With their general survey of the castle completed, Lucient and the apprentices made their move across the rooftops to scout out the capital streets. While the first day wasn't quite that packed, there were expected to be more Pokémon from the west coming in droves to attend. Getting a basic layout as to how busy the streets will be would help in completing the heist.
Felix peeked down for a moment and grinned when he saw the carnival games in the distance. "Hey, you think we can stop by over there and check out the stands? I'm itching for some fun."
Lucient narrowed his eyes. "We still have work to do before we meet back with Melissa."
"I know, but this is my first time at the carnival. I've only ever heard rumors about it, and it's been my dream to try out the games here." He snickered. "I've heard some operators rig the games to scam attendees. I can't deny dabbling in a bit of conning myself, but I do enjoy scamming the scammers."
Victoria grinned. "Ooh, maybe I can help! After all, being as supremely lucky as I am, I could totally beat those games without even trying."
Lucient rolled his eyes. "You two are expected to take this mission seriously. The fact this heist is still being permitted should be taken as an honor to showcase your skills."
Felix pouted. "You're quite the buzzkill, you know that?"
"I merely try to stick to the rules as best I can. If you want to play games so badly, I advise informing Melissa first so she at least knows you two aren't goofing off behind her back."
They sighed. "Alright…"
"Good." Lucient pulled out his notepad with his Psychic and went over their findings. "Alright, in preparation for the flood of attendees the next day, we need to get an analysis of the streets and where Pokémon are most likely to flock to. These areas would most likely be under heavy observation, especially since the royal family also attends the carnival."
Victoria crossed her arms. "So, we need to search them out and get a general idea of their routine before they head back to the castle?"
"And we make routine checks on when they're most likely to leave and return, as we established earlier. Melissa plans to steal the crown sometime by the end of the week. We can't steal the crown during the fireworks ceremony as King Visconti will be overseeing the event personally, thus he will have the crown on him. We'd have to strike either Friday or Saturday."
Felix nodded. "So, that gives us at least four days to smooth out the details." He waved it off. "Don't you worry about a thing, my dude. We've been training for this, and we're not going to let Master Melissa down."
Lucient nodded. "I have the utmost confidence in you both. Now then, where do you suppose we should start our investigation?"
"How about at the capital square?" The boys turned to Victoria, who was pointing in the square's direction. They could see some kind of light show going on despite it being the middle of the day. "That's the choke point between the main entrance and toward the castle, so that's where the crowds would be densest."
Lucient narrowed his eyes. "Good point, and there are plenty of streets to navigate through. Alright, we'll start there." The group ran and jumped across the rooftops toward the capital square.
Felix pulled a pamphlet from the knapsack strapped to his side and opened it. "Let's see, according to this, the entire square was rented out by a circus. The Cirque du Madness, they're called."
Lucient raised his brow. "Charming name."
Victoria gasped. "Ooooh! I've heard of them! They're a traveling circus that performs in high class areas. I heard they did shows in East Virdis, too!"
"East Virdis? Where would they even perform shows there?"
Felix shrugged. "Maybe the New Chariot Empire actually gets bored watching blood sports every day."
Victoria giggled. "They are the artists of elemental manipulation! They've honed their skills to near perfection and can pull off some of the most dazzling performances ever witnessed. There's even a rumor that the caravan is haunted."
"Haunted?" Lucient asked. "That sounds…unfounded."
She laughed. "I don't believe it either, but it's just the odd rumor here and there. Sometimes, a Pokémon will claim they're being haunted by an insidious laughter, even when they're all alone." She shrugged. "Buuuut, nothing ever really comes of it, so it's just a rumor."
Lucient glared. "Strange circus. I may have to see this for myself."
Once the cheering quieted down, Benvenuto hopped onto the newly formed stage and took a bow to the audience. Some performers walked onto the stage as well and bowed while stagehands behind the curtains occasionally peeked out to get a look at the audience's numbers.
"(We thank you all for allowing us to host our circus in your lovely capital. We fine performers from all over Virdis wish nothing more than to spread joy and entertainment to the good, hardworking people. There's no greater joy than this, wouldn't you say, my friends?)"
