Fantasia of the Dream-Protecting Acrobats ~Western Country & Central Country~

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.