The The Little Oceanid and I Once Was in Arcadia.
They had complete storylines and endings, perfectly suited for opera-themed performance.
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Getting to work right away, the group of people quickly created the prototype of a script.
I was once in Arcadia.
This was based on everyone's design, within the Honkai Rail world view, with Okhema as a background.
Originally enemies, in Okhema and Xuanfeng City, there is a man and a woman who, due to a twist of fate, become lovers.
Amid the tide of generations, this pair of lovers will go through many things.
Their "romance" will ultimately come to a frustrating and sad end.
The final contrast. Very fitting for a Greek tragedy.
And Furina's script, on the other hand, was completely different.
It tells of a creature born from the creation of a Water God, called the Oceanid, and a boy, from childhood to old age.
Watching, waiting, until death.
A process that is warm, with an ending that has no regrets, yet still makes one feel a lingering sorrow.
Because in Furina's creation, the worldview is anchored to the place where she is from, modeled as the "Nation of Water."
So even though the story already had a clear shape from the beginning, the little boy in it, as well as the others appearing, were all set in a small town in Fontaine.
The overall trajectory of the story did not change much.
So, you could say it was fate.
Without needing any outside influence, Furina accidentally created such a similar story.
But after fully completing it, she looked back at it again.
She found that the name "Daughter of Water" was still a bit too grand.
In the Fontaine she envisioned, water was the greatest symbolic sign. And indeed, by her own settings, the Oceanid could also be considered a daughter of water.
But compared with that, another name suited the story better.
After much consideration, Furina still decided to hide away the name "The Little Oceanid," and changed it to "Heart of the Spring."
And so,
[I Was Once in Arcadia]
[Heart of the Spring]
two stories were completely finished.
They relied on the vast worlds conceived in their minds, but because the characters were so small, and the stories small, they could be perfectly expressed in the form of opera.
...
"Wonderful!"
"Finally done!"
The meeting room of the Okhema Theater was piled high with takeout boxes.
Everyone looked at the finished script with a heavy satisfaction.
"I'm going to make a call…"
"Everyone wait for me a bit."
Furina gave a greeting, then left briskly.
Investing in the theater, preparing to produce operas, these things still had to be reported to her boss.
After all, it wasn't her money being invested.
Once Furina left, the theater members couldn't put down the script, continuing to read with delight.
"I think this script will be much easier to perform."
Phainon scratched his head and said honestly: "Like before, making me play the savior, I just can't do it. I also feel I'm more suited to supporting roles."
He was very fond of some of the bit parts among the characters.
They matched his age and temperament. Most importantly, they were simple and down-to-earth.
"Phainon, others all fight to be the main character, only you love the small roles the most." Hyacine said helplessly.
"Haha, I think that's just fine." Phainon laughed cheerfully.
He himself came from the countryside, since childhood fishing, catching bugs, climbing trees, without big ambitions.
As for wishes, they were simple. Or rather, he liked seeing others happy. As long as others were happy, he would be happy too.
By coincidence he joined the Okhema Theater, but because of his looks and temperament, he often had to play tragic male supporting roles.
In classics like Oedipus Rex and Othello, he often had to portray those filled with deep suffering, spouting lines full of anger and hatred.
It always made Phainon feel a little uncomfortable.
And in original stories, making him play the savior of the world, his first reaction was: how could someone like me possibly be a savior?
Everyone else in the troupe was surely more suited than him.
"Speaking of which…"
"You guys actually met Furina earlier at the airport, didn't you?" Aglaea suddenly said.
"Huh?"
"Sister Aglaea, don't say that anymore!" Phainon quickly waved his hands, face embarrassed.
After Furina came to the theater, the troupe knew:
Phainon and Mydeimos had already encountered her early on.
It was just that, at that time, in Furina's eyes, Phainon and Mydeimos looked too much like street hoodlums, scaring her away.
This incident, as a joke, had long circulated in the Okhema Theater, brought up from time to time.
Aglaea would mention it when trying to improve Phainon's fashion sense, hoping he would choose his outfits more carefully and not be so sloppy.
And that summer, some even said it proved Phainon was perfect for the image of a savior.
Because a savior must have the kind of aura that scares enemies, right?
"I think this wasn't my fault, Mydeimos was shirtless that day, clearly he looked scarier!"
"Clothes aside, I was well-dressed!" Phainon protested.
"Oi!"
"You bastard, don't try to push the blame on me!"
Mydeimos crossed his arms, dissatisfied: "I've always been upright, who would be scared of me?"
His words were full of confidence. Clearly, he didn't think the responsibility lay with him.
"Ah…" Phainon smiled bitterly, covering his head.
"Pfft…" At the side, Hyacine couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
The room was instantly filled with joy.
Aglaea also smiled at the corners of her mouth.
Though she had brought it up, it was deliberate.
Everyone loved teasing Phainon. Watching Phainon and Mydeimos bicker was an indispensable part of daily life.
"All right, let's get serious and assign the roles."
Aglaea said: "Once the roles are divided, we'll begin training and rehearsals."
"Yay!"
"I want to be a background extra!"
"Any battle maniacs?"
"I refuse to play a brainless character."
...
Meanwhile, Furina went out to make a call, but when she took out her jellyfish-shell-cased phone, she found Xia Wen had already called her more than a dozen times.
Seeing the dense row of missed calls, Furina shivered with fright.
When a normal person sees someone close to them calling frantically, the first thought is that something bad has happened.
Furina was no exception.
Her mind instantly conjured countless possibilities.
Had something happened at MiHoYo? Could it be bankruptcy?
