The early morning in the Zubayr Theater was always founded peaceful, people always get started on their day by preparing their stalls or perhaps just eating their breakfast to prepare for the day ahead of them to come.
Truly, it was peaceful in the Theater.
But unfortunately, the peace was short found in one of the rehearsal rooms in the Theater.
"...Ah, you stepped on my feet again!"
Crash
"Ah- Don't step back too much you'll lose your balance-"
Crash
"...Ah, wait! Don't rush that step or you might-"
Crash
"Lux, I was supposed to twirl in your arms not you in mine!"
Crash
"W-Wai-"
Crash
Crash
Crash
.
.
.
I found myself sitting down at a corner in the rehearsal room with an ice patch after mine and Nilou's rehearsal for the dance.
Well, I say rehearsal but it's mostly just me either tripping up on one of the steps in the dance or me getting bruised up after losing balance.
Albeit, I was pretty sure that me getting roughed up and somehow getting a black eye in the process was normal in such rehearsals. I'm sure it's not just me being the odd one out.
Right..?
Anyway, three days have passed since I've agreed to this unreasonable demand of being partnered with Nilou for the upcoming dance in the Sabzerus Festival.
Preparations have been going well and so is hiding it from the Akademiya, although weirdly enough, they haven't been sending anyone to check up on what we are doing.
The Akademiya often sends someone to check up on the theater with the excuse of 'Inspection' and when found something that the Akademiya loaths, they do their best to stop any ongoing productions for it.
Also, Two weeks remain until the inevitable festival and everyone is pretty busy, my Parents even pitched in for help in the preparations.
All in all, I think it's going well if you ignore the progress in our dance.
Suddenly, Nilou went inside the rehearsal room with food and drinks in tow.
Nilou walked over and sat beside me, placing the tray between us.
"Here, Lux. Water and a snack. You've earned both," she said, passing me a cold bottle and a warm flatbread wrapped in cloth. Her voice was warm, but her eyes scanned my face with concern. "Does it still hurt?"
I took the water and drank, letting the chill soothe my dry throat. "Maybe..? I stopped feeling anything halfway through the rehearsal," I grumbled, more to joke but it seems like she took it the wrong way.
She was drinking but suddenly choked on her drink. "W-Wait, Really!?"
I blinked realizing quickly this type of pattern, she was about to panic so I tried to clear things up before she could. "No, Not really I was just-"
It seems like she couldn't hear me as she deluded herself in her panicked state.
"Should I get someone?! Oh no, I knew we should've stopped earlier when you fell on your head, Lux, we can get you checked out! I think Uncle Zibur is at the bazaar right now and-!"
I knew I had to stop her before she loses herself in her panic so I pat her head
"Girly redhead, breathe, calm down."
She heed my words and breathed and soon after, calmed down little by little. After she calmed down I put my hand away from her head and she looked at me questioningly as if she was asking if I was really fine.
"I was just joking," I sighed. "Kinda. I mean, yeah, it hurts a bit. But if you call someone, then Mom would definitely, somehow know, and when that happens then I'll really be in pain, mentally that is."
I shuddered at the mental image of Mom bursting through the doors, eyes overly worried, arms flailing in over-the-top motherly concern. I'd get poked, prodded, and interrogated within an inch of my life.
I could already tell that she'll carry me as if I was a newborn baby with her worried gaze checking up on my minor injuries.
Nilou let out a small gasp and covered her mouth with both hands. "Oh yeah… I didn't think of that."
"Exactly. So unless you have some secret grudge against me, I propose tonot invite the storm."
I knew that later on when I get back home, I would be subjected into some immense interrogation due to my injuries, so I would like to have some peace now that I still can.
She lowered her hands slowly, still looking unconvinced, her brows drawn together in worry. "Okay, but... if you do feel something wrong later, promise you'll tell me, okay?"
"Okay, okay. If I start seeing double or start forgetting my own name, I'll be sure that you'll be the first to know Doctor Nilou."
Her lips twitched upward into a smile with what I called her, the tension finally easing from her shoulders. "Okay, very good patient Lux! I don't want to perform with someone who's half-conscious. I need you at least seventy percent alive."
"And here I thought you were really worried, you really are a mischievous girl." I grumbled.
This little girl is the kindest little girl you could ever see when you talk to her, but to me, she acts kind but mischievous at times. I guess that just speaks of how close we've became.
She laughed, soft and airy, like bells, and turned to the tray, picking out a few snacks to eat. As I took another bite of my bread, I glanced toward the door.
"…Say," I said, "where's your Mom at? Didn't she come with you when you went to get some snacks?"
