Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 246 - 12: Perfect New Year Performance_1

Chapter 246: Chapter 12: Perfect New Year Performance_1

"Miss Ansha, you are the anchor of my life--the Ansha Guards."

"Miss Michelle, you are the only truth in my heart -- Michelle’s Support Group."

The four members of the adventure team walked onto the stand, where they saw two large banners unfurled on the back row of the stand, held high by two groups of young men and women seated at opposite corners of the stand.

As the performance went halfway, the atmosphere in the venue gradually changed, as it does every year. During the opening, serious orthodox arts often dominate for much of the time, with various dramas and dances taking turns on stage. But in the second half, the atmosphere becomes less serious, and easy-going folk music and songs prevail at this time. The mood on stage tends to be light-hearted, and the audience is not as serious as in the first half. The viewers actually enjoy such a program arrangement, after all, a sweet dessert after a hearty meal is always a perfect choice.

On stage, the introverted Ansha, in her colorful clothes, danced like a vibrant butterfly under the gaze of tens of thousands of people, showcasing her most brilliant dancing skills to the world. The outgoing Michelle sat in front of a piano, her slender fingers dancing on the keys, the notes pouring from the piano like flowing water under her fingertips, her music soft with a touch of melancholy, but also strength within the sadness.

"The silvery moonlight, the chilly long night." Michelle opened her mouth and her deep, magnetic voice floated out. Her singing was gentle and lilting, like a girl just beginning to experience emotions, revealing her feelings under the midnight sky.

"This child’s vocal techniques are incredible." Michelle’s singing stunned Catherine, causing her to exclaim uncontrollably: "Even though her usual voice is so high, she doesn’t sound out of place singing this low-pitched song. Talent really is key to doing something well."

"You’re not paying attention to who has been pushing her to practice so hard." Lina said smugly, but then added somewhat sentimentally: "They are my pride, watching them grow from two shy, timid children to what they are now, their shyness completely gone, this transformation is truly a magical feeling."

"You sound just like a mother right now," Catherine teased. "If I didn’t know any better, I’d think they were your own children. So, tell me, what’s it like being pregnant?"

"Buzz off, sister." Lina protested unhappily. "I’m not that old, if anything I’m more like a big sister."

"Wow." Suddenly, there was a burst of applause from the stands. The song had reached its climax. Ansha’s dance was getting faster and faster, and Michelle’s singing was growing more urgent and high-pitched. On stage, with the aid of the Illusion Sound Technique, the metallic piano sound danced with a powerful rhythm, expressing the most intense turmoil and conflict in their hearts. When the piano sound reached its peak, it suddenly stopped, and the singing and dancing paused for a moment, giving the audience a few seconds to reflect and feel before returning to the soothing smoothness of the outset.

The audience, entranced by the music, the singing and dancing, was completely controlled by the performers, their emotions following the rhythm – rising and falling, experiencing the inner depths hidden in the music and dance.

"These two children already have the potential of masters." Pannis couldn’t help sighing, praising, "Their skills may still be naive, but they have done a perfect job in expressing their feelings through music. Skills can be improved, but the expression of one’s inner voice is a gift."

"Let’s go, let’s welcome the return of our two little heroes," Lina said, not boasting or praising this time, but saying it rather solemnly: "We’ll celebrate for them tonight."

The four of them didn’t bother going back to their seats and instead walked straight to the edge of the stage. After conversing with the guards at the stage, they followed the guards’ human wall to the performers’ exit to wait. Along the way, they heard the sound on the stage gradually diminishing, becoming ethereal, leaving the audience with deep memories and reluctance in the hazy illusion.

"Michelle, Ansha, we love you!" An audience of over two hundred guards from the last row of the stands just couldn’t contain themselves anymore, shouting with all their might: "Keep going! We will always support you, we will always love you."

On stage, the two young girls skillfully revealed their charming smiles, ending their first curtain call at the New Year’s performance with a flawless bow. One could predict that in the decades to come, this scene might replay countless times on the same stage. They already have that qualification now.

When the two children stepped off stage and were halfway down, they saw their four brothers and sisters standing there with faces filled with admiration and satisfaction, gently clapping in greeting.

"Sister Lina!" the children exclaimed in surprise. Without needing to control their emotions like on stage, they both launched themselves into Lina’s embrace, with slightly reddened eyes, choking out: "We did it, we finally succeeded."

"Miss Michelle, Miss Ansha, we love you!" Shouts continuously came from the stands, and many young people who were originally not part of the guards or support teams also joined in the loud shouting.

