Editing Huntsong Chapter 13 — Cara, Seraphel (section)

==Synopsis==
[[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara’s]] head is still spinning after talking with [[Aaron Vanwell|Aaron]]. Though wary of [[Wistram Academy|Wistram]], she briefly contemplates asking them to help Afiele, but dismisses the notion. Lonely, Cara wants to return to [[Afiele]], but doesn’t think she could be of any use, making her more determined to leave her mark at the theatre. Returning to the Synphasia early morning, she sees [[Rolairenes|Rolare]] in the courtyard holding a sword.

Holding an ancient-looking blade over his shoulder, [[Rolairenes|Rolare]] is motionless, staying in the same position for minutes before suddenly lunging forward ten feet, cutting a line straight through the air with the sword. After resetting his position, Rolare cuts vertically towards an imaginary target. Both moves impress [[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara]], but Rolare dismisses his performance as embarrassing, claiming that he strives for nothing less than perfection with both violin and sword. Cara retorts that she would settle for imperfection if it didn’t mean not playing for two weeks.

That night, Joeired forces the performers to dye their hair. Much to her dismay, Cara is left with pink as her only option. The Stitch-Man warns everyone that [[Avel|Avel’s]] [[Itreimedes|King]] would be attending that night’s performance, and singles out Rolare, threatening to fire him if he doesn’t perform.

On their way to the Synphasia, the [[Thronebearers of Calanfer|Thronebearers]] are still quizzing [[Seraphel du Marquin|Seraphel]] on the members of the royal family. While King Allorev is said to be cordial and charming, his children Princess [[Kadane]] and Prince Seratoito are rated as a “Lyonette-level of difficulty.” As for Queen Nicterise, she is beyond the [Princess]-scale and is described as “Queen Ielane in a temper,” though Seraphel is assured that she may not even meet the Queen. Arriving at the Theater, they are personally greeted by Joeired. Seraphel is dismayed, when she finds out that she would have to share the royal booth with the King of Avel, but her interest is perked when she overhears Cara’s name.

King [[Itreimedes]] is the kind of person who comes off as charming or obnoxious. He has a habit of treating his personal Relic, the [[Bow of Avel]], as a backscratcher/fly swatter. His casual nature is shared by his long-suffering advisors, who freely criticizes his manners and weight in public. Though amused by Itreimedes and his court’s antics, [[Seraphel du Marquin|Seraphel]] makes sure to sit on the other side of the royal booth as far away as possible.

The first act, Rolarienes the Violinist, fails to show up on stage. Seraphel is bored with the other performances, having seen far better in Calanfer. Meanwhile, [[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara]] is surprised to hear Seraphel is present in the audience, but is determined to show her what she has achieved so far.

Nervous about [[Seraphel du Marquin|Seraphel]] being in the audience, [[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara]] goes over her routine one more time, activating [Lesser Illusion] to create musical accompaniment. However a horrified Joeired informs her that Skills have a cooldown. With bare minutes before her performance, the Stitch-Man stalls for time as Cara desperately tries re-activating her Skill. But the audience is growing restless, as [[Rolairenes|Rolare]] still refuses to play while Yoitha’s “experimental music” - which consists of her hitting random objects - is a bust. The Dwarf's hammer trick of catching a spinning hammer tossed forty feet in the air is well received, but she abruptly finishes her act afterwards, which confuses the audience.

Rolairenes finally comes out, but just keeps on tuning his violin string for eight minutes. [[Dalimont]] deduces that he’s a [[Half-Elves|half-Elf]] from one of the villages. He retells the anecdote of the blademaster without peer, a half-Elf who won eight consecutive duels against Named Adventurers with a single strike. However on the ninth duel, the [Blademaster] managed to deflect the first blow, upon which the half-Elf announced his own loss. As it turned out, the half-Elf had only perfected the first strike as a hobby and never bothered to learn a second one.

A panicking Joeired announces Cara O’Sullivan, dubbing her the “Siren of Songs” and the “Duchess of Dancing”

[[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara]] and Joeired are panicking, her Skill still stuck on cooldown and time running out. The [Singer] suddenly remembers her phone, and gives it to the [[String People|Stitch-Man]], telling him to use loudness spells on it. As Yoitha and Joeired scramble to set up the phone, which they think is an “artifact,” Cara goes on stage, introducing herself, asking the audience to wait five minutes. Fed up by the lackluster performances, most of the audience starts leaving. Sensing Cara’s desperation, [[Seraphel du Marquin|Seraphel]] begins clapping, with the [[Thronebearers of Calanfer|Thronebearers]] and her [Maids] following suit. Shouting up the [Princess], Cara thanks her for coming, dedicating her first song to her. She sings a love song, which embarasses Seraphel, but the audience’s attention is captured by its originality, having never heard anything like it before. After finishing, Cara is about to sing her next song when Joeired suddenly goes on-stage and starts dragging the [Singer] off.

As Joeired drags a bewildered [[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara]] off the stage, [[Rolairenes|Rolare]] walks back on, apparently now ready to play his violin. Cara is furious, along with most of the audience, especially [[Seraphel du Marquin|Seraphel]]. However, when the half-Elf finally starts playing, they are completely enraptured by the song, which is described as perfection personified. Even Cara forgets her anger, now understanding why Joeired puts up with the picky half-Elf.

After the performance. Cara confesses that he is the best musician she’s ever heard, but Rolare still picks at the faults that he found while he was playing. Yoitha mocks Rolare over his insistence on perfecting his song. The half-Elf defends himself, insisting that he’s close to mastery, but the Dwarf is dismissive, claiming that she has witnessed true mastery. Unable to retort, Rolare walks away, claiming to be tired. Cara goes to speak to Seraphel.