Arriving in front of a rather small brick house, in a rather isolated area of the city, Hector turned to look at Marko with a puzzled expression as Marko laughed in response and explained, “You didn’t expect me to live next to my establishment now, did you? Could you imagine trying to sleep in that place. I tell you, almost everyone who could already moved out, the noise in that area doesn’t bloody end no matter how many times someone puts a complaint.”

Nodding his head in response, a smirk appeared on Hector’s face as he gave Marko a look of understanding. Not doubting his story as he was able to tell that the man was telling him the truth.

“Now Hector.” said Marko as he began to unlock his door, “Let us go in and talk about music!”

Entering Marko’s house as the man held the door open for him, Hector wondered how exactly they were supposed to do anything in this darkness since electricity didn’t exist yet. However, he immediately remembered about magic, and hoped Marko was planning on using something like that for the night, and not something like a gas lamp or candles.

The sight that greeted Hector upon passing through the door, was a narrow passageway that led to nowhere. Although halfway through the passage, a staircase leading to the second floor of Marko’s brick house could be seen. Visible only thanks to the faint light of the half-moon.

Before Hector could even ask where they were supposed to go, Marko grabbed something from a stand to the right of Hector that Hector hadn’t noticed, as he picked up what appeared to be a lamp. Before Hector had even finished sighting, Marko picked up a small item that Hector couldn’t quite make out and put it inside the lamp as the lamp as it began to produce a rather bright light. Seeing this, Hector apologized to Marko in his head for having wrongly thought less of him for a moment, and was once again in awe of the convenience of magic.

“Follow me Hector. Let us go to the basement where we can talk” Said Marko as he motioned with his lamp for Hector to follow him.

Hector however, was rather surprised with Marko’s answer as he commented. “You have a basement?”

“Impressive isn’t it?” said Marko with a cheeky smile as his eyebrows danced up and down, “I had this house designed myself. Trust me, you’ll love it down there.”

Hector thought that the last statement could be rather worrisome in a different situation, but didn’t really say anything as he obediently followed after Marko, passing through the man’s living room and kitchen until they finally arrived at the door leading to his basement.

Seeing that the door had quite a few locks, Hector momentarily entertained the thought that Marko had a dungeon hidden in his basement locking up who knows what unfortunate soul. However, he was only entertaining such a thought for amusement, as he knew by his divinity that Marko wasn’t a man capable of such a thing, and was most likely being cautious about protecting whatever is down there.

Once Marko had finished unlocking the door to the basement, the two began to carefully make their way down the stairs as Marko held the lamp out for the two to see their way. Once down, Marko moved to the center of the room as he jumped up and pushed against the roof. As soon as he did, the entire basement lit up as Hector closed his eyes as a result of the sudden bright light. Turning to Marko while covering his eyes with his hand, Hector asked, “What the hell was that?”

“That? That’s something I had a friend of mine install for me. The entire thing is connected to each other thanks to a formation. So once I push that crystal there, the entire thing is activated it and it lights up. Impressive, no?”

“Yeah, very…” Answered Hector while taking a good look at all the lamps stuck to the rook and the formation connecting them. His face, however, said that he was interested in something else as he asked. “How do you turn this thing off?”

“Oh simple, there’s a cord stuck to the gem I just pushed. See” Answered Marko as he pointed to the string.

“Wait.” said Hector a bit dumbfounded, “Why not have the lamp that’s right by the stairs be the one that activates the formation.?”

“It wouldn’t activate that way.”

“Really?” responded Hector, not fully believing the explanation despite being able to tell Marko wasn’t lying to him.

Marko however, let out a laugh as he explained, “I know what you’re thinking my friend.That it shouldn’t make a difference which crystal that completes the formation. But it actually does you see, my friend even had me try it because I thought he was pulling one of me. But no, it has to be the crystal at the middle.”

“I see…” Looking back at the formation, Hector made a mental note to ask Marko’s friend about it, just to see if he really wasn’t pulling one on Marko.

“Now Hector, stop worrying about the lights and look around you!”

At Marko’s excited comment, Hector took a good look around the room now that his eyes were accustomed to the brightness as he was left speechless at the sight.

Seeing Hector’s response, Marko cheekily answered. “See? I told you you would love it down here!”

‘He really wasn’t lying’’ Hector thought to himself. The floor of the basement was rather devoid of anything, save for the four pillars that acted as support for the structure and a small amount of furniture. However, the walls of the basement were covered by a wide arrangement of instruments from different parts of the music family. Seeing this, Hector didn’t doubt that Marko had to have quite the generous income, as it was likely he was staring at a small fortune worth of instruments.