Nilou's Mom was the one who was guiding us step by step with Nilou sometimes pitching in to guide my steps.
Nilou blinked and looked up. "Oh, she said that she'll check up with the other dancers. Some of the dancers from the main dance was having some problems with the steps."
"Glad that I'm not the only one having trouble with it."
"Yup, though they were having trouble on the complicated steps while you're having problems with the basic steps." Nilou teased.
My smugness dropped and was replaced with an annoyed look as I looked at Nilou.
"Don't you think that it is arrogant for humans to think that they can master a certain craft that they are not gifted at in just one go?" I gave out my excuse.
Nilou giggled, "Your excuses are getting sloppy Lux!"
Suddenly, the door to the rehearsal opened and coming inside was Nilou's Mother.
Me and Nilou got up and went to her, Aunt Niva showed a smile.
Nilou gave a long and tight hug to her, showing her love for her Mother, Aunt Niva quickly hugged her back with the same amount of passion.
"Mom!"
"Nilou!"
I watched from the sidelines looking at the pair of Mother and Child while thinking to myself if I was watching some kind of horribly made drama based on both of their heartfelt hug.
Seriously, you two were separated for like, 10 minutes? What's with this heartfelt situation?
After a little bit, they separated as Aunt Niva looked at me to check up on me
"How is your injuries?"
Reminded, I touched my face a bit which stung a little, "It's definitely hurting but it's okay, I'm more worried of Mom's reaction when I get home."
I wonder what kind of shenanigans I would be forced into later when I get home?
Aunt Niva showed a tired smile, "I can already feel your Mother breaking my door while shouting about why I let you hurt yourself.."
Both of us kindred spirits showed a tired sigh.
"...I'll try to calm her down somehow."
Aunt Niva showed a grateful smile and nodded before looking at Nilo and then to me.
"Well then, are you two ready to continue the rehearsal?"
I was about to respond to her question but was quickly cut of by Nilou.
"No-"
"Yes! I'm so excited!"
Nilou was showing an excited smile and Aunt Niva smiled at her reaction.
Her expression then turned stern indicating that she was now gonna teach us, leaving me no time to refuse and get away.
Crap.
.
.
.
"I feel like I just got RKO'd by a certain wrestler." I complained while holding my hurting head while remembering what happened to me earlier when dancing with Nilou, somehow I stumbled, flipped upside down and hit my head to the ground.
I can now proudly say that I've successfully made history with the amount of injuries I garnered in a day of rehearsal. Just thinking of the next 2 weeks being just like this is giving me enough shudders that I feel like I would be getting nightmares about it later.
Anyway, I was walking around for a bit, Nilou and her Mom told me to wait as they had to go and use the restroom.
All of a sudden a Man with white robes who was walking haughtily suddenly appeared and he bumped into me at an intersection of a corner, I tried to dodge but he was walking at a fast pace so we bumped and he fumbled to the Ground while I just stumbled but remained on my feet.
Logically it should have been the other way around and I should be the one falling.
"Ah- I'm sorry, are you okay?" I held out my small hands though it probably won't help much with my small body, the Man recovered enough and shot an angry look at me and stood up.
The Man clicked his tongue "Tsk. You insolent brat how dare you bump into me!" He had an angry look.
He looked like a Scholar from the Akademiya with how he is dressed, which made me tense up a little.
"Sorry, my bad." I apologized, I already knew this type of people from my past life so I knew that letting them fume for a little while was enough to resolve the situation, besides, I wanted to get through this situation as fast as I could.
He dusted of his clothes, not looking at me. "Tsk. This is why kids should've been banned from the Grand Bazaar, nothing but troublemakers I swear." He grumbled before fully facing me. "Hey brat do you even know who I am? I could report you to the Akademiya for halting my research!"
I looked at him in confusion. Why is this geezer talking as if I was the only one at fault?
"If I report you-" He halted his words as my unique eyes caught his attention.
"Your eyes..." He mumbled to himself. "I've read of ocular mutations in restricted scrolls," he continued, more to himself than to me. "But to think I'd stumble upon one in the open…"
Hearing him talk about my eyes made me turn my gaze to the side. It wasn't a sensitive topic for me but it was a little unnerving to hear someone analyze it.
"Uh, I'm sorry again Mr. Scholar, I'll get going now."
As I tried to get away from the crazed mumbling of the old man, he suddenly grabbed my shoulders tightly.
I winced slightly, my body couldn't take an adult's full strength full force.
"Wait." He ordered, ""You bumped into me and caused a scene. Technically, that's public disturbance. Under Sumeru City jurisdiction, I have the right to report you."
