The Tragedy of Ohmlet is a tragedy, not only because it ends in a terrible bloodbath with a bunch of people dead, but also because it is a piece of history before the birth of the Rhine Empire.
No one is sure whether or not the story is true, but as time went by, the tragedy became a well-known story.
Historians have tried to piece together the clues, but unfortunately, with barely any traces of proof besides the tale being spread by word of mouth, none could figure out the truth of the legend.
The legendary playwright, Willith Iamtis Skearshape turned it into a work of art when he listened to a group of merchants recall the story of a town called Ohmlet that burst into flames and disappeared from the map.
This was back before the Great Unification. Exploration was a hard venture in times of chaos and war, thus, the history of Ohmlet and its existence continues to baffle historians to this day.
"Which is why, if you all with patient ears can please await, I give you all the tale of Sir Gilbert and Lady Rose... "
It is true that in fair Ohmlet where we lay our scene, an ancient grudge stirs amidst the calm.
Two families, both alike in dignity.
The Elsion Family and the Oldham Family have always had a distinct rivalry between them. As this was a time before the birth of Rhine, violence, chaos, and casual bloodshed was a common thing--especially in a town ruled by two powerful families.
Their fight spanned from long ago when the ancient Empire of Euris once stood tall. No one knows why the families hate each other, but it is said that an angered fairy had once cursed them to despise one another, thus beginning a history of destruction.
The Tragedy of Ohmlet begins approximately five years before the two families perished alongside the town of Ohmlet.
In a busy market square, members of the two households coincidentally encounter one another, and things go sour very quickly.
"You foolish swine! You dare call my Lady weak!" The Nurse cried, her red hair flying as she draws her blade against her opponent, no hesitation towards violence--as is the norm in this town.
Her opponent, Ferdinand, a member of the Elsion Family, merely sneered, taunting her further while he and his fellow men cornered her on all sides.
From a distance, other members of the Oldham Family can be seen approaching from a distance after noticing one of their own being outnumbered.
The townspeople took cover, running away to seek shelter against the storm.
The battles between the Elision and the Oldham are a common sight in Ohmlet. Everyone knows to stay out of their way, lest they wish to die an early death.
It is said that the Nurse of Lady Rose would commonly square off against Ferdinand, a servant of the Oldham Family.
"Enough, Ferdinand! We demand peace." A lavender-eyed man appeared amidst the battle, swords drawn as he bargained for order.
There was also another man who stands in between the conflict, especially if the battles turn too violent.
He was known as Othello, the Cousin of Lady Rose.
"Damn you, Othello! A dirty mongrel of the Elsion House only knows how to surrender when the odds are against you!"
"Are you implying my Lady's house are cowards?" Othello demanded sternly.
The Nurse snorted in distaste. "As expected of a three-inch fool."
"Hah?! Who are you calling three inches?!"
The tension was heightened once more, but before a different argument can break out, another man steps forward.
"Stand down, Ferdinand."
"Laertes!"
The Oldham Family's eldest son and heir, Laertes. The peacemaker.
"I am telling you to stand down, Ferdinand. Unless you are implying that my words do not matter..."
"No! No... My Lord..." Ferdinand glared at the Nurse and Othello, his anger stewing. "Very well. I will let you off this time. Dogs of the House of Elsion are only mere toads not worthy of my attention."
Ferdinand stormed off after that, taking his goons with him.
Laertes followed with a warning look to the Elsion members.
The two glared at him with a look of hatred.
He snorted, looking almost dismissive, before walking away.
There were, however, two individuals who did not actively participate in this rivalry--and that, my friends, you should know who they are.
In the secret garden of the Elsion Manor, the fair Lady Rose meets the fine Sir Gilde...
"My Lady, are you there?"
Sir Gilde climbs over the garden wall, looking around carefully as he sneaks through the bushes.
"Over here, Sir Gilde."
From behind the fountain, Lady Rose appears, looking quite pale. She holds a handkerchief to her lips, dying it in blood.
The beautiful and charming Lady Rose was a sheltered lady of good breeding. Her only flaw was the delicate nature of her constitution, likely due to a childhood illness.
Sir Gilde smiled gleefully, albeit with a hint of concern in his eyes, looking quite boyish as he swept his lady into his arms.
The ward of the Oldham Family, the handsome and noble Sir Gilde, who was brought to live with the Oldham Family at a very young age, is an Orpheus of a man.
Youthful and bright, he is sometimes naive but has a good heart. He and the heir of the Oldham Family, Laertes, were the best of friends--almost brothers in all but blood.
"I had thought I could never see you again. I am gladden that we can meet once more."
The two had met at the annual midsummer celebration.
