The room was far from empty. Several figures stood scattered across the grand space, but my eyes were immediately drawn to the most striking presence among them. A large man in his forties, dressed in a luxurious purple velvet jacket.

His body was round, his stomach protruding against the fabric of his tight shirt, as if the buttons were engaged in a desperate battle to keep everything contained. But what truly stood out was his mustache. Thick, long, and meticulously curled at the ends, as if he had spent hours perfecting its shape.

Beside him stood a sharply dressed man with slicked-back blond hair. He was tall and athletic, his features sharp and refined, exuding both intelligence and undeniable charm. A serious expression was etched on his face as he spoke to the rotund man, but the moment we stepped into the room, his piercing gaze shifted toward us, scrutinizing our arrival.

Just behind them, two elegant women stood close together, whispering in hushed tones while occasionally glancing in our direction. Their hair was styled into elaborate updos, each adorned with delicate golden hairpins. Judging by their striking resemblance, they were likely sisters.

Around the room, uniformed staff bustled about, attending to various tasks. One of them was carefully inspecting the instruments and stage equipment, checking every detail with precise efficiency.

The true spectacle, however, wasn't the people in the room. It was the room itself.

This was the grand performance hall of the Crystal Crescendo Opera House, an architectural marvel capable of seating thousands. Rows upon rows of elegant, tiered seating stretched toward the back, ensuring that even those at the highest levels would have a clear view of the breathtaking stage.

The stage itself was magnificent, framed by colossal red velvet curtains adorned with intricate gold and sapphire embroidery. Their sheer size and rich detailing exuded an air of regal sophistication, befitting the most esteemed performers.

But the most extraordinary feature was the ceiling.

Unlike a typical domed structure, this one was enchanted. An ever-changing canvas that displayed shifting scenes of breathtaking beauty. When I first entered, it resembled a vast, star-strewn night sky, complete with distant celestial bodies shimmering against an endless void.

Then, without warning, the scenery transformed. The darkness gave way to a bright blue sky, and an enormous, vivid rainbow arched across it in dazzling splendor.

Is this magic? I wondered, utterly transfixed.

Before I could voice my thoughts, a sharp, authoritative voice cut through the air.

"Vivian, Gia, nice to see you. You arrived just in time, the others are already here too."

The words belonged to the blond-haired man, the one with the intelligent, piercing gaze. He didn't raise his voice, yet it carried an undeniable weight, sharp enough to make anyone feel the pressure.

"Elliot, Lord Barbados," Vivian greeted them, lowering her head slightly. "I hope you haven't been waiting too long."

"Of course not. We only just arrived ourselves," the rotund man reassured her as he stepped forward. His voice was warm, almost theatrical, as if he enjoyed the sound of it. "Poor thing, you mustn't overwork yourself. We wouldn't want you falling ill before your big performance."

With an almost exaggerated gentleness, he draped a heavy arm around Gia's shoulders. She offered him a polite smile, but for the briefest moment, I caught a flicker of something in her expression. Discomfort, perhaps even disgust. Or maybe I was imagining it.

"And who is this young druid?" The large man turned his attention toward me, his black eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"He's the special guest who won the contest and will be spending the next two days with Gianna," Vivian explained smoothly.

The man's gaze lingered on me, his smile widening into something unreadable. "Well then, you are certainly very lucky."

Vivian took a step forward. "Eryndor, allow me to introduce Lord Barbados Crescendo, the owner of this opera house."

I extended a hand out of politeness. "Eryndor Leafshade. It's an honor to meet you, Lord Barbados."

He made no move to shake my hand.

After a few awkward seconds, I casually lowered it, pretending not to notice the slight.

"You must be the contest winner," the blond man said, stepping in as if to smooth over the moment. "I'm Elliot Grey, Gia's manager. Congratulations again."

He then turned to Barbados and gently guided him away from us, draping an arm over the older man's shoulders in a gesture that suggested familiarity.

