https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-883-Loqi-s-Longest-Two-Hours-Part-2-/12937230/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-884-Lance-s-Selfless-Sacrifice-Part-2-/12945307/
Chapter 884: Lance's Selfless Sacrifice (Part 1)
Chapter 884: Lance's Selfless Sacrifice (Part 1)
In the grand auditorium of the Irekire Opera House, voices and music intertwined, echoing through the hall.
The actors, dressed in their costumes, showcased their vocal prowess and performance skills.
"The birds herald the arrival of spring."
"I've fallen into love just like this."
"You've stolen my heart."
"Even so, I still want to protect my sanctuary, my garden of paradise, until the end of my life."
The leading lady captivated the audience with her beautiful voice and delicate, moving performance.
After her solo, her dialogue with the male lead reached a climax, and the audience was completely immersed in the wonderful music, occasionally erupting into enthusiastic applause.
In the orchestra pit, the musicians worked in perfect harmony with the actors on stage, infusing the opera with moments of soaring passion and gentle lyricism.
"..."
Sigrid turned to look at Antanas and Sinola.
She could discern the voices and had overheard their conversation earlier.
Everyone felt that Houboliyan seemed to be possessed by Tata today.
But no matter how Sigrid looked at it, she believed that the girl portraying the half-witch was Huberian, and it was unlikely to be Talia disguised by illusion magic.
Sigrid observed the audience in the opera house.
It seemed that the viewers who had heard of the reputation of the Gray Princess Chapter were particularly fond of this travelogue-like joyful opera performance.
Although the half-witch appeared more mischievous and playful than imagined, she could sing, she could perform, and she could integrate both strength and softness.
It was evident that the half-witch was performing wholeheartedly, solely focused on delivering a flawless performance.
The only issue was that at this moment, the male and female leads seemed unaware of each other's next words and actions, adding a touch of comedic flair to the opera.
Or perhaps they were like two nobles from the Holy War era, meeting for the first time, struggling to synchronize their steps.
They stumbled and supported each other, creating an unexpectedly hilarious effect that caught the audience off guard.
"..."
Sigrid paused for a moment in thought.
"Excuse me."
Sigrid stepped away from her seat, passing by Talia's seat, and leaned down to sniff her.
"Are you Lanfu?"
Sigrid asked the beautiful gray-haired, golden-eyed woman in front of her in surprise.
She didn't smell like her mother.
This wasn't Talia.
"Yes."
The gray-haired, golden-eyed beauty nodded obediently.
Now that Sigrid had discovered her, there was no need to hide.
After all, she was here at Talia's request, disguised as Talia.
"Damn, has Lance realized that the person across from him is Tata?"
Sigrid gazed at the stage.
She had a hunch as to why Tata was disguised as Houboliyan.
Considering Houboliyan's physical condition from the previous month, it was evident that the demonic factor of the desecrator Merogas, a descendant of the scorpion demons, had started to influence Huberian. Tata had no choice but to step in at this moment.
When Lance first interacted with the half-witch, his intuition might have told him that the half-witch was Tata.
But his rational mind would constantly assure him that the girl before him, in terms of magic and aura, was Houboliyan.
By now, even with his mind occupied by the need for a quick rescue and improvisation, Lance should have guessed—
This half-witch was actually a fusion of Tata and Houboliyan!
"Wait, if she's both Tata and Houboliyan, that's double the happiness."
Sigrid furrowed her brows in thought, realizing something astonishing.
She had been troubled by how to embrace both Houboliyan and Tata, but now it seemed she had found a solution.
Soon, she shook her head, realizing it wasn't the time for such considerations.
Sigrid wasn't concerned about anything else; her worry was that Lance was already overwhelmed, and after a morning of intense mental activity, he would have to endure another afternoon of it.
But there was nothing she could do to help Lance at the moment.
Sigrid could only return to her seat, praying that Lance's exceptional mind would help him overcome this final challenge.
After more than an hour of performance, the stage had reached its final act.
