Chapter 54: The Siren's Song (5)

It was finally the night of the highly anticipated Night of Reunion finals. As time passed, more tourists flocked to the festival, adding to its lively atmosphere. This excitement extended to the Night of Reunion stage as well.

After all, drinking and entertainment were integral parts of any festival, and the Night of Reunion, responsible for providing the latter, had attracted more attention than expected. Families, friends, and couples gathered throughout Luft Hagenn to enjoy delicious food and the festive mood. Upon seeing promotional flyers scattered across town, they converged on the square for the Night of Reunion event.

The number of spectators far exceeded those present during the preliminary rounds, leaving Lucia slightly taken aback.

“Wow, there’s so many people! It wasn’t this crowded at the last Night of Reunion.”

Carrie’s claim about filling the square proved true; he had indeed mobilized every resource available to ensure it.

He had truly mobilized all his resources to fill the square, distributing promotional flyers throughout Luft Hagenn and enlisting members of his family to help. Louis smiled slightly as he watched the bustling crowd.

Excellent, the stage is set.

He glanced at Lucia, who was awestruck by the sea of people. She needed more motivation, and this audience would surely provide it. He felt quite satisfied with Carrie’s efforts, as she had faithfully carried out his request.

Now…it’s my turn, isn’t it?

The Night of Reunion participants were gradually taking the stage one by one. It seemed intentional that Louis and Lucia were scheduled for last. If indeed planned by the organizers, Louis wanted to commend them for their foresight.

Is this what they call a grand finale?

Traditionally, the protagonist makes their appearance last. Louis intended to bring the Night of Reunion stage to a spectacular close.

Time passed quickly. In the dressing room, Louis lay comfortably with his head resting on Lucia’s legs. She smiled as she gently stroked his hair, gazing down at his peaceful face with closed eyes.

What a remarkable child.

A tiny fairy who had found refuge among sirens. When Louis first grabbed her hand and led her onto the stage, it felt like her world was collapsing around her. But seeing Louis’s bright expression brought her calm. Surprising even herself, she accepted the cigarette he offered her almost mechanically.

Reflecting on it now, she was immensely grateful to Louis for making all this possible.

Thank you. Thanks for giving me another chance to perform.

Without him, she might have forgotten about the Night of Reunion again this year. It was only because of Louis that she could return to the stage, but…

Abruptly, Lucia stopped stroking Louis’s hair and stared beyond the dressing room tent.

“Whoooo!”

Cheers erupted, signaling the end of yet another performance. As Lucia looked toward the stage, her expression turned wistful.

Performances, stages, and…songs. The mere thought brought back the horror of that day, draining the color from her face.

“Ohhh…”

Her breathing quickened, heart raced, and hands began trembling uncontrollably.

As Lucia hastily tried to withdraw her hand…

Grab.

A small, slender white hand grasped her trembling fingers.

Lucia’s gaze turned toward its owner.

“Louis…?”

“Sis.”

With Lucia’s hand firmly held, Louis shed his usual childlike demeanor and spoke earnestly, gazing steadily at her.

“It’s not a big deal.”

”…Huh?”

“Don’t try to avoid painful memories.”

”…?! What do you mean?” Lucia looked at Louis, startled.

His calm voice continued softly, “If your parents saw you unable to sing due to being trapped by guilt…what would they say?”

“What do you mean…?”

Before she could finish questioning him, an announcement interrupted their conversation.

“Next up, Louis and Lucia!”

At the call of their names, Louis swiftly jumped off the long bench.

He then picked up something small from one side of the room. It wasn’t Lucia’s barrette but rather the one she had given Louis earlier. With his own barrette secured and holding out his hand towards her, Louis stood by the door to the waiting area.

“C’mon, let’s go.”

Mesmerized, Lucia rose as he beckoned. Holding her hand, Louis led her out of the waiting room, only for them to stop just outside it.

Louis released Lucia’s hand, and at that moment, Lucia spotted Khan and Kani standing nearby in their white outfits. The twins immediately clung to her legs, catching Lucia off guard. She looked back at Louis with confusion written all over her face.

“L-Louis? Wh-what is this?”

“Listen carefully right here and think about it. What do you think your late parents would say to you?”

With that, Louis left Lucia behind and stepped onto the stage alone.

“Go get ‘em, Lucia!”

“You can do this, Lucia!”

The twins exchanged brief words of encouragement with Lucia before following Louis with wide grins on their faces.

From her seat, Lucia felt disoriented as she blankly watched Louis standing onstage.

Meanwhile, among the audience…

“Huh? It’s just Louis today?”

“What happened to Lucia?”

“Is Louis performing solo?”

“The kids behind him are adorable!”

“Good luck, Louis!”

“We’re here for you!”

Initially puzzled by seeing Louis alone, the crowd soon cheered enthusiastically.

“It’s time for our final performance! Louis and—huh?” The host, about to introduce the next act, blinked at the sight of Louis without his sister.

Louis responded with a bright smile:

“Sis Lucia couldn’t come due to feeling unwell, so I’m performing alone today. May we begin now?”