Is this guy right in the head? He is the one causing a scene, and he was mostly at fault since he was not looking where he was going and I didn't have enough time to dodge him.
I was starting to get pissed as he continued. "I'm a Scholar of the Grand Akademiya." He puffed his chest in pride. "You are a child with anomalous eyes. For all I know, you might be a lab experiment of some rogue Researchers. Regardless, for the safety of Sumeru City, your ocular eyes needs to be studied.
... This fucker. Is he seriously trying to justify dissecting my eyes..?
"...You want to study my eyes?
"For the advancement of knowledge of course!" He proudly said. "And if you agree then you can consider this matter forgotten, that way you wouldn't get in trouble with the Akademiya and your Parents."
...I tried to remain calm in dealing with this fucker. I truly did. But him, justifying being a creep and him basically blackmailing me to dissect me was the last straw.
I realized at this point that peace was never an option with this type of retards.
"Get off your high horse you retarded shitty geezer." I grimly said.
"Huh..?"
"I mean, just listen to what bullshit your mouth is spouting. Reporting me to the Akademiya? Studying my eyes in exchange of not reporting me? That's basically blackmail if I ever heard one.
A few nearby Bazaar-goers had already started slowing down. The sharp tone of my voice, paired with the scholar's increasingly flustered expression, was drawing attention.
"Blackmailing me, a child into dissection, do you realize how utterly insane you sound? Even the Matra wouldn't back you up on that."
The scholar looked around, noticing the gathering of people. His arrogance simmered, but he tried to recover. "This child is clearly unwell! Listen to how he speaks to me, a distinguished Scholar! He even used foul language! He's clearly dangerous!"
A fruit vendor scoffed. "He's dangerous? You're the one grabbing a child in the street, you old creep."
Someone else chimed in. "He just said he wants to dissect his eyes. I heard it! Is that what the Akademiya's doing now?!"
The scholar paled as more murmurs began spreading throughout the crowd.
"No, no, I meant- purely theoretical! Academic curiosity! The pursuit of knowledge is sacred!"
"Yeah?" I stepped forward, eyes gleaming coldly. "So sacred that you'd shove a kid, accuse him of crimes, then demand his eyeballs like some sort of research-obsessed psycho? Enlighten me, O Grand Scholar, how does that benefit Sumeru again?"
Laughter rippled through the growing crowd. The scholar sputtered, flailing his arms, trying to salvage his image. "You ignorant fools—this child isn't normal! His eyes-!"
I cut him off, voice razor-sharp. "My eyes are mine. Not yours, not the Akademiya's, not for some deranged old man to poke and prod. If the Akademiya stands for this kind of behavior, then maybe it's time people really started questioning what you do behind those tower walls."
A hush fell.
And then, slowly, people started attacking the Man verbally as well as the Akademiya.
It started with a woman near the back, a tailor I recognized, and soon others followed. A murmur of agreement swept through the crowd, angry berations for the Man as well.
The scholar backed away, now sweating bullets, eyes flicking around in panic. "Y-You'll regret this. The Akademiya-"
"Yeah, yeah, keep yapping why don't you geezer?" I said flatly making him shut up, taking a single step toward him. "You just tried to use the Akademiya's name to blackmail a child. Go ahead. Report me. I'd love to see how the Akademiya as well as the Matra react when I tell them everything you said, especially that people around us heard your delusional yapping. I'm sure they'd love to hear about your unauthorized interest in restricted scrolls too."
That shut him up completely.
His eyes widened as he realized he'd let that detail slip earlier in front of everyone. He turned, stumbling back through the crowd like a drunk, trying to disappear.
Someone threw a half-eaten pomegranate that smacked his shoulder on the way out.
I watched him vanish around the corner. He was lucky that I went easy on him.
"Dumbass," I muttered under my breath.
Then I turned, nodding to the crowd. "Thanks for backing me up Mister and Ma'am's. I'm okay now."
The people that helped me preach the old fuck was people that I knew. They were some kind old people.
An older man clapped me on the shoulder gently. "You did good, kid. That kind of bravery's rare."
"You did awesome standing up for yourself, here have some fruits."
People praised me for a few more minutes before they went on their own way, doing things they had to do as I went back to waiting for Nilou and her Mom.
They sure were taking their time.
After a few minutes they appeared and they brought me to my home, they asked of what happened earlier in the Bazaar as people seemed to be discussing something about a deranged scholar but I just shrugged it of saying I didn't know anything about it.
We arrived at the door but they didn't dare to enter as my Mom wouldn't let them go that easily when they see my bruised up state.
They left as I gulped and slowly entered the house to meet my maker.