Amaryllis in the Ice Country-Chapter 3 - The Prayer Festival

Eight people are lightly wounded, no casualties.

Luckily, the damages are a lot more minor than expected. The direst of the disaster is the direct route that has collapsed, but it鈥檚 completely repaired on the second day, and three days later, the rubble is all cleared up.

We decided to keep this 鈥榤ysterious room鈥?we found during the repairs from the villagers. This decision is made by the Chief. He feels it is better to investigate first before revealing.

And on the fifth day after the earthquake.

鈥淰icia! Vicia Toxin!鈥?

I, dressed in a nurse outfit, call out in the corridor. The waiting room filled with the ruckus from the children immediately quiet down, and a girl teeters towards me,

鈥淵our name is?鈥?

鈥淩egistration number 00218, Vicia Toxin.鈥?

The girl straightens her little back, stating her name.

鈥淣ot bad. You did good, Vicia.鈥?

I pat Vicia鈥檚 head, 鈥渆hehe鈥?and she grins gleefully.

鈥淭eacher, Teacher Viscaria!鈥?

鈥淧lease wait~鈥?

Splash. There鈥檚 the sound of hands being washed, and Viscaria, dressed in white clothes, show up.

鈥淜ept you wait鈥h, Vicia? What鈥檚 wrong?鈥?

鈥淓rm.鈥?

Vicia puts her hands on her tummy, looking up as she complains,

鈥淚 feel some pain.鈥?

鈥淥h dear鈥o, what kind of pain?鈥?

鈥淔eels like the screws are creaking.鈥?

鈥淚 see.鈥?

Viscaria nods away, moving her feelers.

鈥淣ow then, lie down here.鈥?

鈥淎re you going to open my tummy?鈥?

Vicia lies on the bed, giving an uneasy look. 鈥淚t鈥檚 okay.鈥?Viscaria gives a tender look at the girl鈥檚 face.

鈥淚t won鈥檛 hurt at all. It鈥檒l be done immediately.鈥?

鈥淩eally?鈥?

鈥淩eally.鈥?

Viscaria comforts the girl who still remains somewhat uneasy, giving a motherly smile.

鈥淥kay now, if you鈥檙e a good kid, switch off your 鈥楳ind Circuit鈥?鈥?

鈥淵es.鈥?

鈥淎nd your Control Circuit too.鈥?

鈥淵es.鈥?

To note, there are three main circuits in a robot. The 鈥楳ind Circuit鈥?is basically the human brain, which acts as the control tower for the entire body. The 鈥楥ontrol City鈥?is basically the equivalent of the nerves and spine, able to spread the commands from the Mind Circuit all over the body. And then, there is the 鈥楽afety Circuit鈥?to prevent both Circuits from going amok.

鈥淭eacher鈥le鈥se鈥︹€?

Vicia鈥檚 voice becomes interrupted, and finally, the light in her eyes vanish. Once Viscaria is sure that her Mind Circuit is in sleep mode, she starts to investigate.

鈥淟et鈥檚 see鈥︹€?

She rolls up the girl鈥檚 shirt with her metal feeler, revealing the white belly, and gently inserts into that cute bellybutton. A little twist, and with a little creak, Vicia鈥檚 abdomen is opened right down the middle.

鈥淗m, uh huh.鈥?

Viscaria checks the girl鈥檚 body with a serious look. The feeler extending from her fingertip twitches like a living creature, peeling off a translucent membrane, revealing the inner circuits.

鈥淎hh, so it鈥檚 this thing after all鈥︹€?

鈥淭his, as in?鈥?

I look over Viscaria鈥檚 back, and towards Vicias,

鈥淎n 鈥榠nflammation鈥?around the batteries.鈥?

She says, lighting a light from the tip of her feeler. It鈥檚 somewhere to the inner side of Viscaria鈥檚 belly, as the battery unit has been distorted like melted plastic.

鈥淎nother change?鈥?

鈥淵es. The same part as the last one. But,鈥?

鈥淲hat?鈥?

