The second act

Thunder tore through the sky. Elena froze, and Rowland’s hands stopped above the drum.

A violent flash of lightning illuminated the entire village as, one by one, every lantern surrounding the stage went dark. The villagers gasped.

Sammy slowly looked towards the heavens.

“Oh no!”

Silvi’s voice echoed dramatically through his earring.

“Look at the sky! What is happening?”

Tiny droplets of blue light had begun appearing high above them. One appeared, then ten, then hundreds, drifting together until they formed the shape of an enormous glowing Lulu blossom bud suspended over the village.

Every face turned upwards. Nobody spoke as the luminous bud revolved slowly in the air and its petals began to open one after another.

An ethereal maiden appeared within.

Long silver hair streamed behind her, and an ethereal silver gown flowed around her body as though it had been woven from moonlight. It left her shoulders bare and fell in shimmering folds, with a high slit along one side that moved like liquid light whenever she shifted.

With every lantern extinguished, she became the only source of light in the darkness. A brilliant silver glow poured from her body, flooding the village square and stretching across the barren horizon.

Her enormous purple eyes stared down upon the village. For several seconds, they appeared unnaturally wide before Sybill remembered herself and slowly relaxed them into something resembling divine serenity.

The villagers dropped to their knees. Some began to cry, while others pressed their foreheads against the ground.

Sybill floated silently above them. With a graceful sweep of her wand, thousands of blue Lulu blossoms burst into existence and drifted through the village like heavenly snow.

Children reached towards them while adults sobbed openly. Flowers landed upon rooftops, windowsills, broken fences, and trembling hands.

Then the Goddess descended. Her feet touched the barren earth, and green grass immediately spread beneath them.

Sybill slowly made her way towards the dying apple orchard and began to dance. She spun lightly between the first two dead trees, her silver hair and flowing gown sweeping around her as greenery burst from the soil in her wake.

She twirled again, and leaves erupted across the nearest branches. Another turn sent white blossoms racing from tree to tree.

The villagers watched through tear-filled eyes as the ethereal maiden danced deeper into the orchard. Every movement brought something back to life.

Where her feet touched the ground, grass grew. Where her gown brushed against a branch, leaves unfurled. With every sweep of her wand, flowers bloomed.

Sybill spun beneath the branches, smiling awkwardly at the villagers whenever she caught them staring. Then she turned once more, and apples burst into existence across the trees.

One after another, the dead orchard awakened around her until rows of green trees heavy with fruit stretched across the land once again. Sybill completed one final twirl and came to a graceful stop.

The villagers were openly weeping now.

Then her smile disappeared.

Her purple eyes turned towards the west, and the villagers followed her gaze. Sybill slowly raised her wand.

A deafening boom rolled across the horizon.

Something in the distance erupted into flames.

**************

Sammy was excitedly recounting Sybill’s triumphant display of divinity.

“Did you see their faces?”

“I know.” Elena nodded quickly. “Sybill, you were great.”

Sybill looked at her.

“You dancing was the greatest, Elena.”

Rowland groaned and rolled one shoulder.

“Oh, my arms hurt. Playing drums is a workout.”

Elena looked towards Sammy.

“How many coins did you collect?”

Sammy emptied his embroidered cap onto the table, and a disappointing little pile rolled out.

“Not much. That lousy dancing only earned twelve coppers.”

Elena’s mouth fell open as Silvi immediately turned towards him.

“That dancing was the pinnacle of the entire performance, Sammy dear.”

Sammy blinked.

“Try moving your belly while keeping your shoulders and upper body completely still.”

Elena nodded emphatically.

“Exactly.”

Silvi tilted proudly.

“Elena is a natural.”

The praise immediately left Elena flustered. The training, on the other hand, was something she would probably remember for the rest of her life, especially the animated whip.

“Silvi?” Rowland said.

“Yes, dear?”

Rowland looked towards Elena, and Elena looked back at him. Then both spoke in perfect unison.

“Please don’t ever become the director again.”

They clasped their hands together pleadingly. Silvi stared at them, and neither dared laugh.

“Yes, yes. Grand performance and all.”

The gang froze.

Every head turned towards the doorway, where Leo stood with his hands folded neatly in front of him.