His fellow performers straightened up and waved to the crowd, inciting another round of cheering. Benvenuto waved to the performers, ordering them to retreat behind the curtains. He twirled his cane and walked to the edge of the stage.
"(Of course, how can we have all the fun when you all should experience some of the magic as well? Everyone deserves to dream, am I right?)" He jumped off the edge and soared over the audience's heads. Everyone was already raising their arms to catch him.
However, rather than fall, he stuck one foot out in front of himself and stopped. Defying the laws of expectation, he hovered above the crowd as if standing on the air itself. He even did a little dance to further befuddle the crowd.
"(Take note, Psychic-Types of the audience, and tell me if you sense any tricky in my levitation. Do you sense myself being held up by a psychic force? Am I'm being held up by strings? Has a ghost taken possession of me to defy gravity? Or has the air itself heeded my command? My species has a natural talent for such manipulation, but so much more can be done.)"
He hopped once on one foot. When he hopped again, he sprung high up into the air, clearing the height of the buildings surrounding him. He leaned back, arms tucked behind his head, and let himself freefall back toward the audience. Once more, everyone instinctively raised their hands to catch him, but the showman's descent slowed down at a certain point. With a snap of his fingers, he was thrown back up in the air again, landing perfectly on his invisible platform.
"(The air itself has become my ally, to which it can catch and throw me back up with a simple command.)" He extended his hand out to his side and clenched his fingers into the air. "(All of that and more, I say.)" He swiped the air and, to everyone's amazement, disappeared as if he was dust in the wind.
There was a shrill gasp from within the crowd, and all heads turned to see the showman bouncing back into the air while holding the hand of an Illumise. Benvenuto landed on the air again and gently set the firefly down as she caught her breath.
"(Test the grounds for yourself and see my command in action.)"
The Illumise, hesitant at first, lightly hopped on the invisible surface. To her amazement, it didn't feel like a glass floor or anything, but what she envisioned standing in a cloud would feel like. "(Oh my word, this is remarkable! The air is so flexible!)"
Benvenuto laughed. "(I have perfected the art of Air Walking, my dear. My species' control of air is far too rigid, but I have exceeded beyond such limitations and can command it in any shape I want! That is the power of the Cirque du Madness!)"
He waved his hand and produced a rose, which he tucked behind her antenna. The firefly giggled bashfully as Benvenuto snapped his fingers and made her disappear into the wind. The stunned gasps he heard below indicated she just reappeared back where he snatched her. He bounced away on his heels and floated down back onto the stage.
"(And that is only a portion of the talent we have for you tonight, ladies and gentlemen. Do not stare at me in awe, for I am merely your master of ceremonies! The real stars have yet to show their faces, and they are filled with talent that will dazzle your minds!)"
He tapped his cane down a couple times, lighting up torches lined across the edge of the stage, each releasing a different colored flame. The spectacle mesmerized the crowd, cheering on for him to get on with the show.
Benvenuto spun his cane before resting it upon his shoulder. "(The audience demands a show? Let's bring out our finest performers!)"
"(Presenting our first act of the day! Please give a hand for the Fierce Fuego Brothers!)"
It was the first performance, and yet the crowd already looked befuddled as two strange Sandslash stepped onto the stage. Rather than the usual grounded shrews, these brothers looked as if they were stuck in a snowstorm for weeks and their quills froze over.
Benvenuto's voice projected out to the crowd. "(To those with worldly knowledge, these chilling shrews are natives of the distant Alola region, having adapted to the colder climates of Mount Lanakila. As you can plainly see, they are the furthest thing from your fiery expectations, even being deathly vulnerable to flame itself. But rest assured, they have conquered the impossible and will demonstrate their mastery over fire!)"
The two brothers, dressed in orange and purple jackets respectively with the backs blown out for their quills, bowed to the crowd and walked to opposite ends of the stage. Benvenuto took his place near the curtains and leaned on his cane. He casted a sideways glance and winked to the Pokémon behind the curtains.
"Put on a good performance for your brothers, Iris."
