Chapter 33: Partner Up
Rising Sun Theater.
Night Star paced around the theater, finally stopping at the stage and looking over the entire venue, envisioning herself as one of the performers.
“Mmm~”
Imagination at work, as always.
The thought of so many eyes focused on her made her legs wobbly.
Good thing it’s just her imagination.
She definitely isn’t cut out for performing on stage; she’d be better suited watching from the corner, like a little audience member.
“Haa~ I guess the group leader and others are resting today. I can take a break.”
Come to think of it, the Rising Sun Theatre seems to follow some kind of schedule.
On normal days, they only perform on weekends. The rest of the time, they’re either rehearsing on stage or chilling somewhere—except for Star Eclipses who never rests. That idiot ghost, EyPar, likes to stare at her when she’s sleeping.
“Mmm~ Lianhua seems half-star-eclipse. Maybe she also needs to rest to regain energy, but only for a day or two.”
Night Star asked Lianhua, but she was pretty noncommittal.
Lianhua had been performing puppet shows all afternoon, and now she’s resting. No one else came out, so it’s just her strolling around the theater.
After circling once, Night Star felt bored.
“Shall I head back and goof off?”
Just then, an ethereal melody echoed through the silent theater.
“Oh snap?” Night Star’s eyes sparkled.
Is that the singer?
In the troupe, the singing usually happens randomly when no one expects it.
Night Star loved this voice and eagerly looked forward to it.
Once, Lianhua was putting on a puppet show, and the music always caught Night Star’s attention perfectly, even making Lianhua a bit jealous.
Ah well, whose fault is it if the singer has such a lovely voice? It’s not like Night Star is fickle.
“Mmm~ Let me check. Maybe we can be friends.”
Since she decided to join them, she can’t shy away anymore.
Night Star had to overcome her social anxiety and bond with everyone in the team.
After all, she once made a questionable promise to get the Rising Sun Theatre accepted and stop being targeted by the Night Watchers.
To do this, she needed to understand every member.
Night Star didn’t want to see the troupe wiped out by the scary Night Watchers. She regarded them as her friends already and wanted to wash away their stigma and legitimize the performances so the theater would be packed.
Of course, that goal seemed far-fetched. By then, she might as well give up.
Night Star couldn’t do it alone.
“Whatever, forget about it.”
She dismissed her random thoughts and hurried towards the singing.
On stage again.
The curtain was down, and the scene unknown, Night Star tiptoed behind it, carefully observing in the dimness.
In the center of the stage stood a girl with pale white hair, singing to empty air under a weak light, her voice as enchanting as an angel’s, almost like a divine proclamation.
“Wow!”
Night Star gradually lifted her eyelids, her crimson eyes reflecting the singer. Her breathing softened, worried she might disturb this captivating singer.
Oddly enough, though her voice was memorable, she seemed as ephemeral as a ghost, easily forgotten.
Such a strange contrast.
“Singer…”
Night Star muttered unconsciously. Even a whisper stopped the singer mid-song.
The singer turned her head, her amber eyes locking onto Night Star.
“G…Audience member?”
Night Star took a step back, unsure, feeling intrusive.
“Ugh, sorry, did I disturb you?”
The singer shook her head, not upset with Night Star.
“Come here.”
Hearing that, Night Star mustered her courage and approached.
This girl is the dangerous Supernova Star Eclipses. Usually, even Night Watchers avoid her, and even the Sunlight Watchers respect her space.
If the Night Watchers knew Night Star was such a brave little loli, they’d drop their jaws in shock.
But that’s nothing for Night Star. After all, she grew up around a puppet that stores the power of a Supernova Star Eclipses. It’s just another weird thing at home.
Night Star faced the singer.
Visibly, the singer was taller by about eight inches, her look now more mature, not quite the awkward girl she seemed before.
What was her identity before becoming a Star Eclipses?
Such a beautiful voice surely wasn’t acquired post-transformation.
Only by understanding can she help the singer get back to her former self.
“At least get her to be like Lianhua, normal.”
“Audience member, want to sing with me?”
“Huh? I…I can’t sing.”
“Come on, let me teach you. Sing with me?”
“Mmm…I really can’t…”
But the singer didn’t seem to notice the refusal and started singing.
“Ah~♪”
Never having sung actual lyrics, she sang just “la” and “ah” to fit her melodies instead.
Even so, her voice enchanted.
It was mystical, resonant, as if playing a symphony in the air, highly penetrating.
Accompanying her was humiliating, yet it was an invitation.
“Ah~♪”
Her first note broke instantly; typical.
While her tone cracked, Night Star wanted to escape backstage to sulk.
Embarrassed! So embarrassed! Who can save her?
Night Star’s face flushed, as if on stage with a crowd.
And both were the performers.
Hold on!
At this moment, the singer gently brushed her hand over Night Star’s head, tracing her hair as she raised her pitch to a piercing high note!
“Aahhhhh!”
Suddenly, Night Star forgot her tension.
So powerful!
Like breaking through clouds, a song to heaven.
Amazing!
Infected by the emotion, Night Star tried to match the pitch, her voice like a newborn’s growing gradually.
Together.
Their voices merged in the theater.
This was their duet, a performance of two souls.
