Story Reader / Event Story / Magpie's Fortune / Story
You make your way into a lush forest, quietly amazed that Constellia has preserved such a vast stretch of green.
Cicadas buzz incessantly, and in the near distance, pairs of fireflies drift by. It's tough to tell whether they're mechanical replicas or genuine insects living here.
As you pass by a patch of short shrubs, you catch the sound of voices not too far away.
Marry, our play is "The most lamentable comedy and..."
The voices are hardly discernible amid the cicadas' constant buzz.
...call forth your actors by the scroll. Masters, spread yourselves.
These lines sound so familiar.
As your vision sharpens alongside the sound, you spot several mechanoids rehearsing something in a clearing in the woods.
Conductor.
Following the voice, you notice a girl sitting neatly on a stone, nodding at you in greeting.
She shifts to create space, inviting you to sit beside her.
Selena gives a gentle nod.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream"...
We're rehearsing a play set in the forest, right here among the trees.
The mechanoid performers act like they're all alone, as though this isn't just a rehearsal spot but a natural theater shaped by the forest itself.
That is, if we don't count the birds, insects, and plants.
A single petal, carried by the breeze, comes to rest beside her loose hair.
With that, the two of you become part of the performance too.
After a moment's silence, you both turn your gaze to the mechanoid performers.
What is Pyramus—a lover or a tyrant?
It's not my first time watching this play, but I still want to keep going.
Even the author might see his earlier works in a different light.
But I'm still not sure if I should look back on what I've written before.
The girl turns to you, showing almost no emotion.
As your eyes meet, you can't see the past she hides, nor can you catch what's going on in her mind right now.
I know exactly how it feels to stand in that same spot...
In those moments, I could still talk with you about the characters, the storyline, or the fate and choices of every character involved.
It's okay, Conductor.
I'm hoping that, at least for tonight, no one's out there planning or debating our future.
So let's just let things happen as they do.
Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this unexpected encounter, right?
Selena offers a gentle smile, as clear and refreshing as a flowing stream.
The mechanoids continue their performance, seemingly undisturbed by the conversation in the audience.
You stay silent in unspoken harmony with Selena.
Such a fleeting moment...
Selena sighs softly and stands up. Under the starlight, an iris flower stands tall.
She pulls out a pen from somewhere—it's clearly battered, making it hard to tell if it's been with her all along or salvaged from some ruined place.
Conductor, may I have your hand?
You hesitate for a moment but do as she asks.
Selena opens your palm, and a gentle breeze carries a subtle hint of her hair's delicate scent.
Selena opens your palm, and a gentle breeze carries a subtle hint of her hair's delicate scent.
A slight prickling runs across your palm, tickling just enough to make you aware of the sensation.
Please, don't peek yet.
She gives a slight bow.
The lost lover is bound to arrive, and the mischievous fairy shall drip pansy nectar here...
Before we meet, even if it's the most lamentable comedy, I'll carry it through to the final curtain, Conductor.
What is Thisbe—a wand'ring knight?
It is the lady that Pyramus must love.
The performance continues, and a hush settles for a while. The hand she asked to hold is already growing clammy.
She doesn't react, which silently confirms her approval.
Just a few simple words, and yet they bridge countless ages...
A reply letter, fated to go missing yet again, appears right in front of you.
On this midsummer night, you carry a subtle but peculiar emotion as you gently blow the ink on your hands dry.