Standing behind the curtains was another unusual Pokémon: a Marowak with a black body, pale skull with a dark spot, and a bone club lit at the ends with green flame. She, much like the shrews on stage, was a native to Alola. She wore a sleeveless green tunic and a pair of large, bulky pants with huge pockets.
She shuddered while taking a deep breath. "Give me a second. Need to psych myself up." She got a hold of her breathing before raising her head and peering ahead confidently. "I'm ready."
She spun her club, wrapping it in green flames, and tossed it out onto the stage. Right as she did, the two icy Sandslash started off by exhaling Mist into the center of the stage, blocking the audience's view of the flaming bone. The green flames emerged from the center of the mist before two fireballs split off, one for each brother.
The brothers caught the fireballs right as the Mist faded and proceeded to juggle them into five smaller fireballs. The audience was amazed that two Pokémon so vulnerable to flame were able to control it with such grace, or at least as far as they could see.
Iris was peeking out behind the curtains right as her bone flew under the curtains and back into her hand. She was waving her other hand, manually controlling the flames in such a manner that it would not cause substantial harm to the two icy shrews.
The brothers then started juggling the fireballs between each other, arcing them through the air and catching them to throw back. The longer they did it, the faster they got until the flaming streaks merged into each other, resembling a band of flames they were holding between each other.
The brothers ceased their juggling act and activated Gyro Ball, sucking up the band of flames into themselves and transforming into flaming tornados. The audience gasped as they began to move around the stage, leaving a trail of flames behind them.
Iris dug into her pockets and pulled out tiny bags sealed with a knot. She kept an eye on the performance before chucking the bags onto the stage precisely when the brothers were in a blind spot.
The bags exploded against them, releasing a colorful powder that changed the flames' color. She kept tossing more and more onto the stage until the brothers were completely engulfed in towering rainbow flames.
The brothers circled around the stage until they joined in the middle, mixing their flaming cyclones together. They spun to a stop and started sucking the flames into their mouths, much to the audience's horror. Even then, the brothers showed no discomfort even as the last ember was inhaled.
Iris strapped another set of powder bags to her bone and reared her arm back. "And now…!"
Right as she tossed the bone out from backstage, the brothers looked up to the sky and spat colorful fireballs into the air. Iris manually controlled the speed of her bone to strike the fireballs, triggering the powder loaded onto it. Blinding explosions painted the sky one after the other, dazzling the audience and distracting them from the foreign projectile in the sky.
Once the final firework went off, the brothers finished with a puff of smoke and bowed to the audience, who erupted into roaring cheers. They waved to the audience as they backed away behind the curtains, where Benvenuto took over as he clapped.
"(Simply wonderful! Magnificent! Give another hand for the Fierce Fuego Brothers, conquerors of the flame!)"
As Benvenuto hammed up the crowd, the two icy shrews dropped onto their knees and started gasping while holding their throats. "Water, water!" they yelled.
Iris immediately rushed over to them with canteens. "Here!"
They guzzled down the drinks and felt the heat inside their throats cool. They sighed and wiped their lips. "Much better~!"
The Alolan Sandslash in the orange jacket popped onto his feet and hooked his arm around Iris. "Nice work out there, sis! I think we're finally getting the performance down!"
The brother in the purple jacket stood up and nodded. "No accidental burns this time!"
Iris laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, sorry about that, Gasparo."
"Eh, no harm done. Right, Jasper?"
"Indeed!" Jasper grinned and poked Iris in the cheek. "But come on, we'd have loads more fun if you performed on stage with us, too. There's only so much you can do back here."
Iris shook her head. "Nah, I'm good, hehe. I'm just your pyrotechnician, nothing special."
"You kidding? We wouldn't have an amazing act without you!"
"Heh, I guess. Still, I prefer standing back here than on stage."
The brothers groaned. "Fine…"
"But hey, how about I show you some modifications I made for your act tomorrow?"
They grinned. "Sweet!" They high-fived each other and ran ahead.
