Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 29: Was There Nothing?

Staying on the set for a long time, the wait felt too long. With no other pastime activities, James' guitar was the only choice. However, over the past few months, almost everyone had shown their skills, except for Renly who always just watched, never participating. Rami even thought Renly couldn't play the guitar at all.

Renly shrugged lightly. "Just occasional entertainment."

Holding the guitar in his arms, Renly adjusted his sitting position slightly, seeking a more comfortable posture. Then his right hand lightly traced the strings, one by one. There was no particular melody; he simply enjoyed the sound of different notes bouncing out.

Learning piano as a child, relying on his ears to identify different scales and pitches, was basic. Those lessons were not only dull but also required talent, a restraint for children, even a torment. The glamorous noble life or child prodigies seen on the surface concealed the unimaginable effort and sacrifice behind them. Fortunately, for Renly, who had lived two lives, he was eager to learn new things, and his rigid and silent childhood had become enjoyable.

Music was truly a wonderful thing. Unlike acting, it relied solely on limited notes to interpret different emotions, meanings, and stories through various arrangements. Moreover, the same melody, in different circumstances and to different listeners, could convey different meanings.

The stiff strings under his fingertips stimulated the calluses, and the clear and pleasant notes leaped in the moonlight, exploring different aspects of the world in the dark night. Renly tried to find a bridge between himself and Eugene, trying to recall the thoughts and echoes of the afternoon scene, trying to find answers about war, faith, and life.

At first, there were only scattered notes, disorganized. But gradually, the notes connected, melodious and tranquil, soothing and peaceful. Yet, within the melody, there was a hint of loneliness and solitude, as if seeing the boundless ice field, vast and colorless, swallowed by endless white, where even black and green were devoured by it. The ground and the sky seemed indistinguishable, and the direction of the horizon was lost, the whole world merging into one, leaving only endless white.

He felt so small within it, like a speck of dust in the vast world, standing alone, swallowed by the surging loneliness, the cold seeping into his bones, calming all the clamor, as if even breathing lost its meaning. He couldn't help but close his eyes, feeling the profound tranquility, as if diving into the sea, surrendering to the calmness, sinking slowly, reaching the moment of extreme quietness and darkness, wonderfully intoxicating.

Rami opened his mouth, wanting to say something but afraid to break the beautiful silence. His gaze fell on Renly's slender fingers, unable to imagine that just a minute ago, the guitar was in his own hands, playing fragmented pop music, but now it bloomed with vitality. The collision of fingertips and strings created such an exquisite melody.

"What song is this?" A voice broke the silence, and everyone sitting around turned their angry eyes towards the source, as if reproaching the lack of appreciation. Carl, surrounded by so many glances, holding a beer bottle, shrugged helplessly. "I've never heard this song. I'm just curious how it would be with lyrics."

Although a director, Carl had also appeared in many TV shows, so his relationship with the actors was quite close. Hearing Carl's question, everyone's gaze turned to Renly because that was the question everyone was curious about. This melody, unheard of, effortlessly captured everyone's ears.

Renly's lips curved into a faint smile, warmth radiating in the haze and heaviness of the night. His eyebrows caught a hint of milky yellow glow, outlining his tranquil and beautiful features.

Lowering his head slightly, gazing at the trembling strings under his fingertips under the starlight, the melody flowed slowly in his thoughts. He could almost hear the wind roaring on the silent ice field, and then, he softly began to hum,

[ásgeir - Was There Nothing?]

??Was there nothing but the hush of night???

As he started, goosebumps appeared on Rami's arms. The ethereal and graceful voice gently touched his heartstrings, sending a shiver down his spine.

??Had a boat, don't remember where

Did you flee from what was said and seen?

Truth's not true under the light of lies

Raise your sword and shield??

The poetic and airy words collided between the melody, dazzling with brilliance. They touched Rami's heart deeply, and slowly, the cold air enveloped him, isolating him, as if the world and others didn't matter anymore, leaving only him and the captivating voice humming in his ears.

??Was there more than just the prose of night?

Had a grave, don't remember where

Beaten down, now I lift up my prayer

Broken promises have set the snare

Both sincere and not??

Lies and truth, trust and betrayal, promises and farewells, birth and death... They were intertwined, regardless of sincerity, forming an eternal dependence, making it impossible to distinguish between illusion and reality. It was like sailing in the deep sea at midnight, quietly groping, trying to find a lighthouse to guide the way, but stumbling upon icebergs, battered and bruised, forgetting where one was.

??Was there nothing but the blessed night?

Had some gold, but don't remember where

When does faith lift up its head so high?

Oh, my Lord, won't you please tell me why?

Faith bestows power??

Closing his eyes, hot tears wet his cold cheeks. Pursuing God's footsteps, following the guidance of faith, he continued to move forward, despite the thorns along the way. But now, looking at the world of devastation, the memories, friends, passion, perseverance... faith, are scattered to the ends of the earth.

Rami couldn't help but suddenly cry, finally understanding Renly's inner cry, the silent cry from Eugene, and even from his own soul. In this war without winners, goals, or justice, everything they once firmly believed in collapsed. Looking at his hands stained with blood, dragging his heavy and clumsy steps, not knowing where to go or what to achieve.

??Was there nothing but the hush of night???

Listen, it's the whisper from the depths of the soul. Is the night nothing but silence? Is war nothing but death? Is faith nothing but self-deception? Is persistence nothing but solitary struggle? Is the world nothing but oneself?

The endless loneliness permeated every note, making Rami unable to extricate himself. Opening his eyes, the stars seemed to dance in the sky, accompanied by the clear and gentle melody, exploding the energy of the whole night, yet dragging him down into an abyss without end.

??Had a treasure, but I don't know where

Did you flee from what was said and seen?

Yes, the good was not without the bad

Raise your sword and shield??

??Yes, the good was not without the bad

Raise up your sword and shield??

"Ernest Hemingway once said, 'The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.' I agree with the second part." The line was from the classic movie "Se7en," and suddenly it floated into Renly's mind. Perhaps, this was Eugene's motivation to continue living, and also his motivation to escape nightmares.

Eugene might never understand what war truly was, or even what faith truly meant, but he continued to fight. Even if he couldn't see the end.

Renly's fingers stopped, letting the resonance vibrate lightly in the air, enjoying the moment of tranquility, as if he could hear the murmurs of the wind and the laughter of the stream, even the mischievousness of the stars was clear. Such moments were pure and beautiful.

Wiping away the messy tears on his cheeks, Rami felt no embarrassment because he wasn't the only one affected. Even Carl standing beside him turned away. This was the second time today.

"Renly, what's the name of the song you just played?" Rami couldn't help but lower his voice, as light as a feather falling.

"'Was There Nothing'?" Renly thought for a moment and then replied with the name.

But due to the question mark at the end of the sentence, Rami hesitated and confirmed again, "'Was There Nothing?'"

Renly nodded, affirming, "'Was There Nothing?'"

Note: "Was There Nothing" by Asgeir.