Good morning to all my friends of Buskeria and this nice community of Rising Star. Today I wanted to take a little break from the daily card recommendations, which I usually do, by the way, I will return them tomorrow. Instead today I want to share with you something different, in this case a story I have written about one of the card characters in the game. The story will be about Tez, card #77.
You know I've been wanting to do this for a while, but I hadn't really set my mind to it. Today I finally got up the courage and did it. If you like the story I may bring you a new one soon about another card in the set. I think this is a perfect way to expand the lore of Rising Star. It adds more context to each card and the sentence it has written on it. So with that said we can begin.
Image created by me in canva
The roar of the audience was very loud, in Tez's ears, it was almost like thunder in a storm. There he stood, center stage, bathed in the bright lights that blinded his sight, but of course illuminated his soul. This moment, his moment, was the dream he had nurtured for years. Every seat was taken, every fan chanted his name, and every chord felt like an echo of his own effort. He picked up the guitar and, as he played the first note, a wave of emotion swept him back to those early days, when even he couldn't imagine getting this far. This is the story of Tez.
But you know folks, he wasn't always “Tez”, the star everyone knows now. In his early days, he was just another guy playing in sleazy bars, lucky to get a tip. Empty chairs and distracted looks only discouraged his colleagues, but he had something different, an unwavering patience and an optimism that made him see opportunity where others saw failure. Every small victory was a treasure to him, like when one night, after finishing a song, a stranger at the bar gave him a thumbs-up from the bar. It wasn't much, but it was enough for him to hold on to his dreams.
During those early years, he could barely afford to pay rent. He lived in a small apartment in a modest neighborhood, where every corner told a story of sacrifice. There was an old tape recorder in the corner, inherited from his father, and he used to listen to songs on it, looking for inspiration and dreaming of the day when someone would hear his own compositions.
There were many nights when demotivation threatened to overcome him, but Tez had a particular refuge for every time he felt that way. Just around the corner from his street, there was a small pizzeria, where he took refuge after the less successful presentations. That is, when he was practically giving a concert with everything empty. The owner of the pizzeria was a kind man but of few words, he always served him his favorite pizza with extra cheese, and for the simple act of sitting down to eat in that place had a calming effect on his mind. That corner became his temple, a reminder that even in hard times, there were good things to smile about.
One night, after a performance in which he barely managed to keep the attention of the bar's four patrons, he stopped at the pizzeria, despondent. There, as he devoured a slice of pizza, he noticed an older man sitting a few tables away, focused on his own solitary dinner. He was the typical character that no one would notice twice. However, something in his countenance caught Tez's attention.
After a while, the man approached him, “I saw you playing at the bar,” he said with a half smile. “My name is Mauricio. Once upon a time, I tried what you do, too.” That man turned out to be a retired music producer, a man with more stories than successes, but with valuable advice. Mauricio warned him about the ups and downs of the industry and the importance of honing his craft, especially to become a better musician and to become an artist who would leave a mark on those who listened to him. “There are many talented people, but only a few have the patience and the right attitude to endure the journey. Never lose the love for what you do,” Mauricio told him with a deep look and a shoulder squeeze that Tez would always remember.
Over the next few years, Tez and Mauricio developed an unexpected friendship. Every night after a gig, Tez would visit the pizzeria, where, between slices of pizza and old-school anecdotes, Mauricio would share lessons about the business. These talks became a kind of ritual, reminding Tez that his road was long and often lonely.
After a while Tez's career slowly began to take off. The crowded bars were becoming more frequent, and although life was not always kind, the support of his small but growing fan base gave him strength. He received harsh reviews, disappointments in sales and the same doubts that assail every musician, but every night he remembered Mauricio's words and those nights at the pizzeria, as if his friend was still there, watching him in the crowd. Over time, the tape recorder in his apartment became his confidant. He would spend nights recording new songs, trying out lyrics and experimenting with his style.
What he didn't know was that soon his breakthrough to success would come. It all happened so fast, it came one night when a record executive heard him play at a small event in town. The executive was so impressed with Tez's energy and his connection with the audience that he offered to record his first studio album. It was an opportunity that took him by surprise, but he knew it was the fruit of every small step he had taken, every smile from a stranger, every piece of advice from Mauricio, and every slice of pizza shared in that small place.
Back in the present, the concert was in full swing, and as Tez played the last song of the night, his gaze strayed to the front row, where he thought he saw a familiar face in the crowd. He smiled. She didn't know if it was really Mauricio or an illusion, but she knew that this man, the pizzeria, the nights of doubt and the moments of shared happiness had been her true compass. As expected the audience erupted in applause, and Tez, guitar in hand and soul at peace, closed his eyes for a moment and silently thanked every night of effort, every friend and mentor, and every situation that had brought him there. He had achieved his dream, but he knew his journey was just beginning.
So, my dear friends, this concludes today's story. I would love to hear your opinions in the comments. Let me know if you liked it so I can bring you a new story next time. Then I'll see you tomorrow with the usual letter recommendation. Greetings to all of you and thank you very much for reading.