The scene transformed with the movement of the curtains, machinery, and projections.
The musicians held their breath, focusing intently on the stage.
Bowstrings danced across violin strings, flute melodies soared, and harp strings chimed, filling the hall with swirling notes that intertwined to create the finale's melody.
The stage lights gradually brightened, first with a soft yellow glow, then with bright spotlights.
The backdrop featured a large-scale projection of the Ent Mountains in the Demon Realm, with its undulating peaks and a shimmering lake at its base, bathed in the hues of twilight.
It was a fantastical and profound twilight paradise.
As the music played, the leading lady gracefully entered the sanctuary.
The half-witch wore a pure white gown, her captivating face radiating contentment after days of play.
"It seems our journey is coming to an end."
She hummed a tune, her ethereal and pure voice as pleasant as a heavenly melody, expressing the love in her heart.
"We're back here, the place where you and I shared memories... My memories always seem to have a blank space, as if someone should be by my side, but no matter how hard I try to recall, I'm always alone."
The male lead, the Demon Lord Governor, made his entrance, his expression filled with melancholy.
After walking this path with the half-witch, his gaze seemed to convey both affection and underlying fatigue.
Even though he couldn't recall the half-witch, through their playful interactions, they had become trusted friends.
"But why don't we go find Host Duke?"
The half-witch gazed at the temple on the mountain at twilight.
She guessed that this was probably the ending of the two-hour performance.
The two had just wandered in a state of resignation, arriving at this twilight church.
In the original work, this scene shouldn't exist.
"No need, this is where our journey ends."
Lance had become accustomed to the half-witch's improvised lines.
This isn't Huberian at all; it's a complete mix of Talia and Huberian.
"So listen to me..."
Lance had a rough idea of what the emergency was that had caused Huberian to transform into Talia.
But he couldn't blame Talia, as she had come to their rescue. The only thing she didn't know was the change in the script. If the script hadn't been heavily modified, her performance would have been perfectly fine.
"We don't have much time left. Can you please just follow my lead from now on?"
Lance decided to abandon the script altogether.
Now, only he could turn this play into a masterpiece.
"Huh?"
Talia looked at Lance in surprise.
Not only had she never seen the scenes of the Enchanting Mountains and the Twilight Cathedral in the book, but she had also never read in the original work that the governor would deliver such lines.
"Wasn't our purpose for this journey to find the one who cursed you and solve the mystery?"
Talia could only follow the prompter's words as much as possible, trying to ask him.
"No need."
Lance shook his head.
"But..."
The demi-mage still wanted to get the performance back on track.
"I'm certain we don't have much time left. Can you please listen to me?"
Lance firmly approached her and spoke in a low voice.
The excessive closeness of their cheeks and gazes made Talia instinctively retreat, leaning against the pillar of the temple.
"You...you..."
Talia's cheeks flushed. She remembered that there wasn't supposed to be a kissing scene, but if Lance wanted to kiss her...
Wait, this was a fusion of Huobao's body.
Talia couldn't help but feel strange about it.
If Lance kissed her in this state, would he be kissing Huobao or her?
"I'll just follow your lead."
Talia didn't have time to think and could only weakly respond, turning her face away, unable to meet Lance's gaze.
"I'm certain that Host Duke isn't the mastermind behind the curse on us. Do you know why?"
Lance didn't continue to approach her and asked her.
"Why...?"
Talia looked at Lance, her eyes filled with confusion.
This line shouldn't be here either.
But staring into Lance's eyes, which seemed to see right through her soul, she became lost in thought.
Those were eyes that believed in her, eyes that hoped she would cooperate with him, just like every time they faced life and death together. He would always entrust his life to her.
Talia started to feel a bit anxious at this point.
Lance's determination even made her doubt herself.
Could it be that she had been using the wrong lines all along, and Lance had been helping her cover it up?
"Why, tell me quickly."
Talia also stopped relying on the prompter.
