Time flew by, and soon, it was already nearing nighttime. Many people, from young to old, were starting to fill the streets of Fontaine to return to their homes where the warmth of their family or bed awaits them.
Some children welcomed the sight of their father who just returned from work, some drank coffee for overtime to earn just a bit more money, some met their friends and drank together merrily, while some went straight to their beds, their warm blanket encapsulating them.
Be it as it may, just as it was any other day, every household and building was teeming each with their own stories. Some might be warm, while some are cold, but in the end, they are all unique to those who reside in them.
At one inconspicuous corner of Fontaine, where a cafe with a humble exterior laid quietly, the warm light from inside peered out from its windows.
On the streets just outside of it, however, laid piles of thick snow which just kept piling up. Despite this, the warmth that the cafe gave to the soul simply overpowered the cold.
At the front of the cafe, meanwhile, a figure stood.
"I'm here..."
Charlotte muttered to herself as she stood in front of the doors leading inside.
Currently, due to the cold weather, she had to wear a cream-colored cable-knit sweater and cardigan with buttons on top. Accompanying it was a red plaid scarf, thick and warm, draped around her neck that paired well with the color of her hair.
Pairing with this were checkered trousers in a neutral tone, followed with a black lace-up ankle boots, sturdy and practical, with a slight heel.
All in all, despite the demand for thicker clothes for the cold, she still looked fashionable and casually cozy.
"I wonder who else would be attending..." She asked herself that question, her hand subtly reaching over to the item hanging on her.
Although she currently wasn't at work and is merely attending as an invitee, she still couldn't help but think of bringing her Kamera, in case it was needed.
Just then, while Charlotte was in the middle of spacing out, the door of the cafe opened and a figure greeted her.
"What are you waiting around in the snow there for? Trying to catch a cold?"
Faced with the sudden words of the person, Charlotte jolted and looked back at the person, her face somewhat embarrassed.
"O-Oh, right! Sorry, I was spacing out there a bit..."
"Be careful, little one. Having your thoughts up in the clouds for long periods of time is quite dangerous... Isaac even said something about your brain rotting if you do it long enough... whatever that means."
The person commented as she opened the doors wider. "Well then, are you coming in? You are invited, right?"
"Yes, I am. I was invited by Mr. Lyney earlier today."
Hearing this, the woman at the door nodded, her fox-like ears flickering slightly from the cold. "Alright, that's good enough. Now get in. I'm starting to get cold out here."
"Okay." Having received permission, Charlotte entered the cafe.
Immediately, right after she entered, the warmth of the cafe permeated her senses, instantly driving out the cold which had troubled her on the way here.
The cafe's interior, on the other hand, contrasted deeply with its exterior. Contrasting with what she had in mind, the interior was by no means small; but rather larger than the exterior, allowing it to accommodate more people.
However, before she could appreciate the warmth and coziness brought by the cafe, she was momentarily stunned by what she saw.
'Is that... The Duke of the Fortress of Meropide?!' Her eyes dilated upon seeing a familiar figure from the distance, his tall figure and face all too familiar to her.
He held a silver platter while trying to get some snacks for someone he brought with him, an adorable melusine that looked oddly human.
However, the surprises didn't end there.
'That's...'
Not far away, at another corner, the president of the Spina Di Rosula, Navia, was chatting with Chiori, a renowned designer and seamstress.
Meanwhile, the siblings she saw earlier; Lyney, Freminet, as well as their sister Lynette were also present.
Soon, she began to see more and more important Fontanian figures in the cafe, either enjoying their time or chatting with others. Some were eating while some sang using Isaac's TV.
Upon seeing this scene, she couldn't help but silently thank Lyney for the invite. 'Just as I had thought... A lot of the important figures in Fontaine would be here!'
Honestly speaking, who wouldn't come? This was, after all, a party thrown by a promising actor and someone who holds a consistent rank in popularity in recent times. Not only that, but he was also close with the nation's Archon. Attending such a party was a perfect opportunity for many to either build connections or to simply get to know the host better.
However, even though there were many people here, Charlotte's eyes still couldn't find one person she was trying to find amidst the crowd. 'I wonder if Lady Furina is here...?'
