NOVEL NEXT Chapter 88 - It begins
Gradually, the audience enters the hall after one of my new doppelgangers is outed by their questioning. I am actually impressed with Conundrum with turning the doppelgangers little game into a valid addition to my dungeon’s array of challenges. I just hope it won’t result in any unforeseen side effects like deep seated paranoia and trust issues… but those are on the Doppelgangers, really.
That being the case, they are great additions to my dungeon, and many of them stand excitedly on stage to show their stuff. Normally, Replica would be up there with them, but her elder sibling wanted her on guest duty this time. I guess it does help to do different things to expand your horizon and grow as an actress, so it’s not a bad thing. She is still with them, though Simon, the party’s leader, likely knows her identity. Why he doesn’t reveal her is beyond me, but he probably knows we don’t mean them any harm and is simply along for the ride.
They make their way down the hall past the many rows of seats arrayed before the centerpiece of my dungeon: the stage. Some of my mannequins and other monsters filter into the room behind them and begin finding seats in the back, while the adventurers continue and, after some discussion, situate themselves in the front row.
Marvelous. Checking on the performers, they are all getting acquainted and ready for the big performance. Echo, in his suit and wearing his favorite face from back when he first spawned, is getting ready as well.
A casual sweep reveals that the stage crew is ready, the props are in place, illusions are being weaved and veils readied, the sprites flying to and fro overhead while the mannequin workforce moves some decor last minute. When all of the audience has found their seating, it is like the universe stops to hold its breath as I slowly dim the lighting in the room.
The quiet chatter of the adventurers mutes, as the light vanishes from the room, and when there is barely enough ambience to perceive one’s surroundings, I focus. With a mental “Snap!”, a concentrated beam of light springs into existence and descends upon the stage from behind a curtained section of the roof.
It illuminates the form of Echo in a deep bow, right front and center of the stage, his suit immaculate and the form of his bow flawless. After soaking in the atmosphere for what feels like a minute but is closer to a few seconds, Echo rights themselves, and intones with a somber voice that carries easily throughout the grand hall.
“Ladies, Gentlemen and any other guests we may greet today! Welcome to this delve’s performance! Before we begin, I would like to ask any Adventurers in attendance to refrain from loudly chatting while the performance is ongoing. Thank you for your attention, and may you please enjoy our rendition of the Dungeon’s very own play, “The Curious Case of Countess Cassidy”.
The applause received at this announcement, even if it is mostly the wooden hands of mannequins that collide, fills my heart with joy. I can feel their excitement, and I can see the astonishment and intrigue writ plain upon the adventurers faces. Echo bows again, and the beam of light dims as he scurries backwards and out of sight, not raising his head even a sliver. With bated breath the Audience watches as the curtain is slowly lifted.