“Anything you want Hector, I got it all right here.” Said Marko as he held his arms out, presenting his prided collection to Hector, “With this, we can make any type of music you can think of.”

Although Marko said that, Hector could distinctly make out a lack of instruments. Although it wouldn’t be fair to Marko as it was likely that they didn’t exist yet. After all, most of the instruments missing were simply the evolution of an instrument that was already here, like the classical guitar was to the vihuela. However, there were a few distinct instruments that were missing. And while Hector could see a harpsichord, he couldn’t find a piano, not even an early fortepiano. Turning to Marko, Hector asked, “Do you… not have a piano?”

“A what?” Marko answered.

Hearing this, Hector couldn’t help but feel a bit of disappointment at the prospect that such a dexterous instrument did not exist yet. The piano has essentially all possible notes that you can find on another instrument, making it extremely useful in the composing of music. Not only that, but the piano was an important player in a lot of music, not counting the music made especially for the piano. And while there was a harpsichord, it wasn’t the same as the piano. Realizing that he wouldn’t be able to play this important instrument, Hector couldn’t help but feel downtrodden at this fact.

“Hey, what’s wrong my friend” Asked Marko, seeing the clear disappointment in Hector’s face. “Do you like uhh, need this piano to play the music you were playing? If you do, I could go and look for one. Or if you remember how it is, we might even be able to make it.”

“No.” responded Hector while shaking his head, realizing that his expression had confused Marko. “We don’t need the piano to play the style of music I just played, although it could also be used in it. Also… I doubt we’d be able the piano I’m thinking about.” After all, Hector thought to himself, the modern grand piano used piano wire, which was an industrial grade wire, as well as a steel frame that should prove impossible to make in these pre-industrial times.

“Is that so? Hey Hector, what IS a piano?”

“Like the harpsichord, except it doesn’t pluck the strings, but instead hits the strings with a little hammer and has a lot more keys to play with.”

“So something like a clavichord. Is that all Hector? I’ll give it to you, I haven’t heard of it before, but if it’s just a big harpsichord, then I have a friend who might be able to make one for us. He’s actually the one who supplied me with all these instruments at a rather generous price.”

“Is that so, then we’ll have to have a chat with him at some point.” Hector decided not to explain about the actual difficulties in making a grand piano, and decided he would be satisfied if they could build a simple piano. After all, composers like Mozart composed all his music on the smaller 58 key piano. So he should be glad if he could get someone to build him a piano.

“Indeed we should Hector.” Then, with excited eyes while rubbing his hands, Marko said “Now, can you play me some of that music you were playing earlier Hector?”

“Sure.” Responded Hector.

“Ah any particular drum you need? Or is a barrel the actual instrument used in that music?” Asked Marko.

Although Hector wanted to roll his eyes and laugh at his question, he chose not too since it wasn’t really all that ridiculous. In fact, cajones de rumba, basically boxes, were used in cuban rumba before tumbadoras and quintos appeared and mostly replaced them.

Thus, answering his question seriously, Hector said “No, the barrel is not the actual instrument. Special drums that we shouldn’t be able to find here is what I need. Although we could probably make those later. Just a normal drum is fine for now.”

Hearing Hector’s answer, Marko made his way over to the wall where a wide range of percussion instruments could be seen before Hector pointed to him to the one he wanted. Coming back with the drum, Hector took it before taking a seat on a chair at the side and playing a song. Once he had finished, he looked at the excited Marko as Marko exclaimed while clapping, “Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic.” then, taking a seat next to Hector, Marko asked. “ isn’t the language you’re singing Castilian? Is this music from Iberia? I’ve never heard of such a style coming from there.”

“That’s because it’s not.” replied Hector. “This music is more of a mix between Spanish and African styles.” And before Marko could ask any questions that Hector would not be able to answer, Hector explained, “At least, that’s what I learned from the-the group that I picked this up from. They uhh were a group of eighteen… eighteen travelers. Ten of them were Castilian and eight African if I remember correctly.”

“Castilians and Moors? A rare mix but not one that I haven’t heard before.” Interjected Marko as he asked.

“Huh? No, uhh, they were from south of the Sahara actually. Don’t really know where exactly.” Replied Hector, not really savvy in the names of places in Africa before the colonial era.