Iris laughed. "Those two idiots." She settled her bone on her shoulder and followed behind them. She threw some black powder over herself, creating little sparks off her skin. Besides, I prefer the secrecy, just like the boss. How can I appreciate my art if I'm in the center of it?
"(What good performance doesn't have a little something for the eyes? Be wary of where those eyes are, gentlemen!)" Benvenuto gestured to the curtains. "(The Siren of Winter, Junko Yukimura!)"
All eyes were set on the stage curtains, expecting someone to step out. Instead, their attention was drawn to the stage itself as a chilling air brewed in the center. It started out small, a little puff of mist rising up and swaying like an Arbok. It was slow, yet graceful, almost as if it was dancing in place.
The chilling air extended across the stage and poured over the edge. A chill ran up the spines of the front row as the mist slithered across their legs. The light dimmed in the atmosphere, leading most to realize that gray clouds had rolled in without their notice.
Benvenuto grinned at their awed expressions. "(Born in the Great Gate Empire, our dear Junko always enjoyed putting on a show for others. She became a valued member of the crew when first picked up. Keep your wits about you. You wouldn't want to be drawn in too deep into her performance. You may just freeze from the shock.)"
That's when they heard it. A wordless sound projecting out from the stage, its tone touching the ears of all in attendance. It was as chilling as the air, giving those in close proximity goosebumps with its haunting tune, yet it was so captivating that they had to keep watching. Those closest to the stage were leaning in without realizing.
From the mist, a figure rose up, still shrouded in its icy embrace. The only distinct shape most could identify was a head and arms. The most eye-catching detail were two eyes, each glowing in a piercing blue. The source of the melody came from the specter of mist.
The two hands cupped in front of her face, and she blew a mist out over the crowd. All eyes turned up to the sound of crackling within the mist. Ice sculptures of birds took shape, flapping their wings and flying about. They hardly made a sound after being formed, or perhaps what little sound they did produce was drowned out by the enchantress' song.
The misty specter floated over the audience, dancing about with elegant sways. Sparkles of snow fell from the icy trail left in her way. She waved her arms about, creating more sculptures of birds, balloons, stars, and all. She let her hands dangled enough for Pokémon to reach up and be grazed by her cold touch. Those who were lucky to feel her touch found their hands coated in a thin layer of frost.
The misty phantom soon found her way toward one particular Jellicent and Gourgeist. She flew down to Massimo's level and gently stroked his mustache, leaving little bits of ice to form over. Massimo immediately became flustered and turned his gaze down, all while some men nearby looked noticeably jealous.
The misty phantom laughed mischievously and floated away. While some of the audience called to her, Massimo turned to his wife and whispered, "I-I wasn't enjoying it, I swear!"
Corrina chuckled. "I know, dear. Relax." She patted his tentacle as he kept muttering apologies.
Once she made a few more rounds through the audience, the siren found her way back to the stage and, with a flick of her wrists, commanded all her sculptures to explode into particles. She waved her hands across her misty form and parted it, revealing herself as a Froslass wearing a white dress with blue diamonds sewn into the front.
She bowed to the crowd. "[Try not to miss me too much, darlings.]" She blew a kiss to them before turning away. Even though almost no one understood what she said, an uproar of applause was sounded in her honor, some louder than others.
Benvenuto tilted his head to Junko as she passed behind the curtains. "[You really know how to leave them wanting more,]" he praised in her tongue.
She turned and smirked at him. "[I am an expert, naturally.]" She reached inside her dress and revealed a few pilfered bags of coins. "[Some people are just too easy to manipulate.]"
Benvenuto chuckled. "[I'm almost afraid to see what you have planned for tomorrow's show. Speaking of…]"
She nodded. "[King and Queen Visconti are in attendance. The rumors were true. The good king stands out in a crowd.]"
Benvenuto closed his eyes and grinned. "[Good. Make sure to keep an eye out for them tomorrow while I'm working.]" She nodded and vanished behind the curtains.
"(For our next performance, allow me to introduce to your our electro-meister! Ansaldo Serpico and the Magneto Crew!)"