From now on, every line she spoke would be in coordination with Lance.
Even though she had lost her confidence, with Lance by her side, she trusted that he could guide her soul.
Down in the audience, everyone was already immersed in the performance.
They were curious about the mystery that was about to be unveiled, and their hearts were stirred by the love between the two characters, who were finally about to have a happy ending.
The demi-mage, who had been stubborn and defiant throughout the journey, finally softened.
The governor also seemed ready to face his own feelings.
"How do they even act out this feeling of entrusting each other's souls?"
"It doesn't seem like acting; it's as if they've truly faced life and death together countless times. Even if they were separated by lifetimes and lost all memories, they would still be able to resonate with each other."
"With this atmosphere and buildup, it has to be a happy ending, right? It's unlikely to suddenly turn into a tragedy. I'm a bit scared because some details in the earlier scenes hinted at something amiss."
"No, no, don't say that."
The audience whispered to each other.
The governor and the demi-mage were like the journey they had been on. Even if they couldn't awaken forgotten memories, they had broken through the barriers in their hearts.
"I'm telling you, this is a comedy! It can't possibly end in tragedy!"
Ifatiya smiled as she spoke to the black-haired noble woman beside her.
When they first entered the opera house, she heard Minera say that today's ending would be a tragedy, and she had been worried for a long time, afraid that the sweetness would turn into bitterness.
But now, as they were about to witness the final scene, it was still so joyful.
"It's so beautiful."
Minera also watched with a girlish smile.
"Could it be that I misunderstood?"
But now, as she shifted her attention away from the stage, she began to doubt her previous judgment.
If this was truly a comedy with a happy ending for all, why did the promotional video have a bittersweet style and end in tragedy? The purpose of the promotional video should be to hint at what's to come, allowing the audience to prepare themselves and better immerse themselves in the opera's atmosphere, essentially serving as a setup and preparation.
"You must have misunderstood."
Ifatiya confidently said to Minera.
Today's performance was definitely a comedy.
She also patted Abigail, who was sitting next to her.
"Abigail, you agree, right?"
Ifatiya asked Abigail, feeling like she had found a kindred spirit.
"I...I don't know."
Abigail uttered these words.
She was speaking the truth.
She genuinely didn't know what the two on stage would do next.
The only reason she had made it this far was her deep trust in Lance, which had developed after experiencing a series of calamities.
"..."
Minera looked at Ifatiya and Abigail, and held Ifatiya's hand to stop her from disturbing Director Abigail.
Ifatiya didn't realize how serious the problem was.
But Minera could analyze the situation.
It seemed like a genuine stage accident.
"Did you notice it too?"
Sigrid observed Minera's expression and asked her.
More and more friends and family in the audience were starting to sense something amiss, even Cat Boss felt that something was up and sat up straight in Bianka's arms.
But aside from Pranay, who had already fled, and Cat Boss, who was beginning to feel afraid, the two of them, with their unique insights into the promotional video, were probably the ones who understood the situation the best.
If today's performance were to end as a comedy, it might be a masterpiece, but it would definitely fall short of Abigail's expectations.
The entire comedy would make all the previous promotions and preparations seem redundant.
It would not withstand scrutiny and analysis from industry professionals.
After these two performances, industry insiders would surely uncover the contradictory issues.
However, with the play already progressing this far, it was impossible to forcefully change it into a tragic ending. A hard landing would only lead to the failure of today's performance.
The biggest problem was that Sigrid had noticed that many foreshadowing elements seemed to hint at the half-witch being a ghost, and the ending of the final act was likely designed to reveal this secret. The version Lanqi and Huberian had arranged to perform was supposed to be a tragedy.
Therefore, based on the limitations of the stage and script, which had already set the ending as a tragedy, and under the influence of the twilight cathedral's ambiance, forcefully enforcing a comedic ending might also fail.
Whether choosing a comedic or tragic ending seemed impossible. The flaws would only become more apparent, and it had been destined from the start of the performance.
