NOVPUBThe Ichrite Opera House, serving as a multifunctional performing arts center in the Royal Capital of Hutton Kingdom, is one of the most famous and iconic buildings on the South Continent.
Located near the moat of Ichrite and the Riverport Bridge, it was designed a century ago by the craftsman Jera, featuring a series of boat sail-like ribbon roofs glistening like a starry night, perched atop a massive blue granite base, as though it was about to set sail across the starry sky.
This afternoon.
The Ichrite city symphony orchestra was there, putting on a grand performance.
"The time is nearly up for the three o’clock appointment with the Paladin Leader, and the Bingxue Witch has already tried to contact you several times. The current performance piece is about to end. Don’t move just yet. Once the next piece starts and Juliana gets a little bit entranced, try not to draw her attention. Just subtly signal that you will step away, then quickly get up and leave for the meeting place at Goddess of Destiny Square."
On the grand stage, a symphonic music concert was captivating the ears of the audience with its unique magic power.
At this moment, the gorgeous lighting, like scattered stars, illuminated the entire music hall, turning it into a fantastical universe.
Meanwhile, Loren, sitting in the spectator seats, heard the voice of the Love Guru in his ear.
He nodded slightly right away.
"This opera house is not only an iconic tourist spot but also a bustling center for artistic performances, with multiple performance spaces, including an opera house, a concert hall, a theater, and a multipurpose hall that hosts various performances such as operas, concerts, plays, and dances. Make sure you follow the route I taught you, and you should be able to reach your destination in about two minutes at the fastest speed without violating the city’s regulations on the use of magic law and order."
The Love Guru continued to speak.
Loren felt that if he were a girl, he might even fall for someone like the Love Guru.
He was too reassuring.
He even took care of navigation for him all the way.
Clang!
When the last note gently fell through the air, the entire concert hall plunged into momentary silence, followed by applause that thundered through the opera house like a tide.
Loren knew that the time the instructor mentioned must be approaching as well.
Soon, on the stage opposite, the orchestra members settled into their seats, from violinists to cellists, flutists to horn players; every musician was attentively ready to catch the conductor’s signal.
The elderly gentleman in a formal black tailcoat stood in the center of the stage, his shadow elongating under the stage lights. His arms swung with the flow of the music, guiding the flow and changes of the new round of performance music.
The music slowly began to unfold, the violin’s sound as gentle and bright as the first rays of sunlight through morning mist, followed by the brass adding a majestic stroke to the musical canvas, the woodwind like a gentle breeze through the forest, light and lively, while the cello and double bass like a profound ocean, added deep and broad foundations to the melody. The melody, collaboratively performed by the entire orchestra, transformed into surging waves, rolling wave after wave toward the audience.
Immersed in this musical feast, many audience members listened with closed eyes or focused on appreciating the performers on stage.
"Juliana, sorry, I need to go to the restroom for a moment," Loren said softly to his companion beside him, his voice full of apology.
His eyes carried slight unease, as if worried about disrupting this brief and peaceful moment of bliss.
After hearing this, Juliana smiled and nodded gently.
Immediately after.
Loren rose gently, carefully making his way through the seating rows, trying not to disturb the other spectators.
Upon leaving the concert hall, he sped through the corridors of the opera house, appearing a bit hurried yet polite.
Passing through a large door, his figure seemed to vanish like an illusion.
When Loren reemerged in the city, he was already on the other side of the riverside bridge near the opera house, on the stone slab path of the riverside park.
"You can probably disappear for about twenty minutes. Any longer and Juliana might start to worry. I suggest you allocate about ten minutes each for Paladin Leader Florence and the Bingxue Witch Almis. I will remind you when time is almost up," the Love Guru’s voice continued in Loren’s ear as he hurried toward his destination.
"Alright, thank you for the trouble, Instructor."
After leaving Juliana’s side, he was now free to speak with the Love Guru through the Magic Conduit Earpiece.
Despite feeling a bit guilty, since the Love Guru had said it was fine, it should be fine.
At least he wasn’t dating three girls at the same time.
The Paladin Leader was male, and the Bingxue Witch was a colleague.
"[Don’t worry at all, this is an excellent skill in time management. Only by mastering this ability can you better balance work and life, while keeping as many people around you satisfied as possible. And you, you really need to learn and master it.]
"I understand."
Loren walked through a path in a square park.
The area was one Loren usually passed when working at the Church of the Goddess of Destiny, and by now, even without help from the Love Guru, he knew the fastest route.
His view widened once again.
Loren saw an open space on the edge of Temple Square, where the afternoon sun was casting its light on a handsome young man. He was sitting on a bench with a shoulder bag, leisurely looking up at the sky as if waiting for someone.
The pearwood-colored soft hair seemed to be coated with a layer of golden sheen by the noon sun and gently swayed with the breeze.
As though sensing Loren’s approach, the young man slowly turned his head, and his puzzled look quickly filled with warmth.
Loren immediately approached the young man.
Paladin Leader Florence was younger than he had imagined and was not as tall under his armor.
Of course, some people naturally have a youthful face, appearing like a teenager even in their thirties.
"Are you Florence?"
Loren asked uncertainly.
It was his first time seeing the Paladin Leader without his armor.
But the unmasked aura and magic power the other person carried were all too familiar to Loren.
"Of course, who else could it be? My dear friend."
The pearwood-haired beautiful young man smiled and cocked his head slightly.
"Florence, after so many years, I’ve finally seen you."
Loren suddenly felt memories flooding back, and he stepped forward to give his dear friend a firm hug.
"[Too late for that!]"
The Love Guru’s voice came to an abrupt halt before she could speak.
It seemed as if she realized the issue was unstoppable, so she didn’t speak any further.
"Uh!"
Florence was stunned as Loren hugged him.
"During the last crusade in Sky Cracking City, I really thought I might never see you again."
Loren spoke with his eyes closed, his voice laden with guilt and self-reproach.
