Neuvillette: I apologize. I didn't realize the atmosphere was an issue just now. It was my oversight. If necessary, we can just chat directly. It's fine.
Qixuan-jie: See? He's not a cold person either.
Paimon: Ah… did you… did you hear all that? Your ears are amazing! I kept my voice so low…
Oh, no, no, that's not right. It was rude of me to whisper like that… Let's just chat, uh… what should we talk about…
Lumine: (Sigh…)
Paimon: Oh, right! You're also here so early, and sitting in the front row too. Are you Lyney's friend, like us?
Neuvillette: Friend… If Mr. Lyney wishes, I would be very willing to be his friend.
Paimon: Then, then it seems you're not, huh? Oh no, the atmosphere is even weirder… Oh, right, right, I forgot to introduce ourselves.
Hello, sir, I'm Paimon, this is Lumine, and this is Qixuan-jie. We're all Travelers who just arrived in Fontaine.
Neuvillette: Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard about your deeds before. Following etiquette, I'll introduce myself as well. I am…
Just then, Lyney walked over from the side.
Lyney: Mr. Neuvillette! I can't believe you've graced us with your presence to watch my performance. It's truly an honor!
Neuvillette: Mr. Lyney, it should be my honor to witness your performance in person.
Paimon: Neuvillette… could it be…
Qixuan-jie: *Cough cough*, he's the Chief justice of Fontaine.
Paimon: Ah! I remember now! My apologies, my apologies, we were a bit too presumptuous just now. So, sir, you're such an important figure…
Neuvillette: Don't worry about it. 'Chief justice' is just a job. Just as everyone has their own place, I am nothing special.
Qixuan-jie: Mmhmm, indeed. After all, some people are always thinking about retirement.
Lumine: (Is she talking about Zhongli?)
Neuvillette: That's probably still a long way off for me. Oh, right, although I'm slightly reluctant, I'll still remind you all that fellow over there has been posing in the VIP box up high for quite some time now…
Everyone looked in the direction Neuvillette indicated, only to see Furina sitting there, striking a thoughtful pose, who knew for how long.
Paimon: Uh… what is the Hydro Archon doing?
Neuvillette: It's so that when you first see her, she can present what she believes is her most impressive appearance. You'd better notice her quickly, or she'll get upset.
Qixuan-jie: Will she cry and make a fuss again?
Neuvillette: No.
Meanwhile, Furina in the distance was still giggling foolishly.
Paimon: Uh… the Hydro Archon, Furina, her expression seems… full of smug pride. She looks completely unaware that you exposed her.
Neuvillette: Mm, that's good. We don't need to mind her. Just watch our own performance.
Paimon: Is this the relationship between the Hydro Archon of Fontaine and the Chief justice…
Lyney: Alright, everyone, just a moment longer. My preparations are almost complete. Once all the audience members are seated, the performance will begin.
Paimon: It's finally starting! I've never seen a magic show live before. Go, Lyney!
Qixuan-jie: The show… is about to begin. (Splits off a clone.)
Lumine: (What is Qixuan-jie muttering about?)
After a while, the audience gradually entered, and the performance finally began.
Paimon: Oh! Lumine, Qixuan-jie, the lights are off! Is the show about to start!
Paimon was beyond excited!
Lumine: Paimon!
Paimon: Mmm, sorry, I'll be quieter.
At this moment, on stage, Lyney and Lynette walked out.
Lyney: Welcome everyone to the Opera Epiclese despite your busy schedules. I am today's performer, Lyney, and this is my younger sister, and my most important assistant, Lynette.
Lynette: Hello, everyone.
Offstage…
Lumine: (Lynette looks a bit listless. I hope nothing goes wrong.)
Onstage…
Lyney: Haha, don't let her sleepy appearance fool you; it's a sign of her nervousness.
Lynette: ……
Lyney: You might think that for us Vision holders who can freely use elemental power, performing a magic trick is easy. So, I promise you this: everything that happens on stage today will be unrelated to elemental power.
Then, the two of them took off their Visions and handed them to an assistant to take away.
Paimon: Wow, how bold.
Onstage…
Lyney: The performance is about to begin. My sister, Lynette, will appear in an unexpected way shortly. Also… please choose the critical moment to blink.
