Pièce of the Singing Garden of Delusions Chapter 8

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Chapter 8

Owen headed for the stage, holding the doll and script in his hands. Once he put on the mask at his chest, he transformed into a pierrot.

The curtains rose, silencing the crowd’s excitement.

Owen: “Ladies and gentlemen, my curious cats, I welcome you to a bewildering, bemusing, bizarre, and bewitching show.”

Brown Haired Person: Huh, who’s this? Where’s the usual young miss?

Person with Rolled Sleeves: Maybe he’s subbing in? He’s pretty handsome.

Owen: Cure Memini.

He used his magic to make the script float.

Next was the little bottle of ashes which he sprinkled in the air, and with a twinkle turned back time into a bundle of old papers.

Akira: Amazing, it’s back to normal…!

Chloe: Yeah…and his stage presence is so bold, he’s practically a real actor.

Rustica: I never thought the day would come that I could see Owen on stage…

Nero: Guys, it’s actually about to start! Shouldn’t we stop him?!

Lennox: Hm…but if we upset Owen right now, we can’t guarantee the safety of the audience or ourselves. 

We shouldn’t act brashly. If only there was a way to do this peacefully…

Faust: Mitile, Shino! You go and inform the troupe members backstage.

If needed, we will be the ones to evacuate the audience. Have the troupe members gather outside, and help guide the other guests out.

Shino: Got it. We’re up, Mitile!

Mitile: Yes…!

Iris: Is it starting now? The true “Let Us Meet On Walpurgis Night”.

Akira: Just what sort of performance is a double suicide with an entire theatre going to be like…

We gulped our nervousness down as we guarded the sides of the stage. Beneath his mask Owen was glaring at us with a cold smile.

Owen: Haha…so many of you came for a good laugh.

Just as you wish, tonight I’ll be putting a big smile on your face. With shrieks and terrors melting together in this tragedy. 

There was the usual screenplay, and the revived one that was Liebe’s final piece.

The two scripts floated in the air at an angle fit for a conductor and their score sheets. Looking at those, Owen began to sing.

Owen: “Let us meet on Walpurgis Night”

“The night where wizards make the most merry  A tale of laughter that will be our little secret”

Though a sweet voice, it gave you the chills. Unlike Iris’ animated performance, Owen’s was completely different in mood.

His mysterious yet enchanting voice enticed you into his secret chamber.

Owen: “The Lying Pierrot is a popular fellow  Able to get a laugh out of anyone”

“Like cackle cackle hee hee hee ah ha ha ha”

He didn’t perform any acts, and in exchange picked up props around the stage and moved them. 

Cute dolls wiggled their limbs and spun, toy horses wobbled, much like an uncanny dream. 

Person with Bracelet: Ahaha! He’s good!

Hooded Person: Sing some more!

Once more, the pierrot’s performance was held. And the same as the afternoon show, a strange wave of enthusiasm washed over the audience.

The audience let out their belting laughs, spiraling them into lunacy.

Owen: “Dance for me  Sing for me  This entire world is nonsense anyway”

“The world I dreamed with you  This daydream”

Everyone laughed while focusing on Owen who was dancing like a clown.

His movements were fluttering. As he strided along the stage, he fiddled with the tip of his toes a little ball that had rolled over, 

and tossed it up, kicking it to the audience.

Brown Haired Person: …?!

The ball hit a bundle of lumber. With a reverberating crash, the logs came tumbling down.

And a moment of silence fell upon the theatre, interrupted by Owen’s sweet voice.

Owen: “The Lying Pierrot is a laughingstock  Only able to laugh anymore”

“Like cackle cackle hee hee hee ah ha ha ha”

Iris: These…

These are different lyrics than usual. I don’t know these…

The script she handed Owen was already tossed above stage. The only script Owen followed now was the old crumply papers.

Akira: (So what he’s singing now is the secret second half he burned up…)

Owen: “Crumble down  Break to pieces  Take this entire garden with you”

They were unsettling words. From his tender voice I could imagine him sharpening a blade until its point was honed. 

Owen: “The pierrot threw rocks at them  The pierrot spat on them”

“Let me be your opponent  Do with the jester of me as you like”

Owen used magic to pick up a knife and aimed it towards the audience. With the bending of his finger it pointed provocatively. 

Brown Haired Person: Ha, haha! Awesome! He’s a moving target for us!

Black Haired Person: Heeh! Stupid clown! Heehee!

Counterattacking Owen, audience members began to pick up whatever items were around them and threw them at the stage.

Scrap paper, bit-into apples, pebbles, alcohol bottles, there were even vases and glasses, not to mention chairs and tables…

Owen: Haha…your target’s over there.

Using his magic he repelled all the objects thrown into four directions across the theatre. 

The bottles crashed against the wall, the pebbles forced themselves a hole through the tent ceiling.

In this current of laughter, screams, and confusion, the girl beside me was taken aback, letting out a heartbroken yelp. 

Iris: S-Stop it…

Please, I beg of you, stop it! 

Lennox: Iris!

Iris dodged Lennox’s hand that reached out to her, and she jumped on stage.

She pulled onto Owen’s arm as if her life depended on it, and in return he merely looked down on her with that merciless smile of his. 

Owen: Why. This is what your beloved pierrot wanted. 

Iris: Even so…to do this to the stage where he shone so brightly…

Is this really the sight he dreamed of seeing?!

Owen: It sure is. This play was created for that single purpose. 

Shino: We’re back!