鈥淭he belly may still hurt even after it is replaced鈥︹€?

The deeply entrenched growth ring-like frown appears on Viscaria鈥檚 forehead, 鈥淪pecification is HRM1103. Type is 01102C.鈥?

鈥淗old on.鈥?

I head into the room, and look up at the parts cases that are stacked everywhere and built to the ceiling. The replacement parts for the villagers鈥?bodies are filled completely. In terms of importance to the village, this warehouse is second only to the Snow White.

鈥淗RM1103. 01102C.鈥?

I recite it out loud, and one of the shelves light up. A faint translucent blue drawer slides out automatically, indicating that what I鈥檓 looking for exists. I draw out a silver baumkuchen-like part, and return to the diagnosis room.

鈥淭his is okay, right?鈥?

鈥淥kay. Then discard that old one.鈥?

I look at the part by the bed that is completely deformed. This is the 鈥榠nfected part鈥?taken out from Viscaria鈥檚 body. It鈥檚 so twisted that it is impossible to think of it as the same part. It鈥檚 basically telling the pain the girl suffered, and my heart aches.

After Vicia鈥檚 operation is done, we proceed to diagnose another ten or so, and the morning work is finally done.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of people today鈥︹€?

Viscaria slumps into the sofa, letting her neck creak. Waste materials will gather in the Mind Circuit of the robots keep focusing their attentions too much, corroding it.

鈥淵ou alright? You鈥檝e been working non-stop recently.鈥?

鈥淣o way. I feel better off than you having to drive the icemobile for more than 100 hours a week.鈥?

鈥淒on鈥檛 force yourself.鈥?

Viscaria is basically the expert in technology, so we just end up leaving everything to her. We can probably install her repair manual in us like a pill, but we probably will freeze up due to a lack of specs.

鈥淪pare Ops is probably at its limits鈥︹€?

Over the past hundred years, we have been providing maintenance and care for the 鈥楽now White鈥? for the 鈥楽pindle鈥?of the main computer, the 鈥榗radle鈥?of the masters, and the 鈥楻EM forest鈥?that contains the Snow White鈥攅very day, we made checks, cleaning and repairs on them. But no matter how well we manage to maintain them, the 鈥楽now White鈥?is still a large piece of metal. Its body is slowly being corroded, breaking down. And so, on a certain day seventy years after we went underground, the spare parts to repair the Snow White have finally worn out.

We didn鈥檛 know what to do. If this kept up, the Snow White would malfunction. Our beloved masters would die. Is there any way to obtain the parts鈥攁fter thinking so hard, we finally thought of one.

To extract.

We extracted the parts that form a robot鈥檚 body, refined them, and used them on the Snow White, so that the maintenance of the Snow White could continue. In this sealed underground world, where resources are limited, there was no other choice.

But there was undoubtedly an issue to this. Robots that had been 鈥榚xtracted鈥?would be unable to move due to the defects of their parts. To resolve this issue, we used 鈥榬eplacement parts鈥?made of similar materials to replace the parts that were 鈥榚xtracted鈥? The villagers鈥?bodies were then replaced by replacement parts every passing day.

鈥擜nd once everything is switched to replacement parts.

Viscaria once explained this to us.

鈥擳hey aren鈥檛 parts of official specifications, so no matter how we try to process them, they will not mesh perfectly, and the rate of deterioration will be hastened. Thus, patients who have been 鈥榚xtracted鈥?will malfunction easily.

Even so, the villagers rushed forth, hoping to be 鈥榚xtracted鈥? I too have seventeen parts swapped with 鈥榬eplacement parts鈥? two on the head, two on the right hand, three on the left hand, one on the right leg, two on the left leg, and seven on the body. At first, the ones who offered to be extracted was limited to just adults, and in the end, even the little children bravely offer their parts. At this point, a child has an average of 4.2 parts extracted, while an adult has an average of 11.3 parts.

Pin pon pan pon. The cowbell-like chime rings, indicating the end of the rest period.