And they fell for one another instantly.
"Oh, Sir Gilde. I have given you my heart ever since I first saw you..."
---
"Meyers! What are you doing here?"
Fredrick looked almost frantic as entered the light booth.
Both Professor Rickman and Peregrine watched as he begins pilfering through the cabinets.
"Sorry, Professor. No time to explain. I need to find the spare key to the changing room."
Professor Rickman raised a brow.
"Why do you need the spare key?"
I swear to the gods if you idiots lost the key--
Absentmindedly, Frederick explained, "Someone locked Nazareth inside the changing room--oops."
"What?!"
Uh-Oh.
Professor Rickman glared at the stage. "Then who the hell is that?!"
He should have known. There is no way Odum's acting would suddenly upgrade overnight.
"Um..." Frederick pursed his lips. "I believe he's the senior that played Lady Rose last year."
So, Professor Grint's student is up there playing the main character to HIS show.
"Where did you say Odum is?" Rickman hissed.
Frederick was sweating bullets. "Um, he's locked inside the changing room, Professor."
Rickman tsked. "Get him out. He better pray I don't fail him. How dare he let a student from Grint's class sub in for his role? Does he have no integrity or loyalty to my class?!"
Both Peregine and Fredrick exchanged looks.
Why does it seem like Professor Rickman is more upset about Professor Grint one-upping him than he is about Nazareth being locked inside the changing room?
Frederick eventually found the key inside one of the compartments under the light booth and bid a hurried farewell to the Professor.
He rushes backstage and heads for the changing room.
"Nazareth?"
He knocked at the door, trying to get a response. He wants to make sure Nazareth hadn't passed out or anything.
Lord Aurelion has once told him that his brother is prone to weaknesses. Frederick hadn't bothered to ask about the details before, but now he's worried that his Lord's older brother might have a bad constitution.
How else was he chosen to play Lady Rose?
Unbeknownst to Frederick, Neo has managed to kick open the irremovable window and is currently debating whether or not he should jump out.
After all, it's only three stories...
And there's a tree!
Upon hearing the knock, he turned away from the window and called out, "I'm here!"
There was the sound of a sigh of relief on the other side.
"Thank the gods. I'll get you out of there as quickly as possible!"
Neo responded with an "En."
There was the sound of shuffling, and then a distinct click before the door swung open.
"Nazareth!"
Frederick enters and pauses, his gaze falling to the window first before landing on Neo.
Neo smiled sheepishly, lifting his skirt. "So, about the show..."
He was hurried out the door.
---
"Are you alright?"
Julius watched in concern as Nazareth's friend--Finneas, was it?--turned paler and paler.
Their scene was up next.
On stage, Royce dies while Tybalt continues sword-fighting with the students playing Ferdinand and Laertes.
"I'm fine," Finneas tried to say, but it had come out somewhat muffled and drained of energy.
Julius, being someone of poor constitution, knows that the other is lying.
"You're not," He states matter-of-factly.
Seeing the delirious look in Finneas' eyes, Julius placed his hand over the other boy's forehead, immediately drawing his hand back with a hiss.
"You're burning up,"
Finneas opened his mouth to deny this. "That's-"
"That's because he has a seasonal illness."
Nazareth enters.
His eyes were filled with concern as he goes over to Finneas.
Checking his temperature and the dilation of his eyes, Neo concludes that Finneas is ill.
He had noticed the symptoms a few hours ago but didn't say anything since it didn't look too serious.
"He won't be able to get through the rest of the show at this rate."
Crash!
On stage, Tybalt finishes his monologue and 'dies.'
The scene ends.
Royce and Tybalt rush backstage, one heading to get out of his costume while the other changes into another costume.
"What's going on?"
Tybalt asked, joining the group once he was decked with a new wig and jacket.
Neo shakes his head. "Finneas won't be able to go on. His allergies have struck."
The lavender-eyed boy made an 'oh' face, and then grimaced.
They fell into silence, neither knowing what to do.
Besides the trio, Julius' face brightened with an idea.
"Why not let Nazareth switch with Finneas? The two of you rehearsed together all the time. You can play Sir Gilde."
Neo looked uncertain.
"How much do you know his lines?" Julius asked.
Neo shrugged. "Only a bit. I remember the intent of each line, but not word-by-word."
"That's going to have to be good enough," Tybalt concludes, already helping Neo take off his wig.
Lady Lettuse rushes in. "Julius, Finneas, I need you two onstage!"
She notices Neo.
"Sir Odum! There you are--"
"I'm sorry about this, Lady Lettuse, but Finneas can't perform anymore tonight."