She should be. If what she had witnessed earlier was real and wasn't a hallucination, then perhaps tonight would be the night that the relationship between a God and a Human would be spilled.
Just then, while Charlotte was lost in her thoughts, the Kitsune lady who greeted her outside walked beside her, her voice as alluring as ever.
"Well don't just stand there in place, little one. Go on and enjoy the party."
"Oh, uh, yes!" Looking back at her, Charlotte agreed, snapping back to reality. She then looked around. "Um... May I ask where Mr. Isaac is?"
The Kitsune hummed. "He's currently at the back preparing for a show he planned later. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to ask him why he threw such a party all of a sudden."
"Oh? Are you perhaps a journalist?"
Taking out her Kamera for the Kitsune to see, Charlotte smiled lightly. "That's right."
Seeing her Kamera, the Kitsune lady hummed for a brief moment before crossing her hands, her ears swaying gently.
"Well, perhaps it would be better for you to wait until later. Right now he's... a bit busy."
"That's fine. I..."
Just then, a commotion from the crowd interrupted Charlotte, her word trailing off and cut off.
She turned around and saw that the attendees were all looking in a certain direction. She followed their gaze and saw that, on top of a wooden stage placed on the floor, Isaac appeared, still looking as voguish as ever.
"Everyone, thank you for attending my party tonight." He spoke, his voice gentle and soothing as it was heard all over the vast hall. "I know some of you are curious as to why I held it in the first place, but rest assured that, before this party ends..."
He then smiled enigmatically; a signature of his that everyone has come to know.
"You would all be in for a nice surprise."
He then continued, his stance confident and straight as he looked at the crowd, his voice firm yet gentle and soothing. "Until then, everyone, enjoy the party. I assure you all that the meals prepared tonight would be exquisite— so please, enjoy yourselves."
"Mr. Isaac treating his customers? What a miracle!" Amidst the crowd, Lyney joked as he raised his glass of apple juice.
Soon, the crowd laughed as they too knew how miserly Isaac was, and how it was rare for him to share his fortune.
Isaac laughed too, his wry smile plastered on his face. "That's right, Lyney. So you better enjoy yourself tonight since this is your only chance, haha."
Then, taking a glass of wine, he cradled it briefly before slightly raising it. "Well then, I'll be back later, ladies and gentlemen. When I come back, there would be a musical and the surprise I talked about so... Stay tuned."
He was just about to turn and leave when he abruptly stopped. Then, turning around with a light smirk on his face, he winked at the audience. "And remember, folks..."
"There ain't no party like an Isaac party."
With that, he went back stage, leaving the lively party to themselves. Even without him serving as a host, they still entertained themselves. Though, they especially liked Isaac's TV that had a karaoke which, sure enough, was causing a lot of them to tune in.
The Kitsune lady beside Charlotte then sighed, a clear unwillingness laced in. "There's that... I better get going."
Noticing how she was wearing the same kind of outfit as Isaac as well as the other staff in the cafe, Charlotte turned to her and asked.
"Will you be helping Mr. Isaac in what he's doing?"
"Unfortunately for me, yes. That little rascal has a plan in mind and decided to drag all of his staff in it." The Kitsune lady mumbled before walking away. "Well, I better go and help him with it... Have fun, little one. Farewell."
Just like that, the Kitsune lady left and entered the back, going somewhere unknown to fulfill Isaac's enigmatic plan.
Charlotte, now left alone, held her Kamera and looked around, not knowing what to do next.
Just then, a familiar figure approached her, a bright smile plastered on her face. "Excuse me... You're Charlotte, right?"
"Ms. Navia? Yes, that's me! Is there anything you need?"
"Really? That's great!" Upon confirming who it was, Navia's eyes shifted and looked at what Charlotte held. "And that item... That's a Kamera, is it not?"
"Indeed it is."
"I see. I'm sorry for suddenly requesting this, but can you come and take a picture of me and my friend Chiori? I want to preserve our moment here. Pretty please?"
Watching the president of the Spina Di Rosula plead to her cutely like that, Charlotte, who was in her right mind, didn't even have an ounce of thought of rejecting her request.
