Chapter 89: Beatrice's Metamorphosis II

Beatrice tapped her pen on the notebook as she read a book in the other hand.

When she realized how she had been forgetting about her strength, which was her determination to improve, she started learning more about what she couldn't do when she was in their house.

That's right, it was a house for her.

She never treated that place as her home, for it was nothing but a place filled with painful memories.

Memories filled with mockery and unending pressure of becoming better and better.

Now that she was able to step out of the shadow she had created herself, she found her mind clearing up, and she knew exactly what she needed to do.

Harmony and Kathrine were right, she was more than qualified to be in Limelight Collective. Especially with how they work, she would never be able to improve there.

With how rampant the obvious bullying is, she would not wish to stay there and watch others be bullied either. She had no power to help, which was why she'd rather not see.

She was not scared of being bullied either if she were to help; instead, what she did not wish to experience was for those whom she helped to actually look at her smugly once she became the target of bullying.

Now, she felt freer being here and studying with the confidence she recovered after so long.

She was currently studying method acting, the same acting she used during the audition.

Harmony had told her then that she could do it, but not the person she was back then. She finally realized it now, Harmony was not referring to a time far in the future.

She was referring to her emotional and mental state at that time.

She had the capability, but she did not have the confidence at that time, or the fact that she had lost sight of what she could do before.

Just then, her phone buzzed, it was her alarm.

Echelon Dominion had a show, and she had bought a ticket to watch.

They will be performing Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller.

A modern classic about the American Dream's harsh reality. Willy Loman, an aging salesman, struggles to come to terms with his failures and his sons' inability to live up to his expectations, ultimately revealing the tragic gap between dreams and reality.

This was where she decided to start her preparation for getting inside ED.

She would watch their shows and analyze every actor and actress, then she would assess her own acting, analyzing what she could do and what she could improve.

This was how she tried to improve in the past as a child, the reason why she became quite famous as a child actress.

Yes, there was a time when she became a child actress, back when she was only seven, and the only one who knew of it was Kathrine.

It was something she deemed unnecessary to inform the others, for it was only for two years.

But within those two years, she was someone known by many people.

Known by her stage name, Trixy.

In order to keep up with the pressure from her parents and relatives, to get their approval, something she did not receive no matter how much she tried.

Now that she had calmed down, she found that no matter what she did, she would never truly receive it because those people were just watching her to see her struggle. At the same time, mocking her inside their heads because they only saw her as entertainment.

She packed up her things and stood up, she had more important things to do other than trip down memory lanes.

…

The theater was quiet.

The soft murmur of the audience faded as the lights dimmed.

A warm glow settled over the deep red curtains, and above the stage, the silver crest of Echelon Dominion gleamed, a simple reminder of the acting group's strong reputation. A silver crest with a soaring eagle at its center, wings spread wide. In each talon, the eagle clutched a theatrical mask, one smiling, one frowning.

Beatrice sat in the middle row, holding a small notebook open on her lap. A notebook she had prepared just for this when she decided to put her all into understanding the top group and studying how she would be able to enter this group.

She tapped her pen lightly against the page, her foot resting on its toes as she patiently waited for the performance to start.

The curtains pulled back, revealing the Loman family's small house. It looked old with worn-out furniture, a slightly crooked picture frame, and dim lights that made the room feel smaller than it was.

Her pen hovered.

She wrote: Simple set adds to the mood.

Then came Willy Loman.

The actor shuffled onto the stage, his briefcase dragging beside him. His shoulders slumped forward, and though he wore a smile, it didn't reach his eyes. His voice, soft but strained, broke just a little when he called out to Linda.

Beatrice squinted her eyes, leaning back in her seat.

She scribbled: Heavy steps. Fake smile.

When Linda appeared, the actress moved softly but with purpose. She didn't overdo her sadness. It showed in the way she touched Willy's arm, a gentle yet firm gesture. Her voice was calm and steady, yet there was a quiet ache beneath every word.

Beatrice tapped her pen twice against the page before writing: Small actions show love.

Biff and Happy entered the scene. Biff, tall and rough around the edges, spoke with a voice that wavered between anger and sadness. Happy, smoother in tone and more confident, had a charm that felt a little too perfect, too rehearsed.

Her hand moved quickly across the paper: Biff — raw. Happy — polished.

As the scenes went on, Beatrice found herself both watching and analyzing. Willy's frustration built slowly, never too sudden. Linda's heartbreak was quiet, almost unspoken, but it clung to every word. The brothers' tension felt real, their hopes and disappointments tangling like a knot.

She underlined: Emotions feel real, not forced.

When the final act came, the air in the theater felt heavier. Willy's voice, broken and tired, echoed in the silence. It was like watching someone walk into a storm they knew they couldn't escape.

Beatrice's fingers tightened around her pen.

The stage went dark. Silence followed, until the audience clapped, the sound filling the room.

Beatrice didn't move at first. She blinked down at her notebook, only now realizing the last thing she had written, the words small and a bit shaky:

Raw. Honest. Real.

Beatrice stayed still for a few more seconds.

She wasn't just watching a play.

She was watching something truly amazing.

'Truly befitting of being the top acting group. Every actor was showing the needed action, emotion, and tone for the character they play,' she thought before standing up as the group started cleaning up.

Once again, it was a successful performance for them.

She glanced at the few people who stayed in the audience, knowing full well that they were here to scout for the entertainment agencies they were in.