"But--"
Tybalt unzipped Neo's dress and quickly got him out of the costume.
"Julius is going to have to play Lady Rose for the rest of the show. Naza's changing roles with Finneas."
It takes a few seconds for Lady Lettuse to understand what's going on before a determined look crossed her face.
She goes over and helps Tybalt get Neo out of his costume and into a pair of trousers and shirt.
While Neo is being costumed, Julius gets on stage and buys some time for the quick change.
They take off the jacket that Finneas is wearing, along with his hat, and puts them on Neo.
Undoing Neo's hair, Lady Lettuse pulls the raven locks into a low ponytail.
Thankfully, Sir Gilde also has black hair. The wig that Finneas is wearing is custom-made.
In a few more seconds, Neo is transformed into Sir Gilde. He slides the fencing sword into his sword belt.
"Do you think anyone will notice?"
Tybalt and Lady Lettuse shared a look.
They shake their head.
Neo can only smile nervously before rushing toward the stage.
"Rose! I have come!"
Julius gasped dramatically, his hair swishing around. Blood leaked from his lips like a faucet.
For a moment, Neo had to pause and wonder if the other boy was actually puking blood on stage.
"Oh, Gilde! I have decided, my love, let us elope! Our families will never let us be together in this lifetime, Gilde. My sweet, sweet Gilde! Love of my heart and dashingly perfect. Take me away from the treacherous violence, Gilde. Take me away!"
Neo tried very hard not to show his reaction to Julius' acting and allowed a "joyful" grin to appear on his face.
He 'runs' over to the other and gathers him into his arms.
"Anything for you, my Lady! Let us go now while the moon is full. It shall light our way toward the desert lands. We can become cactus farmers and sand-nomads. Imagine the possibilities, my Lady! Away from this place!"
Did Neo paraphrase Gilde's renowned ten-minute elopement monologue? Yes, he did.
Julius could only smile.
"Yes! Let us depart this night!"
Pulling Julius into a bridal carry, the two boys made it off stage successfully, completing the first act of the show.
---
In the light booth, Robyne Peregrine is attempting to not cower under the impressive rage that is currently immersing out of Professor Rickman.
"What the hell is Odum doing?!"
The two of them had watched as Odum appeared on stage in place of Finneas, botching up his ten-minute monologue and exiting the scene ten minutes early!
Lady Lettuse rushed into the light booth just as Rickman was about to head backstage to rip into Odum.
"Professor, Sir Dagon needs to go to the infirmary. His seasonal illness has appeared again."
A flash of concern entered the Professor's eyes, abating the rage within them.
"Sir Odum is subbing in for him currently. The technicians have taken Sir Dagon to the dressing room to rest. He doesn't look very well, Sir." Lady Lettuse continued, somehow indirectly saving Neo's impressive ass.
"Go notify his family," Rickman instructed, before pausing. "And tell Odum he did a good job."
Even if he massively botched up the entire show.
"Yes, Sir."
---
"Isn't that Brother?"
Aurelion noted, loud enough for his entire family to hear.
Vespera raised a brow and then shot a pointed look to Gareth.
"He looks very handsome."
Gareth agrees with this statement. "The characters must have switched personalities. It seems like something Erick would do. Look. Nazareth is swooning. It seems acting suits him."
Indeed, on stage, Neo was currently swooning like crazy to make up for his tragic acting.
"You can tell he is meant to be an actor," Vespera says with finality.
Aurelion and Guinivere looked at one another, and then back on stage.
Nazareth was sword-fighting Tybalt, who has changed costumes and is currently playing Galentine, Lady Rose's Fiancee.
How is he still swooning?!
---
"Frederick, do you know where the extra night pearls went?"
Frederick was pulled away from the costumes by the props manager.
She held the lantern for the final scene in her hand with a look of confusion.
"The light fluids are gone in this one and I can't seem to find where the spare pearls are."
Frederick looked perplexed as he examined the night pearl and the empty fluid bottle. "Hmm, hopefully, no one drank the fluids. Have you checked Peregrine? He has a strange addiction..."
The two technicians exchanged looks and then sighed.
"Very well. Let's just use a normal candle. It's only a short scene. Who's carrying the lantern?"
"Tybalt."
Frederick nods. "He's very responsible."
The props manager is convinced and goes to find a candle and a match.
---
The show continues with no more mishaps.
Sir Gilde and Lady Rose elope, fleeing across the river of Ohmlet and into the Desert Land. They get married on top of a sand dune and begin a life traveling through the desert as sand-nomads.
Ohmlet becomes a battlefield after Lady Rose and Sir Gilde escape from their families.
