Tingen Opera House entrance.
A few gentlemen threw glances at the group of women, hoping to escape unnoticed. Unfortunately, each one of them was seen by Amanises from the corner of her eyes.
Conservative or not, they still manage to be inappropriate! She tsked silently. Amanises didn't even want to imagine the horrors of Trier.
Daly crossed her arms and leaned on a nearby wall. "So, when does it start?"
"In about 20 minutes. We can go and occupy our seats in the meantime."
Amanises titled her head a little to see the time that was written on the large billboard. Her unnaturally big hat was in the way, slightly narrowing her field of vision.
She confirmed what Rozanne said and nodded her head. "You four can go and take our seats, meanwhile I'll get myself a small coffee."
"Not tea?" Daly commented.
"I'm not feeling it." She responded back.
Daly uncrossed her arms and looked at the other three. "Actually, I'll be going with Evelyn, I have something to discuss."
Oh? She was surprised. What could be so important that you can't wait to tell me when we arrive home?
The nicely dressed women nodded and made their way inside the Opera House, Rozanne and Sekka chatting while Royale just stared awkwardly from time to time.
After each procured themselves a coffee, Daly dragged Evelyn to a nearby dark alleyway.
"Had you not been my friend, I would've thought of you as a thief!" Amanises was ready to shout from the top of her lungs 'Burgler!" if Daly had a little as a thought of making a snarky remark.
"Haha! Very funny." She spoke sarcastically, whatever it was must've been serious enough, for Daly didn't even try to smirk.
Instantly, Amanises crossed her arms and took a serious stance, her ears ready to take whatever was thrown.
"Sigh, Dunn's condition is worsening..." she murmured silently, her expression was extremely complicated.
"What? What do you mean?"
Daly looked up. "Recently, I realized a pattern in his letters. Many of them contained repeated information, to the point it was incredibly obvious. Not only that, but he suddenly became very interested in this mission after the death of a Divination Expert who was tied with the Aurora Order."
"The Aurora Order?" Amanises wasn't yet aware of this term. So this brought up numerous questions.
Daly pinched the bridge of her nose and frowned. "It's actually better if you're not aware of it yet. At your sequence it's preferable that you remain ignorant of this sort of matter. Just think of it as the cult I mentioned but with a different deity and ideals."
Amanises got the gist of it quickly. So it's a secret organization like the churches, only it's evil and hidden! Naturally, Amanises wanted more information regarding these kinds of organizations, since at the end of the day The Arcanists weren't exactly legal either, but she kept her mouth shut and let Daly continue, not wanting to interrupt.
"I'm afraid something might've happened during that mission with him. You should keep an eye out."
Amanises nodded in understanding but something still puzzled her. "Okay, I get it. Really. But was there really a need to drag me here, instead of waiting for later?" She raised an eyebrow in question.
"I-I just felt like telling you right now... Especially since both of you are of the same pathway and stuff..." She stumbled over her own words.
Amanises was still completely puzzled and completely drowned in worry and concern for her friend. It was unusual for her to be so...strange.
I really don't want to assume the worst but this is making my heart ripple! Daly! What's going on???
She opened her mouth to ask something, before being dragged again. This time, back towards the Opera House.
"Let's go now! You don't wanna leave our girls waiting!" She returned back to her carefree demeanor, even a small smile graced her lips.
"C'mon!"
What's going on?!
***
In a place far away, one abandoned by the sun.
Repeated hushed whispers echoed throughout the dark room. Only the small candlelight danced, in rhythm of the occasional flash of thunder.
The flickering of such light could only be described as horror inducing, but it also brought a strange comfort to the young boy, prostrating himself to the crystal globe, displayed on a weathered pillow made from putrid cloth and stuffed with pus stained feathers.
As he continued to pray devoutly, tears made their way on his cheeks, glistening slightly on this youth.