Marko however, had an incredulous expression on his face as he asked, “You mean they crossed the Sahara?”

Remembering that it was probably not an easy feat to cross the large desert in this era… actually, crossing the Sahara would be difficult in any era Hector commented to himself. Anyway, it was probably an impressive and improbable feat, but Hector decided to role with it as he responded, “Well yeah, that’s what they said. Incredible, isn’t it?”

“Fucking hell it is my friend. Those people must be either insane or desperate to do something like that. I mean, not even first-class adventurers would try to cross that monster infested hellhole. Although I guess it explains why I never heard such a style. Gods know what type of music they have over there. We don’t get many visitors from south of the Sahara into this area after all.” Said Marko as he looked genuinely impressed at the achievement of this fictional group. Then falling into a pensive state, he turned to Hector and said, “ Actually, we don’t really get any of them, and only a few ever even reach this continent my friend. You really struck some gold in your travels coming across them.”

Hearing Marko’s statement, Hector began to realize that it was likely that the entire world wasn’t actually a copy of his with magic added, and there might be quite a few differences across the whole world that he should be knowledgeable of. Deciding to find something out, Hector asked, “Marko. Have you heard of the New World, or the Americas?”

“Hmm? What’s that my friend? Another interesting thing you found in your travels?”

‘Oh shit’ Thought Hector to himself. Since the world seemed to be at least in the renaissance era from a technological standpoint, and the geographical areas seemed to be the same as in his world, Hector had made the assumption that people had already discovered the Americas. After all, in a fantasy world with magic it might have even been an easier feat. However, it was clear he had made some wrong assumptions about the world, and that he should avoid talking about different areas without first learning about their state in this world. The fact that the America’s hadn’t been discovered, or may not even exist, along with the Sahara being a monster infested area showed that there were large differences between this world and his that weren’t just magic and the beastmen.

Deciding to move the topic away from this, Hector answered, “No, it’s just something I’ve heard about. Anyway yeah, it’s a rather new style I guess. Or it’s best to say that it doesn’t really exist aside from that group I learned it from. They called it rumba.”

Becoming excited at Hector’s words, Marko exclaimed excitedly, “Rumba Huh! So that’s what this style is called!” Then, turning to Hector, Marko had an expression of enlightenment as he leaned into Hector and asked, “Hey Hector, you said this style doesn’t exist anywhere else right?”

“Yeah… it shouldn’t. Well I mean that group knows it” Responded Hector while giving Marko a questioning look.

Marko meanwhile had a bright smile at Hector’s response as he exclaimed, “Then do you think we can take the style and spread it from here? I mean think about it Hector, we could start an entire new movement from Szeged!”

“Wouldn’t it technically already be started by them?” asked Hector, giving Marko a questioning glance about his plan.

“But it’s not popular yet right? How many cities know of it?”

“Uhhh, shit, probably less than three.”

“Then there is no problem!” replied Marko confidently.

Although Hector felt like rebuking him and saying that someone else already owned the style, the truth was that that no one actually played rumba in this world, so it wouldn’t be disingenuous of him to start the movement here. Thus, letting out a sigh, Hector looked at Marko and asked, “Are you saying you want to make Hungarian Rumba?”

“That’s exactly what we’ll be making Hector!” replied Marko excitedly. “Forget putting on a simple show Hector, we can start a new movement and become legends!”

Seeing Marko react so animatedly, Hector couldn’t help but put a smile on his face as he asked, “And how exactly are you planning on carrying on this plan to make us legends?”

Looking at Hector in the eyes, Marko adopted a large knowing smile as he said, “Oh my friend, I know just the thing to make this style popular and put us on the map.” Then, putting his arm around Hector, Marko put on a more serious expression as he said, “But first my friend, you must tell me all about this style and the instruments we will be using. I need to know what and who we’ll need.”

Feeling the energy and excitement oozing from Marko, Hector felt himself before contaminated by it and was also starting to feel excited about the future. He felt somewhat intrigued at seeing how rumba would develop in this place. After all, not only where the cultures that created the style absent in this hungarian city, but it was also a city in a fantasy world, so Hector was very excited to see how rumba would evolve in this city, and the people living in it, as a result of the actions of the two.

Thus, deciding to enlighten Marko on rumba, Hector began to divulge to Marko as much as he could without arousing any suspicion from the easily excitable man. Although seeing how eager Marko was, Hector felt as if he could say quite a lot without the man asking any questions about why he knew so much about something, he had supposedly come across with for only a short encounter…