Chapter 51: Hope Is the Thing With Feathers
(Chapter 51 Hope Is the Thing With Feathers)
Tempest observed from a short distance as Furina and Robin engaged in lively conversation, their voices occasionally punctuated by soft chuckles. He could see the rapport between the two women, their interaction was light and full of warmth.
'It's good to know, she has friends.'
Tempest thought to himself, a smile creeping on his face, he then turned to Sunday.
"You two are siblings?"
Tempest asked him.
"Indeed, we originate from Fleuve Cendre, and our parents passed away when we were still very young. Left alone, it was just the two of us. My sister, Robin, would perform on the streets, and kind souls would offer a few Moras in exchange. As for me, I was always by her side, supporting her. Little did we know, though, that our lives were about to take an unexpected turn when The Family graciously took us under their wing."
Sunday's tone turns solemn as he begins to recall their past.
"I see… It's truly unfortunate to have experienced such a difficult childhood, but it seems fate had different plans for both of you."
Tempest said to Sunday, his tone reflecting both understanding and a hint of relief at the turn of events.
"Thank you, Your Grace. Your kind words are greatly appreciated."
Sunday offers a gracious, respectful bow, and responds with a genuine smile.
'I should really address the issue in Fleuve Cendre with Lady Furina one day. I'm concerned that many talented individuals will never have the chance to shine due to the grip of poverty. Rohan was born there, and now I've encountered these remarkably gifted siblings as well.'
Tempest thought to himself, his mind already formulating plans for the future.
"Your Grace!"
"Hm?"
Tempest lifted his head as Robin called out to him. He watched as she gracefully made her way over to him, a warm smile on her face.
"I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for accepting my invitation. It is a true and unparalleled honor for us to perform in your presence, and I am eternally grateful for this amazing opportunity."
Robin smiles and bows gently once more, in a respectable manner.
"No need to be so formal with me, Mademoiselle Robin. Please, think of me as just another spectator eagerly awaiting your performance. I'm truly looking forward to it."
Tempest said to Robin.
"Of course, Your Grace. I'll do everything I can to make this performance extra special and put a big smile on your face!"
Robin's smile becomes more relaxed as she acknowledges Tempest's request to lose the formality.
"After all, bringing joy is what I'm good at."
Robin concluded, and Tempest nodded in response, appreciating her words. Shortly after, Furina approached him, signaling that it was time for them to leave as Robin prepared herself for the performance.
"Robin, Sunday, I wish you both the best of luck in your performance. We will be watching from the top of the crowd with high expectations. Good luck and break a leg!"
Furina spoke to Robin and Sunday with a hint of support in her voice, her words tinged with a touch of encouragement.
"Of course, don't take the 'break a leg' part too seriously, though."
Furina chuckled lightly, a hint of humor in her voice as she issued a clarification after her previous comment.
Robin chuckled softly, and Sunday smiled warmly. The two of them then performed their formal gestures, Sunday placed one hand on his chest and the other behind his back, while Robin gracefully lifted her dress in a respectful bow.
Furina nodded in acknowledgment, and soon both she and Tempest exited the room.
"I'm afraid the rumors are true… he rarely smiles. It's a shame, really. A man so handsome should really smile more."
Robin lets out a small sigh as she glances at Sunday.
"Given his tumultuous past and the complicated relationship he had with his Father, which has been made public, I can understand why he is the way he is. It is not surprising that he carries the weight of his experiences, shaped by his life."
Sunday's voice takes on a more solemn tone as he addresses the matter at hand.
"Ah… a caged bird that has finally been set free, that describes him quite perfectly. To think that he has endured such pain and suffering for so long… But now, he has wings to soar."
Robin's tone is gentle yet bittersweet.
"Perhaps it's more accurate to describe him as a cage lion that has finally escaped the confines of his cage. Unleashed from the constraints that once held him back."
Sunday's tone turns contemplative yet slightly amused as he responds to his sister.
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Gradually, the once vacant seats of the Opera Epiclese began to fill, with an increasing number of guests taking their places. Among those seated prominently at the top of the crowd were Tempest and Furina, their presence commanding attention amidst the gathering.
