Chapter 34: The Songstress in the Rain of Fire
In the afternoon, Heshiya sat in a corner of the grand hall, leafing through a book. She was studying topics not covered in her classes, as she already had many ideas regarding her future path of advancement.
She definitely needed to choose a role with some combat capability; the few accidents she had experienced previously had caused her a great deal of trouble. Furthermore, she hoped for an extraordinary profession with a higher rating. Unfortunately, among the extraordinary professions made public by the Federation, few appealed to her. Only the Wither Sequence 3: Ghost Blade Swordsman (Excellent Grade) was a marginal fit. Most of the Wither Sequence professions were related to medicine or research, while those focused on combat were largely kept within the military and were not open to the public unless she enrolled in a military academy.
Joining the military was something she had never considered. Heshiya did not care for the strict environment of the armed forces; she was, by nature, a bit more laid-back. If life hadn't been pushing her forward, she would likely have been content to live in seclusion in some rural town—a trait that stood in direct contrast to her ambitious sister.
*Ding-a-ling.*
"Time to go help Sister 'Butis'," Heshiya said, rising to her feet.
Minutes later, she followed Butis to the base of the Zenith Star Tower, where the two boarded a hover-car headed toward a vast, open plaza.
"This... this is the largest bathhouse in the city center, isn't it? Are we really holding a concert here?" Heshiya stepped out of the vehicle, looking at the scene before her in surprise.
"That’s right. While there are theaters in the city, they’re too old and the spaces are too small. It’s better to rent out this expansive plaza in front of the bathhouse; they happen to be undergoing internal renovations and are closed to the public anyway."
"That may be, but it’s still quite a shock."
"Don't worry, the surprises are only just beginning, Heshiya," Butis said, wagging her finger. "Follow me."
Soon, Heshiya understood why Butis had said that. The sea of people in the queue fully demonstrated the meaning of enthusiasm.
"Ticket price: 1,200 Federation Credits. Please pay."
"This concert is so expensive."
"Ugh, stop complaining, there are plenty of people waiting behind you."
"I didn't expect so many people to show up for a last-minute concert announcement."
"What on earth are you all talking about? Which big star is it?"
"Wait, you didn't know who it was and you still got in line?"
"Of course! I saw so many people, I figured it must be something good, so I joined."
"Fine. That’s the legendary singer known as 'Prin-Coco'..."
————
In the South District 1, the Hive Domain Academy.
This school, featuring a queen bee as its emblem, was the second-ranked high school in the Emerald Skirt, second only to the top-ranked Saint Ingo Academy. Unlike Saint Ingo, which admitted both boys and girls, this was a school for girls only—a true women's academy.
When the bell for the end of class rang, well-dressed young ladies left the grand lecture halls, chatting and laughing as they walked along the elegant, tree-lined paths. Suddenly, a girl stood out from the rest, speeding past on rollerblades and stirring up a gentle breeze. Three others followed closely behind, dressed in similar fashion, riding skateboards and rollerblades with backpacks slung over their shoulders.
"Wait for us, Prin!"
"Hurry up and keep up! I have an appointment with the seniors; we have to perform on time."
"But if you leave us behind, we can't put on the concert alone!"
"That’s why you need to hurry up~~!"
The other students on campus watched the group rush past, long since accustomed to the sight. In a school with such strict regulations, those who could live so freely and unrestrainedly were clearly no ordinary students.
"Prin is acting up again."
"No helping it, she's a diva, and everyone loves her."
"If Prin wasn't so busy, I'd ask for her autograph. Many of my younger sisters are her fans."
"Oh, I almost forgot about that," one girl suddenly remembered.
Outside the campus, at a coffee shop, a figure familiar to Heshiya was waiting anxiously.
"Why hasn't the senior come out yet? I'm waiting for her to get me an autograph from Prin-Coco. I finally came to South District 1 during the break just for this." Clara slumped over the table, several empty drink cups arranged in front of her.
Although her own dream was to become an idol, that didn't stop her from being a fan herself. Her current target was the rising diva of the Emerald Skirt, 'Prin-Coco,' a singer who had already attained the 'Star-Glow' rank. Although she was only Star-Glow at the moment, professional institutions within the Federation predicted she still had room to grow and a promising future; as such, she was highly valued and supported by the current Star Domain government.
"Alright, let's begin."
Outside the academy, Prin and her companions leaped into a shuttle. The craft shot straight toward the clouds, and a massive grey shadow in the sky began to move toward the north.
...
Three hours later.
Countless raindrops scoured the iron-grey surface. The seamless flight armor braced against the corrosive, toxic rain, flying at high speeds through the hazy, dark mist. Its wings, spanning hundreds of meters, and its heavy, massive fuselage—combined with the roaring, high-speed engines—tore through the natural obstacles like a giant beast, navigating the pitch-black adversity.
