224. The Concert Starting Now!

After finishing his mug, wiping his lips, Friederich checked the time on his ring. "Aurelia, it's about time for the grand dinner." He signalled Aurelia as he checked his white attire, its look sparkling clean and crisp.

Aurelia flinched slightly before turning to the group. "Oh, right! As the Solis Aeternum's representative, I can't miss this one…" Keen to stay, her endearing eyes lingered on Zetius, who gave her an encouraging nod.

"Aww, what a shame," Cubie sighed, floating to rejoin Zetius and Frain.

"Sorry, Cubie," Aurelia offered a genuinely apologetic smile.

As Aurelia walked past Friederich, she pressed a hand on his broad shoulder, preventing him from standing. "Fried, I don't need your protection for this."

Friederich started, "But—"

"No, you stay with everyone here. I'm giving you the rest of the day off," Aurelia instructed, a gentle smile spreading across her round, youthful face. "Surely you don't think I'll be unsafe in the presence of the Astral Empress herself?"

Friederich closed his eyes, a small smile touching his lips. "You have it all figured out, haven't you?"

"Definitely. Even the most steadfast guardian needs a day off sometimes." She giggled before waving an energetic hand and departing through the front door.

Soon after, Willhelm rejoined the group with his hands full of ginger ale mugs, just as a group of bards on stage bowed and announced a break. The festive air indicated that a new event was about to take place.

Mysteriously, the afternoon light in the inn dimmed, mimicking the onset of evening. A single, bright spotlight cut through the manufactured twilight, illuminating the stage.

"What's going on?"

"Is it night already?"

"Sheesh… eyes on the stage!" the crowd whispered, a current of confused excitement running through the room.

A deep, powerful saxophone melody drifted through the air, weaving through a complex tapestry of synthesisers and organs. The sound was an intoxicating fusion of techno-disco and jazz, its intensity building with every beat, a creeping tide of energy that promised to overwhelm.

A hush fell over the crowd, their collective breath held in a mixture of excitement and raw curiosity. Some began to sway, their bodies instinctively finding the rhythm.

The beat began to pick up, a resonant pulse capturing the hearts of the audience.

Then, a voice, impactful and divine, delivered the first lyrics.

"Fear first creeps in my heart~"

In the centre of the stage, a perfect figure materialised from the light, her body shimmering with a holographic glow. She was surreal, sparkling like a crystal chandelier. The very gravity of the atmosphere seemed to shift, and the crowd erupted in a spontaneous outburst of cheers and applause.

She was the one and only superstar, Céleste Polaris, dressed in an ornate gown of black and gold. Her dark eyes and jet-black hair blended perfectly with her goddess-like visage, all of it framed by an oversized golden laurel wreath.

"Waaaaaa!" Lampi shrieked.

"That… that… that…" Cubie also shrieked, seeing her favourite icon for the first time. "Can I go to the front?" She asked Zetius with a frantic twirl.

Still dazed by the sudden spectacle, Zetius snapped back to reality. "Go on," he chuckled. An idol performing in an inn — who would have thought?

"Frain, Lampi, come on!" Cubie pushed Frain, who had little interest in the music, and Lampi followed on their heels. They disappeared into the roiling crowd, their footsteps clapping along with the beat.

Even from afar, Zetius found himself captivated. Resting his fist against his cheek, he watched her performance. She was a true charmer. Every inch of her was perfect, down to the most minuscule detail. Yet, it was her siren voice that drew everyone in. She didn't need an introduction; her voice did it for her.

Her powerful vocals carried the lyrics on a journey from sorrow to strength, culminating in a crescendo of unshakable defiance against calamity.

"I am strong, and I am unfazed!~"

Projections of distant, multi-coloured stars circulated around her while holographic particles filled the air. As she sang, the particles coalesced, sprinkling from her lips in the shimmering form of a small, harp-like instrument.

Astounded, Zetius extended his fingers, and one of the symbols shattered into light dust as it floated past.

"Arcane…" He grinned. "Of course, it is."

The music faded into a softer rhythm as she drifted across the stage, shuffling her long, elegant legs. Her hands clasped the microphone stand. With every move she made, the crowd mimicked her without fail.