鈥淣ow it, it鈥檚 time.鈥?

Viscaria gets up from the sofa, and adjusts the collar of her white robe.

鈥淎maryllis, what鈥檚 our appointment for the afternoon?鈥?

鈥淓h, three cases starting at 1pm, four cases starting at two, and then鈥斺€?

At that moment,

鈥淲ait, what are you saying!?鈥?

A young girl鈥檚 voice rings.

鈥淚-I-I-I-I won鈥檛 go to a hospital.鈥?

鈥淎re you an idiot!? Stop forcing yourself here, trashy!鈥?

鈥淚-I hate the, hospital. Hate it, hate it.鈥?

And then, it鈥檚 followed by a familiar 鈥淕aaa peee.鈥?Noise. Viscaria and I exchange looks.

鈥淓mergency patient first.鈥?

Viscaria lowers her beret, and shrugs.

After that, another two weeks pass.

The lights shine upon the ice-carved stage, creating a dazzling crystal effect. The center of the arena is filled with a scattered-style audience seating, as the three hundred plus villagers are all gathered here.

The prayer festival we awaited is finally here. The passion brimming from the audience reaches the stage, as though trying to melt it. The festival is going to be held from morning to night, and all work is suspended. I too intend to enjoy the festival before it鈥檚 my turn to ascend the stage.

But,

鈥淲hy are you sitting beside me?鈥?

鈥淚t鈥檚 fine. Don鈥檛 be so rigid.鈥?

鈥淪eating鈥檚 in order of performance. This is the Chief鈥檚 seat.鈥?

鈥淚 got the old man鈥檚 permission.鈥?

鈥淯gh鈥hief鈥︹€?

This rare relaxation time I finally have is ruined by this flirting guy. 鈥淗ey, stop touching me.鈥?鈥淓hehe.鈥?So this exchange continue on over and over again, and in the blink of an eye, it鈥檚 time for the performance.

Ta鈥攖alatatatata tattala?

A sextet happily blow the trumpets 鈥淜ept us waiting!鈥?鈥淚t鈥檚 here!鈥?鈥淗eerrrreee!鈥?and the audience roar into life. There are shrieks in this fiery atmosphere.

鈥淎nd now, the 108th Masters鈥?Revival Prayer Ceremony shall begin.鈥?

With a beautiful voice, the host Cattleya announces the start of the festival, and the audience burst into cheers again.

鈥淕reetings from the Chief.鈥?

And amidst the thunderous applause, Chief Chamomile shows up on the stage. The way his head rolls around on the stage is as terrifying as a zombie in a horror flick.

鈥淭his is the Chief Chamomile speaking!!鈥?

He repeats the greeting that remains the same for over a hundred year, 鈥淐hief!!鈥?鈥淵ou still doing okay!?鈥?鈥淪o cute!!鈥?and voices can be heard from the audience.

鈥淎s you all know, this Revival Prayer Festival is for a ritual to let our beloved masters sleep well, and that one day, they will revive. In other words鈥斺€?

The Prayer Festival is a traditional festivity with a hundred years of history. At first, it鈥檚 simply a yearly ritual to offer 鈥榩rayers鈥?to our Masters, but as time passes, there is singing, dancing and all kinds of entertainment involved. In this sense, while it is to provide entertainment for the villagers who have lived underground for a long time, the main purpose is to train their 鈥榯alents鈥?such that the acts can be performed to the masters once they awake. The programs are graded according to voting, and the basis of the voting is decided on 鈥淐an it make our masters happy鈥?

鈥淚n other words, this Prayer Festival isn鈥檛 just for entertainment, but also an exalted purpose to be honed for our masters鈥斺€?

And about thirty minutes into the Chief鈥檚 speech, 鈥淚t鈥檚 too long!鈥?鈥淓nough already!鈥?鈥淕et down now!鈥?an endless amount of boos ring. This too happen every year, and the Chief, who always appears in the midst of thunderous applause, will sheepishly slip off the stage amidst boos. 鈥淒on鈥檛 throw any items!鈥?鈥淭his includes screws!鈥?Cattleya, in charge of managing the scene, will holler,

Once the Chief鈥檚 address is done, the staff will clean up the screw and screwcaps on the stage (these will be returned to their masters once done), and then, a trumpet鈥檚 cry signals the start again.

