On a rainy day, a gray luxury car was driving through the wet streets, while the heavy rain was carried by the wind.A woman with silver hair and green eyes looked at the child beside her, who was scared of the strong rain.
She sighs, leans closer to the boy and gently pats his head, then says:— Calm down, calm down… mommy is here.
The boy looks at the woman's face, who had bright eyes and beautiful hair.A moment that felt slow, like a dream.
Amid the slowness of the child's vision, the driver wonders:— Huh…? Where are the brakes…?
Hearing that, the woman looks toward the car window.A light slowly illuminated everything. In slow motion… everything moved slowly.A truck was approaching.
The child's eyes were filled with the strong light… and with the glow of his mother's eyes.
Then, a loud noise echoes.— NO!
Yory wakes up with heavy breathing, a deep stare, and his hand on his chest.He bites his lip and tightens his grip on his shirt.
Then, above, on the bunk bed, Diogu appears, only with his head hanging over the edge, and asks:— Is everything okay there? Did you have a nightmare?
He just breathes deeply… and doesn't answer.
Yory gets up and walks straight to the bathroom.He opens the faucet, fills his hands with water and washes his face.
After that, he looks in the mirror… and feels the chill that was disturbing him.In place of his reflection, a shadow with a strange aura was watching him.
Then, he closes his eyes and leaves the bathroom, saying:— No need to say anything… I already know what I have to do…
Running his wet hand through his hair, he makes a serious face and heads back to his room.
At the Peleno Mansion, Anano was taking her bath, while thinking, watching the shower water fall over her hair.
— "It's today…"
Turning off the shower, she wraps herself in a towel and leaves the bathroom, closing the door.On top of the machine, inside the bathroom, Anano's phone showed 5:30 in the morning.
Anano enters the room, and Moyaso was already waiting for her with a beautiful gray dress, with purple details at the edges.Moyaso brings the dress closer to Anano, comparing it with the young girl's body… and after that, says with a slight laugh:
— This will look beautiful on you…
Moyaso places the dress on the huge bed and then asks:— Will you need help with the makeup?
Anano finishes drying her hair and sits on a chair near the mirror.She looks at her reflection… and sees a distorted image of her own face.
Then she answers, without hesitation:— Yes…
Walking near a large blue stage, with black curtains, a man smoked his cigarette.Hijiro Nanaji, the director of that play, simply watched, standing still… as if the stage had captured his attention.
Then, another person speaks to him:— Good morning, director. Watching the stage again?
A woman with red hair and shining red eyes, wearing light clothes with a red suit and a blue beret, looked at the stage along with him, with her hands in her pockets.
— Paola Mortrevick… indeed, this stage catches my attention a lot. By far, it is one of the only ones I've worked on that pulled my gaze this much.
The woman smiles and then turns her face to him, replying with pride:— Here, at Estrelatte, we have differences when it comes to the modernity of stages. The curtains, for example, are black precisely so we can use projectors more easily when necessary.Every millimeter here was designed for the best possible perception of the scenery.
Hijiro observes a bit more, then turns to leave, saying:— Indeed… it caught my attention. Now I will go to the audition room to see the talents this play has to offer.
— Don't worry, director.
He turns back, with the cigarette in his mouth.Mortrevick was lighting hers with a white lighter… with half-closed eyes, serious, but smiling confidently.
— Here at Estrelatte… talent is something that never lacks.
In the distance, the clock that showed 5:50 in the morning soon advanced to 6:25.In a large room, there was only one table… with three people seated, and a huge mirror in the background.
Anano, who was observing from afar, analyzed each of them while speaking to herself:
— In the first chair… director Hijiro Nanaji. An extremely strict Japanese director, known for directing major box office successes.— In the second, at the center… Paola Mortrevick. Owner of the Estrelatte theater and general supervisor of the play.— And in the third… the writer of the work we are going to act in… Luan Rinaldo
She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath… and then composes herself:
— Alright… now it's time to do my best.
She turns to leave… but ends up bumping into someone.
The two fall to the ground.
— Watch where you're going…
The voice was familiar.
They look at each other.
Anano… and Yory were face to face, fallen on the ground.
Anano stutters, surprised:— W-what… WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!
— I SHOULD BE ASKING YOU THAT!
The silence weighs for a moment…
Until both realize the scene they were making.Several eyes were turned toward them.
Quickly, the two get up and stand with their backs to each other.
Yory asks:— Do you also intend to join the play?
— Yes, I do. By the way… are you going to join? Because I don't see any kind of talent coming from you… except acting in a comedy show.
— You with that sharp tongue as always, huh…
— But of course.
Yory turns to her and starts walking in the opposite direction…His presence felt heavier.
— If that's the case… give it your all. I won't go easy on you.
Anano, with a cold expression, responds with the same intensity:
— Don't worry… I'll do my best to show you your place.
All the participants watched the clock…Its hands echoed a constant sound… almost like the sound of anxiety itself.
Then… the hands mark it.6:00 in the morning.
The director stands up from his chair and says out loud:— First participants… begin the auditions for the play now.
A girl approaches, standing in front of the judges, who were serious, each holding a glass of water.
A young woman with dark red eyes and brown hair introduces herself:— My name is Sarah Liane. I am part of the Estrelatte Theater. I expect to perform a great role… it is a pleasure to work with you.
Hijiro looks at her from head to toe… closes his eyes… and opens them again.He places the script on the table.
"The Two Barriers"
— Do scene four.
The young woman picks up the script, reads quickly… takes a deep breath…
Then begins.
