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nishishitei
Shylock: We certainly fit right in here with these outfits.
Rustica: Thank you for the wonderful clothes, Chloe.
Chloe: You’re very welcome! I had a lot of fun making them, so I’m glad you like them.
Riquet: I do wish that I could have had the opportunity to enjoy this city with Mitile.
Cain: It's too bad he had other plans. How about we enjoy ourselves to the fullest, so that we can tell the others all about it when we get back?
Riquet: Yes, let’s! And Oz, stop dragging your feet. You will be participating in sharing stories upon our return, too.
Oz: I will…?
Akira: I know you said there were a lot of street performers in this city, but they really are everywhere…
Riquet: Look, over there! That man is twirling a cane while balancing on top of a ball!
Arthur: So he is! He must be a clown, by the looks of it.
Riquet: A real live clown…!
Murr: And look, those musicians over there are playing their instruments while doing handstands!
Arthur: That’s truly impressive!
Everywhere you looked in this city you found another performer, and the air was filled with cheers and laughter.
Akira: I guess I wasn’t expecting it to be this much like a festival. This City of Circuses really is something, huh?
Shylock: This town attracts people who want to make others happy. Moreover, this is where the Comus troupe was born.
Akira: Is that so?
Shylock nodded in response to my question, and the smoke in his pipe was left to smolder as he regaled me on the troupe’s history.
Shylock: They were originally weak wizards who served as a spectacle for the aristocracy.
Akira: (Wizards who served as spectacles…)
I couldn’t help but think of the witch girl with the weak flame that we had once encountered in a western country salon.
Shylock: They came together and combined their magic to create a stunning performance of thrilling acts.
Shylock: At first, they had audiences of only a few people; but as their reputation grew, a few became dozens, and dozens became hundreds.
Shylock: Then they christened themselves as Comus, and became renowned all across the western country.
Shylock: Their fame is why this city is now known as the City of Circuses.
Cain: So they overcame hardship and became a circus troupe, and now the city is named in their honor… that’s pretty cool of them.
Shylock: Mm. Comus aren’t the only wizard circus troupe – there are a few others nowadays that have reared their heads, as well – but many say that Comus is still unique among them.
Shylock: The show they put on is strange and beautiful, like something out of a childhood dream. It’s truly something to behold.
Akira: If even Shylock has such high praise for it, it really must be something special…
A circus troupe of wizards who spun their hardships into a fantastical show. I couldn’t begin to imagine what kind of spectacle they would put on. Just imagining the start of such a show was enough to make my heart pound in excitement.
Oz: … what is that.
Oz murmured as something caught his eye.
Arthur: Whatever it is, it looks like it’s drawing a crowd. I wonder what it could be?
Chloe: If I had to guess… maybe some kind of interesting street performance? Should we take a look?
As we drew closer to the crowd, the first thing we saw was a mane– a mane attached to a large statue of a lion carved out of stone.
Cain: Hmm. Hey, you– why are all these people gathered around?
Cain asked a young man whose shoulder he happened to brush in the crowd.
Young Man: Ah, we’re all waiting for the stone lion to speak.
Riquet: A statue that speaks…? Is such a thing allowed?
Shylock: I don’t remember him being much of a conversationalist the last time I was here.
Young Man: If that guy over there is to be believed, it’s just started talking recently.
Young Man: Or, well, at least a little. It can only seem to say “having fun” over and over.
Arthur: Just “having fun”? Have you noticed anything else out of the ordinary happening?
Young Man: Well, weird little things like that appear all the time in a town so focused on entertainment. Something unusual happens and it becomes a bit of a tourist attraction.
Lion Statue: … un….
Lion Statue: …
Akira: Ah…
In a moment, the mood in the air shifted. Just then, out squeaked a very faint sound, not unlike a voice.
Lion Statue: … h… vi…
Lion Statue: … fun…
Riquet: Whoa! The lion statue really does talk!
Murr: Sure seems like it! But man, he’s gotta speak up, I can’t hear a word he’s saying.
Young Man: It hasn’t been doing very much for the past two or three days… I guess today’s a bust too.
The audience started dispersing from around the lion statue, disappointed.
Shylock: Please wait a moment.
Shylock: You said that it started recently, but when exactly did the lion statue begin speaking?
Young Man: Ah, let me see… I think it was right around the time of the Great Calamity?
Chloe: …! Then that means…
Akira: It might have been caused by the Great Calamity? Is it going to be alright…?
Oz: It’s not a threat.
When I looked to Oz to seek his opinion, he was very blunt.
Rustica: Well, if master Oz says so, then I for one am very reassured.
Murr: Well, if the lion doesn’t feel like chatting, let’s hit up the Comus tent! Their performances are always real popular, so if we don’t get there early, we won’t get seats!
Akira: Whoa!
Pushed forward by Murr, we headed right out of the plaza and towards the Comus venue.
