Of course, looking at the current state of Columbina and Sandrone, they seemed unable to continue their conversation.
To be precise, it was that Sandrone didn’t know how to continue talking to this…
Columbina, who one couldn’t tell if she was truly a natural airhead or not.
As the only one who understood the “inside story” between them, Arlecchino felt it was necessary for her to take the initiative and ease this awkward atmosphere.
“Hmm…”
Arlecchino first raised her hand to pretend to take a sip of tea, then raised her eyes and spoke slowly.
“Everyone, just drinking tea is boring.
Recently, a game has become popular among the children of The Hearth.
Are you all interested?”
Sandrone was eager to end the conversation with this “dullard” Columbina.
she glared fiercely at Columbina one last time, then looked at Arlecchino with “great interest.”
“Arlecchino, what kind of game is that?”
Arlecchino put down her teacup and explained slowly.
“It’s a game popular in Fontaine called Tabletop Troupe, which only just started to become popular recently.
I’ve taken a look, and while there are still many imperfections in the rules, it’s sufficient for entertainment.”
As she spoke, Arlecchino produced a full set of equipment for this game from somewhere.
“This is it.
I bought it on the road, intending to take it back as a ‘reward’ for the children, but we might as well try it out now.”
“Hmm?”
By now, Columbina had sat back in her seat and was originally “staring” at that cup of bitter tea, seemingly researching why Sandrone liked drinking it.
Hearing Arlecchino’s words, she immediately became interested.
“That sounds quite good.
Can you explain the rules, Arlecchino?”
Arlecchino nodded.
“Sure.
Simply put, it’s a game where you gather around a table with good friends, play roles in a play, and participate in the script’s story.
There are many scripts on the market now, and the children love playing it.”
“Wow!”
Tartaglia excitedly slapped the table, making a loud noise, then awkwardly withdrew her hand after seeing a few unkind gazes.
“Err, haha…
What I mean is, listening to Arlecchino, our current atmosphere is especially suitable.”
Arlecchino agreed and then asked, “Does that mean Mr.
Tartaglia intends to participate?”
“That goes without saying!”
Tartaglia agreed without hesitation.
“This game sounds great.
If I learn it, I can play it with Teucer and the others when I go back.”
“Is that all?”
At this moment, Sandrone, who was sitting furthest from Tartaglia, unceremoniously continued to press her.
“Ms.
Sandrone’s attention is truly sharp.” Seeing she had been exposed, Tartaglia simply confessed, “I just wanted to know if everyone here would be interested in sparring with me after playing the game?”
Mentioning combat, Tartaglia’s eyes lit up.
It seemed she was the weakest at the table, and she really wanted to spar with each of them to learn a thing or two.
“Heh,” Rosalyne sneered.
“The brat only knows how to fight and kill; she doesn’t even look at the occasion.
Um, Arlecchino, since the children love to play, I want to try it too.”
Hearing this, Tartaglia wanted to retort; after all, she hadn’t wanted to say that originally.
It was only because Sandrone had pointed it out that she had been forced to say it.
Although she had originally planned to invite everyone after the tea party…
But at this moment, Tartaglia felt a large, thick, yet warm hand gently stroking her head.
“Heh heh, then I’ll accompany you for a couple of moves later.”
Capitano looked at Tartaglia with a loving gaze.
Such a young and passionate warrior reminded her of the scenes of fighting side-by-side with the warriors of Khaenri’ah and Natlan back then.
“Also,” Capitano turned her gaze back to Arlecchino and said simply, “I’ll participate too.”
Arlecchino’s pupils constricted, but only for an instant, before she nodded respectfully.
“Very well, Mr.
‘Captain’.”
After speaking, Arlecchino turned her gaze to Columbina, raising her eyebrows, meaning, “What about you?”
Columbina certainly wouldn’t miss what she considered might be her last game with these friends, so she smiled and agreed: “Of course I will participate.”
After speaking, Columbina tilted her head and “looked” at Sandrone.
At this moment, Sandrone was drinking tea as if nothing was happening, looking completely uninterested in talking to the others, let alone offering any opinion on the game.
“Tsk…” Sandrone gently rotated her teacup.
“Don’t look at me, Columbina.
I won’t play this kind of…”
“What about Sandrone?”