鈥擨t鈥檚 finally here.

鈥淓ntry number 1! Please welcome Miss Ceolaria and Mr Curl!鈥?(Ceolaria, short for Calceolaria, Curl, short for Ivory Curl)

As Cattleya鈥檚 beautiful voice rings, a man and woman appear on stage.

One of them is Miss Ceolaria, who has the appearance of an eighty-year-old domestic robot. She鈥檚 the 鈥榬eplacement robot鈥?created by a husband who lost his wife and wanted to alleviate his loneliness, and she continues to live even after her master died. The other, Mr Curl, once worked in a famous orchestra, and is now the premier musician in the village.

鈥淚鈥檓 really nervous to be chosen first. Now then, I shall perform the 鈥楽pearmint Genesis鈥?my deceased husband loved.

Miss Ceolaria bows elegantly, and the crowd immediately burst into applause before becoming silent again. There鈥檚 no commotion, as everyone knows that it鈥檚 time to be silent. As her partner, Mr Curl carries his signature electronic viola, and stands diagonally behind her.

The uninterrupted melody of the viola flows out, and Miss Ceolaria starts to sing.

Before humans are born, in a time far beyond.

The many messengers of god, appear in the sky.

With tears in eyes, they became rain of grace.

Thus the seas are born, the seas are born.

With a clear yet despondent voice, she sings a hymn that reveals how the world is born The arena is engulfed in a solemn atmosphere, and everyone feels melancholic, gloomy. Miss Ceolaria鈥檚 program has never changed over the past thirty years, but whenever I listen to it, it just feels so new, the first time I have heard it.

鈥溾€o it ends. Thank you all for listening.鈥?𝗳𝓇ℯe𝓌𝚎𝚋𝓃𝚘𝚟𝘦𝑙.𝑐𝚘𝙢

Once the singing and performance are over, a thunderous applause rain upon the stage again. Both of them bow, and return to the side of the stage.

鈥擳his is a nice song鈥?

As I narrow my eyes and enjoy the lingering emotions, Cattleya鈥檚 voice rings again.

鈥淐ontinuing on, Entry Number Two! It鈥檚 little Vicia and Grayano performing a magic show!鈥?

The performances continue on.

Pairs of male and female perform songs, dramas, skits, magic shows, manzais, impressions鈥攖here are classic shows we are familiar with, and new shows; the atmosphere at the arena remains as lively as ever. I remain in the audience, cheering from time to time, and squashing Eisbahn鈥檚 lecherous hands from time to time.

It has been two hours since the performance started.

鈥淐ontinuing on, entry number twenty-five, little Daisy and Gappy鈥檚 鈥楬orsey Play鈥?鈥?

鈥擮h, it鈥檚 here.

I lean my body towards the stage. The backdrop changes into a grassy field similar to a kindergarten, and Daisy shows up, riding on Gappy. 鈥淎hahha!鈥?鈥淚t鈥檚 Gappy!鈥?鈥淚t鈥檚 Scrappy Gappy!鈥?and the children burst out laughing.

鈥淚-I-I-I鈥檓 not Scrappy, at all.鈥?

鈥淓nough already, shut up.鈥?

Daisy slaps Gappy on the head, and it causes the audience to laugh again.

鈥淣ow then, let鈥檚 go!鈥?

鈥淕-got it!鈥?

Daisy rides on Gappy, who looks like he鈥檚 going to collapse at any given moment, and kicks his chest. Gappy slowly moves forward in a clumsy manner, the caterpillar legs letting out a creaking sound.

鈥淎lright, now we鈥檙e going with the one great jump in history!鈥?

The host Cattleya announces, and a 鈥榳all鈥?carved out of ice is moved onto the stage.