She agreed immediately. "Of course! It would be my pleasure, Ms. Navia!"
"That's great!" Seeing her agree, Navia held Charlotte's hand and dragged her off. "Well then, let's go!"
"Y-Yes!" Suddenly caught by her, Charlotte followed along.
Tonight, she was going to hoard pictures of a lot of important people— something she thought would not have been possible.
---
The party inside continued, however, Charlotte had to take a breather since she was being called by everyone to take a picture of them.
Lounging about in the restroom on the second floor, she leaned her face out the window, feeling the cold breeze attacking her. Yet, once more, the warmth of the cafe behind her neutralized the cold.
'It's hard having the only Kamera around...' She thought. 'But on the positive side, I'm now acquainted with more influential people, so there's that! And I even have some of their pictures to use for future articles!'
She had made some new acquaintances as well as new friends, and she enjoyed the party overall.
Truly, attending the party was a great decision she made. However, amidst her joy, a single strand of despondency managed to seep in, mixing with her mood.
Her smile turned mellow and light, her eyes softened as she held her Kamera while pointing it at the roofs of Fontaine's houses.
'Now that I think about it... I wonder if criminals experience this feeling too? Do they hang out with their friends and laugh merrily, or do they visit their family and spend some time with them?'
Such a confounding thought riddled her mind as she adjusted her Kamera lens, focusing on the chimneys in the distance. 'And... What about the Nameless King? Would someone like him even have a home to go back to? Is he really a crooked criminal, a kingpin, or perhaps...'
Just then, as she was thinking of the man that had caused a great change in Fontaine, something moved in her Kamera's lenses.
'Huh?'
Her eyes dilated a bit as a figure began to manifest in the distance. A mysterious man covered in darkness suddenly appeared right beside the chimney.
Shadows loomed over his figure, but the moonlight shining just above illuminated his figure well. Although he was still a bit obfuscated due to the snow, his figure was still caught in her lenses.
There, standing in darkness, the man then pulled a sack from his back open and began rummaging inside it.
'Are those... The sacks that those two figures from earlier were holding?' Zooming in on what was happening, Charlotte's mind raced as her heart beat faster. Her eyes dilated as she couldn't believe what she was witnessing. 'It can't be... Right...?'
Then, after rummaging through the sack, the man took out an item— a box covered in a red wrapping with a ribbon on top, and dropped it down the chimney.
With that done, the man closed his sack and was about to leave, intending to head to the next chimney.
'Wait!' Realizing what was happening, Charlotte, faster than she could think, pressed the shutter button on her Kamera and took a picture of the mysterious man.
The mysterious person who she believes to be... None other than the Nameless King who was rumored to be perpetually clad in darkness.
The shutter flashed, and, before she could take another picture, the man had already left, seemingly never had been there like a phantom.
"That... Was that really him...?" She asked herself in disbelief. However, there was only one way of confirming her suspicion.
Looking back at her Kamera, she waited patiently for the film to finish. Once it was done and the familiar white film was spewed out, Charlotte immediately looked at it.
"Th-This is... The Nameless King...?"
She herself didn't even know if what she was seeing was right. The picture wasn't able to capture the Nameless King's full body, unfortunately, and only managed to get a picture of a cap he wore.
In the picture, where the darkness of the night served as the backdrop...
A conical red cap with fuzzy lining at the bottom and a similarly fuzzy ball at the end of the pointed cap was shown.
That night, all over Fontaine, countless children received mysterious gifts that were dropped down from their chimneys, the gifts containing toys and tools that children loved.
The parents didn't know who or what gave their children these gifts, but seeing them happy, they gave not much of a complaint.
Of course, they would soon regret this as in the following years, these children would insist upon their parents for similar gifts and to repeat this mysterious miracle, and thus create a new yearly event in Fontaine.
Some would eventually believe that the gifts were a miracle given by their God, Furina, thus finding this specific day as a Holy Day.
A Holiday, even?
---
A/N:
Happy Holidays, bozos.
One more chapter tomorrow to wrap up this Christmas special.
...get it? Wrap? Since... Since a gift is wrapped and these chapters are the gift that I'll wrap, and by ending it I'll wrap it up... You get it. I'm funny.