It shouldn't be, I've only been away for a week.
And I didn't even spend much money every day.
Could it be that the boss has a terminal illness? Is he already about to die? About to call and urge me to come back and see him one last time?
Wow! I don't want something like that to happen!
Furina trembled as she clicked to call back.
Listening to the busy tone, beep, beep, beep.
Just a few seconds felt like years to Furina.
Finally, the call connected.
"Wuwuwu! Boss, you're okay, right!"
"Furina! You didn't get scammed, right?!"
Two voices sounded almost simultaneously.
"Ah?"
"Huh?"
Two confused voices rang out again.
The call suddenly fell into silence.
Furina was dumbfounded, her eyes still wet with tears, standing dazed in place, a spinning circle of thought appearing above her head.
Furina was thinking.
Furina finished thinking.
Furina asked softly: "Boss, you're not dead, right?"
"?"
"You think you're funny?"
Xia Wen couldn't hold it in.
After that following a round of friendly exchange.
Furina finally figured it out, the boss called not because he was dying, but because he was afraid she'd been scammed.
"I, actuall-"
"Shut up!"
"Ah, I, I wasn't scammed. Actually, I invested in a theater here in Greece."
"Oh~ what theater?"
"A theater that's about to go bankrupt."
"You invested in a theater about to go bankrupt, isn't that still being scammed?!"
"Hmph! Am I that stupid? I'm actually pretty smart!"
"Smart where?! Someone tricked two million out of you in three sentences, right!"
"Because I didn't use my own money! I used yours, boss!"
"You mother-"
Back and forth.
Xia Wen was about to explode, but in the end, as long as it wasn't a scam, it was fine.
Money is a small matter. Safety is what matters most.
"Forget it~"
"As long as you're happy. Just keep in touch with me. Next time there's some kind of investment matter, at least consult me three times. Worst case, go ask Jade or Topaz, okay?"
Xia Wen felt that as the boss, he really was wearing himself out with worry.
"Ahem, I think this investment is very prosperous."
"I was just about to tell you."
Furina lifted her chin proudly and said: "Humph, it really looks very prosperous."
Then, Furina described in full detail how she came to know the people at the Okhema Theater, its history, and its hardships.
At first, the Xia Wen still made a few comments, but later he just fell silent.
When Furina finally finished.
"Hiss…"
Xia Wen gasped: "So what you're saying is, you used two million to become the financial backer of a theater, it's called Okhema, and the person in charge is named Aglaea, right."
"Y-Yes, that's right."
Hearing this serious question, Furina suddenly became less confident, not knowing what was wrong.
After a long pause, the Xia Wen's voice finally came from the other side of the phone.
"Very good."
"From today on, you are the official special investor of me Xia Wen."
"Invest however you want, whenever you want."
Xia Wen never imagined.
The Chrysos Heirs he had been searching for so long would end up in her hands by chance.
What's more they were also fans of Honkai: Star Rail, and had even written their own fan scripts.
But they thought it was just fanwork.
In the Xia Wen's eyes, this was the real deal.
Written by the actual Chrysos Heirs themselves, authentic and original Amphoreus.
"Eh?"
…..
Furina didn't expect such an answer from the Xia Wen, but being smart, she immediately thought of the reason: "Could it be that they're the people you're looking for, boss?"
"That's right."
"But, but none of them are that strangely dressed young man you mentioned."
"Don't worry. When you go back, ask that young man named Phainon what his favorite outfit is, and you'll understand."
"Oh, got it."
Then Furina shared her upcoming plans.
Besides returning home, she also wanted to stay here and watch the premiere of two new plays.
Xia Wen fully supported this.
The appearance of Heart of the Spring and I Once in Arcadia was also a huge surprise for him.
Letting Furina "go fishing" this time really was the right choice.
Their natures matched well, both loving classical art, and the sparks that came from their collision were simply wonderful.
After thinking a little, Xia Wen said slowly:
"Handle things over there however you like."
"Ask Aglaea if the troupe is willing to accept private shareholding."
"Money is not a problem."
"And make sure we don't interfere with the theater's operations."
"Mm… don't rush to tell them about participating in Honkai yet, just focus on maintaining a good relationship with the theater."
"I leave it to you! The great Furina!"
Xia Wen's solemn instructions made Furina feel a heavy responsibility.
Especially that last phrase, the great Furina. It instantly inflated her into a puffed-up beast.
"Hmph, e-even if you praise me like that…"
"I still can't guarantee I'll definitely succeed."
Though Furina tried her best to sound proud, she couldn't hide the happiness in her voice.
"By the way."
"You said Phainon is a simple, cheerful, optimistic guy."
"That won't do."
"Tell Aglaea to think of a way to let little Phainon 'enjoy' life a bit."
"He has a heavy burden coming up. Everyone is pushing him to be the savior, and he role is an important role."
"Being just cheerful isn't enough."
"Also, I think the theater's script is very good, but the ending is a little too plain, lacking dramatic tension."
"Let's do this… bring in Destruction, Erudition, and Remembrance, then merge in the Masked Fools and a few Emanators."
"The savior can't just be saved right away. For example…"
"Like this…"
"And then like this…"
"Killing his own companions, one by one…"
"In the end, thirty million turns…"
"Suppressed anger exploding…"
"Burning to ashes…"
"And finally we do this…"
Furina listened to the narration over the phone.
Her eyes grew wider and wider.
Wait a minute… At first, she didn't understand why the boss cared so much about Phainon.
But after hearing the boss's additions, she instantly understood. Did Xia Wen… have some kind of special fetish for tormenting simple country boys?