鈥淗ey, wait.鈥?

鈥淲hat?鈥?

I whisper to Eisbahn beside me,

鈥淛ump鈥s in they鈥檙e going to jump up that wall?鈥?

鈥淢ost likely.鈥?

On first glance, the wall is at least three times the height of Daisy. It鈥檚 really unbelievable to think that she would be able to jump across while riding Gappy.

鈥擠efinitely impossible.

The audience too break out in murmurs. 鈥淛ump over that thing?鈥?鈥淵ou鈥檙e kidding, right?鈥?鈥淣o can do.鈥?There was such a discussion.

But Daisy herself gives a confident look, and has Gappy retreat. It probably looks like a running start before they jump.

鈥淚t鈥檚 too dangerous after all.鈥?

I stand up. If they end up crashing into the wall, there鈥檒l be trouble.

鈥淲ell, just wait.鈥?

The flirting guy beside me grab my arm, 鈥淗ey, let go already.鈥?I glare at him.

鈥淭hey got an idea.鈥?

鈥淓h?鈥?

鈥淟ook at that.鈥?

Eisbahn points at the stage.

鈥淚sn鈥檛 there a sheet before the wall? There鈥檚 probably a jumping platform underneath.鈥?

鈥淗ow do you know?鈥?

鈥淭here鈥檚 a similar trick.鈥?

Well, it鈥檚 true that there鈥檚 something thin laid out somewhere on the grassy patch.

鈥淪o they鈥檒l be able to jump over the wall?鈥?

鈥淪hould be.鈥?

I then sit down again. If Eisbahn鈥檚 right, I would have ruined this program if I went out.

The crowd is bustling. I narrow my eyes, and see that the running start has begun. Gappy鈥檚 caterpillar legs spin intensely as the sound of friction echoes, and sparks look ready to fly as they charge towards the wall. What will happen, how will this end up鈥攚ith bated breath, everyone watches this reckless challenge, and at the moment they鈥檙e about to crash into the wall鈥擥appy鈥檚 body sinks, and the rebound causes them to jump up.

鈥擜h!

It鈥檚 supposed to be a jump several meters high. Unfortunately, both of them lose their balance and end up 鈥榝lying forward鈥? falling head first into the bottom of the stage like a rubber ball, thunk, thud, loud noises follow.

鈥淒aisy! Gappy!鈥?I instinctively get to my feet and quickly rush to the stage. 鈥淵ou alright鈥??鈥?

I pick up Gappy, who remains motionless, 鈥淕a-Ga-Gappy鈥︹€?he groans weakly, the hemispherical head sinking in hard.

At that moment.

鈥淵ou idiot鈥?鈥?

A roar.

鈥淛ust a little more鈥appy you idiot! Garbage! Trashy!!鈥?

I find Daisy beside me looking utterly furious, her face flushed. It seems she鈥檚 lightly hurt herself.

鈥淚-I-I-I-I!鈥?

Gappy tries to refute as he remains in my arms.

鈥淚-I鈥檓 not, trashy.鈥?

鈥淪hut up trashy! We trained together so many times! It鈥檚 all your fault that we failed!鈥?

鈥淚-I-I-I-I-I di-did my best鈥t鈥檚 your fault, Daisy!鈥?

鈥淲hat did you say鈥??鈥?

Daisy widens her eyes, her body shaking in anger.

And then, she yells,

鈥淚 hate you, Gappy鈥?!鈥?

After that, the girl runs off without looking back.

Even after the break, Daisy shows no signs of returning.

鈥擥oodness鈥?

I want to go look for her, but I can鈥檛 ignore Gappy who鈥檚 giving off smoke. So I bring Gappy to the infirmary.

鈥淭his is really some injury.鈥?Viscaria slowly notes once she sees Gappy.

鈥淲ell, you can leave the rest to me. Just head back to the festival.鈥?

鈥淏ut.鈥?

鈥淚t looks like it鈥檚 just a dent on the outside. No need to worry about this.鈥?