"Was what you did necessary?"
Yae Miko, who was playing her conical red cap, asked. "Not only did you call upon all of us you summoned, but also made us do your arduous errands with you..."
Currently they were at the second floor of the cafe, inside one of the rooms Isaac rarely used. At the behest of Isaac, they had just finished delivering gifts all over Fontaine, spreading the anonymous miracle on this snowy night to countless children.
Isaac took off his red cap, his face satisfied with what he had done. "Of course. I mean, nothing's greater than children receiving gifts, yes? Don't tell me you didn't feel an ounce of fulfillment from it?"
"...if my memory serves right, you're not exactly the type to give gifts unconditionally." She rebutted.
"Who knows? Maybe I'm feeling a tad bit jolly..." He chuckled lightly.
She shook her head, finding his answer suited for his character. "Be it as it may... you're right, though. It does somewhat feel nice to give little ones gifts."
"See? That's the spirit."
He then turned to Xiao, who had already taken off his red cap and was leaning on a wall, holding a cup of steaming hot coffee. "What about you, Xiao? Feel your dark emotions dissipating a bit?"
"..." The Conqueror of Demons, Xiao, lingered silently for a brief moment before giving his reply. "...It's odd, to tell the truth. I used to devour the sweet dreams of others in the far distant past... But now..."
He sighed softly. "What a confounding twist of fate."
'How edgy... as expected.' Isaac silently lampooned to himself, never daring to say it out loud. He merely gave a silent nod of understanding before moving on, respecting Xiao.
He knew too well about Xiao's dark past and how he fared before being under Rex Lapis. As such, the act of directly giving sweet dreams to others, when he formerly did the opposite, must have been an odd experience for him.
Turning over to Lumine, who was wearing an eye mask, he asked. "How's the party going, by the way? Have the guests been well-attended?"
Lumine, wearing the same barista uniform she wore, with an eye mask to hide her identity, hummed. "Well, with Nahida, Klee, and Paimon leading the events, the guests have... How should I put it... Entranced?"
"Entranced?" At this word, his eyes narrowed, finding the word somewhat not fitting. "Elaborate."
She shrugged as she shook her head. "Well, that's the best word I could find that would fit it. Everyone just loves the three of them."
"As time went by, everyone just kept growing more and more energized, fueled by the cuteness of our mascots." She added, a faint proud smile present on her face.
"I see, that's good..." Seeing how the three of their cute mascots were successful in keeping the guests busy, Isaac heaved a sigh of relief.
With the three of them keeping them busy, he and his team managed to sneak out and deliver the gifts all over Fontaine while simultaneously preparing for the main event for the night.
Speaking of the main event...
Turning over to Yae Miko, he then immediately asked. "Are the preparations ready?"
The Kitsune hummed, a clear trace of a faint smile present on her face as she faced him. "Of course. Everything's ready. Now all we need are the main characters on stage."
She then stood up from her seat and approached him, her eyes narrowing down. "Your partner... Is that Furina, right?"
"That's right." At the mention of his partner later on stage, his eyes softened. "The dazzling diva of Fontaine would be accompanying me in our duo later. I believe that with her talent as well as the piece I've prepared for both of us to play... Everyone would love it."
Tonight was going to be a momentous occasion since it would be the first time he and her would perform together on stage. Not only that, but Furina's sudden appearance on stage would also be a surprise.
Watching Isaac become enamored with the thought of performing with Furina, Yae Miko's smile slowly bent down, which soon turned to a stiff frown.
However, she immediately hid this away and assumed a neural face, still facing him. "...you do still remember your promise to me, right Isaac?"
"Huh?" Shifting his gaze to her, his expression became confused. "Um... What promise?"
"..."
Watching his face look at her with that clueless look, something within her snapped.
How could he have forgotten his promise to invite her for a dinner date? Shouldn't a gentleman honor and remember his words?
Perhaps, due to being blinded by love, he had now forgotten about that promise.
He truly was a hypocrite, she thought.
Her smile stiffened. "Haha... Great, just great. Well, nevermind. Let's talk about this another time."
"Umm... Miko, is there—"
"Enough. Let's prepare you for your performance."
