CHAPTER 1542: CHAPTER 41: THE PRICE OF GROWTH

In the grand theater, the backdrop was as dark as the starry sky, with the golden stage slowly rising in the glow.

The delicate arch of a foot gently stepped onto the stage, as one by one, the girls in golden star-studded stockings made their silent yet splendid entrance. Their skirts swayed like ripe summer oranges, and their graceful figures unfurled in the dance, showcasing soft body curves, youthful vibrancy, as if they were the most beautiful beings in existence, leaving the audience in awe.

Since the conflicts within the Federation have ceased and stability resumed, the Central Star Domain once again leads the trends and tides of the era. However, the current aesthetic clearly differs from the early Elven flavors of the Rose Federation, instead embodying the opulence of the ’Golden Flame Flower’ in Isenisha’s name.

After abandoning traditional imagery like vines, flowers, the moon, and plants, the current aesthetic trend, like the golden foil scattered at festivals, covers everything in a radiant glow. Boldness, flamboyance, extroversion, self-expression — these terms define the characteristics of this trend.

In today’s era, courage, passion, freedom, extroversion, and candor are the most praised virtues, while humility, diligence, restraint, elegance, and caution are seen as lower on the totem pole, and labeled as attributes of the weak or the nonconformists.

This trend has emerged partly from the personality preferences of the Songstress ’Volcano Queen’ Prin Coco, and partly from the innate desires of the Central Star Domain’s residents, longing to restore the glory of the past with such an attitude.

To the Federation, the existence of Songstresses is like a soul. The most influential Songstress of each era can almost dictate the personality preferences of the citizens, as history has repeatedly shown and recorded.

During the period when Isenisha, the ’Golden Flame Flower,’ led the Federation, virtues of openness, inclusivity, exploration, and purity were highly praised and fashionable. Then, during Emuralin’s ’Cobalt Blue Tears’ period of strong Federation reforms, the societal benchmarks were justice, calmness, sacrifice, and steadfastness, attracting countless people to follow that Color-level Songstress’s path.

On stage, the girls wore ballet tutus, their hips swayed, and they spun and leaped with grace like swans, proudly displaying their beauty.

On the sides of the theater, rows of violinists formed a trapezoidal formation, playing in unison, immersed in their expressions. The drawn violin bows, like strokes of a painter, elaborately delineating the most splendid lines of this world.

Luxe opulence is not a useless thing. It’s like the golden apple hanging from the branch, rare and exquisite, attracting countless beings to climb upward, and these shared steps of the beings also collectively compose the tide of the era, breaking through barriers and rules that obstruct.

With the elves excluded from the upper structure of the Federation, the new rulers of the era have constructed new trends and values, a ladder paved with golden star dust, where ascending each step earns immense praise and applause, inviting one to be utterly consumed with excitement.

Originating from humble beginnings is not feared. As long as you don a gold short skirt and slender long socks, you can receive the same applause and admiration as the young ladies. The entire era will pave the way for opulence and beauty, and you only need to think about which dance to perform on this stage.

The advancements in technology enable even those with less than ideal natural appearances to gain a decent look, with the support of various products. Schools, companies, and officials will provide those winners an opportunity to showcase themselves on stage. Past insecurities and doubts will melt away under the spotlight, and you become the focus of attention, an object of envy, a model enticing the next to step onto the stage.

The operation of the economy requires strong consumption to support. If there is no demand, then demand needs to be created. If there is no desire, then desire needs to be stimulated.

This trend is viewed as rebellious and unconventional by conservative traditionalists. Yet, it rapidly boosted the economy of the Central Star Domain and resulted in enormous cultural appeal, instilling envy and longing in children and young people from other star regions of the Federation towards that world on the other side of the screen.

Doesn’t everyone want to become a more brilliant version of themselves?

The Central Star Domain does not need to spend a huge cost to screen and cultivate talent. It only needs to create that most splendid, glowing stage, and countless young people and capital will flock there, like flying birds.

This is the capital of the Rose Federation, the most dazzling paradise on the Milky Way.

...