鈥淗m鈥ut I want to stay here until the repairs are done.鈥?

And so, Gappy鈥檚 repair ends up taking up more than two hours, and I stay by his side the entire time.

Daisy鈥檚 stubbornness really is troublesome鈥 mutter as I leave the infirmary, as the morning performances are coming to an end. It鈥檚 almost my turn, so I quickly hurry to the seat.

鈥淪ure took you long enough.鈥?

Eisbahn gives me a gleeful look, his legs resting on the seat before him.

And I show no attempt to hide my contempt as I sit with a thud.

鈥淕oodness. Got to tell her off this time.鈥?

鈥淥h my, you鈥檙e angry.鈥?

鈥淭hey argued on the stage of the Prayer Festival. How disrespectful to our masters.鈥?

鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 more interesting if they had argued right from the beginning?鈥?

鈥淵ou idiot.鈥?

I proceed to knock the blond on the head.

At this moment.

鈥淣ow then, entry number fifty-five! Miss Amaryllis and Mr Eisbahn will present鈥h?鈥?

Cattleya stares at the paper in her hand, taken aback.

鈥淎 deep kiss!鈥?

And so I鈥檓 stunned.

鈥淲h-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-what is this!?鈥?

鈥淯hehehehehehe as you heard!鈥?

I grab him by the chest, and shake him head.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 hear of this!鈥?

鈥淒idn鈥檛 I say it already?鈥?Eisbahn answers with a grin. 鈥淚 got the old man鈥檚 permission!鈥?

鈥擜h!

I recall the words Eisbahn said when he sat next to me. He did say he has a deal with the Chief.

鈥淚 thought it was about the seating鈥︹€?

鈥淲hat? You want to forfeit鈥?鈥?

鈥淯gh鈥ou had me there鈥︹€?

Cornered, I glare at this flirt before me. 鈥淐all me a strategist.鈥?He chuckles.

鈥淚鈥檓 not going to do it. A-a deep鈥eep kiss.鈥?

鈥淚s this your first time?鈥?

鈥淪hut up鈥?鈥?

I smack this pervert on the head. 鈥淢iss Amaryllis! Mr Eisbahn! It鈥檚 time!鈥?Cattelya exclaims.

鈥淯u鈥︹€?

It鈥檚 bad. If this keeps up, I鈥檒l be disqualified. This prayer festival happens once a year, and if I get disqualified without being able to do anything, I can鈥檛 explain to our masters. But if I have to give this fellow a deep kiss鈥?

While I鈥檓 feeling troubled, 鈥淲ell then.鈥?He raises his eyebrows.

鈥淗ow about we sing?鈥?

鈥淓h?鈥?

鈥淎 duet with me. Stand on the stage and sing. This should be fine, right?鈥?

鈥淭his鈥︹€?

It鈥檚 a lot better than kissing, but.

鈥淎nyway, do you know how to sing? I鈥檓 going to sing鈥斺€?

鈥溾€楪ood Night, Dear Masters鈥?鈥?

鈥?

I gasp.

鈥淗ehehe.鈥?

Eisbahn smiles confidently, and gives me a nudge from behind.

鈥淚t鈥檚 decided.鈥?

I just feel that I fell into a trap, or so it seems.

So dazzling.

The white light shining down the artificial crystalized stage swallows the entire stage, giving the impression of it being under the sun. The stares of the audience are like sharp arrows piercing through my heart, and I can鈥檛 help but freeze up as I鈥檓 nervous.

鈥淲hat? Nervous?鈥?

鈥淣o-not at all.鈥?

I open my lips slightly, making sure my voice isn鈥檛 obvious trembling. To be honest, I really feel uneasy about the sudden change of partner. This Festival only occurs once a year. If I fail, I won鈥檛 have the chance to salvage it until the next year.

鈥淐an鈥檛 you just play this automatically?鈥?

鈥淣ope. This live performance has to be in real time.鈥?

鈥淵ou鈥檙e right.鈥?