Her eyes open intensely, her hands follow every emotion.
— As a mother… I forbid you from committing this dishonorable act of betraying the family!— As you, a princess heir of the empire… I and your father, the emperor, will never allow it!
In the distance, Yory watched with a cold gaze… analyzing every detail.
— "The Two Barriers… a work written as a light novel by the author Fourt Deopar.A story that sold more than 172 million copies in just one year…"
He brings his hand to his chin.
— "The love between two princesses… and a low-level servant.Famous for its tragic ending…"
His eyes remain fixed on the girl.
— "She truly lives up to the name of Estrelatte… pure talent.It's not the best acting I've ever seen… but it's well above average."
The young woman continues:
— There is no love between a servant… and a princess! Not today… not ever!— That's all. Now get out of my sight… and rethink your actions!
She finishes, breathing heavily.
The judges remain silent for a moment…
Then they begin to comment among themselves:
— She is really good… — says Hijiro.
— I told you we have real talents here. — replies Mortrevick, smiling.
— And you? Writer… Mibai Algust?
— Incredible… she knew how to perfectly interpret the empress.I was even a little moved.
Sarah smiles, satisfied… and returns to her place.
— Next… Hina Eris.
Hijiro turns slightly:— Is she a new actress? I don't remember that name…
Mibai replies, with a slight smile:— A new actress… but one who has been gaining a lot of recognition.I personally made sure to invite her.
Mortrevick lets out a small laugh… looking at the door:— If it's who I'm thinking… this is going to get interesting…
— But she's late, isn't she? — asks Hijiro.— How can someone late make this interesting?
The door opens.
A young woman enters.
Short silver hair… purple, bright eyes.
Even with simple clothes… her presence dominated the room.
Anano watches in silence.
— This is…
The girl walks past Yory.
Time seems to slow down.
Yory freezes.
That look…That presence…
A single word echoes in his mind:
— Mom…?
She walks slowly and stands in front of the judges, introducing herself:
— I apologize for my delay, my name is Hina Eris. I am currently a newly arrived actress in the field, I worked as the protagonist in a recent film released called "In Search of the Path".
— "In Search of the Path"? I know this horror movie well. It was quite successful because of an excellent actress who played the protagonist and had incredible expressions and stage presence. Well then… let's begin.
Hijiro opens the script, places it on the table and says:
— Show us scene 5 before scene 4.
Hina picks up the script and quickly reads what the scene asks. Then she places her hand on her chest, takes a deep breath… and opens her bright purple eyes, making a posture of fear and an expression of crying.
— But… but mother… I love him… I love him very much. If a love is true, what kind of barrier could hold such a feeling?!— WHAT KIND OF MOTHER DOES NOT ACCEPT THE TRUE LOVE OF HER DAUGHTER?!
Everyone falls silent. Director Hijiro is perplexed and begins to analyze the young woman's acting.
— "This scene tends to require many emotions in words and actions. A normal actor only shows in excess a single emotion, the one they know will stand out among the others, like anger or sadness… but she… she manages to show all of them with just a single expression and line…"— "This is…"— "Incredible."
She continued acting with her hands and then lowers her head, falling to her knees on the ground, tightening her hands with force as tears fell from her face.
— Why?... Why would my own mother be against me?...
She finishes, kneeling on the ground. Everyone around is perplexed and amazed, a deadly silence of total appreciation for the performance.
Then slow claps take over that silence.
With a surprised face, just looking at the young woman, Hijiro speaks out loud:
— Incredible.
Then everyone around begins to clap for the girl, who looked around desperate and embarrassed.
— Ah?! What?! You don't need to do that, guys!!
Anano was clapping, and after looking at Yory, she is surprised.
Yory was clapping with a smile on his face… a smile she had never seen.
Hina bows to the judges and walks toward the others who would present themselves next.
Then she passes by Yory again…
But this time, she notices him.
She looks directly into his eyes.
Both stare at each other…It was as if their gazes were calling each other, like a magnet.
He is left speechless.
And she, returning to reality, asks:
— You… what is your name?
Yory looks at that hair and answers with a slight laugh:
— Me? My name is Yory Madeira. Nice to meet you.
— You probably already know… my name, since I just introduced myself to the judges, but even so… nice to meet you, I am Hina Eris. But you can call me Hina!
Yory watches her speaking… every word, every body movement, every expression.
— "They… are very… very similar…"
An image comparing Yadia, his mother, and Hina appears in his mind.
When he was about to say something else…
Anano walks between the two angrily and immediately says:
— If you're going to keep chatting like that, get out of the way. It's my turn to present myself.
Yory looks sideways at Anano, who with a serious expression walks to the front of the judges.
Before picking up the script…
She stops.
Takes a step forward… facing everyone without hesitation.
— My name is Anano Peleno.— I have no interest in pleasing… only in showing results.
A slight silence takes over the room.
Mortrevick lets out a small laugh.
— Such confidence…
Right after, Hijiro looks seriously at Anano, crosses his arms and says to himself:
— "Among the volunteers who will enter the play, for me, two stood out a lot after I talked to them personally… and now, in front of me, one of them will show me the real potential of an actor."
Hijiro, with a serious look, opens another script and says:
— Do scene 17.
Anano picks up the script and starts reading.
Mortrevick observes Anano with her sharp eyes and lets out a laugh.
Anano finishes reading and takes a deep breath.
She raises her gaze…Serious.Determined.
In the minds of the judges, by coincidence, the same thought appears:
— "SHOW US WHAT A PELENO IS CAPABLE OF DOING, ANANO!"