Lowlife, Scoundrel, Bandit Queen

Chapter 152 - 152 - Lantern lit night

Once I'm well outside the walls and back on street level I resume my way to the theater at a much more leisure pace. As I draw closer I can even join the stream of other people heading in the same direction. It seems that not only am I not late, I'm arriving just in time for the afternoon performance of the play. What was its name again? Ah yes, Lantern Lights, a romantic comedy if the advertisement I'm passing at a street corner just now is anything to go by. I'm still quite impressed by these carefully painted placards.

I have no time to waste on the advertisements for the play though. Sure I'm still plenty early enough, but I'm apparently not the only one arriving early, judging by the crowd. It's probably about getting a good seat. And not only do I have to secure seating, I still have to meet up with Sezemat too.

At least the latter turns out not to be something I need to worry about though. The dragon behind the whole caravan stands out, even in her human guise. Her luscious blonde locks alone make her near impossible to miss. The way she carries herself and her presence in general just add on top of that.

In a spur of the moment decision I blend into the crowd even more, trying the best I can to hide my presence. I don't approach her as much as I let the movement of the crowd carry me closer. My [Stealth] skill does indeed benefit, but as it turns out it's still no match for her sharp eyes and the perception skill backing them.

At least she doesn't seem to mind the attempt. Not in a bad way at least. Who knows, my little stunt might have earned her a little progress for her own skill too. Either way, she greets me with a pleasant enough smile.

"Viviona, darling, I'm so glad you made it. I was getting a little worried you might be late. Come, I have already secured seating for the two of us."

She is quick to grab my hand and drag me into the ranks of benches that have been set up for the spectators. No one dares to get in her way. People seem to know her even at a glance and apparently no one wants to get onto her bad side.

Well, I can't fault anyone for that line of thinking. I wouldn't want to get on her bad side either. I have to wonder about the places she has reserved for us though. And she did indeed reserve places, going as far as asking, or paying, two lads to keep the places in question open for us. Our seats are in the eight row and slightly to the side instead of at the center.

She seems to catch on to what is going through my mind fast enough. She pats my back and pushes me to the place she has picked for me while moving to her own as well.

"Don't worry, these are some of the best spots for a play like this. You don't want to be too close up front. It's easier to keep the whole of the stage in your view like this. And the view from the side allows for better depth perception of the stage. Trust me. Oh! Do you want anything to eat?"

I shake my head in response.

"No thank you, lady Sezemat. I had something not too long ago before coming here."

Although I just turned her down, my words don't seem to trouble her.

"Oh yes, the Lamenting Lamb? I miss them every once in a while, but I guess I could visit the place since I'm already in town. It's just the way things are. Every once in a while one of the cooks traveling with the caravan decides to settle down in the towns we visit. The short lived humans more often than any of the others."

Now she lets out a little melancholic sigh.

"Yes, I'll visit the place before we travel on."

I shrug at first but decide to deepen the conversation using this topic before the play actually starts.

"The cook's wife is sick it seems. It's why I helped out at their place on short notice."

The response is prompt and not quite what I expect.

"Oh my! All the more reason to pay them a visit. It's not like I really have to worry about human ailments. Our blood runs too hot for those to be of any concern to my kind. And who knows, maybe I can even help them out. Not in the kitchen like you, but I happen to know a spell or two that can improve a mortal's resistance to various diseases. Quite useful for a traveling troupe like mine. Probably one of the reason why none of the local lords ever pester me and my people with quarantines and the likes."

I nod in agreement. At the same time I chuckle as well though.

"The other reason possibly being that you are a dragon of some renown and power?"

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Thankfully she doesn't take offense, despite me being rather blunt about it.

"Yes, of course. Oh, look, I think they'll start any moment now."

She isn't wrong. The streetlamps, actual streetlamps, of the realistic street set ,set up on stage come to life even as she speaks. I suspect they are magical, not unlike my own light spell in fact. The audience quietens and some light music, not a full orchestra, but a decent band anyway, starts to play somewhere to the side, as the slightly pampered, and more than a little bored young lady, one of the main roles, is introduced in the first scene.

We get a glimpse at her life with the countless suitors that are after her, before the next scene shifts to the hapless young lad that just makes his way into town. It's at this point that I realize that the couple I spotted putting up the advertisements are in fact, and without a doubt the actors playing the main roles. At least in the early, the matinee performance. I'm not sure about the later evening performance. I somehow doubt that they would play two in a row though.