“Huh? U-um, sure.” Caught off guard by Louis’s bold statement, the host nodded and stepped back.

Feeling numerous eyes on him, Louis raised his hand to pluck at the harp strings with his small, soft fingers.

Dingling.

The sound of the harp marked the start of the performance, filling the silent auditorium. Over this hush, Louis’s clear voice gently resonated throughout the hall.

“On a cold winter night, under the warm blanket tucked by Mom and Dad, I fall asleep.”

The familiar lyrics surprised the audience.

“Huh? I know this song!”

“It’s that one, right? ‘A Child’s Dream’.”

“But isn’t this usually sung by two people?”

Until now, Louis had always performed songs unfamiliar to most listeners. However, for the final round, he chose a well-known tune across the winter continent. As soon as they recognized the song, the audience leaned in attentively.

[I dreamed…]

Louis’s clear and resonant voice filled the performance hall, captivating even those initially skeptical of his choice.

Ding-a-ling…

The delicate melody of the chimes blended seamlessly with Louis’s singing.

On a cold winter night, Wrapped warmly under blankets laid by my mom and dad, I fell asleep dreaming…

In the dream, I walked through fields of white snow.

There I walked on a white snowfield, A sparkling snowfield like shining jewels.

Everyone was mesmerized, unable to take their eyes off Louis.

At that moment…

“Crunch crunch.”

The twins behind Louis simultaneously made sound effects with their mouths. Immediately after the twins’ sound effect, Louis continued singing:

[I heard footsteps while walking. The gray footsteps of…]

The twins waved their hands and added another sound effect.

“Squeak squeak.”

[I heard a scary noise.]

As the twins dressed in white raised their arms to mimic orcs, the audience couldn’t help but smile.

“Squeak squeak!”

[A truly frightening noise.]

The twins continued singing Louis’s song in chorus:

Swish, swish.

The world turned gray. I ran away to escape from the sound.

Skree, skree!

The noise grew louder and louder.

This was “A Child’s Dream,” a popular lullaby on the winter continent. It warned children about the terrifying snow orcs that inhabited the region. Many had grown up listening to this common tune, yet despite its familiarity, Louis and the twins’ rendition captivated the audience with their fresh take on it. The combination of Louis’s clear voice, the twins’ adorable gestures, and well-timed sound effects drew everyone in completely. The auditorium fell so silent, one could hear a pin drop.

Louis’s voice continued uninterrupted:

I’m scared.

A monster with white fur is chasing me.

I’m scared.

The monster wants to eat me.

I’m scared.

Mommy and Daddy.

The harmonious blend of Louis’s and the twins’ voices captivated the audience.

Just as everyone was fully immersed…

”…”

Louis stopped singing abruptly. The song should have continued for much longer, but inexplicably, he only strummed his guitar without singing further. Instead, he glanced toward one side of the stage.

There stood Lucia, staring blankly at them. With a subtle smile, Louis thought:

Come on, let it out. Open the lock that chains your heart!

Hoping their music had reached Lucia, Louis continued playing his guitar.

Louis and the twins took to the stage while Lucia watched them, puzzled.

As she remained bewildered, Louis began singing:

“A cold winter night…”

It was a song Lucia knew well; her parents used to sing it often for her. Additionally, she herself had sung this countless times. However, when Lucia sang as a child, it was from the perspective of the child part that Louis currently led with. Whenever Lucia started singing, either her mother or father would follow, taking on the role of the parent.

Through Louis’s rendition, memories long buried resurfaced in Lucia’s mind. The gentle melody brought tears to her eyes.

“Ohh…”

Despite knowing the song and lyrics intimately, hearing it through Louis felt entirely different.

The song reminded her of how she had been unable to sing due to being trapped by memories of the past. And…

A child haunted by nightmares and pursued by monsters.

It resonated with Lucia’s own experience, as if she herself was chased by the monster called ‘memories of the past.’

In that moment, Louis’ words came back to her:

Listen carefully there, and think about it. Consider what your parents would say to you now.

Lucia finally understood the meaning behind Louis’ message.

Ding-a-ling…

As realization dawned on her, Louis finished singing, leaving only the accordion playing softly, almost waiting for someone to deliver the parent’s parting words.

Ding-a-ling…

Drawn forward as if enchanted by the accordion melody, Lucia took a step ahead.

I see…

She comprehended the significance of Louis’ words and recalled the lyrics sung by the parents in “A Child’s Dream.” As these thoughts surfaced,

Click.

The lock on the chain entwined around Lucia’s heart began to loosen and shake with each step she took toward the stage.

Click.

One foot after another…

Click… Click.

As Lucia approached the stage, the lock gradually unlocked until finally…

Clunk.

Just one more step from the stage, the lock fell off completely.

“Ahh…”

Only one step away now. Lucia gently closed her eyes, letting out a small moan.

“Ahhh…”

Her faint moan soon transformed into a delicate melody.

Whirrrr.

The chains that had long restrained Lucia’s siren were released within her soul. Her eyes slowly opened as clear, refined lyrics flowed from her slightly parted lips.

“On this cold winter night…”