The curtains parted, and the crowd was treated to a visual spectacle of yellow sparks exploding into the air like fireworks. Parting through the lightshow was a Heliolisk riding in the air on two Magnemite. A total of six Magnemite and one Magneton accompanied the lizard, generating sparks that colored the air.
The Heliolisk, Ansaldo, wore a black hat with a wide and firm brim. Lightning-shaped trinkets were attached to the brim and dangled around his head. He wore a jacket where the right half was red and the left was blue, complete with a Heliolisk-shaped emblem on the back. He wore a pair of long pants matching the colors of his jacket.
He laughed and waved to the ground. "(Yes, yes! Look upon me with admiration! The real star of the show is here! Let those cheers roar!)" He held his hand to his ear and listened as the audience gave him exactly as he asked for.
Benvenuto's voice projected once more. "(Ansaldo Serpico, a talented magician in his own right. He and his team of Magnemite are completely in sync with each other, combining their individual abilities to surpass the Electric-Type itself!)
Ansaldo rolled up his sleeves and laughed. "(Big Boss, time to light up this scene!)"
The Magneton nodded, responding in a series of beeps and static. The Magnemite beeped in agreement and took their places.
"(Make some noise, people! Let the light shine!)"
Ansaldo hopped into the air, extending his frills, and released a tremendous downpour of electricity onto the stage. As soon as it touched down, the audience gasped as the atmosphere became tinted in a yellow glow. Fur stood on end, and those further in the back could feel the electric jolt running through them.
"(Formation, Magneto Crew!)" Ansaldo twirled his fingers, generating electricity through them, and flung two balls of electricity upward.
Two Magnemite raced after the electricity and caught it in their magnets. They began to spin, wrapping the electricity around themselves, and extended it into a tether between each other. Two other Magnemite rose to their level and spun, taking on the electrical tether until they formed a perfect square.
Ansaldo snapped his fingers, commanding his crew to fire bolts of lightning down on the stage. The audience screamed at first, but then looked on in awe as the entire caravan connected to the stage rumbled. Ansaldo raised his hand, and the stage rose up.
"(I shine so bright, I am the sun itself! I am the star of Virdis!)"
Ansaldo released more electricity into his crew before jumping onto Big Boss. All six Magnemite started spinning and circled around the levitating stage in three pairs. An electrical coil formed between them, taking the shape of three electrical rings.
"(Shine, Magneto Crew! Show them your luster!)"
The light of the electrical rings shined brighter and brighter as the energy contained in their shape blazed out. Members of the audience had to look away from the blinding display. It resembled depictions of other planets that bared rings around their terrestrial bodies.
"(You will be dazzled by our beauty! We are the light of Virdis! We are the stars of Virdis! Worship our brilliant luster!)"
Ansaldo continued pouring in electricity to his crew. The electrical rings broke apart, and the Magnemite came flying in like miniature planetoids. Their spinning bodies were coated entirely in electricity and looked like balls of light with disc-shaped rings. They flew around the stage as it slowly descended back onto to the ground.
Ansaldo took his hat off and laughed. "(Be amazed! Be stunned! Worship our stars!)"
With a snap of his fingers, the Magnemite finished the performance with a blinding burst of light. It scattered across the air, the sparks breaking apart to resemble yellow stardust. It rained down upon Ansaldo and his crew, basking in its tingling glow, as did the rest of the audience. Some even held their hands out to catch the stardust, only for it to fade on contact.
Ansaldo and his crew landed on the edge of the stage, bowing to the audience. "(Be sure to come back tomorrow, for that was just my opening act!)"
The audience erupted in cheers, applauding his performance. It made the lizard swell with pride as he waved back to them, blowing kisses to everyone in sight. His crew danced around his head, their static and beeps relaying their joy.
"(Worship the stars, good people! Worship their beautiful luster!)" Ansaldo exclaimed. "(We shall shower you in the wondrous world of the cosmos!)"
"(Let's keep this party rolling, my friends!)" Benvenuto exclaimed, spinning his cane as he marched across the stage. "(Have you ever asked your friends or family who is the world's strongest? Well, we may have that answer for you today! Presenting the strongman of the circus: Paride Scordato!)"