"Please, to any God that could listen! Please! I beg you! Spare my family and my kin!" These words continued to sound across the entire house, filling in the hallways and dusty rooms.
The crystal globe showed a slight glimmer of red light, which caught the youth's gray eyes. The slight continued to grow, until it swallowed him whole.
Moments later, he found himself on one knee in a place dimly illuminated and filled with countless points of red light that flickered in void.
He scanned the area, immediately noticing a long bronze mottled table with twenty-two high-back chairs around it. He also saw a humanoid figure shrouded in gray fog, with hands under its chin, watching with indifference.
The youth immediately lowered himself to the ground again, not daring to look at the figure directly.
"You, are you God?" He said from his current position, making sure his voice wouldn't be raised.
The figure took a relaxed stance and spoke: "I am not God, I am merely The Fool who is interested in the long history of this world."
"I don't care if you're God or The Fool, my prayers will not change. I hope that the people of the City of Silver will be freed from the curse of their destinies. I hope that the sun and sky described in the books will appear in our skies. If possible—if possible, I wish that my parents can be revived." The youth spoke in reverence, explaining the situation and his hope for the future of his forsaken homeland.
The Fool put down His hands and laughed.
"Why should I help you?" It was amusing. This pesky little creature from that place had such high dreams, He was almost envious.
"I will offer my soul to you. I will use my blood to please you." The boy answered, giving his pleas.
"I have no interest in the soul and blood of a mortal." Those rituals only brought Him closer to madness and He didn't even know what to do with all of the sacrifices given.
Behind His throne, a pile of junk murmured silently, as if it caught life just to witness its master belittle it.
The youth's expression slowly turned to despair. The Fool shook his head slightly, but smiled as if wanting to know where this would go.
His spiritual intuition indicated that this would become a promising member. Bringing a lot of news from the land that He so wished to forget. And being especially useful for her and the rest of the members.
"But I can give you a chance." He paused and then continued.
"I am a Fool that likes a fair and equal exchange. You can use what you can attain to exchange with me, or people like you, to exchange for things you want. But remember, they must be equal in value…
"This can make you powerful. Perhaps one day, you can rely on your own strength to free the City of Silver from its curse and make the sun appear in your sky once again."
The youth raised his head slightly.
"I want to become the Sun. I wish to obtain the formula of the corresponding starting Sequence potion from you."
The Fool chuckled. "No need to worry about this so soon, don't be afraid to look at me, I made sure it wouldn't be harmful."
Once permission was given, he immediately sprang up, hope was now regained in his eyes. The City of Silver can be saved! There's still a chance!
The Fool maintained His posture. He replied with a calm tone, "We can discuss this transaction in the future. Do not go out for the next two days. Try your best to not be in the same room as anyone else."
"Alright, I'll follow your instructions."
The Fool leaned His head over His fist, He suddenly became curious about the situation of the City of Silver.
Long time ago, it was haunted by Omebella, then was saved by The Sun. It wasn't a long period of property before His ultimate fall, so The Fool could only speculate how a city could still continue to survive in such a place.
He started speculating if any other cities also continued to exist.
Most likely not. Who knows how much fun that little shitstain had in the absence of His father. If not for me to educate Him, then who will?
He almost chuckled remembering the way Medici nearly turned that misbehaving raven into fried chicken.
The Fool inquired about the current situation of the City of Silver.
To which the youth replied dutifully.
It's better than I thought. It's by no means good, but not that deplorable either.
That black-faced grass is workable sustenance, but it's still not enough...
Unfortunately, I can't do anything. I can't even grasp the threads of a marionette there! There's only the slight remnant of 'Fooling' remaining, to which I can manipulate, but it's of no use.
The Fool let out a long, dejected sigh. If the youth wanted to save his city then he would need to work hard.
If they would start to believe in The Fool and provide more anchors then it could be viable, but from the looks of it the City of Silver is completely devout to The Former Sun.
After the information was received, The Fool once again reminded the obnoxiously tall young man to remain in his house and wait patiently for the next gathering.
