingertips—soft, beautiful, and lingering in the audience’s ears.
When the final note faded, warm applause burst forth. Esmund could hardly contain himself. “That was phenomenal, Griselda! Exactly what I’d expect from a student of Master Tristan. Your banjo playing is unmatched p>
Pride surged through Griselda, though she kept her humility intact for the camera. “You’re flattering me too much, Esmund p>
“Nonsense!” Esmund chuckled. “NoMo’s music and your extraordinary playing were absolutely perfect together. Wouldn’t you say so, Brock p>
Brock gave a brief, approving nod. “Yes, it truly was impressive p>
Though deep down, Brock felt NoMo’s banjo playing stood alone at the peak.
Raising the microphone to his lips, Delbert faced Noelle’s team. “Griselda has wrapped up her performance. Now it’s your turn to share some thoughts p>
Hailey spoke up first. With little knowledge of the banjo, she kept it simple. “I thought it was quite good p>
Jaxton’s turn came, and he replied in a laid-back tone, “It was decent p>
A teasing chuckle escaped Esmund. “Jaxton, even though we’re rivals right now, you don’t have to hide your true feelings p>
With a casual shrug, Jaxton rubbed his ear. “Seriously, I don’t know much about the banjo. All I can say is ‘it was decent p>
𝗗𝗈𝗐𝗻𝗅о𝖺𝘥 𝗣𝖣𝘍𝘴 𝖿r𝘦𝖾 𝘰ո
“Alright, fair enough,” Esmund chuckled, turning expectantly to Noelle. “How do you feel about Jaxton’s evaluation, Noelle p>
She gave Jaxton a measured look before answering in a cool, steady voice, “He’s sugarcoating it p>
That caught Esmund off guard for a split second.
Griselda’s expression hardened. She stared at Noelle, irritation plain. “What exactly is that supposed to mean, Noelle p>
Meeting her stare without a hint of emotion, Noelle explained, “NoMo’s ‘Vast Universe’ is a demanding piece split into four parts. The opening two sections were played beautifully. But as you moved into the third part, the difficulty ramped up and you lost your footing. You became so focused on hitting every note that the feeling behind the music faded p>
Brock’s brow creased as he listened. Everyone knew the third part of “Vast Universe” was a steep climb—only a handful could handle it with grace. During that section, Griselda’s nerves got the better of her, and the performance lost its spark.
Still, her rendition surpassed many attempts by skilled players. But for Griselda, the criticism felt deeply personal. She rose abruptly, cheeks flushed with anger. Her banjo skills defined her, and such a harsh critique was too much to bear.
Online, Griselda’s supporters erupted with indignation.
“Is Noelle for real? She actually called Griselda out like that? Who does she think she is p>
“Everyone knows Griselda is Tristan Frazier’s student! Does Noelle honestly believe she made it this far by sheer luck p>
“That’s right! No one can deny Griselda’s banjo talent—what gives some upstart like Noelle the right to judge her performance p>
“All Noelle wants is a bit of attention—she’s just stirring up trouble for the cameras p>