He stepped aside as the curtains drew back. A Quagsire walked out onto the stage dressed in a green, baggy, one-piece costume with a puffy white collar and buttons running down the middle. He wore white makeup with blue shading around his eyes and symbols painted on his cheeks: the number four on his right and a club on his left.
Benvenuto gestured to the Quagsire. "(What do you think, folks? Is this the picture of strength? Let's find out!)" He put his fingers to his lips and whistled.
A Golem came out from backstage and clapped his hands together. Upon opening and lifting them above his head, he conjured a boulder that doubled in size by the second. Once it was of adequate size, he tossed it toward the strongman.
Paride dusted his shoulders proudly before raising his arms. The rock landed in his hands and, after briefly trembling from the new weight, raised it high up with no strain. The crowd awed at his impressive feat of endurance.
Benvenuto laughed. "(You're impressed by that? Paride is not to be underestimated!)"
Paride smirked. "(Give me more! I can take it!)"
The Golem obliged, conjuring another boulder and tossing it onto the one Paride was already holding. He trembled again, yet he continued to hold their combined weight with no difficulty. The Golem threw another, and another, and another, and another, yet there was no end to the Quagsire's strength.
They reached about ten boulders high, all beginning to sway from the unsteady stacking, but it mattered not to Paride as he continued to grin and hold up the boulders with no strain in his face. He even decided to get a little cocky and lifted them up with the might of one arm only, much to the audience's shock.
Benvenuto laughed, tapping Paride's back with his cane. "(He is a man without pain or fear! The strength of Regigigas himself! I dare say there's no one quite like our Paride! Oh, but he can lift so much more than just rocks! Keep coming to our shows, and you'll get to see more of his greatness!)"
Paride sucked in a breath, taking the boulders in both hands again, and tossed them straight up. The audience gasped at first, but then he conjured several Focus Blasts and tossed them into the air as well. Each energy blast pulverized a boulder to dust and rained their remains down upon the stage, to which he bowed to the audience.
"(Come back tomorrow, and we'll even take requests! Ask, and I shall lift the combine weight of these caravans! There is no limit to my muscle!)" Paride flexed his muscles to the crowd, earning him another round of cheers.
Benvenuto bowed to the crowd. "(Another hurrah for Paride, ladies and gentlemen, but there are plenty more acts to get through! Today and for the rest of the week! The Cirque du Madness and its brand of entertainment is everlasting!)"
Itzal peeked out through the curtains of his caravan, allowing him the perfect view of the audience. He could see and hear it all: their cheers, their admiration, the glorious smiles, and the swelling of joy in the air. His stage was the center of attention, the star of the event, and one that would surely captivate the minds all in attendance for the rest of their lives.
He smirked to himself. "Absolutely fantastic." He closed the curtains, returning the room to its darkness, and floated back to his throne. He waved his hand over his scepter, letting the scarlet flame flicker within the glass orb. "It truly is an honor to bring those rubes real entertainment."
"You truly are something, Abasolo."
Itzal smirked over his shoulder. "You think so?"
In the corner of his room was his additional guest, the one assigned to his mission. Chihiro Fujimori, member of the Last Autumn Council. The Leavanny assassin hung from the ceiling by a web coiled snugly around his leg. He was dressed in a red vest with golden trim and red pants, highlighted under the glow of the room.
"Oh, I do mean it." Chihiro flipped himself around and touched the floor. "It's hard to deny, being the fifth most wanted man in Virdis. You have quite the bold history, yet you parade yourself to the common man every day with these loud, boisterous shows. Quite the risky business."
Itzal leaned back into his throne and chuckled. "You are a fellow artist in death, my good man. Surely, you understand that we put ourselves at risk in the name of our art."
"Don't mistaken my words. I approve of it." Chihiro walked to the curtains and peeked out at the audience. "A lovely gathering, too. You've worked up quite the following, both in audience and crew. A man such as yourself would be hard-pressed to find such loyalty. The Scarlet Flame isn't exactly a religion looked upon fondly."