"Such a beautiful song," Canis murmured, blinking away a tear forming in the corner of his eye. "I wish I could sing like that."

"Pfft…" Willhelm squeezed his eyes shut, struggling to hold back his laughter.

Exhaling a soft breath into the microphone, Céleste spoke. "I'd like to thank and congratulate the Astral Empress for having me today. It is my greatest honour to perform in this event and broadcast it live throughout every inn on the island!"

Even Willhelm couldn't take his eyes off her. "She's a real goddess."

"Her voice is even more divine in a live performance," Zetius nodded in agreement, despite having heard her songs multiple times.

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A more rapid, upbeat rhythm reverberated through the inn. Canis's fingers tapped on the table in perfect time; even Zetius's foot began to move on its own.

"Long live Her Majesty!" Céleste bowed theatrically, her long hair cascading down in an orderly fashion. She swept her large eyes over her audience, arcanically making brief eye contact with everyone, including Zetius. Her black nails tightened around the microphone stand. "Without further ado, let's move on to some more upbeat music!" She lilted in a melodic tone.

With that, the crowd went wild. Their bodies moved in rhythmic waves, their applause hysterical.

"Don't you want to join the dance floor, Sir Canis?" Willhelm teased, bringing his mug to his lips.

"Oh! Of course not. I must at least behave," Canis replied, showing his palms in a gesture of refusal. "We, Lunarius, must act the part, especially on an occasion like this. And let the young ones have their fun."

Friederich tapped Zetius's shoulder. "Not all Lunarius have the same appearance to uphold." He pointed across the room to another table.

Perched atop Pree's broad shoulders, the small Rhealin bounced gleefully to the music, her stubby legs kicking the air. They looked for all the world like a mother and daughter lost in a playful moment. When Pree caught them watching, she shot them an energetic wave, her eyes blissfully half-closed in a foolish grin.

"Oh, boy…" Willhelm averted his head, and Zetius followed suit.

Almost two hours later, the performance drew to a close. The crowd, however, refused to let her go, their voices rising in a unified chant: "Encore! Encore! Encore!"

Heeding their call, Céleste unleashed a few more of her hits, each one a final wave of euphoria crashing over the enraptured audience.

"Thank you, everyone! I'll see you all again next time!" Céleste tipped her microphone stand to the side and bowed deeply to the crowd, her smile spreading wide. The afterglow of adoration still lingered in her audience's eyes. If they weren't fans before, they certainly were now.

With a final wave, the superstar dimmed and dematerialised into thin air. The crowds began to return to their designated tables, leaving only a contented buzzing in the atmosphere.

Friederich, Canis, and Willhelm were slumped over the table. Clean or not, they didn't care; they were in dire need of a place to rest their heavy heads. Canis was already asleep, one eye not fully closed, his soft snores escaping his lips. Friederich and Willhelm, sharing the same fate, slept with serene expressions, like sleeping beauties.

With three men down, Zetius was the last man standing or sitting. He traced his finger over the edge of his mug, his mind blissfully blank, like white noise.

"I wonder if that's it for the day…" Frain's voice came from beside him.

"There's more for sure!" Lampi smiled broadly.

Checking the time, Zetius shrugged. "It's still fairly early in the night." He gestured for them to take the seat next to him.

Perched on Frain's shoulder, Cubie sneered. "Look at those drunkards. Wait… is Sir Canis drooling? Ugh!" Her voice only disturbed the man enough for him to murmur inaudible words in response. Lampi poked his sunken cheek, confirming he was dead to the world.

"So… did you enjoy the show?" Zetius asked Frain, staring into the bubbles floating up in his half-filled mug.

"Um, it was incredible," Frain nodded, studying his face in the amber light. Her hand found his. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah… Why wouldn't I be?" Zetius blurted, more quickly than he intended.

"He's worried about Lupus," Cubie interjected sharply.

"And your training, Frain." Zetius misdirected and met her gaze, "You've changed drastically since we last met." Her amethyst eyes sparked, and strands of dark blonde hair clung to her face from the sweat. A faint, confident smile painted her lips. It was a clear sign she was doing well.