The short man, most certainly a gnome, and the elven lady certainly make for a likable couple, as their story of mishaps and misunderstandings unfolds scene by scene.

It's like my draconic companion has mentioned. Depth perception of the stage's backdrop is important to get the most out of every silly little antic that plays out. Especially the chases. Even the manhole covers that probably lead to a crawlspace below the stage become important, just as anticipated.

And of course the audience doesn't just remain seated quietly. People don't talk with each other, that would be impolite, but they certainly aren't shy about crying out or laughing. This isn't that kind of stage and the play isn't exactly one to be enjoyed quietly either. It's not just silly antics after all. It's big on emotions too. It very much is a crowd pleaser and the actors certainly seem to soak up audience's reaction.

Even the dragon in human guise at my side doesn't hold back to call out when emotion grips her and thus I don't either. Screams, gasps and laughs and happy tears. They all become part of the experience. I really don't regret coming and not just because I ended up getting invited and experiencing the play for free. It does put a very much pleased smile on my lips. The time spent here, not quite two hours by my estimate, certainly isn't wasted.

By the time everything wraps up the gnome lad and the elven beauty are together and quite happy about it too. Judging by the kiss they share, before the lanterns on stage finally dim again, the two aren't just acting either. That at least is my impression.

By now there is no more holding back for the audience either. There is applause, of course, but also loud cheering in general. The audience, as it seems, is very much pleased, which is probably especially important as most people have in all likelihood been looking forward to this a whole year.

Now that the evening's entertainment is over I shift a little more of my attention back to the woman, the dragon in disguise really, at my side. Instead of asking why exactly she would invite me I decide to go for another topic.

"I take it, this all is part of your hoard? Good and plentiful food as well as mindful but lighthearted entertainment? It seems so much more rewarding than just plain coin."

She chuckles and nods.

"Yes, dragons are hoarders by nature and it affects not just small and shiny things, although I'll admit I still have a nice bed of those. Other collections are su much more rewarding though, at least when I'm not sleeping. I hope my little brother learns that lesson too before long."

I walk alongside her, as we leave the theater behind.

"Oh, I don't think you have to worry too much. He is getting there."

For a brief moment we walk in silence. Then she finally broaches the subject she really wants to talk about.

"Does he know what you really are?"

I raise an eyebrow. What I really am? Does she? In the end I shrug.

"Since he has looked at me the same way as you did on our first meeting, I would be surprised if he doesn't have at least a clue. A dragon's gaze can be a really scary thing for someone like me. Or anyone with the same set of skills as me in general, for that matter."

She ponders my words for a moment, or possibly even tow, before she replies at long last.

"I hope you won't hurt my little brother. I don't really want to have to threaten you, Viviona."

That gives me pause for a moment.

"Well, you just did?"

She in turn nods with a calm, almost friendly smile.

"Indeed. I suppose we are understanding each other then."

I understand well enough. No need to push the issue any further, Not that I have any intentions of hurting Beldragor. I decide to take this as encouragement to not hurt him by accident either, an idea I'm wholeheartedly in support of. Thus I simply nod. Nothing else needs to be said. As we reach her wagon closer to the circus I take my leave though.

"Lady Sezemat. It's has been a pleasure. Thank you for sharing the experience with me."

She stops and sits down on the stairs leading up to the door of her wagon instead of heading inside right away.

"Likewise, Viviona. Take care on your adventures."

I'm really not one for drawn out or possibly even formal goodbyes, thus I feel a little awkward as I leave after sketching one more brief bow. I have to get going though. I still have plans for the night after all. The town's ghost issue won't exactly resolve itself. Not in a way the town's people would appreciate anyway.

I head back to the temple at the heart of town in the meantime, focusing on the mission ahead to distract myself from any awkwardness. I still have to make an important preparation after all. I have to bless my weapon. And now that I come to think of it, maybe I should bless my buckler too? The idea certainly sounds sensible. A blessed sword to hurt the incorporeal undead and a shield to actually block their counters when necessary. Yes, that is what I'll do.

For now though, to get there, I have to take to the rooftops. Given the time, the gate is almost certainly already closed. Thankfully the early night is a good time to run across rooftops and to cross the wall unseen too.

My [Balance], [Running] and [Jumping] skills all benefit a little. Two of them are, as a result, actually as close to the next level up as they can be. And of course my [Stealth] improves some too. It'll be another long while before that one levels up though. Overall it's another pleasant experience on an already pretty pleasant day. Delicious food, decent work, good entertainment and decent skill progress. That's about as good as it can get. I can only hope that this keeps up.