Chapter 195 - The Play (Final)

Linfeng drank a couple of sips from his water bottle. His throat was a bit dry. The story was not yet ending yet he wanted to leave and have a breath of fresh air. It's not because it wasn't good. It was just..making his heart pained.

The narrator sounded again.

[The Nhez Kingdom rule over the Gniox Kingdom. They pillaged the palaces and noble houses, r.a.p.ed women, took the citizens as their slaves, and kill all the people who were trying to fight back. The Gniox Kingdom became a hellish place. King Ethan's body was nailed on the gate of the palace. His head was hanged like a display for the spoils of war. The heads of the other nobles and officials were hanged as well. Lining up beside the former king.]

The scene on the stage was changing like how the narrator described it. It was the cruelty of the losing sides after the war.

[They also found Princess Ariana's body. They defiled and dismembered her body until they burned it with the rest of the nobles who had fought. The former peace of the Gniox Kingdom was nowhere to bee seen. But the cries of the citizens and their curses got louder and louder. Until few years had passed.]

Many scenes were played on the stage. King UL gathered his forces to once again fought to Nhez Kingdom. The revengeful citizens of the Gniox Kingdom who got their everything taken away from them gathered too and rebelled. Finally. the last rebellion cooperated with the UL kingdom to destroy the Nhez kingdom.

The King of UL personally lead the war together with the leader of the rebellion. The leader of the rebellion was Song Xuantin who was playing as the young former noble who got her family destroyed by the Nhez soldiers.

[The war lasted for two years. Finally, with a great tactic of Sir Robert, the leader of the rebellion and the wise leading of the king of UL, the Nhez were defeated. Making the kingdom of UL the only kingdom standing on the continent.]

The scene changed and it was the king of UL. Below him was Song Xuantin playing as Sir Robert, who was kneeling on the ground.

"Thank you, my king, with your help, we managed to defeat the Nhez Kingdom. We, the citizen's of the former Gniox Kingdom were all grateful to our King."

"Robert, your strategy helps me a lot to win. Once the kingdom recovered we will need to build new rules for the kingdom. We are not only one kingdom but we are one body with three different kingdoms. I am afraid that the uprising rebellion would tire us out." King UL was worried. The kingdom of UL suffered a great casualty in this war. They need time to recover. But they need to move fast and put a tab on those lost citizens.

"We will help you with all we can, my king."

"Robert, I plan to reform all three kingdoms. We don't need more war. I want us to become untied in one's mind and heart. I want everyone to call it their home. With no distinction of which kingdom the other comes from. The citizens of the Nhez kingdom are innocent. It would be problematic if they got implicated by the grievance and hate of the Gniox kingdoms and the UL kingdom towards the Nhezians. "

Sir Robert was shocked as he looked up to the King of UL.

"Starting today, there will be no ULians, Gnioxians, or Nhezians. We are one. One Empire."

[That day, a decree came to all over the three kingdoms. A newly reformed kingdom was built. The three kingdoms did not exist anymore. It was now called the Song Empire. The continent was named as the Song continent. It had stayed on the map after a hundred generations.]

After the scenes on the stages were played, the lights turned dark.

The narrator spoke again.

[ A war came in different ways. There are different ways to win a war as well. Deception, Betrayal, Anger, Hate, and Madness, these were all the emotions that played a lot of role in one person's mind. Who wins? Who lost?

[It was said that 'sometimes we need to lose a small battle to win a war'. But what is small? What is big? What we consider a small battle is actually a battle that will decide all the battles that would come after. Every small speck of life has a very essential meaning. A butterfly effect...]

There was a butterfly on the stage. It was only a graphic effect, but the audience felt it was real, it was shining brightly against the dark.

[..such as a blossom of love, a small speck of trust, a small doubt, a small apprehension, or even small dreams..]

As the narrator said each words, another butterfly would appear. Flying over the stage and to the audience. They were so entrancing in this dark theatre.

[...can cause such great storm.]

There were hundreds of small butterflies in the theatre. Making the audience felt they entered a fairy world.

