The Season of Giving [4]

"Was what you did necessary?"

Yae Miko, who was playing her conical red cap, asked. "Not only did you call upon all of us you summoned, but also made us do your arduous errands with you..."

Currently they were at the second floor of the cafe, inside one of the rooms Isaac rarely used. At the behest of Isaac, they had just finished delivering gifts all over Fontaine, spreading the anonymous miracle on this snowy night to countless children.

Isaac took off his red cap, his face satisfied with what he had done. "Of course. I mean, nothing's greater than children receiving gifts, yes? Don't tell me you didn't feel an ounce of fulfillment from it?"

"...if my memory serves right, you're not exactly the type to give gifts unconditionally." She rebutted.

"Who knows? Maybe I'm feeling a tad bit jolly..." He chuckled lightly.

She shook her head, finding his answer suited for his character. "Be it as it may... you're right, though. It does somewhat feel nice to give little ones gifts."

"See? That's the spirit."

He then turned to Xiao, who had already taken off his red cap and was leaning on a wall, holding a cup of steaming hot coffee. "What about you, Xiao? Feel your dark emotions dissipating a bit?"

"..." The Conqueror of Demons, Xiao, lingered silently for a brief moment before giving his reply. "...It's odd, to tell the truth. I used to devour the sweet dreams of others in the far distant past... But now..."

He sighed softly. "What a confounding twist of fate."

'How edgy... as expected.' Isaac silently lampooned to himself, never daring to say it out loud. He merely gave a silent nod of understanding before moving on, respecting Xiao.

He knew too well about Xiao's dark past and how he fared before being under Rex Lapis. As such, the act of directly giving sweet dreams to others, when he formerly did the opposite, must have been an odd experience for him.

Turning over to Lumine, who was wearing an eye mask, he asked. "How's the party going, by the way? Have the guests been well-attended?"

Lumine, wearing the same barista uniform she wore, with an eye mask to hide her identity, hummed. "Well, with Nahida, Klee, and Paimon leading the events, the guests have... How should I put it... Entranced?"

"Entranced?" At this word, his eyes narrowed, finding the word somewhat not fitting. "Elaborate."

She shrugged as she shook her head. "Well, that's the best word I could find that would fit it. Everyone just loves the three of them."

"As time went by, everyone just kept growing more and more energized, fueled by the cuteness of our mascots." She added, a faint proud smile present on her face.

"I see, that's good..." Seeing how the three of their cute mascots were successful in keeping the guests busy, Isaac heaved a sigh of relief.

With the three of them keeping them busy, he and his team managed to sneak out and deliver the gifts all over Fontaine while simultaneously preparing for the main event for the night.

Speaking of the main event...

Turning over to Yae Miko, he then immediately asked. "Are the preparations ready?"

The Kitsune hummed, a clear trace of a faint smile present on her face as she faced him. "Of course. Everything's ready. Now all we need are the main characters on stage."

She then stood up from her seat and approached him, her eyes narrowing down. "Your partner... Is that Furina, right?"

"That's right." At the mention of his partner later on stage, his eyes softened. "The dazzling diva of Fontaine would be accompanying me in our duo later. I believe that with her talent as well as the piece I've prepared for both of us to play... Everyone would love it."

Tonight was going to be a momentous occasion since it would be the first time he and her would perform together on stage. Not only that, but Furina's sudden appearance on stage would also be a surprise.

Watching Isaac become enamored with the thought of performing with Furina, Yae Miko's smile slowly bent down, which soon turned to a stiff frown.

However, she immediately hid this away and assumed a neural face, still facing him. "...you do still remember your promise to me, right Isaac?"

"Huh?" Shifting his gaze to her, his expression became confused. "Um... What promise?"

"..."

Watching his face look at her with that clueless look, something within her snapped.

How could he have forgotten his promise to invite her for a dinner date? Shouldn't a gentleman honor and remember his words?

Perhaps, due to being blinded by love, he had now forgotten about that promise.

He truly was a hypocrite, she thought.

Her smile stiffened. "Haha... Great, just great. Well, nevermind. Let's talk about this another time."

"Umm... Miko, is there—"

"Enough. Let's prepare you for your performance."