"But before you go, I need to confirm your code name."
Cards flew around the youth, none showing anything other than the back.
"Take one."
He followed the instructions, choosing a card at random.
He flipped it back and saw the image. It featured a large, smiling, and radiant sun shining down on a naked child riding a white horse, with sunflowers blooming behind a brick wall.
The Sun.
The young man smiled and looked with hope at the figure again, but before he could give any word of thanks, the connection was cut off and he was back in the room with flickering candle-light.
I can do it! He smiled to himself.
Derrick Berg shall bring the Sun back to the City of Silver!
***
Amanises nearly slunched in her seat. She forced her eyelids to stay open to continue watching and listening to the Opera.
But it's so boring!
It was unbearable!
It's not like it wasn't good, or that the singer wasn't on note, but operas just weren't her thing.
She glanced at the woman to her right, Royale looked at the stage like a cat seeing a running mouse.
Even further, Seeka was listening attentively. And further still, Rozanne was smiling from ear to ear.
Only to her right, Daly looked at least a little bit uninterested. This made Amanises feel a little less like a monster.
Evelyn used to attend operas with her mother, but she also started to dislike them as time went on. This didn't make the situation any better, though.
After it was over, the women left the auditorium, shifting between the seats.
"The singer was pretty good. I kept wondering how she could keep such a high note for so long!"
"Must've inhaled helium." Yes it was pretty good. Amanises said with a pleasant smile.
The four women looked at her strangely.
"Helium?" They said in unison.
Oh come on! She nearly exclaimed in frustration, but kept her lips sealed.
"Helium has a property to make your voice high-pitched. I simply made a remark about how people would inhale a bit of helium to make funny voices." She tried to explain herself.
Seeka was quite interested. "I've heard about this property of helium, but I never thought that people would deliberately inhale it."
I don't know if they do it either. But stupid kids from the 90's would. She lampooned silently.
Royale took the initiative to speak, it was quite uncharacteristic of her, really.
"Miss Evelyn, you didn't enjoy the Opera, did you?"
Amanises had an awkward smile on her face, she really couldn't force herself to deny. "Operas just aren't my thing. My mother would bring me to a large number of them, and over time I grew numb."
Rozanne looked at the ground. "Oh. I see. I'm sorry to have you watch something you don't like..." she started apologizing.
Damn it!
"N-no! I'm really glad I was invited! I didn't say anything so no wonder you wouldn't know! It's completely alright!"
Daly sucked on thin air, she knew the mood was down already.
"I really enjoy music, but mostly orchestras and piano works!" Evelyn continued.
"Orchestras?" Royale inquired, she knew of it but never thought of attending one.
"Yes yes! I think we should attend one together! It was a fan favorite activity of the upper class!"
Although people listened through a phonograph nowadays, orchestras are still frequented.
It's much better than freakshows and mummy unboxing, anyway. She still thought in horror about how the high-class society entertained itself. It was a freak show on its own!
"I'll buy some tickets for us tomorrow! Everything's on me!"
Rozanne tried to refuse while Seeka and Royale remained quiet, thinking about the offer.
"If you really don't want to attend, just say so. But me and Daly will go together nonetheless! So why not join us?"
Daly pointed at herself in disbelief as if saying 'Who? Me?'.
Amanises shot her a glare as if to respond 'Yes! You!'.
Defeated, Daly didn't refute any further.
The three women exchanged glances and also agreed to give it a try.
"Perfect! I already know where and what time it will be!" Before coming she saw an advertisement on a store window and one in today's newspaper. "Let's meet at TownSquare at 6pm tomorrow!"
At such a sudden proposal, none of the women had any objections, as it turns out everyone was free!
"Great! See you tomorrow!" She grabbed Daly by the hand and dashed in a random direction in a comical way.
Rozanne looked at Seeka in confusion, to which she replied by shrugging her shoulders.