Hello I'm back, thy leg is healed but I don't have molars anymore.
===BREAK===
Court of Fontaine, at the Fountain of Lucine.
"What's wrong? Did you remember that voice you heard here yesterday?"
Closing her eyes to listen carefully, Lumine shook her head. "It's not that I remembered it. I heard it again."
"Was it the same as yesterday?"
"Lynette! You startled me—when did you get here?"
Lynette's voice suddenly rang out beside her, followed by Paimon's yelp. Lumine opened her eyes.
"Didn't we agree yesterday that I would wait for you here today? Paimon has already forgotten?"
"I remember, I remember… ugh…"
Lynette turned to Lumine. "Is the voice in the waters of the Fountain of Lucine still saying the name 'Vacher'?"
Lumine nodded gently.
A rare thoughtful expression appeared on Lynette's usually impassive face.
"As I mentioned yesterday, the Fountain of Lucine is where all the waters of Fontaine converge—including tears. And tears contain a person's strongest emotions.
"With that in mind, someone overly sensitive to Hydro may hear the intense emotions contained within those tears.
"One of our family members experienced something similar before. After we returned, I asked about it. She also heard the name 'Vacher'—but that was five years ago. Which is… rather strange."
After hearing of such a coincidence, Lumine voiced her own thought. "So, if this voice truly comes from tears… then for all these years, no one in all of Fontaine has felt a stronger emotion than the one calling out that name?"
"That would be one way to understand it…"
"Whoa…" Paimon finally pieced it together. "'Vacher' doesn't sound like a normal word—it's probably a name, right? It's hard to imagine just how much someone must miss him…"
"Exactly. There must be a story behind that name. But now isn't the time to dwell on it. Let's head inside. This magic show is very important to my brother and me."
…
"The Opera assigns specific seats… These are the tickets Lyney reserved for us… Wait—is this really the front row? That's amazing, Lyney! When the show starts, I'm going to clap as hard as I can!"
But the moment she sat down, Paimon noticed the stranger beside them glance their way. Immediately flustered, she leaned toward Lumine and whispered, "Was I too loud?"
"A little. But the show hasn't started yet. Don't be so nervous."
"Then I'll go apologize…"
With an awkward laugh, Paimon leaned toward the stranger. "Um, sir? You're here early too—and in the front row! Are you a friend of Lyney's like us?"
"A friend… If Mr. Lyney wishes it, I would gladly be his friend."
"Oh—so you're not? Ahaha… I'm really sorry if I disturbed you. I'll keep my voice down from now on!"
Startled by her rapid-fire apology, the man paused before replying, "There's no need to be so serious. Your friend is right—the performance hasn't begun. Just keep your volume in check later."
"Ah? Y-you heard our whispering? Even though we were so quiet… Ah—no, that was rude of me…"
"There's truly no need to worry."
"Alright then… Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. Hello, sir. I'm Paimon, and this is Lumine. We've just arrived in Fontaine."
"I have heard of your deeds. It is an honor to meet you. In accordance with etiquette, allow me to introduce myself as well. I am Fontaine's Chief Justice. You may address me by my surname—Neuvillette."
"Chief Justice?!"
This time even Lumine looked surprised.
"Shh…"
"Oh—my apologies! I was too rash. I didn't realize you were someone so important…"
"Please, there is no need. 'Chief Justice' is merely a position. Just as everyone has their place, I am no different."
"Also… perhaps I should remind you. Someone has been posing in the VIP box above the audience for quite some time now… likely hoping that when you finally look up, she will appear at what she believes is her most dashing. You may wish to notice her soon. Otherwise, she might grow disheartened."
At that, Paimon turned around. Lumine rose from her seat as well.
There they saw Furina—standing proudly in the VIP section—with Wriothesley on her left and Clorinde on her right.
At last, catching their gaze, Furina struggled to maintain her carefully arranged expression, the corners of her lips lifting as she let out a poised, "Heh heh heh…"
"…Uh…"
Turning back around, Paimon muttered, "She totally doesn't realize we ignored her—and that her whole pose got exposed. And Victor! We've known him for so long—meeting again in a foreign nation, and he doesn't even come say hello! Hmph. Once the show's over, let's go find him."
Lumine nodded silently and sat back down.
Soon, the audience filled every seat, and the scheduled time arrived.
The lights throughout the entire theater dimmed at once. A single spotlight illuminated the stage as Lyney stepped into its glow.
"Thank you all for visiting the Opera Épiclèse amidst your busy schedules. I am tonight's performer—Lyney. At my side is my younger sister and most important assistant—Lynette. Lynette, would you greet our audience?"
Expressionless, eyes slightly narrowed, Lynette said flatly, "Good evening."
"Hahaha! Don't be fooled by her sleepy look—this is just how she shows nervousness."
Lynette lowered her gaze slightly and shot Lyney a sidelong glance. "Whatever."
"You may think that since we both possess Visions and can freely wield elemental power, performing magic is hardly difficult. So, I make this promise—everything that happens on this stage tonight has nothing to do with elemental power."
At his words, masked assistants came forward and removed both Lyney and Lynette's Visions in full view of the audience.
"With that, the gods won't be lending us a hand. Now then, I'm sure you're eager—Lynette will step offstage to make some preparations."
She waved goodbye and truly exited, leaving Lyney alone.
"But don't miss her too much. She will soon return in a most unexpected manner—and become the focus of the stage."
"Oh, and one crucial rule when watching magic—"
"Please… choose carefully when you blink."
Clang!
The stage lights went out entirely, plunging the theater into darkness.
When the lights returned, only a single spotlight illuminated Lyney.
"A magician's signature skill lies in turning something into nothing—and nothing into something. From that, endless variations arise…"
He removed his hat and bowed, displaying its empty interior. Releasing it, the hat floated midair.
A light tap—and playing cards spilled out. As he placed it back on his head, a dove burst forth.
Left hand, right hand—cards appeared from empty palms and scattered across the stage floor.
"But audiences today are extraordinary. They've grown tired of traditional tricks. So how can I prove my uniqueness? My excellence? I have prepared a challenge—"
He clasped his hands together. A dove shot upward, another spotlight following its flight, drawing all eyes above.
There hung a suspended glass tank. Its top, bottom, and frame were gilded in metal; the sides were transparent, revealing it filled with clear water. Seated atop it, Lynette waved to the crowd—her true entrance.
"Before your very eyes, within this watery prison, I shall make my sister… vanish into thin air!"
Without a word, Lynette leapt through the opening at the top into the tank.
"It's quite simple, really. Turn her into bubbles, and let her float out from above—"
Click.
The lid of the tank suddenly shut.
Inside, Lynette struck at the lid in apparent panic, pounding loudly—but it would not budge.
"Oh dear! Weren't the props checked? With the lid sealed, even air can't escape!"
"If I were a novice… I'd surely be flustered by now. Heh. Luckily, it's me!"
"Then allow me to show you true skill!"
With a snap of his fingers, Lynette's body began rapidly dissolving into bubbles like an effervescent tablet. The bubbles grew so dense they completely obscured her form. Moments later, the bubbles vanished.
And so did she.
Only her clothes remained in the water, slowly sinking to the bottom.
The audience erupted in shock.
Furina half-rose from her seat, leaning forward to see more clearly. When she realized Lynette was truly gone, panic flashed across her face as she turned to Victor Wang.
He calmly shook his head. Through the Thousand Winds that blanketed the stage, he had already discerned the true method behind the trick.
===BREAK===
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