Chapter 3: A True Shining Star

In the morning, Arina Danshi and Ray are training themselves on the outisde of Wonderland, surrounded by the whimsical flora and fauna of the mystical land. The dew glistens on the leaves of the talking flowers as they whisper words of encouragement to the young duo. Arina has her fighting stance ready, holding a sword that seems too heavy for her slender frame, yet she wields it with surprising grace.

"Again!" exclaims Ray, her eyes alight with determination. She conjures a shimmering barrier around Arina, pushing her to react swiftly to the illusionary attacks that flicker in and out of existence. Each swing of the sword leaves a trail of light in the air, painting a dance of steel and magic. The scent of the earth rises as their feet pound the ground, a rhythm that matches the beating of their hearts.

Arina, with a grimace of concentration, parries the phantasmal blows. Her breaths come in short, sharp gasps as she tries to anticipate the patterns of the spectral foes. Sweat beads on her forehead, but she refuses to back down. The flowers' whispers grow more insistent, their encouragement morphing into a gentle symphony of advice and strategy.

As the training intensifies, the very air around them seems to thicken with the power of their combined efforts. The illusions become more lifelike, their movements more unpredictable. Arina's muscles scream for rest, but she grits her teeth and presses on. Her bond with Ray is palpable, their trust in each other growing stronger with every clash of sword and shield.

When they finished training, there's Aira, who was a strange girl came to Arina for her.

"Airi! You came here." Arina says with a mix of relief and surprise. She gently sheathes her sword, the light dimming from the blade as it finds its rest.

Airi nods, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Why hello there, it's been the while since you killed the witch baroness that kidnap Queen Minara." Airi says, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Arina laughs, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. "You know, it wasn't just me. We did it together."

Airi's smile widens. "True, but your valor was unmatched."

Then, there was a villager came to Arina, Ray and Airi. "Hello, there was a good singer gal was here in the Wonderland."

"A singer?" Arina asks, intrigued. "What's her name?"

The villager fidgets nervously. "We don't know her name, but her voice is like a melody from the heavens. She's been traveling from village to village, sharing her gift with everyone she meets."

Ray's ears perk up at the mention of the singer. "A traveling bard? That's quite the rare sight in these parts."

The villager nods eagerly. "Indeed, she brings joy and wonder with every note. The children follow her, and even the animals seem to be drawn to her song."

Arina's curiosity is piqued. "Where is she headed next?"

The next scene, there was an young girl as a singer named Katy, who was singing and dancing in the middle of the town square, surrounded by a rapt audience of villagers and curious creatures. Her voice soared through the air, pure and haunting, weaving a tapestry of emotion that seemed to resonate with the very soul of Wonderland itself. The vibrant notes danced with the sunbeams, painting the scene with an otherworldly beauty that made even the most stoic of the townsfolk tap their feet.

Once the song finished, Katy goes to the backstage where she felt nervous, she was an introvert but she loves to sing. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and took a deep breath to calm herself down. Meanwhile, Arina, Ray, and Airi made their way through the crowd, drawn by the captivating performance.

"Is that her?" Arina whispered to the villager as they approached the stage.

The villager nodded. "Yes, that's her. She's quite the enigma, though. She only performs briefly before moving on to the next village."

Katy was still nervous and felt black. "Man, why do to feel so tired after each performance?" She thought to herself.

There was a dark energy, Airi looked at Katy, she smiled evily. "It's time for the real performance to begin."

In the dark world, there was shadow figure was an lady in black dress watching from the distance, her eyes piercing through the crowd, never leaving Katy's figure. The energy around her grew colder, and the whispers of the flora and fauna grew silent.

Meanwhile, Arina and Ray are find for Airi, then Airi regroups to Arina and Ray, with a look of concern etched on her face. "Sorry, I was late."

"Yeah, it's okay. I judged that." Arina said, her eyes still on Katy. "Let's go talk to her."

"Umm, I'm gonna some food for the concert, don't worry." Airi said, as she quickly disappeared into the throng of villagers. Arina and Ray exchanged puzzled glances, but shrugged it off, assuming Airi had some errand to run.

"Umm, I'm gonna some food for the concert, don't worry." Airi said, as she quickly disappeared into the throng of villagers. Arina and Ray exchanged puzzled glances, but shrugged it off, assuming Airi had some errand to run.

Then Arina and Ray are entered to the Katy's room, where Katy was sobbing quietly in the corner, surrounded by a mess of scattered dresses and accessories. Arina felt worried, she had never seen Katy like this before. "What's wrong, Katy?" Arina asked softly, approaching her. Katy looked up, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "I don't think I am nervous about the concert anymore," she sniffled, "but I can't decide what to wear!"

The room was a chaotic mix of pastel colors and glitter, with a harp sitting elegantly in one corner. Katy was known for her beautiful singing voice and had been preparing for this event for months. It was clear that her wardrobe was as magical as her music. Each dress looked like it had been plucked straight from a fairytale, with intricate designs that danced in the candlelight. "Don't worry, Katy," Ray said, a gentle smile spreading across her face, "We'll help you find the perfect outfit."

They spent hours sifting through the piles of clothing, holding up each garment and imagining how it would look on Katy as she performed. Airi eventually returned with a basket overflowing with fruit and cheese, her eyes widening at the scene before her. "Wow, you guys are really taking this seriously," she said, setting the basket down on the bed. She picked up a delicate dress made of shimmering leaves, "What do you think about this one?"

Katy took the dress from Airi's hands and held it against her body, examining her reflection in the mirror. "It's beautiful," she murmured.

"And you can do it for your opening number," Arina suggested, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "The way it moves will be mesmerizing under the moonlit stage."

"Thank you." Katy's voice trembled with hope as she stepped into the leafy dress. It clung to her in all the right places, the soft fabric rustling like a gentle breeze. Then, the dark energy faded away, replaced by a warm, comforting light that filled the room

At night, Katy singing and dancing in her dance of leaves, captivated the audience. Her voice filled the clearing with a melody that seemed to resonate with the very essence of the enchanted forest. The villagers watched, spellbound, as the moon cast a soft glow upon her, making the leaves on her dress twinkle like stars. Arina and Ray are sitting at the side of the stage, beaming with pride as their friend's talents unfolded before them.

Airi arrived with some food are minty drink and two bread with meat, she looked Katy, that Airi was nodded and she goes to Arina and Ray "Sorry, I'm late. I got us some dinner, I hope it's not too late," she said, offering them the food.

They watched to Katy's performance, as Arina took the bread with meat and took a bite. The flavors burst in her mouth, the minty drink perfectly complementing the meal. "This is delicious," she said to Airi, who just nodded, her eyes never leaving the stage.

As the song reached its climax, a sudden gust of wind swept through the clearing, lifting Katy's dress and swirling the leaves around her. The villagers gasped, not from fear but from awe, as the leaves detached from the dress and floated into the night sky, creating a dazzling display of lights that mimicked the stars above. It was as if the forest itself had joined in her performance.

Ray leaned over to whisper in Arina's ear, "This is going to be one of those moments we'll remember forever." Arina nodded in agreement, her eyes misty with joy.

The applause was deafening as Katy finished her first song. She took a graceful bow, her heart pounding in her chest. The crowd's adoration was palpable, a warm embrace that seemed to lift her spirits higher than any enchantment. She turned to her friends, her eyes shining with gratitude.