He shows no tension at all, and my heart has a strange feeling, wondering if I should hate him or hate.

The music echoes on the stage, and we鈥檙e surrounded by the sad melody of the instruments. The duet is finally going to begin.

鈥擳hree, two, one鈥?

Sleep well, sleep well, sleep well for today.

I put my hand before my chest, holding in my tension as I sing. And shockingly, Eisbahn鈥檚 voice echoes perfectly with mine.

鈥擡h鈥?

I shall continue to hold you in my arms, so sleep well.

One day, even if this country, is wiped out, the morning light,

The singing continues, and I can鈥檛 help but show surprise at the partner next to me. It鈥檚 a powerful voice, audible enough, a singing style that perfectly controls the essential points of a man鈥檚 voice.

鈥擳h-this is brilliant鈥?

Everything, and anything, is for, you.

That is why, sleep well, for today.

Until, the day, you wake up again.

It鈥檚 like driving the icemobile in unison, as our singing continues in flawless rhythm. This song is adapted from the original lullaby for this performance, and it鈥檚 only the first time I perform it before others. However, he鈥檚 able to just sing as though he鈥檚 a long-term partner, and even I enjoy singing before I enter the sub-chorus.

Finally, the climax.

Now, the light shall shine on me.

The dazzling future, shall descend upon these hands.

The world belongs to you, the future too belongs to you.

And you belong to me.

To me, the one who loves you.

The song ends. The audience replies with silence.

And then,

At that moment, the cheers rain down like a torrent on us, as the audience get to their feet. This is a standing ovation.

鈥擜mazing鈥?

I did receive applause during the past Prayer Festivals, but this time, it鈥檚 exceptional. We鈥檙e basked in massive thunderous applause 鈥淎mazing!鈥?鈥淩iveting鈥?with loud cheers, so loud that the ice ceilings appear to crack. Even when I had the special prize of the Prayer Festival sixteen years ago, I never had such a huge reaction.

My circuits are heating.

鈥擝ut when did he memorize this song?

I look at his face. Eisbahn keeps sending kisses to the crowd. At this moment, I recall his words,

鈥擨t鈥檚 a nice tune no matter how many times I hear it.

I see. I recall. I recall myself singing the lullaby in the 鈥楽now White鈥? and him watching on.

鈥擲o that鈥檚 when he remembered.

鈥淪ee, didn鈥檛 it go well?鈥?

Eisbahn grins with glee, like a boy who succeeded with a prank.

My heart flutters.

The 鈥楪rand Prix鈥?this year goes to the Amaryllis and Eisbahn pair!鈥?

And as the award is given, there is thunderous applause in the arena.

鈥淐ongratulations, Amaryllis!鈥?鈥淎s expected!鈥?鈥淕ood work, big sis!鈥?

Still reeling from it, I receive the award for two on the stage. This is the first time I have won this title, and I never dreamed that I would be winning it with Eisbahn. I probably wouldn鈥檛 be able to do it alone, so I think as I can鈥檛 help but feel gracious towards Eisbahn. 鈥業鈥檓 too tired鈥?however, he didn鈥檛 attend the award ceremony because of that reason, and it鈥檚 a pity that I couldn鈥檛 share the joy with him. I鈥檒l hand him the prize later.

The special award goes to the 鈥楽pearmint Genesis鈥?by the Ceolaria pair, the hard work pair goes to Vicia鈥檚 pair, and the 鈥榖ooby prize鈥?for the second worst act went to Daisy and Gappy. Daisy never returned ever since she left the arena in a huff, and Gappy鈥檚 still in the infirmary. It鈥檚 rare for both parties to not show up at the ceremony.

And so, the Prayer Festival this year comes to an end. To me, this is undoubtedly more impressionable than any Festival in the past. Having won the 鈥楪rand Prix鈥? I can finally sing to the masters with my head held high鈥攕o I think.

That night, I keep singing before the Snow White due to extreme delight. The Cradle our masters sleep in give off a little glint as it hears my singing.

And so, this becomes the final Prayer Festival.