Itzal grinned behind his hand. "I didn't pick my crew at random. They either follow in my ideals or proved to be completely loyal to me regardless of my practices."
"Still, running a circus isn't a subtle business. How do you go about satisfying your ritual if it draws too much attention? For that matter, why a circus? Why do you go for these bold risks?"
Itzal closed his eyes, taking a moment to think. "I don't talk much about my reasoning. Perhaps I'm just attracted to the color."
Chihiro grinned. "I feel the same with the color of blood. It's such an enriching color, and a diverse taste depending on the target. Be it man, woman, or a certain species, that is. But my profession is strictly in shadows and deceit. You? It's all noise and lights."
The large Gourgeist grinned. "If you want the short answer, I just love to bring joy."
"Even in darkness, you are a jester." Chihiro sat on the floor, cupping his blade-like hands under his chin like a child. "Do tell more."
Itzal straightened up and spun his scepter in his hand. "I won't bore you with the details, but I was a miserable child. I actually grew up in the Great Ruins with my mother. She never did explain me what was so important about those ruins, but she demanded we stay to preserve our history. She believed we were brought into this world to do good, and she always told me doing good would bring us closer to eternal paradise. We Ghost-Types have a connection with the afterlife, and sometimes we believe we will disappear in the world's life force to become one with it, but only if we are good and just." He laughed coldly. "What rubbish, she taught me.
"Let me tell you what I actually learned living in the ruins. Life is unfair, and life is full of regrets. I was never happy with my life in those ruins. What was the point? Protecting a dead history because my ancestors didn't have the backbone to save their skins? Preserving a wasteland devoid of life? Do you know how rare it is to find plants growing in the ruins? We have to add nutrients back into the ground if we want any hope of harvesting a meal. But every time I suggested anything callous, my mother said the same thing: we must always do good if we wish to see the eternal paradise. It was rubbish. Absolute rubbish."
A grin stretched over his face. "There was one good I came across in those ruins, and it changed my life forever. Contrary to popular belief, some texts of the old kingdom did survive the pyres of war. I occasionally ventured beyond my home to search these grounds, and one day secured results: a forgotten tome nestled away in the back corner of the library."
Chihiro grinned. "A tome regarding the Scarlet Flame, I presume?"
"Who do you think introduced the concept to the modern day? I am one of the few that can read the ancient language, and I discovered some fascinating things about it. For all of the peace in the Great Kingdom, there were those who rebelled against it. These minor rebellions were squashed, but many resisted to preach what they believed to be true living. This is where the Scarlet Flame truly shines."
Itzal floated out of his throne and toward the windows. He pressed his hand to the curtains and sighed. "We take happiness for granted, and we never truly understand joy until we've lost it. I was never happy in those ruins, but I found an outlet that gave me strength. The Scarlet Flame taught me to pursue happiness by any means necessary, and to spread the word of happiness by means of embrace into the pyre. Imagine experiencing the greatest joy in your life, then experiencing true agony before death? All in a single moment, too. To understand happiness, you must be at the height of euphoria before it's taken away in an instant. To die a happy man."
Chihiro bent his head back to look at the ringmaster. "Hence the ritual?"
"They're done on smaller scales, and some just use it as an excuse to kill. They are not true believers. Terrowin told me about the Dukes. Wicked Winds Ainsley was a supposed believer, but she was just a born killer. She didn't care about anyone's happiness but hers alone. But my crew understands what it means to bring true happiness. Do you know what my dream is? Why I put on this circus?"
"You have my attention."
Itzal pulled open the curtains again, gesturing to the roaring audience. "My dream is to create a ritual that will engulf a city like this in its beautiful flames at the peak of its denizens' joy. Imagine the scarlet glow engulfing everything in an instant, just after experiencing true, true happiness! Everyone can die without fear, to live their final moments in pure bliss! To die a wonderful death!"
Chihiro stood up and clapped for him. "Simply divine. You are indeed a true believer. The progenitors of the Scarlet Flame would see you as such." He tucked his arms behind his waist. "Still, it is only a dream. Terrowin made his orders clear: we are here to continue expanding the Heir System. We only have the Wick brat and Lady Amano, and Terrowin doesn't want them to be his only choices."