She then snapped her fingers and gestured to Xiao and Lumine behind her. "You two, hold him down. I'll begin preparing him."

Following her orders, the two approached Isaac and held him down a seat, not letting him budge a bit.

"Uhh, isn't this a bit excessive?"

"But you like being excessive, don't you?"

"...carry on then."

And with that, the moment of the main event was approaching.

---

"Demoiselle, how are you holding up?" Melus, one of Navia's close attendants, asked.

"I'm fine, just a bit tired, haha." Navia replied, sitting down after participating in an event. "This is still far from draining me though!"

"I know." Melus sighed. "Just rest for now, Demoiselle. You can participate again once you're all fine."

"Eh, it's fine. The game was already ending anyway from what I could tell." She said, shrugging her shoulders.

Looking over to a certain part of the cafe, she chuckled lightly. "I can't believe I lost... I really can't underestimate a child's energy."

"It's not your fault, boss." Silver, another attendant of Navia, commented. "That child named Klee has a monstrous energy— no one has been able to beat her yet."

Indeed, not far away, Klee was cementing herself as the champion for a game Isaac had set up where you would set your foot at a certain tile to match the symbol that would appear on the screen. Accompanying symbols was catchy music, turning it into a rhythm game.

Her foot tapped the tiles at lightning-fast speed as her eyes locked on to the moving symbols on screen. She was totally locked in.

Her opponents, meanwhile, was having a much more difficult time.

"Tap tap revolution, is it? I love it." Watching the ongoing match, Navia's eyes gleamed.

With a device like that, Navia now has another reason to come back to the cafe. Needless to say, she had a ton of fun with it and couldn't wait to play again.

Just then, as she and others watched the ongoing fiery match, the lights suddenly went out.

"Huh? What's going on?"

She looked around, curious as to what had happened. However, she soon noticed that the lights moved and condensed on the wooden stage where Isaac was standing earlier.

At some point, without any of them noticing, a pristine black piano had appeared, its glossy surface reflecting the lights touching it.

Then, from the curtains behind, the figure of Isaac appeared.

He then looked at them, his voice loud and clear. "Everyone, have you been having fun?"

The crowd cheered, showing their answer. Some came from those playing with Isaac's games, while some came from those who were eating.

"Haha, thank you all for your warm and fervent answers." He smiled. "Well then, everyone. I think I've kept you all waiting for a bit now, and so..."

"I shall now begin the main event!"

He walked around and approached the black piano, finding the seat and sitting down. With the spotlight still shining down on him, he spoke.

"To you, Mr dear audience, I dedicate this performance. And, of course, to our God, Lady Furina."

After saying that, Isaac lingered for a moment, letting the silence settle like a held breath.

'Show time.' Then, his fingers pressed down on the keys, coaxing a delicate sequence of notes from the piano.

The sound began softly, a trickle of music cascading into a lively allegro. The repeating motif echoed like distant bells, each note crisp and deliberate, layering suspense into the air.

The audience listening leaned forward in their seats, entranced by the ebb and flow of the music.

"That opening..." Navia whispered, captivated by it. "It feels like the start of a story..."

"Indeed." Melus commented, agreeing with her. "I don't I've heard of this before... How beautiful."

"I wonder... Is it perhaps made by..."

She couldn't finish her words, her voice trailing off as she continued to be enamored by the music.

The melody was at once bright and mysterious, hinting at an approaching revelation. It was as if the room itself held its breath, awaiting the arrival of something extraordinary.

And then, the violin joined in— a sharp, soaring note that rose like a bird taking flight.

Heads turned as Furina emerged from behind the curtain, her violin held with precision. Her bow danced across the strings, her movements fluid and exact, as if she had rehearsed this moment countless times in secret.

"Wait— Lady Furina is also performing?" A voice murmured near the back. "Mr. Isaac didn't mention that!"

Even so, as unexpected as it was, it was a delightful surprise, and none complained.

Her melody intertwined with Isaac's piano, matching his rhythm with practiced ease. Together, their instruments painted a vivid tapestry of sound, each note a thread woven into the other. The piano's deep resonance laid a foundation for the violin's vibrant voice, which swirled and leapt above it like a flame.

