Story Reader / Event Story / Lingering Stars / Story
The opera house in Constellia sits just a stone's throw from the commercial street, but it's much quieter compared to the lively hustle and bustle of the commercial area.
It seems that most folks are drawn to the lively street, leaving the theater so quiet that hardly anyone comes by on purpose.
Unsure whether to push open the theater's grand door, you hear a familiar voice chime in beside you.
Might be worth checking out.
Conductor.
With a graceful curtsy, as always, Selena speaks.
Curious about these, Conductor?
A Midsummer Night's Dream... A play put together by mechanoids?
Yes, but... about the stage, I only have some vague memories and impressions left.
Feels like there was a past where I, along with you, stood together on a certain stage...
Is all this real? Or just... a glimpse of my past self?
Inside?
Conductor...
The night in Constellia remains pristine, the moon casting a shimmering sea of irises in her eyes, as if the journeys of years and the frost of a thousand miles of wilderness were distilled into a single quiver of a flower tip, clear, resilient, and pure.
I get it now.
On stage, we share our stories, our characters mirroring us closely. But how many among the audience truly transcend the performance?
Authors, actors, audience... each one a weaver of stories.
As part of the audience, could you and I... craft a new story together, Conductor?
Or perhaps, this is the finest way for us to script this story.
Selena reaches for the handle of the theater's grand door.
I don't know how long this play will go on...
Nor do I know when this night will abruptly conclude, or when it will fade from my memory once more...
But even this moment alone is sufficient. And the scent of the pansy... once is plenty.
Yes, I've always had faith in you, Commandant.
No matter where we find ourselves, that belief remains steadfast, Commandant.
Reaching out, you find yourself gripping the handrail of the grand door alongside Selena.
Perhaps it's fitting for it to be this serene at this hour. Maybe there won't be any audience.
Selena falls silent, offering only a serene smile, while the sea of Iris continues to sway gracefully under the moon's gentle glow.
Let's go.