"Has Lanqi sworn an oath to the Goddess of Fate? He's been imprisoned twice in a row during his performances."
Minera asked Sigrid.
The stage was becoming increasingly unpredictable, and the final act was clearly the moment of culmination.
The moment of the curtain call was drawing nearer, and there were only a few minutes left to turn things around.
The audience seats, arranged in a horseshoe shape around the stage and spreading outwards, allowed every spectator to enjoy the captivating performance. The actors' dedication, the lively stage design, and the awe-inspiring music immersed every audience member in the historical world of the Holy War period on the northern continent, as depicted in the opera.
Although no audience member had yet noticed that the lead actors were not following the script, for Lanqi, the upcoming crossroads meant that both the comedic and tragic paths would lead to a dead end!
"He's really doing it..."
Sigrid recalled the final moments of the Blood Moon City siege, when Lanqi had said he would never impersonate the High Priest of the Goddess of Fate again.
But then he turned around and transformed Loren into Lotian.
"Wow, he's really going to repay his debt?"
Minera gazed at the ongoing performance on stage, as Lanqi continued to give his all, showing no signs of giving up.
Could this be saved, Lan Teacher?
Minera felt that Lanqi's ability to rescue her earlier had already been legendary.
Now, Lanqi's career was coming to an end, and this final side quest was even more hellish than the main quest of his life.
In the twilight cathedral on stage.
No matter how the seasons changed, the old temple atop the cliff, surrounded by flowers, always remained mild and pleasant. The setting sun's rays shone through the pillars, and the gentle breeze carried fresh air and pale flower petals.
The opera's lead actors were on the grass outside the cathedral.
"I think, along the way, I've probably understood."
The Demon Lord Governor wore a faint smile, lazily sitting on the ground.
"What have you understood?"
The half-witch, seeing the governor's weary appearance, kneeled down as well, staring into his eyes and asking him.
She had been restless throughout the journey, but at this moment, she seemed calm.
"I think I've been lying to myself, I don't want to wake up."
The Demon Lord Governor raised his hand to gently caress the half-witch's cheek, but he stopped just before making contact.
In his emerald eyes, there was no trace of resentment or disappointment, only gentleness and a hint of acceptance, as if he was about to concede.
There was no need for words, he understood and knew everything, every moment felt like forever.
No one knew if he was prepared to admit his feelings for the half-witch or if he was feeling sentimental.
The melody played on the piano was graceful and gentle, the notes flowing through the heart like a stream, smoothing over the joys and sorrows of the opera's era. The left hand was sometimes steady and powerful, and sometimes light and delicate, as if hinting at the unpredictability of fate.
"..."
The half-witch still didn't understand his meaning.
But she knew that at this moment, she just needed to show genuine confusion.
As long as she fulfilled Lanqi's expectations of her, and responded with the reactions he could predict, their performance would succeed. After all, Lanqi had just told her that success was possible if she followed his lead.
"Do you miss the times when we slowly fell asleep, thinking of each other?"
The Demon Lord Governor seemed to grow more weary, his eyes occasionally closing, but his faint smile remained unchanged.
He asked the half-witch.
"..."
The half-witch did not reply.
Since her original lines didn't match, Lanqi's intention was obviously for her to not respond, but to simply feel his heart and return his gaze with affection.
Perhaps Lanqi's expectation was for her to be like a non-existent phantom at this moment, silent.
The prompter in her ear should have already reached the end of the script, but since she stopped following it, she just quietly watched the words floating in her vision, ignoring them.
In a while, perhaps it would be her turn to exit the stage, and the curtain would fall on this play.
Even so, she believed in Lanqi.
"We believe that we can find a place for ourselves among the stars."
The Demon Lord Governor's gaze gradually became hazy.
"If we chase after the past, we can only sink into fantasy."
As he spoke, he seemed to be fighting against the pull of the sleep god.
"But while I'm still awake, I want to fully enjoy every moment.
(End of Chapter)
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