Columbina interrupted softly, her “gaze” remaining fixed on Sandrone.
Sandrone felt very uncomfortable being “looked” at by Columbina, but still refused.
“No matter how much you look at me, I won’t play, Columbina!”
“Hmm…
Is Sandrone afraid?”
“Huh?
Columbina, you don’t think the same trick will work on me twice, do you?
Reverse psychology won’t work on me!”
“Hmm…
Then is it that Sandrone doesn’t want to play the game with me?”
“Huh?
Columbina, what do you mean by that?”
“If that’s the case, then I won’t play either.
Let Sandrone play.”
Sandrone:…
How did she feel like she had been manipulated by this annoying guy Columbina again?
“Argh!
Fine!
I’ll play, okay!
But…
let’s get this straight, I’m only playing one round, no more than that.”
Seeing Sandrone agree, a faint but incredibly genuine smile appeared on Columbina’s face.
If she could play a game with everyone one more time before returning “home,” that seemed nice, right?
Especially since Sandrone had also agreed to play.
“Arlecchino, let’s start quickly.”
Arlecchino chuckled.
“It seems Columbina can’t wait.
Let’s begin then.
I’ll first find a script for six people…”
Arlecchino flipped through a stack of scripts for a while, found the area marked with the number “six,” and pulled one out at random.
“Let’s go with this script.
The name is…
Small Animals in the Forest.
It sounds like a fairy tale.”
“Haha,” Tartaglia looked very expectant.
Now I have another story to lull them to sleep.”
“That’s right,” Rosalyne rarely agreed with Tartaglia.
“Children need fairy tales.”
“Yes!” Capitano also nodded in agreement.
“In the long, drawn-out war, a good fairy tale can also let warriors see hope for the future.
We need hope; everyone needs hope.”
Columbina also said simply: “Very good, I like fairy tales.”
Finally, everyone’s gaze turned to Sandrone.
Sandrone’s eyes flickered under their gazes, and she had no choice but to raise her teacup as a cover.
“Tsk…
Why are you all looking at me?
I wouldn’t…
Ah, Arlecchino, if everything is ready, hurry up and start!”
“Heh heh…”
Arlecchino held back her laughter and pulled out the six character cards.
“Everyone, randomly pick a character card first.
It will be your identity in this story.
Hmm…
this script is a bit special.
The person who draws the ‘Little Dori’ identity needs to double as the script narrator.
Normally, the narrator should be a separate role…”
“Eh?”
After the few of them randomly drew their respective character cards, Columbina held up her card.
“It seems I drew ‘Little Dori’.”
“Oh?”
Arlecchino opened her character card; it was a ‘Little Spider’.
“It seems Columbina is very lucky today.
This is the script; I’ll leave it to you.”
“Hmm.”
Columbina took the script but didn’t open it immediately, simply placing it quietly in front of her.
“Right, there’s also this, the Fate Determination Card, used to check for success or failure…
Hmm?
This card seems to be broken?”
Arlecchino was introducing it when she suddenly frowned slightly.
she tried to activate the Fate Determination Card, only to find it completely ineffective.
“Oh?” Sandrone appeared somewhat gloating.
“Since the card is broken, does that mean we…”
“Arlecchino,” Columbina said softly, “It’s fine, I’ll do it.”
As she spoke, Columbina reached out her hand, and light blue Lunar Rectangular Force condensed in her hand.
Slowly, a “Lunar Rectangular Force Fate Determination Card” identical to the Fate Determination Card appeared on the tea table.
“If it’s just comparing sizes, it’s very simple.”
Columbina’s mouth curled into a faint smile as she tilted her head and “looked” at Sandrone.
Sandrone:…
“Tsk…
Columbina!
If you’re ready, hurry up and start!”
“Hmm.”
Columbina nodded gently, then picked up the script.
Everyone sat properly, their identity cards placed in front of them, all eyes fixed on Columbina.
For a moment, the tea table was unusually quiet, but soon, an ethereal and crisp voice slowly rose, seemingly capable of truly pulling the many Harbingers into that illusory fairy tale world.
Columbina chuckled, lightly telling the story in detail.
“Once upon a time, a Little Dori and a little cat lived in a huge forest…”