She then snapped her fingers and gestured to Xiao and Lumine behind her. "You two, hold him down. I'll begin preparing him."
Following her orders, the two approached Isaac and held him down a seat, not letting him budge a bit.
"Uhh, isn't this a bit excessive?"
"But you like being excessive, don't you?"
"...carry on then."
And with that, the moment of the main event was approaching.
---
"Demoiselle, how are you holding up?" Melus, one of Navia's close attendants, asked.
"I'm fine, just a bit tired, haha." Navia replied, sitting down after participating in an event. "This is still far from draining me though!"
"I know." Melus sighed. "Just rest for now, Demoiselle. You can participate again once you're all fine."
"Eh, it's fine. The game was already ending anyway from what I could tell." She said, shrugging her shoulders.
Looking over to a certain part of the cafe, she chuckled lightly. "I can't believe I lost... I really can't underestimate a child's energy."
"It's not your fault, boss." Silver, another attendant of Navia, commented. "That child named Klee has a monstrous energy— no one has been able to beat her yet."
Indeed, not far away, Klee was cementing herself as the champion for a game Isaac had set up where you would set your foot at a certain tile to match the symbol that would appear on the screen. Accompanying symbols was catchy music, turning it into a rhythm game.
Her foot tapped the tiles at lightning-fast speed as her eyes locked on to the moving symbols on screen. She was totally locked in.
Her opponents, meanwhile, was having a much more difficult time.
"Tap tap revolution, is it? I love it." Watching the ongoing match, Navia's eyes gleamed.
With a device like that, Navia now has another reason to come back to the cafe. Needless to say, she had a ton of fun with it and couldn't wait to play again.
Just then, as she and others watched the ongoing fiery match, the lights suddenly went out.
"Huh? What's going on?"
She looked around, curious as to what had happened. However, she soon noticed that the lights moved and condensed on the wooden stage where Isaac was standing earlier.
At some point, without any of them noticing, a pristine black piano had appeared, its glossy surface reflecting the lights touching it.
Then, from the curtains behind, the figure of Isaac appeared.
He then looked at them, his voice loud and clear. "Everyone, have you been having fun?"
The crowd cheered, showing their answer. Some came from those playing with Isaac's games, while some came from those who were eating.
"Haha, thank you all for your warm and fervent answers." He smiled. "Well then, everyone. I think I've kept you all waiting for a bit now, and so..."
"I shall now begin the main event!"
He walked around and approached the black piano, finding the seat and sitting down. With the spotlight still shining down on him, he spoke.
"To you, Mr dear audience, I dedicate this performance. And, of course, to our God, Lady Furina."
After saying that, Isaac lingered for a moment, letting the silence settle like a held breath.
'Show time.' Then, his fingers pressed down on the keys, coaxing a delicate sequence of notes from the piano.
The sound began softly, a trickle of music cascading into a lively allegro. The repeating motif echoed like distant bells, each note crisp and deliberate, layering suspense into the air.
The audience listening leaned forward in their seats, entranced by the ebb and flow of the music.
"That opening..." Navia whispered, captivated by it. "It feels like the start of a story..."
"Indeed." Melus commented, agreeing with her. "I don't I've heard of this before... How beautiful."
"I wonder... Is it perhaps made by..."
She couldn't finish her words, her voice trailing off as she continued to be enamored by the music.
The melody was at once bright and mysterious, hinting at an approaching revelation. It was as if the room itself held its breath, awaiting the arrival of something extraordinary.
And then, the violin joined in— a sharp, soaring note that rose like a bird taking flight.
Heads turned as Furina emerged from behind the curtain, her violin held with precision. Her bow danced across the strings, her movements fluid and exact, as if she had rehearsed this moment countless times in secret.
"Wait— Lady Furina is also performing?" A voice murmured near the back. "Mr. Isaac didn't mention that!"
Even so, as unexpected as it was, it was a delightful surprise, and none complained.
Her melody intertwined with Isaac's piano, matching his rhythm with practiced ease. Together, their instruments painted a vivid tapestry of sound, each note a thread woven into the other. The piano's deep resonance laid a foundation for the violin's vibrant voice, which swirled and leapt above it like a flame.