In the dark sky outside the city of Arpeggio, a tiny star-like point rapidly expanded, and the accompanying shriek broke the silence of the night.
On the ground, the hovering cars stopped as notices chimed inside them. Countless people looked up into the night sky from within their vehicles, waiting for the howling grey beast overhead to pass.
The normally bustling sky-well of Arpeggio was quiet. The crimson steel walls opened layer by layer, and countless restraining cables were retracted. Green indicator lights flickered on the inner walls, and the display screens read: [Clear for Transit].
The 'grey beast' in the sky dove, bringing with it a howling shockwave and rain. A massive cylindrical pod slowly descended, plunging directly into the well.
Amidst the wind and rain, the cabin door opened, and a figure jumped into the pitch-black night.
"Prin!" her companions cried out, but they had no choice but to follow.
Dressed in a flame-like jacket, the caramel-haired girl wore sneakers. With a guitar in one hand and her other hand gripping the railing of the pod, she stood atop the metal cylinder as it was pelted by endless rain, plunging into the pitch-black abyss beneath Arpeggio.
The wind disheveled her clothes, the rain wet her cheeks, and her laughter never ceased. Her twin-tailed hair danced frantically in the gale and downpour. She was so wild, so uninhibited, so free and joyful—the passion and emotion seemed as if it might set the very curtain of rain on fire.
The massive pod carried the four of them through a long underground tunnel. Four white 'Messenger'-class fighters escorted them, accompanying them through the seven-kilometer-long passage.
Finally, the darkness broke, and the brightly lit city of Arpeggio appeared before them.
The pod began to vent scorching air to decelerate. The intense pressure deformed the airflow into a hemispherical shape, and the heat wave blew against the girl, causing her wet hair to rise and quickly dry in the wind.
The engines cut out, and the pod landed diagonally in the bathhouse plaza. At that moment, countless spotlights around the square suddenly ignited, converging on the four figures atop the pod.
"Ooh—!"
A roar like the crashing of a tsunami echoed across the city.
"Prin-Coco!"
"Prin-Coco!"
"Prin-Coco!"
Heshiya stood amidst the tidal wave of people, staring at the tiny figure atop the giant pod where all eyes were focused. She bloomed like a flame—scorching and unbridled.
Rhythmic guitar notes began to ring out, and the entire venue fell silent.
Accompanied by the guitar, the bass drum kicked in. From the intro, the song climbed higher and higher, filled with noise and passion. (BGM: Faster)
*"I can't sleep, because there's a fire burning in my heart"*
*"Like it's ablaze, the flames are rolling and surging"*
*"No longer afraid, because I am closing in"*
*"Even though it’s a bit illusory, I still love it"*
*"I’m moving faster and faster, faster and faster"*
*"Faster and faster, faster and faster"*
The melody repeated, and the emotions within it grew deeper, finally erupting in a roar that was dazzling and shocking.
*"I cannot live in a fairy-tale lie—"*
A brief pause and a deep breath, and the singing rose again amidst the constant, thumping drums and guitar.
*"I can feel that you've bewitched my heart"*
*"I cannot escape this feeling that it's right"*
...
The singing continued, and the bass and guitar played in unison once more. With every beat of the drums, the singing burned through the rain, sending white waves of heat spilling outward.
*"To survive, I'm moving faster and faster, faster and faster"*
*"Faster and faster, faster and faster"*
*"I won't give up, because I'm proud of all my scars"*
*"I know I've wasted too much time"*
...
As the crowd waved their glow sticks in a sea of fire-red, Heshiya felt like a small boat, rising and falling in the bursting ocean of flames.
*"I cannot live in a fairy-tale lie"*
*"I can feel that you've bewitched my heart"*
*"I cannot escape this feeling that it's right"*
*"I cannot live in a fairy-tale lie"*
*"A fairy-tale lie..."*
Is this the power of a diva...? Heshiya pressed her hand against her chest. A surging emotion churned within her—so hot, so intense.
Throughout her life, countless people had imparted various truths to her—truths about life, society, and survival. She had tried to understand this incredibly complex world, this dazzling and unsettling world. But every time she learned something new, a new mountain would rise before her. The rules and narratives of this world were so numerous, and people acted in their own ways, causing her to sink step-by-step into a quagmire from which she could not break free.
Slowly, her heart had been bound by various shackles: the shackles of human relations, the shackles of atmosphere, the shackles of public conformity, the shackles of unspoken rules...
The inner malaise was like a storm cloud trapped in a box, constantly churning, with nowhere to vent or speak.
Life should not be like this. She wanted it to be vibrant and colorful.
Like a candle flame igniting, burning through every shackle.
Like a clear wind blowing across the hills, making the colorful leaves rustle in the sunlight.