The third day is the actual day.
Bai You woke up before dawn. There was no way around it; even though she was feeling weak, she had to be there today because it was the day the performance was scheduled.
She lay on the bed for a few seconds, then gently pulled away from Varesa's embrace.
I sprang up abruptly and pushed open the window—the sky over Mondstadt was just beginning to lighten, and the area in front of the square was still a deep, dark blue.
She tiptoed out the door.
Sandrone was already in the square.
A circle of small robots busied themselves around her feet; some climbed onto the platform to tighten screws, while others flew into the air to test the light cables. She looked up and saw Bai You, raising her chin slightly.
"They're here?"
"Here it comes." Bai You trotted over, "Is everything ready?"
"See for yourself."
The tarpaulin has been removed.
The platform was built high, directly facing the statue of the wind god.
The platform was surrounded by lights, which Sandrone said were transferred from the Star Raft. They weren't lit yet, hanging silently in rows.
The background is a huge screen, painted with the sea—the deep blue of night, with stars floating on the waves, which push layer upon layer to the horizon.
"A curtain?" Bai You was stunned.
"I drew it. You weren't here yesterday, so I made a decision." Sandrone turned his face away.
Bai You felt a lump in her throat and quickly tilted her head back.
"What are you crying about?" Sandrone clicked his tongue.
"The work isn't finished yet. The tickets are all printed. Go and count them, the seated areas and the standing areas."
"Once you're done, quickly hide so she doesn't see you when she goes out."
"Okay, okay!"
Bai You sat down on a box by the square, holding a stack of tickets, and counted them one by one.
By the time I counted to the third time, it was completely light.
The publicity campaign was even more effective than she had anticipated.
Sandrone's little robots went all over the streets and alleys of Mondstadt a few days ago, posting notices everywhere.
The notice clearly stated: This evening, at the foot of the statue of the wind god, a singer who has come from afar will perform. No Mora will be charged; just come and listen.
We do not accept Mora.
These four words are more effective than anything else.
After all, the current setup and preparations don't require spending their own Mora.
People started arriving shortly after noon.
First, a few children clung to the stone railings at the edge of the square, tiptoeing to look at the platform.
Then came the old woman selling apples, carrying a basket, who found a flat spot some distance away and sat down.
Margaret from Cat's Tail Tavern personally brought two waiters and dozens of boxes of juice.
It was placed in a corner of the square, supposedly to be offered for free after the performance began. (This was done in exchange for Pantalone's money.)
On the Knights of Favonius, Amber, carrying her scout knight's notebook, squatted by the crowd, taking notes and muttering to herself:
"Why didn't anyone notify me about this event...?"
Kaeya, arms tucked into the crowd, smiled knowingly.
"This is quite a gesture," he said to those around him. "Who has such a big influence?"
No one could answer that.
Under the shade of a tree in the square, a boy wearing a green hat sat down, holding a zither, and lazily strummed a couple of strings.
He came because he heard the sound.
"Oh my." He raised an eyebrow. "Who is this distinguished guest?"
He didn't leave; he leaned against the tree trunk and waited.
Under the eaves of a building near the square, a tall man wearing a hood was muttering to himself.
"Are Harbinger of the Fatui? There are two of them, no, wait, another one came from the other side of the city a while ago."
"With so many Harbinger gathering in Mondstadt, is there some big plan brewing up in the Snezhnaya?"
Columbina was dressed unusually "properly" today—actually, she was still the same as always, just strolling around the square.
Someone tried to get closer to the curtain backstage, but she gave them a look.
"Sit down, everyone, sit down."
"It starts tonight! No one should crowd, there's room everywhere!"
A little girl with pigtails was jostled by the crowd and lost her balance. She bent down, scooped her up, and gently placed her on the stone steps in front of her.
"Sitting here, you can see clearly."
The little baby looked up at her and giggled.
Columbina was taken aback by her laughter, and then, unsure how to respond, scratched her head.
--This job seems pretty fun.
Time passed quickly, and the sun set in the west.
Inside the room, Varesa was startled by the noise outside the window.
"That Little Bai You has run off again and hasn't come back for most of the day. Looks like I might not be enough..."
She walked to the window and looked down.
The square in the distance was packed with people.
The stage was set up, the lights were installed, and even from her room, she could see people bustling around on the stage.
She watched for a while, and then the corners of her mouth slowly curved into a smile.
"What are they doing?" she murmured to herself. "It's so lively."
There was a knock on the door.
"Let's go." It was Odette's voice. "We promised to watch the sunset together tonight."
Varesa smiled and opened the door.