"Let's continue our discussion," Elliot said, leading Barbados toward the other side of the hall. "We should let them start their rehearsal."

Gianna wasted no time, gracefully making her way toward the stage. Even in her hurried movements, there was an effortless elegance to the way she carried herself. Like someone who had spent years performing in front of thousands.

The stage itself was a masterpiece, but what truly dominated the space was the colossal organ. An intricate, breathtaking instrument unlike anything I had ever seen before. Unlike the traditional pipe organs I was familiar with, this one was a mesmerizing fusion of multiple instruments.

It had not only foot pedals and hand keys, but also strings stretched along its frame, much like a harp, shimmering under the glow of the enchanted chandeliers. Several towering pipes extended from its top, waiting to be played like a wind instrument, while delicate bells hung from its structure, each connected to thin pull strings that could be plucked to create an enchanting chime.

Three musicians took their positions, their fingers hovering over the keys, strings, and pipes in quiet anticipation. Then, the performance began.

The first notes rang out, and I felt as if the very air around me shivered in response.

The melody was nothing short of magical. Ethereal and haunting, as if the music itself carried memories of forgotten dreams and untold stories. The sound of the organ filled every corner of the grand hall, wrapping around us like a living entity, its resonance powerful yet delicate.

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Then Gia's voice joined in.

It was nothing like the operatic performances I had imagined. It wasn't just a display of vocal strength, it was a spell woven into melody. Each note carried emotion so raw and profound that it sent a shiver down my spine. Her voice soared and fell effortlessly, entwining with the organ's symphony in a way that felt utterly supernatural.

The two sisters, whom I now recognized as Gia's backup singers, joined in, their harmonies blending seamlessly with hers. The three voices intertwined like threads in a grand tapestry, creating a sound so pure and celestial that I felt momentarily weightless, as if I were being lifted into the starry sky painted above us.

Time lost its meaning as the rehearsal continued, and soon they reached the final piece, The Lament of the Fallen Star.

At that moment, the enchanted ceiling shifted once more.

The warm glow of the opera house faded into an endless cosmic abyss. A vast night sky stretched above us, deep and infinite, adorned with twinkling stars and a breathtaking Milky Way. It was so realistic that I could almost believe I was standing beneath the heavens themselves.

And then, something was wrong.

A strange unease settled in my chest.

I was standing near the stage, watching Gia closely, when my instincts screamed at me. My fingers moved on reflex, reaching for my pouch. In a flash, I pulled out my staff.

Something was falling.

One of the massive chandeliers hanging above Gia trembled. Without warning, it snapped free.

Gasps echoed through the stage, but I didn't wait.

In the split second before disaster struck, I raised my staff and cast Tempest Shield.

A barrier of wind formed around her, creating a translucent vortex just as the chandelier came crashing down. The force of my shield successfully protected her, deflecting its deadly trajectory just enough for Gia to avoid it by mere inches. Instead of striking her, the chandelier smashed onto the stage floor with an ear-splitting explosion of glass and metal.

If I had been even a fraction of a second slower… I didn't want to think about what could have happened.

Gia stood frozen in place, her eyes wide with shock, her breath caught in her throat.

Screams and panicked voices erupted from all directions.

"Gianna! Are you alright?!" Vivian's voice was shrill with worry as she rushed toward the stage.

Barbados and Elliot, who had been deep in conversation at the VIP seating area, now came running as well.

"Gia, my darling, what in the world just happened?" Barbados wheezed, his face pale and glistening with sweat.

Elliot wasted no time. He quickly guided Gia down from the stage, keeping a firm yet gentle grip on her arm as he led her away from the wreckage.

Her face was still pale, her breathing shallow. It was clear she was still in shock, but she forced herself to stay composed, blinking rapidly as if trying to ground herself.

Barbados, his usual jovial demeanor now replaced with genuine panic, wiped the sweat from his forehead with a silk handkerchief. His voice wavered as he spoke, trying to placate Vivian, who stood stiffly with clenched fists.