Thunder rumbled in succession, and cool, dark raindrops tapped on the window ledge. The violet curtains draped down the sides, revealing the world veiled in gray outside.

Tilan sat in the high-backed wooden chair by the window, reclining against the chair back, eyes closed in sleep. Her green hair slipped over her shoulders, splayed over the dark blue classical dress.

The window left slightly ajar, occasionally letting in raindrops carried by the wind, wetting the strands of hair on the girl’s back, yet she remained asleep, not waking.

Thus, until the sky gradually darkened, and a warm yellow light brightened on the hardwood table inside the room.

Most of the girl’s figure was cloaked in shadow, with only the skirt on her knees and gently resting fingers visible in the lamp’s glow, reflecting faint, soft halos.

As night deepened, the raindrops outside gradually ceased, leaving silence all around.

In this moment, a pair of eyes opened in the dark night, even in nighttime, those eyes were so beautiful and lively, as if countless words flowed within, causing anyone who saw them to be entranced.

Like an orchid in the dark of night, the girl slowly awakened. She stood up, then knelt on the wooden chair, gazing into the starless night sky outside.

To many, this could be seen as a cold and lonely scene. However, in this girl’s heart, the nighttime tranquility instead gave her a sense of free and unrestrained joy.

No one would disturb her, she didn’t have to endure the scrutiny of various gazes, nor care about mundane rules, she could wander freely in the night-cloaked wilderness.

People used to call her the Black Songstress of the night, which wasn’t wrong, the girl thought.

In the past three years, she had increasingly reduced her appearances in the public eye. The last time she was covered in newspapers across the Federation was probably when she went to mediate the Eastern Star Region, getting both sides to cease conflict and negotiate peace.

Even though different factions within the Federation have varying ideas and pursuits, Tilan hasn’t forgotten that they are all part of human civilization, survivors from the Dark Age of the Fifth Epoch.

Within the Federation, competition and reform can occur, but there shouldn’t be life-or-death battles. Besides, the current situation is unstable. Even with the Central Star Domain in an advantageous position, it wouldn’t risk going to war with both the Eastern and Southern Star Regions simultaneously. So, thanks to Tilan’s involvement and mediation, a three-year peace was finally reached.

To the public, and even many Songstresses, the Fifth Epoch is a distant, nearly forgettable era. But for Tilan, who experienced much on the Lost Planet, that era wasn’t as far off as people imagined. She vaguely sensed that if the Federation continued to sink, Songstresses too would risk mutation.

Because intrinsically, the crown raised by a Songstress and the crown of the Black Sun are the same entity. This is also why, after Emuralin, the Federal Upper Echelon silently resisted the emergence of new Sunshine-level Songstresses.

They revered, yet feared such overly powerful forces.

After the Rose Federation lost Sunshine-level Songstresses for a century, this era saw the arrival of three Sunshine-level Songstresses — Blanchi, Prin, and Hexia. Now, Blanchi has passed, Hexia lives in seclusion, and Prin influences the entire Federation, buoyed by numerous conglomerate groups. The outgoing atmosphere and trend felt even by the girl in the Jade Skirt, sensing the golden dust and warmth in the wind.

Faced with such widespread trends, even Hexia, as one of the Sunshine-level Songstresses, could only temporarily retreat and let it all pass.

People always regret. Without the tempering of steel and fire, it’s hard to learn strength. Without going through the erosion of gold’s allure, it’s difficult to discern one’s real desires and aspirations.

If past Tilan was too gentle and kind, the indulgent mother of children, then the current her understands that necessary rain and trials are a better choice.

She wouldn’t hinder Prin’s actions, nor stop those who yearn for the golden stage, even if she knows many will face hurt and disappointment on this journey.

Songstresses are not immortal Suns, nor can they protect human civilization like Cradle’s Wings forever. Now, all she can do is let the young human civilization grow and mature as much as possible.

She feels she has become more ruthless, Tilan thought, standing in front of the mirror, slowly combing out the long hair in front of her, then tying it up.

’——Perhaps this is the price of growth.’