A large iron plate was spinning around on a tal rod, resembling a gigantic form of plate spinning.
On the plate were five large balls, and five acrobats each ran on top of a ball, rolling it with their feet.
With every movent of the balls, the plate wobbled precariously.
The acrobats dashed, leaped, stood on one leg, and sorsaulted in the air to the rhythm of the music.
Their movents were spontaneous yet precise.
With each exquisite breath of the five, the plate's balance seed to falter, but it gracefully restored equilibrium, tracing smooth curves.
As the plate leaned to one side, the balls spilled onto the stage one by one.
Five balls lined up in a row.
The five acrobats on top of them exchanged final greetings.
The signal announcing the intermission rang out, and applause poured from all directions.
It was directed towards the youngest of the five acrobats.
Ella gracefully walked atop the balls as if walking on solid ground, bowing gently in all directions.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
She finished her greetings and turned to her fellow perforrs with a reminiscent expression.
"How was it?"
The four acrobats looked at her and raised their thumbs.
"Bravo!"
"Amazing!"
"Handling the rolling five-person plate in just two attempts!"
"It's not like she was born with absolute balance like Reyna!"
As Ella slid down from the balls, the acrobats who had been watching gathered around her.
They patted her head or tapped her shoulders.
"Haha! Even with plaster on your arms, you showed such agility?"
"Amazing, truly amazing."
"How about becoming my disciple after the competition?"
"What nonsense! What is there to learn from your skills? Co to my theater!"
"Humph. Neither of you could be her master. You'd be stripped of everything in a day."
Ella recoiled from their touch and exclaid.
"That's a false offer, you know? I'll definitely report you."
Her words elicited laughter from the acrobats.
She looked at them with a sowhat displeased expression.
"I'm already the Assistant Director of a Circus Troupe. I'll pass on being treated like a child."
She straightened her crumpled hat with plaster-covered arms and sighed.
The acrobats chuckled at her appearance.
The Golden Carnival, nicknad the Dream Team, had no shortage of experience and skill among its mbers.
However, due to the strictness and perfectionism of their director, Lord Fantastic, the atmosphere during rehearsals was tense.
They had temporarily co together for this Grand Prix, and with each mber being a renowned acrobat in their own right, a comfortable atmosphere was not easily ford.
Even Reyna, the youngest, had a cold and mature personality, and her presence only made the atmosphere chillier.
But Ella was different.
From the mont she entered, she greeted the seniors with a lively face and sprinkled jokes throughout the rehearsal to keep the heavy atmosphere at bay.
Most of the mbers of the Golden Carnival were in their thirties or older, so they welcod the appearance of a youthful presence like her.
So mbers initially expressed reluctance when she expressed her desire to participate in morning rehearsals.
However, even they couldn't help but admire her remarkable talent and passion.
Even now, there were still mbers who opposed her participation in rehearsals, but their reasons were different now.
They were worried that she might push herself too hard and get injured again.
"If injuries beco habitual, the lifespan of an acrobat shortens. Be careful."
"Are you worried about now?"
"About you. Even though it's temporary, you're one of us now."
Even Lord Fantastic, who would normally be stern, spoke gently to her.
Even Simon Maguire himself seed surprised at the change in his attitude.
Was practicing circus this enjoyable?
He seed to be unintentionally influenced by her positive energy.
Perhaps Reyna's invisible burden was also a factor.
"But who made this 'rolling five-person plate'?"
"I am that person."
Lord Fantastic snorted his mustache and spoke.
"Where did you co up with these acrobatics…."
"From 'The Dancing Top' by DeFord, right?"
At Ella's words, Simon smiled subtly.
Impressive.
"Your knowledge is truly astonishing."
"I read it in the textbook. It's about using centrifugal force during rotation to assist balance, right? Pretend, and it becos real! So, what are we doing for morning training now? More of the director's original acrobatics?"
"Hahaha, thinking about morning training already when we just finished breakfast? Let's start with the al first."
They headed to the dining hall.
Even the mbers who usually ate alone joined them.
Soon laughter erupted in the dining hall.
At the center of it all was Ella.
Every ti she spoke, smiles lit up the acrobats' faces.
Her talent and passion as a junior in the industry were impressive.
It was grateful when she pretended to know their nas, nicknas, and signature skills.
It was adorable when she reacted to the playful pranks of the mbers.
The mbers thought that such a joyful breakfast hadn't happened since the founding of the Golden Carnival.
Not even when they received stars.
So, even Director Lord Fantastic had the sa thought.
***
Regular contact ti that night.
I listened to Ella's excited chatter for over 30 minutes.
'And then… I even did 'Burning Wheel'! It's where three charioteers get into a huge wheel…!'
I checked the clock and confird it was ti for my appointnt with Gascon.