While the bloody war wages between the two Houses, Lady Rose gives birth to a son, Leopold, and the couple is joyous and happy.
Eventually, Neo managed to swoon his way towards the climax of the show.
The families tracked Gilde and Rose through the desert and eventually found them in a little cottage surrounded by cactus fields. It is night. There is a moon painted in the background and a lantern 'lighting the way' for a mob of angry Elsion and Oldham actors.
Then, the confrontation commences.
"Oldham! You bastard son of a whore! How dare you take my fiancee?!" Tybalt shouted his lines, looking angry and affronted whilst carefully carrying a lantern on stage. The movement did not match his rage.
Neo swooned instinctively, "We are passionately in love, Lord Galentine. We are fated and happy, the two of us. Why must you interfere in our love?"
Oh, wait.
That's not his line...
By the look that Julius is currently shooting him, Neo realized too late that he just recited Lady's Rose's lines.
Well, shit.
"Galentine! You absolute swine! You dare confront us when you can't even see that I do not want to marry you?"
Nice cover, Julius!
Tybalt raised his hackles and drew his blade. "I challenge you, Oldham, to a duel for my Lady's hand!"
Neo nods sternly and brings out his own sword.
He absentmindedly thinks that Sir Gilde and Lord Galentine duel a lot in this show. It's amazing how both parties can just go and be violent the moment they see each other.
However, right before the epic and final sword battle between Galentine and Gilde could officially commence, Lady Rose coughs.
And then begins choking.
On her own blood.
No--that's Julius. Julius is choking in his own blood---
Neo throws away his sword and comes rushing over, completely forgetting the show.
He now has a patient.
"Julius... Julius, are you alright...!?"
Everyone on stage begins to freak out as they realize that this isn't a part of the performance.
---
"That is a very impressive Lady Rose." Gareth couldn't help noting.
Beside him, Vespera could only nod along.
She could smell the iron from where she was sitting and was equally impressed. It seems they have used real blood.
Guinivere frowned in bemusement while Aurelion just watched the chaos go down.
He watched his brother rehearse the show in his bedroom.
It did not look like this.
The second Odum son decidedly kept his mouth shut, not giving away the fact that his brother's class has somehow managed to fuck up the Tragedy of Ohmlet.
---
Battle music was being played in the background while the actors and technicians were running frantically around the stage trying to clean up the blood.
At one point, the lantern that Tybalt set down near the curtain was tripped over, lighting a small flame.
It climbed the curtains and fell onto the small drips of blood on the ground.
Before anyone could comment on the strange scent of burning, the stage lit on fire.
... Which evoked more panic.
Amidst all of this, Tybalt and Neo were trying to help Julius off the stage.
---
Frederick and Lady Lettuse stared, almost in a daze, as the production went to shit.
Lady Lettuse quietly took out her script and flipped through the end.
"Someone get me the echo charm. We're going to skip to the ending."
The charms are brought over.
They were meant for the last scene when the Elsion and Oldham are battling in the desert.
Their violence brings down the wrath of a fairy, who emotes a curse upon the two families, killing all that is present.
---
"... I CURSE THEE, RUINOUS HUMANS! DESPICABLE DEVILS WHO KNOW NOTHING BUT DESTRUCTION! I CURSE YOU AND YOUR LINE, FOREVER AND EVER AND ETERNITY MORE! I CURSE YOU!"
At these words, everyone on stage instantly 'dies', their instincts honed from Professor Rickman's hellish rehearsals being put to good use.
The fairy's curse was played over and over again during rehearsal, and every time it was played, every member on stage was told to 'die'.
Apparently, Professor Rickman wanted them to at least have a scene where they won't be able to mess up, no matter what.
---
The curtains draw to a close.
Flame extinguisher charms are brought out to dampen the fire.
The audience clap resoundingly, their cheers were music to Professor Rickman's ears.
Behind the curtain, the class stared at each other, looking exhausted.
As the performance high fell away, the group gathered their wits and scattered, beginning to clean up the stage.
"Are you okay?"
Neo sat Julius down on a bench, helping the other clear the blood off his face.
"No. I feel like shit." The blonde stated bluntly, scowling as he remembered his embarrassing moment.
He did the exact same thing during last year's performance...
Neo cracked a small smile. "Well, you don't look too bad. Just don't forget to drink something to replenish what you lost."
"En."
Tybalt got out of his costume and met Royce, who was sitting next to Finneas inside the changing room.
The two boys are oblivious of what had gone on.
"How did it go?"
Tybalt paused in his movement.
Finally, he just smiled.
"We somehow managed to set the stage on fire."
Finneas and Royce gaped at him.
Well, there goes their grade.
---
Volume I Extras End