The day of the Grand Festival of Arts had soon come, and Rabuka’s knee injury had been nothing but a scab.

She was still displeased with it, though, and had to wear a longer dress to cover it.

After being brought to the infirmary, Cermin had been avoiding her more and more. She had used her injury as an excuse to have him visit her, but since it was nothing more than a scratch, she was unsuccessful in making him stay for too long.

She found herself biting her nail again. Her charms were not working on this boy at all.

It frustrates her so much that she just wanted to scream.

Cermin also said that he would not be attending the Grand Festival of Arts, and would rather spend time alone in his dormitory.

In fact, every time he meet with the group, all he ever asked about was if Volken was alright and if they think he would be allowed to talk to him.

He values friendship far too much. That must be the problem.

It was also helpful for Rabuka though, since that means he would never ever reveal what she did to him to Pavone. She can keep on flirting and harassing him, and he’ll just stay quiet about it.

As she was fixing her hair backstage, with the crowd waiting for her performance, a shadow quickly flitted past behind her.

She looked back. There was nothing but the drapes covering the door, but she was sure she felt something.

“Who is it?” She asked with much wariness._.

If worse comes to worst, she will use her Cordial Surge and shout this person’s ear off, sending them flying to the air before they could attack.

But as the curtains parted…

She saw that it was just Cermin.

“Ah, Goldie~” She went immediately to hug him. “You said you wouldn’t come!”

“I changed my mind. Besides, what kind of friend would I be if I don’t support your performance?” He said with a warm smile.

Somehow, Rabuka felt that he had become more… charming. There was a much more confident and assured air to him, and the way he held himself with his chin up and completely relaxed appeared more attractive.

“That’s so sweet of you…. You don’t know how happy I am that you came.” Rabuka went closer to give him a peck on the cheek.

But Cermin just gently dodged her, and took out something from his bag. “I actually brought you this. To make sure your lovely voice stays nice and sweet later.”

“What’s this?” She took a peek at the pink liquid, and pink was her favorite color so she liked it immediately.

“Honey vocal enhancer. You never heard of it?”

“Oh, I did. But I usually have no use for vocal enhancers. My voice is perfect as it is, don’t you think?” She winked at him, her hands still itching to touch him all over.

“Yes, but I just thought it would help you gain more confidence later. After all, this isn’t just some festival, right?”

He leaned in to whisper to her. “This is a competition in disguise of just a fun festival. You have to give it your all and more. How else would you be better than someone like Calla?”

Rabuka’s eyes widened at this, and she clenched her fists just at the mention of her name.

“Goldie noticed it as well. Yes, this festival was to showcase who truly are the best of the best performers in Artisans.”

Cermin smiled. “And I believe in you, Rabuka. I believe that you can be the best of them all.”

He handed the bottle to her and left, saying. “Good luck.”

Rabuka looked at the bottle, and thought of what he said earlier…..

She drank it.

She drank the whole bottle, and then placed it at her vanity desk and went to the stage outside.

Flashing lights almost blinded her, and the screams of her fanatics were almost deafening. This was her moment.

No one can steal it from her.

She started her concerto by singing something low and soft. A ballad about a girl dreaming of a life in paradise.

The song then proceeds to become higher and more difficult, but she hit all the notes perfectly well.

The lyrics turned into even more motivational, as the girl was now singing about nothing can stop her, not even the sun or the moon or the stars can stop her from achieving her dreams.

“And I willllllllllllll beeeeeeeee—- Cough!”

As she was doing a vibrato and singing at a higher octave, her voice suddenly cracked.

She kept on coughing, and clutching her throat.

It burns! It burns like hell!

She tried to keep on singing but she sounded like a frog in the process. Her voice became worse the more she tries, and the people were shocked.

Then, some of them laughed.

They continued laughing, as she really did sound ridiculous.

Rabuka reddened as their laughter increased and echoed on the Amphitheatre and even when her throat burned, she kept on going, not wanting to believe that she was failing right now.

Pavone worriedly ran to the front of the stage, pushing people aside and yelling, “Stop laughing! She’s hurt!”

He seemed to be the only one who could notice Rabuka’s pain, and the people just whispered and cackled to each other.

“Her voice cracked more than a teenage boy’s.”

“I wonder when this ear-shattering performance will be over.”

“I want to get to Lovushka’s performance already!”

Her fans defended her, and were also confused about why Rabuka’s voice suddenly changed. She eventually vomited blood on the stage, gaining gasps from the people.

“SHUT UP!!!!!!! ALL OF YOU!!!!!!”

Her shouting caused several people to be blown away by a surge of wind, causing a commotion downstage.

After shouting, Rabuka was losing consciousness as Pavone managed to reach the stage and take her in his arms. She heard him shouting for help—

But her eyes were focused on one golden figure standing at the side, just smiling but without any warmth.

That smile was ice-cold and heartless.

—————————

A few days after the festival, Lovushka and his troupe were practicing as usual on the stage.

A cloaked figure then approached them.

“Greetings. I came for the one called Lovushka, is he here?” Asked the figure in a jolly tone.

Lovushka jumped down the stage with a bow, his pigtails bobbing from side to side. “That is me! The one and only!”

The figure took something from his cloak, and handed it to him.

“I have two things that you might like to put in this week’s Confessionals.”

He gave out this piece of paper and said nothing more, turning to leave.

Lovushka narrowed his eyebrows as he unfolded the paper. Then, his eyes widened, and he chuckled.

“Wait, dear sir! This was truly interesting, but how can I be sure you are a credible source?”

The figure went back, and took off his gloves in front of him.

He had golden hands.

“Is this enough proof for you?”