Then, all the lights focused on Lyney. Lyney first took off his magic hat, casually tapped it, but only some playing cards and a pigeon appeared.
I'm sure everyone is tired of these traditional magic tricks, so how can I prove that my magic is unique?
Lyney snapped his fingers, and suddenly a water prison appeared above, with Lynette sitting on it.
I will make my sister disappear into thin air, right here in this water prison, under everyone's watchful eyes.
The audience below whispered among themselves.
Lumine: Is that possible?
Qixuan-jie: Want to go up and try?
Lumine: I'll… I'll pass.
The performance on stage continued. Lynette plopped into the water prison.
Actually, this isn't difficult. You just need to turn a person into bubbles and then let her float out of the water prison.
Just then, the lid above the water prison suddenly closed. Lyney, however, showed no panic. As Lyney snapped his fingers, many bubbles suddenly emerged within the water prison. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lynette… disappeared, leaving only her clothes in the water prison.
*Cough cough*, Lynette! Are you still there? Don't go too far~ Otherwise, if your magic runs out, the trick will be exposed.
At this moment, Lynette suddenly walked out from the side.
The audience below applauded enthusiastically, and even Furina was delighted.
Paimon: Wow, didn't Lynette jump in? How did she disappear? And how did she come out?
Lumine: It was indeed wonderful.
Qixuan-jie: If you could figure it out, she'd lose her job.
Paimon: Am I really that stupid?
Lumine: (Gives you a look.)
Neuvillette: The appreciation of magic should focus on the process presented on stage, not on the deliberately hidden methods.
Paimon: That makes sense. Lynette's appearance really startled me. It was amazing.
Onstage……
Lyney: Thank you for your applause. Were you satisfied with the last performance? However, our magical journey is far from over. I've prepared moments that will amaze you even more.
The magic of transfer and disappearance can still evolve beyond this. I'm sure you might think that even if the water tank escape trick seems flawless, ultimately Lynette is still my assistant. In such a situation, I still have plenty of room for preliminary preparations. So, for the next trick, I need a lucky audience member from the crowd to participate. Come on, please have my companions bring up the magic-filled boxes.
The assistants brought up a box and placed it in the center.
There are two such boxes, one here, and one in the central aisle of the audience seating.
Everyone looked, and indeed, a box stood in the central aisle of the audience seating.
Lyney: I'm sure intelligent audience members have already guessed the next trick: it's an exchange. The chosen lucky audience member and I will each enter one of these two boxes. One minute later, we will emerge from each other's boxes. Everyone present, please keep your eyes on the box within your sight. Don't give me any chance to tamper with it.
Paimon: Wow, can he really do that?
Onstage……
Lyney: This lucky audience member will be chosen by this selector. Its results are completely random; even I don't know who this good fortune will be delivered to. So, here we go.
Lyney activated the machine in front of him. As expected, something unexpected was about to happen. The machine selected a Damselette.
Lyney: Don't be nervous. The space inside is a bit small, but we've meticulously decorated it for you. We hope it eases your tension. You don't need to do anything. Even if you experience some strange sensations, please, whatever you do, do not come out. If the magic is interrupted, I don't know where you might appear. Perhaps Meropide Fortress, hehe.
Lumine: What is that place?
Neuvillette: It's the prison in Fontaine where criminals are held.
Lumine: Never mind.
At this moment, inside the box where the Damselette was, Qixuan (clone) and the Damselette stared at each other, wide-eyed.
Halsey: You… who are you?
Qixuan (clone): Shh, don't be scared. Someone wants to harm you, so, I'll just have to ask you to sleep for a bit.
Qixuan (clone) knocked Halsey unconscious with a single chop to the neck, then teleported her to a beach in Fontaine. As for the one inside? Heh, he deserved to die.
…………
Lyney asked the audience to count down, and on the other side, the Damselette also entered the box. Suddenly, a 'bang' sound came out, but no one paid much attention. As the countdown neared its end, Lyney seemed to still be inside the box, making the audience laugh heartily.
But as the countdown ended, all the lights focused on the other box. The moment the box opened, Lyney walked out of it.