"You seem to know those two, My Lady."
Tempest asked Furina, regarding, Sunday and Robin.
"I do, Tempest. I'm quite good friends with Robin, you know. In my spare time, I often make it a point to attend her performances at the Penacony. She truly is a talented performer."
Furina spoke with a hint of familiarity, her voice tinged with a sense of casualness.
"That's good to know, My Lady. But what makes her stand out compared to other opera singers? I'm not suggesting that it's unfair for her to be more popular than others. This is my first time attending an opera in person. I've listened to numerous operas through my Mother's record player, and to me, they all seem quite similar. What sets her apart?"
Tempest asked Furina, and she simply chuckled in response.
"You will see, Tempest. You'll witness firsthand just how different she is from the rest. Her performance will leave you with an unforgettable impression."
Furina replied with a sense of confidence, her voice tinged with a hint of eagerness for Tempest's reaction.
After a short while, the seats were fully occupied, and the instrumentalists took their positions at the various instruments on the stage. A hushed anticipation settled over the crowd as the star of the day made her entrance, stepping onto the stage with grace and poise.
The crowd erupted in applause as Robin made her appearance on stage. She took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the sea of faces before her, and then addressed the audience with a warm and confident smile.
"Everyone, thank you for attending my performance… I express my genuine gratitude to each and every one of you for being here tonight. And to 'The Family,' you have always been my driving force, my inspiration… my home. I hope, from the bottom of my heart, this performance will bring a big smile to your faces!"
She opens her eyes and smiles at the crowd.
"Welcome to my world!"
Robin's voice rang out with a powerful, resonant tone, and the crowd responded with enthusiastic applause. As the clapping subsided, the performance began in earnest.
The instrumentalists began to play, their music filling the air with a rich, harmonious sound. Moments later, Robin's voice soared above the orchestra.
♫We rise together as our destiny unfolds~♫
♫We face the darkness, and our trials are yet untold~♫
♫Through the shadows of despair~♫
♫Oh, in silence, hopes we share, whoa, whoa~♫
♫To chase our dreams that we've declared~♫
As Robin sang, a cage made of pure Anemo materialized in her hand, resembling a delicate birdcage. Her expression was tinged with sadness.
♫We glimpse through our eyes~♫
♫Yet fools blind our sights~♫
♫Can't make what they say~♫
♫We'll find our way, we'll find our way!♫
Suddenly, the Anemo cage opened, and birds formed from Anemo fluttered out, spreading across the opera house. The crowd watched in awe as the Anemo birds danced through the air, captivating everyone with their graceful movements.
♫Heads up! The wheels are spinning~♫
♫Across the plains and valleys deep~♫
♫To dawn! The wheels that sing~♫
♫An unending dream!♫
♫Heads up! The tracks are running~♫
♫Across the plains where shadows hide~♫
♫We run! We stride, whoa-whoa~♫
Tempest's eyes widened as he watched the Anemo birds fluttering through the opera house. Now he understood what Furina had meant about Robin being different, she truly was different from the rest. An Anemo bird gently alighted on his finger, and he turned to see Furina, who wore a satisfied smirk on her face, clearly enjoying his reaction.
♫In the face of fear and plight, and yet we hold our ground, whoa~♫
♫In life, we stand and strive, our victory is found~♫
♫And the storms we weathered through~♫
♫And we hope in the light of truth, whoa, whoa~♫
♫To break free from chains and come anew~♫
♫Heads up! The wheels are spinning~♫
♫Across the plains and valleys deep~♫
♫To dawn! The wheels that sing~♫
♫An unending dream!♫
♫Heads up! The tracks are running~♫
♫Across the plains where shadows hide~♫
♫We run! We stride, whoa-whoa~♫
Suddenly, the Anemo birds began to flock back to Robin, swirling around her in a mesmerizing dance. Even the Anemo bird perched on Tempest's finger joined the procession, fluttering gracefully through the air before joining the others in a circle around Robin.
Robin closed her eyes as the Anemo birds circled around her, creating a captivating spectacle. Slowly, she began to float above the stage, her presence mesmerizing the audience. The instrumentalists, in perfect harmony with her performance, intensified their music, enhancing the magic of the moment.