"Hehe… Don't you worry about that. Sir Canis created golems for us to train with," Frain replied, smiling at the sleeping Lunarius.

"That's a relief." Zetius pulled his hand back, absentmindedly rubbing his palms together.

"Now, I've gained a lot of experience training to maximise Hemileos's potential," she added, casually flexing a bicep.

"Maximise?" The word, so clinical and precise, struck Zetius as odd coming from Frain. She met his questioning gaze and offered a soft, resolute hum in response.

"That's great to hear." He nodded, a genuine smile finally reaching his eyes.

A quiet moment of familial comfort settled between them as they reconnected, making up for lost time. It felt like home.

Their discussion was disrupted, however, by a light tap on Zetius's shoulder. The towering horse-girl stood over him, her shadow blocking the ceiling light. In the gloom, only her eyes and bright white teeth were visible.

"Do you know her?" Frain questioned, tilted her head to the side.

"Do you need something?" Zetius frowned at the lady. She was carrying Rhea on her back, the bunny-girl's head lolling lifelessly to the side. He narrowed his eyes to inspect the Lunarius. Rhealin's condition was just as bad as that of the drunkards on his table, if not worse. Yet, Pree didn't appear the least bit tipsy.

Without a word, she gestured for Zetius to stand. She then carefully placed her master on the bench, like a doll, before gently resting her head on the table. At least she had the decency to wipe the surface clean first.

Zetius blinked, flabbergasted.

Finally, Pree spun back around, her full teeth glinting. Her eyes scanned him intensely, focusing on his legs and calves. "You look strong. Let's race!"

"Let's what?!" Zetius exclaimed, his voice cracking. He exchanged an odd look with Frain and Cubie, not knowing what to do.

"Ugh! Is this your first coronation's eve?!" The eccentric horse-girl flicked her head. "Spare me the words and follow me."

"B~but what about them?" Zetius gestured to his fallen comrades.

"Eh… No worry 'bout that. The maids here will take care of them." Pree exchanged a nod with the service maids over the counter, who acknowledged her with a prompt bow.

"I'll take care of them! So do not concern yourself!" Lampi offered with an amicable smile.

"See?" Pree returned a know-it-all smile at Zetius.

"It can't be helped then," Zetius grumbled to himself.

Once Zetius, Frain, and Cubie exited the Griffin Inn, they found the main street had already been cleared out. Soft barricades were placed along a stretch of cobblestone over a kilometre long. With the racetrack set up, some people had gathered on both sides of the street, already waiting with anticipation.

"So there is a real race?" Zetius muttered, incredulous.

"Not just a race. All sorts of late-night carnival games," Pree pointed at platforms looming in the distance, lit with festive, alternating lightbulbs. "A weight-lifting challenge. And the punching game." Pree grabbed Zetius's head and rotated it to the south. "That's an archery stall, if you know how to shoot."

"Woah…" Cubie gasped, moving up and down with giddy energy.

While they had been attracted to the concert, the carnival stations and stalls had been set up behind the scenes.

"Believe me now?" Pree rubbed her nose with her index finger, prompting Zetius a grunt in response.

"Can you race too, Lioness?" Pree asked, probing at Frain.

"N~no… I'm not very fast," Frain admitted, fidgeting with her hair. "But I'm keen to try out the punching game over there."

"What about your little birdy box?" Pree pointed at Cubie.

"I'm not a bird or a box," Cubie retorted. "I'm actually—"

"Doesn't matter what you are. You can join the race with us," Pree concluded bluntly.

"She's my essence, so she'll be with me," Zetius clarified, running a hand through his hair.

"Whoa! That's cool. You got a talkative essence?" Pree wondered, scratching one of her horse ears. "How does that work?"

"We don't know for sure," Zetius responded bluntly.

"Okay, keep your secrets then. Come on, we'll get registered!" Pree blurted, already bouncing with excitement. As the self-designated party leader, she led the way, spearing through the crowds.

Zetius followed at her heels, a ghost of a smile on his face. Her boisterous energy was a startling echo of another time, another friend, and their first chaotic meeting in Germund.

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