"I swear, we conduct routine safety inspections! Every inch of this opera house is checked before a performance! I will personally find out who was responsible for inspecting the chandeliers," Barbados stammered, glancing nervously between Vivian and the shattered remains of the massive fixture.

Vivian's jaw tightened. She was visibly furious but kept her composure. "Please tell us after you find out, Lord Barbados," she said, her voice dangerously calm. "I want to have a very serious conversation with them."

Barbados simply nodded, looking utterly distraught.

Meanwhile, several staff members rushed onto the stage, tending to the backup singers who had been injured by the flying shards of glass and metal. Fortunately, their wounds weren't serious, just minor cuts along their arms and hands. Still, the sight of blood made my stomach twist with guilt. My Tempest Shield had protected Gia, but I hadn't accounted for the others standing close to her.

Other workers hurried to clear the debris, sweeping up the broken glass and twisted metal as quickly as possible, trying to erase the evidence of the near-tragedy.

I spared a quick glance at what was left of the chandelier, my brows furrowing as I inspected the broken fixture. Something about it didn't sit right with me… but I had no time to dwell on it now.

I turned on my heel and sprinted after Elliot and Gia, determined to make sure she was alright.

***

"I truly apologize once again," Barbados said, "I've found the person responsible for the inspections. I will make sure he meets with Vivian before dealing with him." His tone was smooth, reassuring. Too practiced, as if he had given this kind of excuse many times before.

We were gathered around a grand dining table, enjoying an extravagant dinner at Barbados's invitation, a supposed gesture of apology. The dishes were lavish, an array of delicacies I barely recognized, but my appetite had long since been replaced by suspicion.

Gia simply nodded and offered a small, polite smile, while Elliot, ever the professional, dismissed the incident as an unfortunate accident.

"These things happen," Elliot said smoothly. "Since Gia is unharmed, there's no reason to turn this into a bigger issue than it needs to be."

I disagreed.

This wasn't an accident.

I had examined the broken chandelier closely. Its metal support beams were perfectly intact. No signs of rust, no visible cracks, nothing that could explain such a sudden collapse. And yet, it had fallen directly above Gia, as if someone had intended for it to.

Someone among us had done this on purpose.

The problem was, there were too many suspects.

Anyone who knew the rehearsal schedule could have orchestrated it. Barbados, as the theater's owner, had access to everything. The musicians, the backup singers, the stagehands. All of them had been moving about freely during the preparations. It was impossible to determine who had done it without evidence.

So, for now, I kept my suspicions to myself. Stirring up trouble without proof would do nothing but put Gia in more danger. Instead, I silently resolved to watch over her even more closely from now on.

***

The evening stretched on with casual conversation and laughter, though I couldn't tell if it was forced or genuine. As the night deepened, we finally excused ourselves to retire for the night.

Gia, Vivian, and I made our way back to our room, our footsteps muffled against the plush carpet of the dimly lit corridor. Barbados and Elliot trailed behind, murmuring about upcoming performances.

Just as we reached our suite, Barbados suddenly stopped, his bushy eyebrows knitting together in surprise.

"Wait," he said, staring at me. "The druid is sleeping inside your room?" His tone was filled with disbelief, as if the very thought offended him. "There are plenty of vacant rooms. I can have one arranged immediately."

Before I could respond, Gia stepped forward, folding her arms.

"No need," she said firmly. "Rin-Rin is our special guest, and I trust him. He's not going to do anything funny. Right, Vivi?"

Vivian let out a small sigh, clearly used to this kind of back-and-forth. "Of course," she said simply, pulling out the single key she carried. She slid it into the lock and turned it, the door creaking open into the dimly lit room.

Barbados and Elliot exchanged a glance, but neither argued further. Instead, they bid us goodnight and turned to leave.

Just as we turned, a sharp, terrified scream tore through the hallway.

Vivian.

Instinct took over.

In an instant, I had my staff in hand, stepping in front of Gia to shield her from whatever lay inside the room.

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