The Ikerite Opera House, serving as the multifunctional performing arts center of the Hutton Kingdom's royal capital, was one of the most famous and iconic landmarks on the Southern Continent.
Situated near Ikerite's moat and the Yarra Riverport Bridge, it had been designed a century earlier by the artisan Jera. Featuring a series of starry, ribbon-like roof structures resembling the sails of a ship, it rested upon a massive blue granite base, looking as though it were poised to set sail across the starlit sky.
This afternoon, the Ikerite Municipal Symphony Orchestra was holding a grand performance here.
[It's almost three o'clock, the time agreed upon with the Paladin Commander. The Ice Snow Witch has also tried contacting you several times. The current piece is drawing to a close. Don't move just yet. Once the next piece begins and Juliana gets absorbed in the music, slip away without drawing her attention. Give a discreet gesture that you're stepping out for a moment, then leave immediately and head to the agreed meeting place at Goddess of Fate Square.]
On the grand stage, the symphonic concert captivated the audience's ears with its unique enchantment.
Gorgeous lights scattered down like stars, illuminating the entire musical hall and decking it out like a dreamy cosmos.
Meanwhile, sitting in the auditorium seats, Loren heard the prompts of the Love Drillmaster in his ear.
He gave a faint nod.
[This opera house is not just an iconic sightseeing spot, but also a bustling performing arts venue housing multiple performance spaces, including an opera hall, concert hall, theater, and multipurpose hall, hosting a variety of shows ranging from opera and concerts to plays and dance. Make sure you follow the route I gave you. Without violating the city's public security regulations on magic usage, you can reach your destination in about two minutes at top speed.]
The Love Drillmaster continued.
Loren couldn't help feeling that if he were a girl, he might fall for someone like the Love Drillmaster.
He was simply so reassuring.
He even handled the navigation from start to finish.
Clang!
As the final note gently drifted away in the air, a brief hush fell over the concert hall before thunderous applause swept through the entire opera house like a rising tide.
Loren knew the time the Drillmaster had mentioned was fast approaching.
Soon, on the stage directly ahead, the orchestra members took their seats. From violinists to cellists, flutists to horn players, every musician focused intently, waiting for the conductor's cue.
An elderly gentleman in a formal black tailcoat stood at the center of the stage, his silhouette elongated by the stage lights. His arms rose and fell with the cadence of the music, guiding the flow and dynamics of the new piece.
The music gradually unfurled. The melodious violin notes were like the first rays of sunlight piercing through morning mist—gentle and bright. Then, the brass joined in, painting the soundscape with a magnificent grandeur. Woodwinds blew like a fresh breeze rustling through trees, gentle yet lively, while cellos and double basses provided a deep, expansive foundation like the ocean abyss. The melody woven by the entire orchestra transformed into surging waves, rolling toward the audience wave after wave.
Enraptured by this musical feast, many audience members closed their eyes to listen or gazed intently at the performers on stage.
"Juliana, excuse me, I need to use the restroom," Loren leaned over slightly and whispered apologetically to his companion.
A flicker of unease showed in his eyes, as though he was worried about disrupting this brief, tranquil moment.
Upon hearing this, Juliana smiled and gave a gentle nod.
With that, Loren stood up quietly and carefully made his way past the seats, taking care not to disturb the other spectators.
Leaving the concert hall, he hurried through the corridors of the opera house, looking somewhat pressed for time yet remaining polite.
As he passed through a set of double doors, his figure vanished like a phantom.
When Loren reappeared in the city, he was already on the paved stone path of the riverside park, on the other side of the bridge near the opera house.
[You can disappear for about twenty minutes. Any longer and Juliana might start to feel uneasy. As for Paladin Commander Florence and the Ice Snow Witch Almis, I suggest allocating around ten minutes to each of them. I'll remind you when time is almost up.]
As Loren hurried toward his destination, he listened to the voice of the Love Drillmaster.
"Understood. Thanks for your help, Drillmaster."
Now that he had stepped away from Juliana, he could speak freely with the Love Drillmaster through the magic engineering earpiece.
Though he felt a twinge of guilt, if the Love Drillmaster said it was fine, then it ought to be fine.
At least he wasn't dating three girls at once.
The Paladin Commander was a man, and the Ice Snow Witch was a colleague.
[Don't worry at all. This is an excellent time management skill. Only by mastering it can you strike a better balance between work and life while keeping as many people around you satisfied as possible. And you very much need to learn and master it.]
"I understand."
Loren made his way through the wooded paths of a square's park.
This was an area Loren frequently passed while working for the Church of the Goddess of Fate. From here on, even without the Love Drillmaster's help, he knew the fastest route.
His view opened up once more.
At the edge of the expansive temple square, Loren saw the afternoon sunlight cascading over a handsome youth. Carrying a shoulder bag, the youth leaned against a bench, idly gazing at the sky as if waiting for someone.
Soft, pear-wood-brown hair seemed gilded with a golden sheen under the midday sun, swaying gently in the breeze.
As if sensing Loren's approach, the youth slowly turned his head. The puzzled look in his eyes was quickly replaced by warmth.
Loren stepped forward immediately to stand before the youth.
Paladin Commander Florence was even younger than he had imagined, and without armor, his build wasn't particularly tall.
Of course, some people were simply born with boyish features, looking like teenagers even in their thirties.
"Are you... Florence?" Loren asked hesitantly.
This was the first time he had seen the Paladin Commander out of armor.
Yet the unabashed aura and magic power radiating from the youth were all too familiar to Loren.
"Of course. Who else would it be, my dear friend?"
The handsome youth with pear-wood hair tilted his head with a grin.
"Florence, it's been years. I've finally gotten to see you."
Memories surged in Loren's heart, and he stepped forward to pull his dear friend into a tight hug.
[Holy shit, don't—!]
Before the Love Drillmaster could finish, his voice abruptly cut off.
As if realizing the disaster was already impossible to prevent, the Love Drillmaster fell completely silent.
"Ugh!"
Florence stood frozen in Loren's embrace.
"Back then during the battle to subjugate Sky-Cleaving Citadel, I really thought I might never see you again," Loren said with eyes closed, his voice thick with guilt and remorse.
Chapter 625