♫Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa~♫
♫Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa~♫
♫Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa~♫
♫Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa~♫
Finally, the birds surrounding her merged seamlessly with her, forming a breathtakingly beautiful pair of wings that extended gracefully from her back. The enchanting display added a stunning visual element to her performance.
♫Heads up! A steady rhythm~♫
♫A destination that's ever near~♫
♫It comes! Stride to our kingdom!~♫
♫And see the light of day!~♫
♫Heads up! The wheels are singing~♫
♫The whispers and secrets they keep~♫
♫To hope! We bound! Whoa-whoa~♫
As her song approached its conclusion, Robin gently descended onto the stage. In the midst of her final notes, she caught Tempest's gaze for a fleeting moment, their eyes meeting briefly as she conveyed the depth of her emotion through her performance.
♫Break free, we chased our dreams~♫
♫Beneath the starry night~♫
♫In the face of Celestia, we rose as one~♫
Robin concluded her first song of the evening with a graceful bow. The crowd fell into a brief, awed silence, but Tempest's applause soon shattered it. His clapping prompted the audience to follow suit, filling the opera house with a thunderous, appreciative roar.
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After completing her five signature songs for the day, Robin left Tempest profoundly impressed. Her performances had been nothing short of mesmerizing, transporting him to a realm of emotions and beauty he had never before experienced. It was as if a whole new world had been unveiled to him through her extraordinary talent.
"I told you, she was different. What do you think, Tempest? Quite impressive, wasn't it? Her talent and skills are truly remarkable."
Furina spoke with a hint of self-satisfaction evident in her voice, clearly pleased with Tempest's reaction to Robin's performance.
"Indeed they were, My Lady, they were... Mesmerizing."
Tempest said, and Furina nodded in satisfaction.
"Let's go congratulate her, shall we?"
"Of course, My Lady."
Tempest responded to Furina, and together they made their way to the stage to extend their congratulations to Robin for her outstanding performance. At that moment, Robin was surrounded by Steambird employees, who were conducting interviews and capturing photographs of her.
As they arrived, Furina eagerly made her way to Robin, extending her heartfelt congratulations. Tempest observed them from a short distance, content to watch their interaction and give them space.
"Your Grace."
"Hm?"
Tempest turned around to see Sunday approaching neatly wrapped package in hand.
"Please, accept these gifts of our gratitude for both accepting our invitation and staying with us until the end. The Family is truly thankful for your presence. Inside these gifts, you will find five precious record disks, each containing the songs performed by my dear sister, Robin. We hope you will find joy and inspiration in them."
Sunday's voice is warm and hospitable as he hands the gifts over to Tempest.
"Thank you, it was an honor being here today."
Tempest replied and accepted the gift.
"Your Grace! I hope you enjoyed my performance! It was an honor to perform here for everyone... And I'm so curious to hear what you thought of it."
Robin's eyes sparkle as she excitedly approaches Tempest with a wide smile on her face.
"Impressive, very nice."
Robin's joyful expression falters for a moment as she hears Tempest's words. A hint of surprise, and even hurt, appears in her eyes.
"Is... Is that all?"
She speaks firmly, yet with a hint of disappointment.
"No, no, it was truly mesmerizing, mademoiselle Robin. It brought back memories of my Mother's lullabies from when I was young... They always helped me keep my sanity."
Tempest replied with a warm smile.
The sadness in Robin's eyes quickly faded, replaced by a cheerful brightness that lit up her entire face.
"Ah, it seems I was right after all, you can smile! I knew my performance would do the trick."
Robin steps closer to Tempest, her expression now filled with satisfaction and pride.
"Miss Robin! A smile for the kamera, please!"
An employee of The Steambird called out, pointing his kamera toward them.
Without hesitation, a sly smile appeared on Robin's face as she grabbed Tempest's other arm, pulling him closer to the kamera.
"Mademoiselle?"
"Smile for the kamera, Your Grace!"
Robin cheerfully called out, and Tempest turned to face the kamera, forcing a smile just as the flash went off. This particular photograph would soon cause an uproar across the nation, and might even upset a certain Archon.