The audience below applauded enthusiastically.
Suddenly, after the assistant left, the water prison above the other box suddenly crashed down, smashing the box to pieces. The audience was stunned.
Paimon: Wh-what's going on?!
Lumine: Is the performance not over yet?
Qixuan-jie: It seems to be over.
A person seemed to be crushed under the box, along with a magic mask.
Excited Audience Member: Is… is this part of the magic too? Mr. Lyney, you're going to restore the stage next, right?
Lyney: (I don't know, I didn't plan this! Is it Lynette? No, this looks like someone's dead!)
How could this happen?
Paimon: There seems to be someone under the box…
Neuvillette: Performance suspended! Medical personnel, follow me! Gardes, secure the scene! Control all performers! Temporarily seal all entrances and exits of the Opera Epiclese!
Following Neuvillette's command, Fontaine's medical personnel and Gardes sprang into action.
Furina: Th-that's right! If it's an accident, we must find the cause! If it's not an accident, then, then it won't escape the judgment of the God of justice!
Lumine: Don't be nervous, Lyney. We all believe in you.
Paimon: Yeah, yeah, Lyney wouldn't do something like this.
Qixuan-jie: I'm afraid it's not that simple.
Lyney: Thank you, everyone.
Neuvillette: Please don't be nervous. We will quickly investigate what happened. Of course, if this matter is truly related to Mr. Lyney, then…
Neuvillette's words were self-evident.
After some time, the Gardes' investigation yielded results.
Neuvillette: The person in the magic box has unfortunately died. The deceased's name is Cowell, an assistant in Lyney's magic troupe. The fireworks on stage ignited the ropes above the water tank, which was the direct cause of the water tank's fall. As for why the person in the box was Cowell and not the previously selected audience member, that is currently unknown. However, after a search, the Gardes confirmed that the Damselette has vanished without a trace, as if she Vaporized.
Meanwhile, in a hotel in Fontaine, Qixuan (clone) was eating watermelon and looking at the Damselette lying on the bed, suddenly having some strange thoughts.
Qixuan (clone): No, no, my main body will punish me.
…………
Neuvillette: This situation is not merely a stage accident; it also shares many characteristics with the 'Damselette Disappearance Case' serial.
Surprised Audience Member: Damselette Disappearance Case?!
Paimon: I remember! That's the incident Charlotte mentioned!
Lumine: To think it could happen right under everyone's noses…
Qixuan-jie: It means the culprit is quite brazen.
Furina: Hahaha, I know, I know! To use something with such an obvious solution as the 'grand finale', aren't you underestimating us a bit?
Isn't this skilled and omnipotent magician, Mr. Lyney, the culprit behind the 'Damselette Disappearance Case'?
Qixuan-jie: (Did Focalors not max out the wisdom Talents when she created Furina?)
Lyney: Why me? This was a complete accident!
Furina: The entire world happens during a magic show, a Damselette is chosen, then disappears, and the person who dies is your assistant. Now that I think about it, all the 'from nothing to something, from something to nothing' at the beginning seems like a provocation.
Meanwhile, Vacher in the audience was secretly gloating.
Paimon: No way? Is it really Lyney?
Lumine: Who was it that said we should trust Lyney earlier?
Paimon: Uh… hehe.
Neuvillette: Let's end the debate here. Madam Furina, may I interpret your recent statement as an 'accusation' against Lyney and his companions?
Furina: Eh? I just think he… isn't it a bit too early to talk about 'accusations'…
But the audience below was very excited.
Furina: *Cough cough*, I mean, of course! Everyone, compared to the obvious truth, this opponent before me excites me more! Hey, Traveler over there, you'll lend a hand, right? Mr. Lyney helped you out a lot last time.
Qixuan-jie: Do I have to come too?
Neuvillette: A one-on-one debate can proceed.
Lumine: I'll do it.
Furina: Hahaha, then there's no problem! Everyone, actually, this Traveler and I had a showdown the first time we met. I didn't expect her to be able to draw with me with Lyney's help. Heh heh, the most boring thing is a draw. There will always be a winner and loser between us. Since this situation was bound to happen eventually, it's only fitting that it didn't occur at the climax of the Opera Epiclese!
…………