The Host (6)

"We finally have enough money to rent this place!" The dancer looked at a tiny stage.

"I never thought we would ever be able to come this far," the musician wiped some tears welling in her eyes.

"We all equally made this happen," the juggler added to the joyful mood.

Although the stage wasn't the best, it was better than performing at the streets where they could be kicked out for causing a disturbance. They were finally getting recognized for all their efforts. And this only made them want to work harder to not disappoint the people who supported them. Posters were handed out during their free time, gathering decent people in the audience that would go out their way to support them. They also started to attract attention with the media exposure of the five of them working together.

Meanwhile, the swordsman was a recent addition to the team. A fan of them, who asked if he could join them like the juggler. He impressed the audience with his sword tricks, coming from a school specializing in fighting. With the magician making the juggler and swordsman stand out with their simple spells, it created the illusion that they were powerful mana users.

"There's a crowd today as well!" The dancer was filled with excitement.

"Shall we begin?" The magician warmly smiled at them.

"Let's go!" The musician was the first to step into the stage.

Below the stage were many reporters with cameras flying in the sky. Maybe they would upload this performance into the news again, bringing them more exposure to other people. It was a sign that they were successful. No more did people around them tell them they should give up on their dreams. The beatings and screams of disappointment in the juggler's home stopped, his parents feeling proud there was finally something he was good at. Meanwhile, both the musician and the dancer began to get some respect from their peers. Although the magician chose to stay anonymous, hiding behind a mask.

Performing as usual while changing things up, the audience couldn't take eyes off them. Donations poured in to support their dreams, almost able to make a living from the newly formed group, 'Circus of Dreams'. It was a theme they had come up with from the inspiration that they had from the fifth district. They wanted the audience to have fun while watching them, showing them anyone could fulfill their dreams.

"Wow! The dark fire, it's unlike what they have done before!" A child pointed out the large fireball coming from the sky.

"Did you do this?" The dancer whispered to the magician.

"I didn't, this can only come from monsters," the magician had some fear in his voice.

"Everyone must evacuate. This is a monster attack!" He amplified his voice.

The reason why this stage could be cheaply rented was because the barrier protecting them was weaker here. The audience scrambled, running for their lives, abandoning the venue. Meanwhile, the circus members tried to help them in escaping, leading them to the best route since they were more familiar with the area. Unfortunately, this made them unable to escape, trapped under the dark fireball heading towards them.

"Run!" I screamed to them, wondering why they were just staring at the monster attack.

"You have to run!" My hands went through them.

Once the fireball was about to hit them, I was rushed further in time to where the news outlets had reported the tragic event. Leaving me in front of a translucent screen, the barrier was less protected from most of the military forces being used that day to protect the people during social week. The exact people who had reported the magician during that competition. I gasped as it was no wonder that they had some grudges against us.

Finding myself back at the room at the top of the tower in cold sweat, I stared at my helpless hands. Their circus was just beginning to become more successful; it wasn't that long ago that they were ignored by the people around them. I wondered if this was the reason that we were left to protect ourselves with no help from outsiders when fairies came during social week. The rest of the people in the first district couldn't witness the same thing happening to them again.

"Why didn't you run?" I mumbled on the bed.

"Don't you see, she's dying!" Luke spun to Ailes, who was watching me.

"Her fever will kill her before you can use her for what you want!" He pointed out.

"How was I supposed to know she would get this sick from playing for a long time?" Ailes sighed.

"I don't know how it was like in your former lives, but this is how Rika is like in this world," Luke held one of my hands.

"You have to return us so we can treat her," he argued.

"You know I can't do that," Ailes crossed his arms.

"I'm going to be ok," I tried to rise from laying down.

"I'm going to turn into one of you and defeat the demon king one day," I sat down.

"Do you think she will survive through that process in this state?" Luke continued to yell.

"This body is too weak," my body tethered side to side.

"I want a healthier body in my next life," my head started to throb.

"I will defeat the demon king," I looked at both of them, not knowing why the room was spinning.