"She's incredible..." Wriothesley whispered, clutching the arm of the person next to him. "Do you hear how they're weaving together?"
"I could hear it very well, Duke." The head nurse of the Fortress of Meropide, Sigewinne, nodded. "They have a wonderful harmony."
Furina approached the piano, and soon, her eyes met Isaac's in a fleeting moment of understanding.
'Good job, keep going.' His eyes signaled to her.
'Same to you, keep that up.' She replied with a faint smile.
Her bow then glided deftly across the strings, drawing out a cascade of notes that seemed to shimmer in the air. The audience felt the shift— this was no longer two instruments playing side by side. This was a duet, a conversation between equals.
The soon song reached its middle section, their pace quickening. Isaac's hands flew across the keys, the piano thundering with power and urgency, while Furina's violin responded with piercing clarity. Their synchrony was flawless, the two instruments echoing and challenging each other, each phrase lifting the other higher.
"How are they keeping up with each other?" An gentleman muttered, shaking his head in amazement. "That is brilliant..."
The room buzzed with energy as the music built to a crescendo.
The audience, meanwhile, sat spellbound, their faces illuminated by the passion radiating from the performers. Some closed their eyes, letting the music carry them; others sat on the edge of their seats, transfixed by the sight of the duo in perfect harmony.
"That's it!" Lyney exclaimed under his breath, his eyes gleaming. "That's the magic right there!"
"Not too loud, Lyney... I'm listening." His sister, Lynette, complained in a whisper as her cat ears perked up.
"Oh, right, sorry..."
As the final passage approached, the music slowed briefly, giving the audience a moment to catch their breath.
Then, Isaac's piano softened, and Furina's violin began to sing a poignant, lingering melody, like the fading embers of a fire.
His eyes looked at her. 'It's time...'
She noticed his gaze and looked back, before nodding briefly. 'Lets finish it.'
Upon seeing her look back at him and ready to end the performance, he smiled.
Then, together, they launched into the triumphant finale.
The piano's robust chords rang out in powerful bursts, while the violin soared above, its high notes cutting through the air like beams of light. Their tempo quickened again, driving toward the climax— A flourish of sound that filled every corner of the room.
And then, with a final, resounding note, the music ended. The silence that followed was thick, heavy with the echoes of their performance.
"And now... the end." Navia whispered, her eyes glistening, having enjoyed the performance.
For a heartbeat, the audience remained still, as if waking from a dream.
- Clap...
Soon came the applause— Thunderous, overwhelming, rising like a wave. It started with one, then soon, more and more claps followed.
"Incredible!"
"That was breathtaking!"
"Absolute Cinema..."
Isaac and Furina exchanged a glance, both breathing heavily, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and triumph.
Furina gave a small, triumphant bow beside Isaac, her violin held aloft. The two stood together, basking in the glow of their success, their partnership as seamless as the music they had just created.
Then, Isaac stood up and walked beside Furina. Facing the applauding audience, the two of them paused for a moment before holding each other's hands then smiled in unison— and then bowed.
Then, they raised their heads high with pride.
"Thank you for your applause, everyone." Isaac said, his voice drifting to all of their ears. He then continued. "This piano piece, which I call Carol of the Bells, is something I wish to dedicate to none other than our God, Lady Furina. May it be played beautifully in her honor."
The applause grew louder as he declared this. However, at this very moment, he was more focused on the person he was next to.
He looked at Furina and whispered to her. "Are you fine?"
She grasped his hand tighter, her expression softening before nodding. "Yes... What we did was beautiful."
"I see. I'm glad you liked it." He whispered back.
Amidst the thundering applause brought by the audience, however, something softly appeared at the corner of Isaac's eyes.
[You have harmonized the souls of many people brought by your music.]
[A reward shall be given.]
Indeed, he loved gifts.
And with that, a new popular piece would soon start to circulate the upper echelons of Fontaine, commemorating their God.
As for Isaac, he had gained another boon to advance his plan.
---
A/N:
If you want to hear what happened, just search this up on YouTube:
Carol of the Bells (Violin and Piano Cover) Taylor Davis & Lara de Wit
— Novo capítulo em breve — Escreva uma avaliação
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