"Yes, you did it." Lina hugged the two children tightly, saying excitedly: "You are truly worthy of being children of the Terixico family. Your father would definitely be proud of you, and I am too. My darlings, listen to the applause that belongs to you, to the glory that’s yours. Enjoy these honors wholeheartedly, as they are rightfully your rewards."

"Oh oh oh oh oh, Miss Sister, we love you too." In the stands, the most loyal members of the Ansha Guards and Michelle’s Support Group, who knew their idols well, were aware of the relationship between Lina and them. Upon seeing the touching scene of the three of them hugging each other, someone shouted out with a smirk, which immediately incited others to join in on the joking around. In no time, shouts of "Miss Sister, we love you too" echoed throughout the performance venue.

"These damn jerks." Lina cursed aloud, her fair skin instantly flushing red as if about to bleed, with even the whites of her eyes turning red due to excessive blood rush. She no longer cared for praising the two kids, grabbed them by the hand, and dashed out without looking back. Dragging along the two giggling and shouting kids, "Sister, our gowns, we need to change out of our gowns, don’t run."

"And she was pointing fingers at Michelle earlier. This one, beneath all her masks, is just a shy child who is afraid of people’s gaze." Catherine watched Lina’s departing back and said with a happy smile on her face: "She really is shy, isn’t she?"

"This Lina, is the Lina we know and love, isn’t it?" Pannis also flashed a gentle smile, watching as Lina, in her rush, nearly tripped over her own gown and said: "She wears her masks less and less these days, don’t you think that’s good news?"

"Of course, it’s good news." Catherine nodded and said: "Let’s go, we should follow them and make sure we don’t lose sight of them. We’ll have a good walk around before heading back."

"We really need to be careful." Pannis looked back at Vivian with a hint of worry and said: "Are you sure we don’t need to tie a rope around her and lead her around? She seems like she might get lost at any moment."

"Well, Pannis. I have to tell you something. Vivian has a habit. In places where celebrations are taking place, she never becomes lost." Catherine looked at Pannis with a reminiscent gaze, stunned for a while before she patted Pannis on his shoulder and whispered: "So, you better mourn now. On this day next year, I’ll help you weed. I’ll also bring you a bouquet of flowers. By the way, what kind of flowers do you like? It would be best if you told me now."

"Weed what? Bring what flowers?" Pannis looked at Catherine’s retreating figure with confusion and muttered to himself perplexed.

Turning his head, he saw Vivian with her head bowed, her sharp gaze shooting out from beneath her eyelids, like a blade slicing across his skin, making him feel an imaginary sting.

"Alright, I get it." Pannis nodded solemnly and said in a whisper as if he understood the ways of the world: "I think I can see the end. Can I finally go back now? To that final place where the body and soul reside?"

"Are you ready?" Vivian raised her head, looking at Pannis with a half-smile and whispered: "Are you ready to return to the eternal?"

"Yes, I’ve been preparing for this day for a long time." Pannis closed his eyes slowly, took a deep breath, and then, he turned and ran: "Help, murder!"

In the venue, several Mages who were maintaining order sensed someone mobilizing mana. They were about to intervene when they saw the playful chasing, leaving them no choice but to shake their heads in disbelief. They sighed at the incomprehensible recreation activities of the young people these days and then sat back down.

"Damn Pannis, trying to lead me around with a rope again, do you think I’m a dog?" Vivian chased after him, panting heavily as she waved her magic staff, shooting out ice arrows, "Stand still, let me stab you to death with my ice arrows."

"I’m not stopping." Pannis, holding his butt and running frantically ahead, continued to shout as he ran: "Vivian, don’t be like this. I’m not a Marrow Eater, that’s not my weak spot."

"If it’s not your weak spot, then why are you dodging?" Vivian panted heavily, "Just let me hit you with an arrow, why run?"

"Then I would die, and it would be a horrific death!" Pannis sprinted towards the exit, "Catherine, help! Vivian’s gone crazy again, she’s trying to kill me, someone help me!"

"I’m just trying to help you return to the final resting place of your soul and body." From the top of Vivian’s magic staff, ice arrows chased Pannis, "You should be thanking me. Stop, stand still."

"Another new year, just as always." Catherine had caught up with Lina, the four of them huddled together, calmly watching Vivian and Pannis’s chase. Catherine spoke in a satisfied whisper: "The world is really peaceful." (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at qidian.com. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)