Rosalyne watched her bow, and her lips moved almost imperceptibly.
She seemed to want to say something too.
In the end, she simply gave a faint "hmm".
One word.
Then, she turned around and looked at the sea again.
"The ship has arrived."
"Let's go," Rosalyne said.
She stepped onto the pier first, without looking back.
Columbina glanced at her retreating figure, then at Odette was still standing there.
She didn't say anything, but simply walked over and gently patted Odette's shoulder.
"Let's go."
'... Hmm.'
Odette responded softly, raised her eyes, took one last look at the red figure, and then followed.
Sandrone walked at the back, glanced back at them, and remained silent.
--
The four people boarded the Star Raft one by one.
With a deep, long blast of the ship's horn, the Star Raft slowly pulled away from the shore.
The docks at Port of Dornman receded little by little.
Odette did not enter the cabin.
She stood alone on the ship's side, holding onto the railing, gazing at the shore that was getting further and further away.
Mondstadt's direction was behind him.
Before she knew it, another person had appeared not far behind her.
Rosalyne stood in the shadows of the upper deck, leaning on the railing, also looking towards the shore.
Her gaze was not fixed on the sea.
She was watching that lone, upright figure standing on the ship's side.
I looked at it for a long time.
Her hand tightened almost imperceptibly on the railing.
It looked like they wanted to walk over.
I want to say something.
Even just asking, "How's your dance practice going?"
But in the end, she didn't move.
Because she herself is not qualified.
She knew better than anyone that she was bad at speaking.
Words of praise, once they reach your lips, can turn into even harsher training.
When you say those words, you'll receive the response, "You don't deserve it."
Throughout her life, she taught this child how to stand up and how to live in this world.
But the one thing I didn't learn was how to let her know--
I made some mistakes in what I did.
The wind at sea is getting stronger and stronger.
Rosalyne withdrew her gaze, turned around, and silently walked into the cabin.
At the ship's side, Odette heard a very faint sound behind her as the cabin door closed.
Her shoulders stiffened almost imperceptibly.
She didn't turn around.
He simply held that Burning Amber, gazing at the shore that was no longer visible, for a very long time.
She suddenly remembered something that person had said on the training field a long time ago.
Stand up.
"I won't be by your side forever."
The Star Raft sailed at sea until nightfall.
A small lamp was lit in Odette's room.
She sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought.
There was a knock on the door.
" Odette, are you there?"
It was Columbina's voice.
"... Come in."
The door was pushed open.
Columbina came in first, followed by Sandrone.
Odette's hand paused for a moment.
"What are you doing here?"
"Sorry, there's something I want to tell you. Can I borrow your Burning Amber to take a look?"
Sandrone got straight to the point.
Odette's gaze fell on the Burning Amber on her body.
"Want to see this?"
"Hmm." Sandrone paused.
"Didn't you keep saying that this was something Rosalyne used to spy on you?"
The room fell silent for a moment.
Odette lowered her eyes and stared at the Burning Amber for a long time.
Finally, she reached out and untied it, placed it on the table, and pushed it over.
"... See?"
Columbina remained seated quietly on the stool.
At this moment, her gaze fell on the ball of blue and red flames, and her eyes flickered almost imperceptibly.
The light penetrated to the deepest part of the crystal, where a small cluster of fire lay quietly.
She recognized it; it was exactly the same as the one she had secretly seen before.
That was the Fire of Two Worlds.
Arlecchino's Fire.
Columbina had been watching quietly until now, when she finally spoke softly.
Odette.
"Hmm."
"You know Rosalyne, that person."
She could never utter a soft word in her entire life.
Odette kept her head down and didn't say anything.
"There's one more thing."
Columbina looked at her.
"That night you performed..."
Odette's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
"... What do you want to say?"
"Did you say something to her before?"
"You said she doesn't deserve to see you dance."
Odette's face turned pale instantly.
She went.
Columbina said.
"... What?"
She went.
Odette, filled with resentment, uttered the words, "You are not worthy to see me dance."
After saying that, Rosalyne didn't argue, she just gave her a cold look, and turned and left.
She remembered that glance for a long time.
But now Columbina tells her--
That person still went.
Odette's eyes, without warning, reddened.
"I don't believe it."
Her voice was hoarse.
"If she went, why didn't she come?"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Why did you make me...?
She didn't continue.
"Because she dared not."
Columbina finished speaking for her.
"That person," Columbina smiled softly, a bitter smile playing on her lips, "Has done far more for you than she has said."
If you want to hear her say, "I'm doing this for your own good," then...
"You'll probably wait a long time and still not see it."
Odette lowered her head.
She looked at the Burning Amber on the table, at the small, quiet cluster of fire deep within the crystal.
"... So what exactly is this?"
She asked in a murmur.
This time, Columbina did not answer immediately.
She knew what that fire was.
But she couldn't say a single word about these things.
Rosalyne is still alive.
The play she was going to perform hadn't even started yet, and she knew that the Burning Amber was a backup plan she had left behind.
What if she really could come back, and really could do what she planned, finish her business, sit in that theater, and personally untie this knot with Odette?
This is a secret that Rosalyne herself must break through herself.
In the end, Columbina simply said softly, "You'll know when she decides to tell you herself."
"All I can tell you is one sentence --"
"A person who wants to harm you wouldn't do this."
"That Burning Amber isn't watching you."
"... This is what I can guarantee."
After saying that, she closed the door and left with Sandrone.
Odette sat on the edge of the bed, holding the Burning Amber in her palm.
The Shitou that had been pressing on my heart was gently lifted by a corner.
Something has come loose.
That's all I can write about Odette and Rosalyne for now. It's too difficult to write about them, and I don't have any good ideas right now. My current thought is that everything will be resolved when we get to Inazuma.
The trio's story has come to an end; the following plot will be more novel, with a more detailed portrayal of the protagonists' strength and more interaction between them.
Please point out any plot issues so we can make changes. I'll also try my best to revise or consider any good suggestions in the future. Thank you everyone for the gifts!
つ♡⊂