"She's incredible..." Wriothesley whispered, clutching the arm of the person next to him. "Do you hear how they're weaving together?"

"I could hear it very well, Duke." The head nurse of the Fortress of Meropide, Sigewinne, nodded. "They have a wonderful harmony."

Furina approached the piano, and soon, her eyes met Isaac's in a fleeting moment of understanding.

'Good job, keep going.' His eyes signaled to her.

'Same to you, keep that up.' She replied with a faint smile.

Her bow then glided deftly across the strings, drawing out a cascade of notes that seemed to shimmer in the air. The audience felt the shift— this was no longer two instruments playing side by side. This was a duet, a conversation between equals.

The soon song reached its middle section, their pace quickening. Isaac's hands flew across the keys, the piano thundering with power and urgency, while Furina's violin responded with piercing clarity. Their synchrony was flawless, the two instruments echoing and challenging each other, each phrase lifting the other higher.

"How are they keeping up with each other?" An gentleman muttered, shaking his head in amazement. "That is brilliant..."

The room buzzed with energy as the music built to a crescendo.

The audience, meanwhile, sat spellbound, their faces illuminated by the passion radiating from the performers. Some closed their eyes, letting the music carry them; others sat on the edge of their seats, transfixed by the sight of the duo in perfect harmony.

"That's it!" Lyney exclaimed under his breath, his eyes gleaming. "That's the magic right there!"

"Not too loud, Lyney... I'm listening." His sister, Lynette, complained in a whisper as her cat ears perked up.

"Oh, right, sorry..."

As the final passage approached, the music slowed briefly, giving the audience a moment to catch their breath.

Then, Isaac's piano softened, and Furina's violin began to sing a poignant, lingering melody, like the fading embers of a fire.

His eyes looked at her. 'It's time...'

She noticed his gaze and looked back, before nodding briefly. 'Lets finish it.'

Upon seeing her look back at him and ready to end the performance, he smiled.

Then, together, they launched into the triumphant finale.

The piano's robust chords rang out in powerful bursts, while the violin soared above, its high notes cutting through the air like beams of light. Their tempo quickened again, driving toward the climax— A flourish of sound that filled every corner of the room.

And then, with a final, resounding note, the music ended. The silence that followed was thick, heavy with the echoes of their performance.

"And now... the end." Navia whispered, her eyes glistening, having enjoyed the performance.

For a heartbeat, the audience remained still, as if waking from a dream.

- Clap...

Soon came the applause— Thunderous, overwhelming, rising like a wave. It started with one, then soon, more and more claps followed.

"Incredible!"

"That was breathtaking!"

"Absolute Cinema..."

Isaac and Furina exchanged a glance, both breathing heavily, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and triumph.

Furina gave a small, triumphant bow beside Isaac, her violin held aloft. The two stood together, basking in the glow of their success, their partnership as seamless as the music they had just created.

Then, Isaac stood up and walked beside Furina. Facing the applauding audience, the two of them paused for a moment before holding each other's hands then smiled in unison— and then bowed.

Then, they raised their heads high with pride.

"Thank you for your applause, everyone." Isaac said, his voice drifting to all of their ears. He then continued. "This piano piece, which I call Carol of the Bells, is something I wish to dedicate to none other than our God, Lady Furina. May it be played beautifully in her honor."

The applause grew louder as he declared this. However, at this very moment, he was more focused on the person he was next to.

He looked at Furina and whispered to her. "Are you fine?"

She grasped his hand tighter, her expression softening before nodding. "Yes... What we did was beautiful."

"I see. I'm glad you liked it." He whispered back.

Amidst the thundering applause brought by the audience, however, something softly appeared at the corner of Isaac's eyes.

[You have harmonized the souls of many people brought by your music.]

[A reward shall be given.]

Indeed, he loved gifts.

And with that, a new popular piece would soon start to circulate the upper echelons of Fontaine, commemorating their God.

As for Isaac, he had gained another boon to advance his plan.

---

A/N:

If you want to hear what happened, just search this up on YouTube:

Carol of the Bells (Violin and Piano Cover) Taylor Davis & Lara de Wit