Itzal sighed and closed the curtains once more. "A dream that I must put to rest." He scoffed. "The old fool is wasting his breath if he thinks he can make Virdis anew." He snickered to himself. "Perhaps I should kill him. A good kick to the stomach would turn him to dust, anyway."
Chihiro smirked. "Best to keep those thoughts to yourself. I was a young man when I first knew Terrowin. Don't let his age fool you. Still, for all that contempt, you heed his call?"
Itzal shrugged. "Best to be on the winning side, right? All that matters is my circus."
"The world Terrowin envisions contradicts what you desire."
He smirked. "He won't be around long enough to notice. I already know what he plans to do once he selects an heir. I'm prepared for the aftermath, and I will carry out my business after he rots and returns to the earth where he belongs. And besides, as it stands, I don't give a shit for the bratty prince or the emperor's spoiled granddaughter. Anyone else would just be another stone for me to step on."
Chihiro sighed contently and shrugged. "You are as cruel as they say. Speaking of, how will we go about selecting our heir?"
Itzal grinned. "I'm having Benvenuto work on it. He's already contacted the candidate, and they'll be meeting up tomorrow to discuss the details."
"And what if the candidate refuses?"
"We can't afford to waste time, so…" Itzal snickered to himself. "Let's just say they won't have a choice if they take too long or outright refuse."
Chihiro laughed. "Remarkably devious. You are truly deserving of your infamy." He bowed to the ringmaster. "And I look forward to serving you."
Itzal looked at his scepter, waving his hand over the orb to stoke the flame inside. "All I'm looking forward to is enjoying the carnival. I want nothing more than to make it the greatest experience praised by the history books and remind everyone of true happiness."
Up on the rooftops, Lucient and the apprentices took in the series of performances by the circus with increasing interest, more so for the apprentices. They couldn't take their eyes off any of them, simply entranced by the diverse spectacles taking place.
"Wow, they're so coooool!" Victoria exclaimed. "I went into the wrong business! I should've become a performer instead of a knight!"
Felix, who was laying on his stomach, rested in chin inside his folded forelegs. "Which one's been your favorite? I'm quite partial to that Heliolisk. Bit of a showboat, but I can't say I don't relate. He knows how to put on a performance."
Victoria grinned. "Those weird looking icicle guys were pretty good! I can't believe they can breathe fire! That's so crazy!"
Felix glanced at Lucient. "How about you? Got a favorite?"
Lucient shook his head. "I've been more entertained by the theatre than circuses, I must admit. I suppose the performances were masterfully executed, but I have no favorite to speak of."
The Sylveon shrugged. "Eh, whatever." He smirked. "Hey Tori, you think we could put on a performance like that?"
She nodded. "Oh, absolutely! I can see it now! My spectacle, your tricks! Our combined talents will leave the audience dead!"
I hope she means that metaphorically. Lucient looked down at the circus again and narrowed his eyes. "It's all very interesting, though I think we've gathered all we could from here. I imagine this wouldn't make a good escape route if the streets are this packed with people. Best to make note of that before our investigation tomorrow."
The apprentices stood up and saluted. "Got it, boss!"
"Let's return to our posts near the castle and take note if any of the royal family has returned."
"Sure thing!" The apprentices sprung off, skipping across the rooftops.
Lucient stood up and prepared to join them, but lingered behind to stare at the circus one last time. While his lack of investment wasn't a total lie, his attention was more so drawn to a…buzzing. A buzzing like a nagging thought in the back of one's head, one that feels so irrelevant that it's not worth remembering, yet you can't help but feel annoyed by the significance.
Perhaps he had just been working too long, or the loud noises from constant explosions and fireworks have rattled his ears. Maybe he was secretly terrified by circuses and didn't fully understand why. It was just some uncanny feeling as he stared at the circus.
"Sometimes, a Pokémon will claim they're being haunted by an insidious laughter, even when they're all alone."
A haunted circus? Lucient shook off the thought and followed after the apprentices. Best not to dwell on superstition.