Chapter 3-3: The Kindly Bell Ringer
Just then, a clown appears on the stage and announces, "Your attention, please! It's time to put down your work, leave your worries at the door, and celebrate… Topsy-Turvy Fest!"
That catches everyone's attention, including the Night Raven group.
"Topsy-Turvy? What, we all gonna stand on our heads or somethin'?" Grim asks.
"The idea is that the participants' social standings are inverted-hence festival goers need not worry about titles or status. The weak become the strong, and everyone can play the part of a king," Rollo explains.
"So you could call it an unceremonious ceremony," Malleus replies.
"Indeed. As such, everyone wears masks for the duration of the festival," Rollo answers.
"Sensible enough," Azul replies, "That way no one will recognize you, and you can conduct yourself however you please."
"Oh yeah, I did notice people selling masks around town. There's something cool about seeing everyone looking all mysterious like that," Idia says.
That makes Grim surprised, "Mrah! Partyin' sounds like a good time to me!"
Rollo remains silent in response.
Soon, the clown on stage announces, "We all love Topsy-Turvy Fest. But the one who loved it most of all was...the Kindly Bell Ringer!"
"Who's that?" Grim asks.
"Have you truly never heard of him?" Malleus questions.
"Nope!" Grm answers.
Azul asks, "Grim, did you not even read a LITTLE about Fleur City before coming?"
"If it ain't food, I ain't interested," Grim says.
Briar and Sereia groan and comment, "You really don't think of anything besides food."
"You know, your one-track mind is oddly reassuring," Idia replies.
Soon, the clown continues, "What's this? Have you never heard of the Kindly Bell Ringer?"
And then he holds a little clown puppet.
The puppet says, "Never!
"Reeeally?" The clown asks.
"Really!" The puppet answers.
"That guy's talkin' to a hand puppet… Is he okay?" Grim replies, confused.
"Why are you concerned? The puppet is clearly meant to evoke a ventriloquist's dummy," Rollo says.
"Ventri-what now?" Grim questions.
"Ventriloquist," Briar says.
"The clown behind the puppet is basically dubbing over it—uh, I mean, he's talking without moving his mouth, so it looks like the puppet is talking,' Idia replies.
"So... He's talkin' to himself? Why would anyone do that?" Grim asks.
"It's part of the performance. By moving his lips, he throws his voice to the puppet, making it like the puppet can talk as well. I had a classmate who did ventriloquism for a performance he did in a talent show when I was in middle school," Briar says.
"You are correct, Ms. Hawthorne," Trein says, "Now quiet down and watch."
"Since you don't know, then I will tell you the tale of the Kindly Bell Ringer…" The clown says.