[How about you? How will you flap your wings to bring a storm in your own life? Whether it was good storm or not, it depends on the direction you were flying to.]

The butterflies surrounded the whole stage. Another music piece was played. It was soothing, a bit sorrowful but peaceful.

The lights in the stage opened brightly.

All the cast were standing hand to hand. Then they bowed.

Deafening silence met them.

The audience was dumbfounded. The after-effects of the play were still lingering in their minds and hearts. It was truly wonderful to the point they become speechless. 

Linfeng stoop up and clapped. Master Lu followed and clapped loudly as well. He was so proud even he had puffy eyes.

The audience got woke up from their daze and stood up as well. They clapped too. This play was a masterpiece.

(a/n: thank you..*bow)

Some audience still has puffy eyes.

Their clapps echoed throughout the theatre.

****

'Conquer' had a huge success and positive feedback from its audience. Some even donated money to the production even though it wasn't needed. But the audience felt that it was necessary to bring money. Song Xuantin, the leader of the production accepted it with a grin. Xiong Zhi supported her so the other two had no choice but to let their do what they want.

A lot of people wanted to take pictures with the cast. But only VIPs were allowed. The families, representatives, the class, the professor, the admins and some big officials had been given a chance to take a photo with the characters. Prince Ethan and Princess Ariana was sought after. There was a lot who like King UL. Some were sticking to Song Xuantin and a lot took a picture as well with Ser Francis.

It was even busier after the play. Finally, after two hours of wrapping up. The cast could finally celebrate. It was already twelve am but the cast felt it doesn't matter what time at all.

Master Lu was about to give them a reservation in one of his hotels from the Lu Empire when Song Xuantin declined. They would be going to use the money that had donated to them.

So the group including the cast, extras, the helpers, and the families-slash-representatives rent a barbecue restaurant that was opened at that time.

Another two hours for a round of praise and eating together.

The group spent two hours chatting and laughing. The cast had been closer because of the play. They spent their time in harmony.

It was already 2 am when the group was leaving one by one.

"Guys! We are a huge success today! The professor told me that we are the best play so far! We are going to ace it!" Song Xuantin had already shouted this at them so many times. But she doesn't get tired to boast.

"Yeah. We did great. My grandfather even planning to enroll in me in acting class. He wanted to see me in Hollywood. " Lu Yin Ze shook his head. He was just immersed in his role earlier since everyone was acting really well.

Xiong Zhi looked at him. She was in business mode.

"If you are planning to enter the entertainment industry, I will help you. But in return, we will get 30-70 from all your projects. "

Lu Yin Ze and Linfeng looked askance at Xiong Zhi.

Lu Yin Ze then shook his head.

"I don't have plans to enter entertainment. I am still focusing on our business. Now that the play is finished, I can concentrate on studying the business."

"Well, your grandfather is right! You have a talent in acting. If you want to just blow off some steam from time to time then you can join us a bit in entertainment." Song Xuantin barged in their discussion.

"Are you entering entertainment, Xuantin?" Lu Yin Ze asked.

Song Xuantin nodded.

"Yeah. It's a family business. But I realized in this play that I like directing more. So I'm probably gonna take that path." The three looked at her, stunned. Then they surrounded her and patted her shoulder and back.

"Good job." -Lu Yin Ze

"Xuantin grew up." -Xiong Zhi

"You can think that far? "- Gu Zhen.

"W-wha?! What do you think of me?! Not thinking about my future?!" Song Xuantin asked them.

The three nodded.

"..." That's not true. Song Xuantin wanted to say these words.

"Alright. Juniors, you have done a great job today. It's already past two. Take a rest. You all have worked hard." Linfeng had praised them earlier. And since he was the oldest here, he reminded them to go home.

The three then went to their own car. This play made them younger at heart, mature in mind, and made them think of what path they would take for their own future.

As said in the play, a flap of wings could cause a storm. But it depends on how you flapped it, in which direction, and what storm you would like to bring.

******