Voice Lines

No need to rush off, the show isn't over just yet. The late hours of Tricktown belong to the revelry of bonfires, and the second act will begin at the stroke of midnight. Raise your arms, dance with abandon, and let us unveil the wild side of this city together. Free yourself through conducting, and let the notes forever carry the fervent, uninhibited essence of this night. But be careful, I might throw the baton your way at any moment.

I know full well that the differences in that piece won't go unnoticed. The inspiration for such improvisation is a gift from the city of Peyero. The sound of the city's chiming fountain was pure and clear, with a hint of warmth. When it first reached my ears, it felt somewhat familiar. As I conducted, I couldn't help but think... it was like meeting an old friend I hadn't seen in a long time. Would you like to experience it? Consider it a unique epilogue to this performance.

Would you care to know why the musical structure of this performance intrigues me so? The massive Ferris wheel I saw to the west side of Skob. Two cabins, locked in a perfect chase, forever parallel, much like a perfect fugue. They are bound to cross paths again, perhaps yearning to draw closer, yet forever unable to touch... How about joining in and becoming a part of this silent piece?

The winds of Dolores are more brisk than I imagined. Their bite mirrors the audience's stoic silence, both filled with tension. From the conductor's podium, I can almost hear the wind whispering. It's as if I've stepped outside myself. I stand there, letting the wind scatter my hair. It blows away thoughts I shouldn't have... and maybe even me. Hmm, maybe that concert hall owner was right, and I've gone a bit mad.

I've said it all now... Don't overthink it. These words have been waiting to be spoken for a long time. I've rehearsed countless ways of saying them, but truth be told, they've long since outlived their usefulness. As for why I'm revealing them now... Keeping them locked away forever would be too great of a loss. To believe them or not, is up to you.

I control the phrasing and dynamic balance through the rise and fall of my hands, shaping the notes into the sounds I desire. Through waves of pain and pleasure, I drive the orchestra toward its climax, where no one falls behind and none can escape. Until... until the symphony in my heart finds its perfect form.

After enough failures, the sting fades, and with it, the burden of worry.

The taste of redcurrants... the only thing that has left an impression on me. Its sour and bitter taste, perhaps? I find it quite tolerable actually. Maybe I've simply grown used to it...

After meat is smoked or roasted, its taste is similar to... Never mind.

I wish to comprehend the cycle of life by experiencing it over and over again.

Hecate has always stood at the crossroads of the other world, waiting, as if knowing that our paths would inevitably meet. The day I finally saw it clearly, I learned its name and understood the boundaries and choices it embodied. It stood there, silently, as if to say, "This is the moment to decide." Only when I placed my hand in its palm did I realize—Hecate is me. The me of the other world, the me of this world, and the me who moves freely between them... From that moment on, "I" became the guardian of the boundary, perceiving all, seeing even the farthest reaches of both worlds.

Overclocking is already common practice for the Fractsidus. I've seen countless people walk toward it, seize control, and exploit it. Of course, they are fully aware of the dangers it brings, death included. Don't disagree just yet. If you look at it from another angle, you'll see it offers not just a hopeless path to death, but a chance for a different kind of rebirth. After all, humans are creatures who seek safety, threatened by fear, clinging to life at all costs. But we... we should master not only living, but living even after death.

A singular existence. A living purpose. A point of reference... Heh, given all this, isn't it comforting to openly acknowledge that he and I are both using each other for our own ends?

Attempting to awaken true free will in mankind, one that dares to confront the very truths of this world is an intriguing pursuit. Pity that blind will, without the anchor of survival, becomes naught but a flash in the pan. Are not the uncontrollable turns and imperfect endings caught within the cracks of the script the very tolling of a warning bell?

Madmen who don't play by the rules lack elegance. With but a breath, they undo even the most meticulous of plans. I care not for his true desires, only that he remain as far from me as fate will allow.

Not human, yet possessing a will whole as any mortal's. A creation molded by Divinity... how I envy her. If only I could unearth the universal truth behind her success, then perhaps the echoes from the other shore would sing even sweeter.

Your birthday? Today, you say? Oh. … Well, if you're expecting a present or some kind wishes, then simply wait here. A long wait can be considered a gift in itself.

(Effort sounds)

(Effort sounds)

(Effort sounds)

Do not fear the Fractsidus Overseer. Settle your mind. Quiet the clamor of thought. Only then can you stay and truly appreciate the perfect melody echoing through the Lycoris sea... and the true paradise that is soon to arrive.

Come, let us finish this performance we've all been waiting for. Together.

An invitation… for me?

See? I haven't lost my touch.

An ensemble? With me?

The warm yet bittersweet first movement is hidden in the dark night, alone and forlorn. Now, those haunting, ghostly cries have begun to fade away.

The shadowed, sorrowful second movement conceals unease and terror. Are you not afraid? It will raise its dagger with force, tearing through the veil between life and death.

The bright and lively third movement carries the whimsical air of fantasy. Even suspended above falsehood and unease, it compels the notes to keep dancing forward.

The decisive and powerful fourth movement brings forth a rousing battle hymn. Carried by the rapids, it surges across an endless land, sweeping all before it.

This is... the final flourish. You've given it an unexpected change... Since that's the case, why not sit and listen as I play the full composition to its end? Do you have time now?