'Haha let's talk about that later. Anyway, I'm glad. I was worried you might be suffering. Was it fun?'
'Yeah! Of course! Where else can you practice with top-notch acrobats? Heh, just out of curiosity, you're not jealous, are you? Worried? What if I don't co back?'
I checked her status in the 'mber Managent' window.
There was still no change in her favorability level, still at 31.
'Not at all. Ella is still my Assistant Director.'
At my words, she suddenly stamred sothing like empty words and then giggled awkwardly.
'Um… what… what nonsense… Oh, no, it's just… a natural thing… Um… Hehe.'
'I think I should stop now. It's ti for Gascon to co in.'
'Already…? Um, I don't want that… You're not the one doing it… I thought I could rest while bandaging.'
Suddenly, she murmured with a strained voice.
It was an awkward smoke screen.
'Yeah, how much flying around did you do during the day for you to say that?'
'Um… Is that so? Um, soone's knocking on the door outside. Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Sa ti for contact?'
'Let's do that.'
I closed the chat window with Ella in the 'Sound Room' and waited for about 30 minutes.
Then I found Gascon Halidon in the mber list and initiated a conversation.
'ntor.'
…
'ntor?'
Sothing seed wrong, so I tried to check his status again, but a response ca from the other side.
The voice was of an old man.
'I can't hold back.'
I changed my tone to a more serious one and spoke.
'Master.'
'Yeah, my disciple.'
It felt strange to use casual language with soone I used to address formally until yesterday.
Still, since the person was an old man, I didn't feel uncomfortable using informal language.
'How did it go? How is Ella?'
Laughter was heard from the other side.
'Heh heh, my guess was right. Seems like this girl Ella has been pretending to take dicine all this ti. She acted quite well, but I could tell just by glancing at her complexion and breathing.'
'I was in her room.'
I forced a bitter smile.
'I was naïve to think that just because soone had a liking for , they would unquestioningly listen to .'
'…Is that so?'
'Hehehe, well, that's that for today. I administered the dicine by vapor inhalation. It might not be as effective, but it will definitely aid in the treatnt.'
'I see. Please take care.'
'Of course, disciple. That aside, how many pages have you covered in my bitter herbology prir…?'
'Huh? M-Master? My, my powers… is… fading…'
'Hey? Hey! Hey!'
I quickly hung up.
With Ella already missing, my workload had doubled.
And when would I have ti to morize herbs and trees?
What worried more was how to teach the new acrobatics to the mbers tomorrow.
Demonstrating it with the 'Skill Book' was one thing but teaching it to them was another problem altogether.
Acquiring skills through the Skill Book was a natural process for , but understanding the process of acquisition with my mind was not.
Avoiding Gascon's teachings might be for that reason.
If he tried to properly impart knowledge, my incompetence would soon be exposed.
In fact, I wasn't anything close to a genius.
Gascon's abilities were needed now for Ella.
I needed to make the most of his ti until she fully recovered.
Then, I heard a knocking on the door from outside.
The only person who would visit at this hour would be Yurakne.
Naturally, I was surprised when I opened the door.
Standing there was Reyna.
"What's the matter?"
I motioned for her to co in and sit on the couch.
"Master."
She hesitated for a mont before speaking.
"Do I have nothing else to do?"
"Sothing to do?"
"Yes. It's uncomfortable to just sit around even though I'm a guest."
I didn't imdiately understand why she was saying this.
She hadn't appeared in front of us since morning.
She had been absorbed in her own practice while having als in the room.
The impulsive Triplets cursed at her, but the other mbers didn't seem to mind.
It was the appropriate reaction since Ella was extraordinary.
I knew she was emotionally withdrawn, so I just left her alone.
But now she's asking for work?
Explore more adventures at empire
When I expressed my doubts, she stuttered out her words.
"Well… about the attitude I showed this morning… I'm afraid the mbers might misunderstand… I don't… I don't disdain them…"
Her expression remained cold.
But what ca out of her mouth was incredibly timid.
Looking at her tentatively opening up, I felt a sense of discomfort.
mories of the orphanage ca flooding back.
At the sa ti, I rembered her in TT1.
Despite appearing cold on the outside, there was a big child inside her.
Contrary to her outward appearance, seeming more mature for her age, her inner self was immature compared to her age.
Having her by my side for a few months, I had mistaken her.
She seed so mature for her age that I had assud Reyna, who seed even more mature for her age, was psychologically more mature than her.
We were like that in the orphanage.
Given strict etiquette training during the age when we should be mischievous and playing around.
We couldn't behave obediently to survive under the violence of the superintendent.
It wasn't because our personalities were mature.
Her behavior in the morning wasn't her true self; it was a childish mistake born out of emotional insecurity.
"Hehe, apologizing to the mbers, huh? Well…"
I smiled, rembering what she would do in TT3.
"Could you possibly lead them?"
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