Nelia was a normal girl, most would say, not knowing about her less-than-ideal situations in life, especially since she was 2nd to Fontaine's Archon, Furina, on the big stage. Raised in the opera house most of her life, no one knows the story of anything that happened to her before the age of 5 when the opera company owners found her on the steps of the Opera Epicles alone and with a note. Raised within the walls of the opera house, she trained until opera was the air she breathed. While Furina was gracing the stage for musical theater, Nelia found her heart in opera and dance. A prodigy everyone called her, for this fair girl would become the Fontaine Opera Company's Prima Donna by the age of 16. By age 23, Nelia was the second most loved celebrity, only because of Furina's law...
At this point, Nelia Chanson has been the Prima Donna of the opera for 6 years, and she was well-loved among the people of Fontaine. On this fateful night, she had no idea her performance would move the hearts of many. Tonight was the opening of a new opera she had written and composed with her as the leading lady. The opera was called Les Echos du Crepuscule, a story that followed a celebrated dancer and a woman trapped within another reality of Fontaine's Grand Ballroom. She had written a romance driven by dance and loosely ties the prophecy into the story's plot. It is a tale of love that defies all things and the refusal to lose love to the rising waters of Fontaine.
Now, some wonder why this night was different than the others. Nelia wasn't new to writing operas, and all the higher-ups attended the operas once during a run. But for the Chief Justice himself, attending an opera opening night was rare, and not attending with Lady Furina was equally, if not rarer than that. Tonight, Neuvillette had attended with the head nurse of the Fortress of Meropide, Sigewinne, as a gift for her services. This would be Sigewinne's first time at the opera, and little did both of them know it would be a night they would never forget.
"There are so many people here! I didn't think so many would be here." Sigewinne exclaimed, looking around the atrium as people moved about and entered the main performance hall.
"Oh, opening night is quite popular among the people of Fontaine. Press, patrons, and officials all typically attend opening night to give the people a quality review before they attend. See, Charlotte from the Steambird is here." Neuvillette stated as he pointed toward the center door where Charlotte stood and waited to walk in.
"I see," Sigewinne says as they make their way upstairs to Neuvillette's regular box seat. It was the perfect view, up and center. Normally, it was him or Furina only in this box, so naturally, some people noticed the additional person sitting with the Iudex.
Once 8 pm hit, the lights dimmed in the audience, and the orchestra began the overture of the opening song. The music was moving and mystical, flowing like the waters of Fontaine over the audience. The audience was drawn in and stuck to the story; that was one thing about Nelia's operas: they moved the soul from the beginning. Her passion being brought to life was a gift she had, and that's one of the reasons why she had been gifted a pyro vision. She always ensured it was part of her costuming, no matter what show she was in. The vision had presented to her after the debut of her very first opera opening in a bouquet of roses she had received; it had manifested itself just above the 24-rose arrangement when she was 18 years old.
Like was said before no one could have anticipated the way this story would move even the stoic Iudex of Fontaine. During the end of the first act, heavy rain was heard on the roof of the opera house as Sigewinne looked over at Neuvillette. He has a look on his face she had never seen before. "Are we emotional this evening?" She asked, a sense of worry in her voice.
"The end of the act was merely emotional." Neuvillette spoke as he corrected his posture and the downpour outside ceases. "It is just a lovely story thus far."
"It is, the cast is doing a lovely job of bringing it to life," Sigewinne adds, her voice curious as she notices the Iudex subtly glancing behind stage. "Why are you hiding it? The sky is betraying you. "
"Like is said the performance is moving. Nothing more." Neuvillette lies, which he is very poor at considering his profession as law keeper of the land.
Sigewinne gives him a knowing look, "Moving enough to make the sky weep?" Neuvillette looks at her like he's been caught stealing cookies from a mother's cookie jar.
"You attribute too much to me; the rain is but a coincidence." Neuvillette states pausing, brushing off it off.
Sigewinne gives a small giggle as she watches the Iudex fumble with his words and try to remain composed as he speaks. She can tell that maybe the Iudex is struggling to understand what he is actually feeling. "What did you feel when you saw her on stage? Were you moved like the waters?" Sigewinne inquires quietly, a small pickup in her voice as if she's trying to encourage him to talk through his thoughts.
Neuvillette pauses and looks at Sigewinne seriously thinking he can win this game. "Everyone in Fontaine likes Prima Nelia. She has the reputation of a saint."
Sigewinne gives him a knowing look seeing through the facade. "You know as Head Nurse at the Fortress of Meropid, I have to diagnose this. Symptoms include lingering gazes, sudden introspection, and -oh, most telling- the onset of unexpected rainfall."
"I..." Neuvillette pauses again thinking, he had rules and those were to keep people at a distance. "The opera is meant to invoke emotion, Sigewinne. I am not the only one who would feel like this, I'm sure."
"You know feeling emotion isn't a crime or weakness," say Sigewinne, her told shifting to that of a more friendly nature instead of a clinical one.
"It would be irrelevant, Sigewinne." Neuvillette responds calmly.
"Would it truly?" Sigewinne asks back in response watching him with curiosity. "Because if that were so, you wouldn't still be thinking about her." There is a pause of silence between the two and Sigewinne continues, "It's not just admiration for her talent, is it?" she inquires.
Neuvillette tenses a bit at this question, but response cautiously trying not to reveal the crack in his fortress of personal detachment. "I do not entertain personal attachments."
"But she makes you want to." Sigewinne adds. "You can deny the truth as long as you want to, but when you want to talk about it you know I'm here to talk."
The intermission comes to a close as the ushers return to the aisle to let patrons know, and there is a long silence between Sigewinne and Neuvillette.
"You could talk to her you know." suggests Sigewinne.
"Hush, Sigewinne...the curtain." Replies Neuvillette his voice hushed as the curtain opens for the second act of the show.
Sigewinne watches Neuvillette as Nelia takes the stage again. The second act was the climax of the opera, where the young dancer realizes how in love she is with a young man whom is not from Fontaine, someone forbidden to her, as the professional dancers of the company are forbidden from romance of any kind. This is much like the rules for the Prima Donna. She is not allowed to be in any kind of relationship as long as she wishes to grace the stage of Fontaine. This keeps her away from scandal and keeps her name clear of any unwanted allegations. Iudex Neuvillette was the one who personally sat down and helped write her contract with her and the managers of the opera company, ensuring there were no loop holes and that both parties agreed with the terms. Nelia was the one who had decided on the no relationships, as she was so young at the time, she had a good understanding of what a distraction they could be.
The opera passed with flawless performance underfoot, but the end was far from the happy ending most of Nelia's self written operas had. This one ended with the dancer realizing her and the girl trapped within the realities in the ballroom were one and the same and only she could save Fontaine from its fall by sacrificing herself. The two realities was not meant to be and she had to bridge the rift. With her final dance the curtain fell and Fontaine was saved. Rain poured on the opera house roof now, heavier than earlier. The house lights came up and Sigewinne noticed, there ever also tears falling down the Iudex face. She sat in silence with him for a moment, letting him feel the emotions he was typical afraid to show at face value.
When the applause finally settled, the spot light came up and Nelia took the stage. "My adoring people of Fontaine..." She bows low. "Thank you for attending the opera, I do hope you enjoyed the performance tonight. As for me, tonight will be my last night on the stage for this opera. The lovely Celene will be taking over as I take some much needed time off. Do not fret, I will return. Everyone needs a break now and then. Again, thank you for making this dream of my such a success." Nelia bowed again and Neuvillette suddenly stood in his box, shocked, but still in silent awe of the Prima and her grace as he watched her leave the stage.
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