Chapter Fourty-Eight

Tori Vega wasn't nervous; she was thrilled. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to perform at the grand opening of the Supreme Leader Mark Lantrun's statue in the newly built city of Londonium. She'd been attending Eden's prestigious School of Art and Culture her whole life, but this—this was the big leagues. She and her friends had been handpicked by the Ministry of Culture to represent Eden's youth, art, and culture at the unveiling of a massive, shimmering statue dedicated to the man everyone in Eden worshipped with borderline fanaticism.

Tori wasn't exaggerating when she thought of Edenites as fanatics—they practically worshipped Mark Lantrun like a god. There was no half-hearted admiration here. No, the Supreme Leader was the ultimate symbol of perfection, unity, and greatness. His portrait was everywhere, from the clean white walls of the schools to the gold-plated frames hanging in elite homes. And now, here in Londonium, an enormous statue was going to be unveiled in his honor, and Tori was going to sing in front of it. Live.

"You know," Tori said, turning to her friends as the high-speed train whooshed toward Londonium, "this is kind of crazy when you think about it. Like, we're performing at the biggest event in Eden's history. Ever."

"Oh, totally," André Harris agreed, strumming an invisible guitar. "The Supreme Leader himself is going to be there. You know what that means? This could be our big break. Imagine him nodding his head to one of our songs. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps."

Jade West, leaning back with her arms crossed, rolled her eyes but couldn't fully suppress a smirk. "Yeah, if he nods his head, that's like the ultimate approval. You'd basically be a living legend in Eden after that." She twirled a lock of her jet-black hair between her fingers. "Not that I care, obviously. It's just another performance."

Beck Oliver raised an eyebrow at her. "You so care."

"I do not," Jade shot back, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her. Even she, the ever-edgy and aloof Jade, couldn't deny the fact that Mark Lantrun's approval would be everything. Edenites adored the Supreme Leader—no, they worshipped him. His every move, word, and gesture were analyzed, admired, and imitated by the masses. Even those who claimed to be "above it" couldn't resist the allure.

Meanwhile, Cat Valentine bounced excitedly in her seat, her bright red hair almost glowing under the train's ambient lighting. "I wonder if we'll get to meet him! I mean, I've never been this close to a god before! What if he's super tall? Do you think he's super tall? And what if he likes glitter? Ohhh, I should've brought more glitter!"

"Cat," Tori said with a smile, "I'm sure he'll be impressed by whatever we do. After all, he's Mark Lantrun. He appreciates perfection." She glanced out the window as the train began to slow, the glittering skyline of Londonium now visible in the distance. The city was pristine, immaculate—everything the Supreme Leader represented.

The entire first-class carriage had been reserved for them, the elite art students of Eden, courtesy of the Ministry of Culture. Edenites spared no expense when it came to celebrating their beloved leader. As the train glided into the station, they were greeted by an orderly swarm of Edenites in immaculate white uniforms, guiding them to their accommodations.

The group exited the train in awe. Londonium was a gleaming metropolis, filled with towering buildings made of silver and glass, reflecting the sunlight like a beacon of progress. Even though the city was new, it felt as if it had always been there, perfect and untouchable, like everything the Supreme Leader touched.

"Whoa," Beck murmured, looking up at the enormous holographic advertisements glowing above them. All around were images of Mark Lantrun: his face, his hands in commanding gestures, his statuesque figure. He was everywhere, watching over his people.

"I bet even the bathrooms have his face on the mirrors," André joked, though no one laughed. It wasn't really a joke. It was probably true.

The group was whisked away in a sleek, state-of-the-art transport that glided through the spotless streets of Londonium without a sound. They were headed straight for the heart of the city, where the Supreme Leader's statue awaited its grand unveiling.

As they approached the massive plaza where the statue stood, Tori's heart skipped a beat. The statue was even more colossal in person than it looked in the promotional videos. The Supreme Leader's likeness stood a full 100 feet tall, carved out of shining obsidian, looking out over the city with an expression of divine authority. His right hand was extended, as though offering both protection and guidance to all of Eden.

"It's… beautiful," Tori breathed, her voice full of awe.

Jade, for once, didn't have a snarky comment ready. Even she seemed transfixed by the sheer magnitude of the monument. "I mean, it's… him. Like, this is the guy. The guy we've all been told is perfect."

"He is perfect," Robbie Shapiro said, clutching his ventriloquist dummy Rex close to his chest. "And you know what's even more perfect? We're the ones performing at this event. We're the chosen ones."

"Chosen by him," Rex added, with his usual smug attitude. "Don't screw it up, Robbie, or else you'll end up as glitter dust under one of these statues."

The stage had been set right in front of the statue, and Eden's elite were already gathered in the vast square, decked out in their finest white attire, their eyes all gleaming with admiration for the statue—and for the Supreme Leader himself, who would be arriving any minute.

As they prepared for their performance, the group couldn't help but notice the vibe. There was a tension in the air—a fanatical anticipation that felt almost religious. Everywhere they looked, people were speaking in hushed tones, their eyes wide with reverence.

"Do you think they'll freak out if he walks by?" André whispered to Tori as they adjusted their mics.

"Oh, totally," Tori whispered back. "I mean, people lose their minds just seeing a picture of him. Can you imagine seeing him in person?"

Jade, listening in, scoffed. "I don't get it. It's like they think he's a god or something."

Beck gave her a serious look. "That's because, to them, he basically is."

Right before the performance began, the announcement echoed across the plaza: "The Supreme Leader has arrived!"

The crowd erupted into wild applause and cheers, their voices mingling with chants of "Glory to Eden! Glory to the Supreme Leader!" Tori felt a surge of adrenaline course through her as the reality of the situation hit her. This wasn't just a performance. This was a moment in history.

"Alright, guys," she said, turning to the group, her heart pounding. "This is it. Let's show them what we've got."

As they took their places on stage, the massive screen behind them showed the Supreme Leader himself, stepping out onto the balcony of the grand building overlooking the square. The crowd fell silent, in awe of their godlike leader. And for one fleeting moment, as Mark Lantrun looked out over his people, it felt like time stopped. His presence was overwhelming, electrifying.

The music began to play, and Tori's voice rang out clear and strong, joined by the harmonies of her friends. The performance was flawless, their voices echoing across the plaza, filling the air with a sense of unity and perfection.

As they finished their final note, the statue of Mark Lantrun slowly began to rise into the air, illuminated by beams of light, a beacon of Eden's greatness. And the Supreme Leader, standing tall above them all, smiled approvingly.

Tori's heart swelled with pride. They had done it. They had impressed him.

The crowd erupted into frenzied applause once more, and for a moment, it felt like the entire city of Londonium was vibrating with energy.

As the gang left the stage, they were greeted by admiring gazes and awestruck whispers from the crowd. They had just performed in front of the Supreme Leader. They had just been a part of history.

Cat turned to Tori, her eyes wide. "Do you think he liked it? Did you see him? He smiled! He smiled at us!"

Tori grinned. "Yeah, Cat. He liked it. He really liked it."

AUTHOR'S NOTES:SO I SAW YOUTUBE SHORT OF VICTORIOUS AND I STARTED TO REWATCH THE SHOW SO I MADE THIS CHAPTER