"Now?" she asked casually, glancing downstairs. "What's going on over there? So many people."
"Sigh." Odette's heart tightened, but her smile widened.
"Who knows? Maybe the Knights of Favonius are up to something. Shall we go or not? If we don't leave soon, we'll miss the sunset."
"Let's go, let's go."
Varesa agreed readily.
She wore that light blue long dress.
Bai You had repeatedly reminded her a few days ago, saying, "Wear that light blue one that day," and she actually wore it.
Once outside, Odette magically produced a ribbon from behind her back.
"What are you doing?" Varesa asked.
"A surprise for you!" Odette blinked. " Bai You said this has to be a guess."
Varesa responded with an "Oh?"
That "oh" was drawn out.
She obediently closed her eyes, her eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath them.
The ribbon gently fell, and the world went dark.
"Hold on tight. "Odette reached out her hand.
"Hmm."
Varesa offered her hand. Her hand was cool, while Odette's palms seemed a little sweaty.
She wondered when Odette had become so nervous.
The two of them walked step by step toward the square.
There were so many people on the street; Varesa could hear voices and smell the smoke in the air.
Children were running around, various pets were barking, and some piano music drifted out from somewhere.
"Are we almost there?" she asked softly.
"Almost there, almost there," Odette's voice was a little strained. "Don't ask, just don't ask, it'll be almost there."
Varesa subtly curved the corners of her mouth into a smile beneath her blindfold.
From the side of the curtain, Bai You lifted the curtain a crack.
She saw Varesa being led by Odette, walking towards her step by step.
Bai You covered her mouth to keep herself from screaming.
My heart is pounding like a drum.
Behind her, Sandrone glanced at the screen one last time and made a gesture to those below.
One by one, the lights came on.
First, around the edge of the platform, then on the mast, under the stone pedestal of the wind god statue, and at the four corners of the plaza—
A string of lights shone all the way into the crowd.
It's as if someone plucked an entire Milky Way from the sky and laid it on the ground.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
Odette led Varesa to the center of the stage and they stood there.
She felt the person next to her pause for a moment—she heard a collective gasp.
"Alright," Odette whispered in her ear, "Take it."
Varesa reached out and removed the ribbon from her eyes.
--
The first thing she saw was the lamp.
Then there were the people, densely packed together, under the lights.
Then there were the people, densely packed together, under the lights.
An old man, a child, a woman carrying a basket, a boy holding a zither, a waiter in the tavern, and a young man in Knights of Favonius.
A few more—the few crew members who had sneaked off the ship—were huddled in the last row, waving frantically.
Thousands upon thousands of eyes were watching her.
No one spoke.
A breeze blew from behind her, causing the "sea" on the curtain to ripple gently.
Varesa stood still, motionless.
Her hand, hanging at her side, twitched almost imperceptibly.
--In the background, Bai You a little nervous.
Then she saw Varesa raise her hand.
The movement was so light, as if it were just a gust of wind getting into one's eyes.
Her shoulder line relaxed for a moment.
Then, she took a step forward.
--It was this step that put everyone on the edge of their seats.
She herself didn't realize she was walking.
As if pushed by the wind, or as if led by those gazes, she walked step by step from the center of the stage to the front.
The light shone down from above, casting her long shadow across the painted "sea" behind her.
Below the stage, countless people were looking up.
No one spoke.
Bai You was in the background, her palms sweaty.
She suddenly realized—oh no.
She forgot about that.
These past few days, all she could think about was how to hide it, how to lure Varesa here blindfolded.
How can I let her see all of this, and let her know that her songs are loved by many people in other countries as well?
She had even planned out what to do after Varesa's performance.
She never imagined it—
Since the stage has been set up and the people have come...
Varesa, stand here.
All eyes were now fixed on her, not with looks of "coming to see you," but with looks of "please speak."
Bai You's mind went blank for a moment.
--That was too hasty.
That was too hasty.
She hadn't consulted with Varesa at all. What Varesa wore and what hairstyle she had was just something she'd casually mentioned a few days ago. "Wearing that light blue dress."
She didn't even ask Varesa if she wanted to sing today.
They didn't even ask whether she could bring herself to ask in this unfamiliar place.
What if she doesn't want to?
What if she can't sing today?
What if she gets stuck on stage and can't get off?
Bai You had already cursed herself a hundred times in her mind. She was about to pull back the curtain, her legs already extended—
Just then...
Beside the stage, a tiny robot, no bigger than a palm, clicked and pushed a standing microphone toward Varesa.
Happy National Day everyone! (◍>◡<◍)