Mitile: Everybody in the troupe is waiting outside! Is Mister Owen…

As Shino and Mitile came running from the sides of the stage, Owen swished the fabric of his clothes. 

And from his palms bloomed a blue flame. Proceeding to throw some trash away, he unleashed it forward.

Shino & Mitile: Ahhh…!

Chloe: The audience seats are on fire…!

Lennox: Forsettao Meiuvat.

He immediately chanted his spell. The intensity and spreading of the flames slowed and calmed.

Akira: (Right…using his spell, Lennox can sap strength and energy, and it’s especially effective in calming down fire and water…!)

Faust: Excellent, Leno! I’ll help too.

Satillquinart Mullcreed!

Owen: Cure Memini. 

Competing with the pair’s spells, Owen waved his finger. 

The flames that had died down erupted back to life, burning through wood chips and hanging cloths. The fire slowly began to take over.

Faust: Crap…!

Lennox: Our spells won’t keep up…

Owen: “The Lying Pierrot is a laughingstock  He set alight the tent”

…Look. I’m just acting out what the lyrics say.

He laughed scornfully, not at the audience, but towards the Iris hanging by his arm. Eyes on her, he sang the next lyrics. 

Owen: “In the moonlit forest  There you will finally know”

“The true form of the Lying Pierrot”

Iris: Ah…stop…

Owen: Don’t look away. I’ll make your tongue quiver with the despair you were supposed to flavour.

Do that, and I’m sure he’ll finally be at peace.

Owen held the pierrot doll above Iris, whose face was in her hands.

Out shot another ball of flame, hurled towards the tent. Once caught, it spread rapidly.

Faust: Damn it all…this isn’t a joke anymore, Owen!

I don’t know if we’re enough to handle Owen, but we have to get him off stage…

Rustica: Or, we could pass everything off as a delusion.

He said lightly, making it sound like it was as simple as changing a table cloth.

Akira: Everything…as a delusion?

Chloe: Do you have an idea, Rustica?

Rustica: We can just make everything that’s happening right now a part of the show…our show.

The guests can think of today as a special performance, and have fun. 

Rustica said as he moved towards the stage.

With a snap of his fingers, Iris, who sank to her knees, was brought to him by magic. 

Iris: …?

Taking the bewildered girl’s hand, he dashingly escorted her to the audience seats. And like an experienced actor himself, raised his voice.

Rustica: Good evening, everybody. I am the Pierrot’s friend, the Smiling Musician.

My, these flames remind me of the beautiful sunset. It’s befitting of that charming voice of his.

He said, glancing at Iris. With a sudden realization, she quickly put on a smile and spoke cheerfully.

Iris:  Y-Yes, indeed. What a pleasing sight to behold! Is today perhaps, a special day?

Rustica: You are right, my friend. Tonight is a night where wizards make the most merry. Let us help liven up his song together, shall we?

The same as Owen, Rustica equipped a mask that was fastened to his chest. 

He swiftly put his arms in position, and a violin appeared within them.

The calming melody that played shot forth rainbow coloured music notes that bounced like bubbles throughout the theatre.

Chloe: So that’s how he’s gonna do it!

Chloe, who had made his way to the audience seats, promptly hopped onto a chair, and with vigor casted playing cards to the air.

Chloe: G-Good evening! I’m the Pierrot’s friend, the Smiling Magician.

It really is such a beautiful sunset. My heart is pounding, and I just can’t stay still.

Suispicibo Voitengok!

At his spell, the playing cards glowed with light and sprouted wings, flapping about all over the place.

Lennox: …I get it. This is how we can move the attention away from Owen and the stage…

Mitile: By making it out to be a play, so we can direct the guests to the exit…!

Shino: Alright, we’re up next. Faust.

Faust: You’re asking a curseworker to clown around?

Shino: Go tap a tambourine or something! Quick!

Mitile: Let’s go too, Mister Nero!

Nero: This ain’t my style…but we gotta do what we gotta do!

Lennox: Master Sage, near the exit is where the flames are most faint. 

Outside the rest of the troupe members should be waiting. Let’s stay near the exit and guide the guests out there. 

Akira: Okay…!

Catching onto Rustica’s idea, the wizards quickly spread out to each audience area section.

Atop cages, atop barrels. No where was a wizard disguised as an actor not in sight.

Mitile: Good evening. I’m the Pierrot’s friend, the Smiling uhm…Dancer!

Let’s throw a party together! To have more fun on this special day with this special song!

Shino: Good evening. I’m the Pierrot’s friend…sort of. I’m the Smiling Beast Tamer

It’s Walpurgis Night. You need to have fun if it’s on this day at least.

Mitile: Ortonik Sealsispilce!

Shino: Matztzah Sudipas!

From the ground sprouted colourful flowers by Mitile’s hand. Shino, who controlled a large stuffed dog, had it jump around the guests.

Faust: Good evening. I’m the Smiling Curseworker. I’m feeling very sunny right now.

So much that I will tap this tambourine. Jingle jingle jingle.

Nero: Evenin’. I’m the Smiling Chef. 

Err…ditto what he said. Jingle jingle jingle.

Faust: Satillquinart Mullcreed.

Nero: Adnodus Omnis.

Stepping out from behind the audience seating, the two banged their tambourines which sent stardust flying in the air. Their light twinkled so bright it was blinding.

The delusions the wizards showed to us were bountiful, elegant, and dizzying. None of the guests could stay their eyes on one trick.

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