They lined up to have their tickets checked, passed through the first set of doors, walked a short distance, then had their tickets inspected again at the second gate where the stub was torn off, before finally going through security.
Well, it was all quite proper, and carried a certain sense of ceremony.
For the group, all attending a concert for the first time, the novelty was undeniable.
"Which section are we in again?"
Kevyn glanced down at her ticket stub. "Section B—it's this way."
The group followed Kevyn and soon found their assigned seats.
There were still two hours until the concert officially began, so after entering, everyone had time to sit and chat leisurely.
If they stayed seated after the concert started, they'd probably end up staring at a forest of waving glow sticks and armpits.
"Speaking of which, are there some songs on the setlist that Eden hasn't officially released yet?"
Mei had spent the past while listening to both albums Eden had released since her debut, which was why she noticed this discrepancy on the program.
Do singers these days really go this hard when releasing new music?
She'd already dropped two full albums back-to-back, and now her very first concert includes unseen performances? That's some insane productivity.
Kevyn was also new to celebrity concerts. This show at Nagazora City Stadium was Eden's very first solo concert—the inaugural stop—so there were no previous shows to reference.
Faced with Mei's question, Kevyn could only scratch her head and offer an awkward chuckle, unsure how to respond.
Durandal, however, skimmed the program, and her eyes paused on one titled Kingdom After the Sunset.
It became clear then: Eden wasn't planning just a simple concert of pop hits. No, she had bigger ambitions.
See? They'd even included an opera segment—something you'd usually only see in a grand theater.
So, those unfamiliar titles might not be new pop songs, but works in different forms, distinct from mainstream music.
After this concert, Eden's standing in the arts world would likely skyrocket, elevating her from singer to bona fide artist.
And Durandal was more than happy to witness this moment—to watch a superstar, one destined to define an era, rise before her eyes… and then turn her into the Flame-Chasers' personal wallet (scratch that last part).
After two long hours of waiting, the stars hung high outside, while inside, spotlights flooded the center of the stage.
At the same time, the massive screen behind the stage lit up.
Seeing this, the chattering fans in the audience fell silent, craning their necks in anticipation of the meteoric star's appearance.
In the midst of it all, Durandal felt a little dazed, as if she hadn't actually crossed into an apocalypse on the brink of being destroyed by Honkai, but into an ordinary, modern parallel world.
For a second, she half-expected Eden to pick her as a lucky audience member, pull her onstage to sing, and then—thanks to a song that didn't exist in this world—debut successfully right then and there.
If that happened, this story shouldn't be called [Flame-Chasers Need Not Chase Flames], but [My Debut Starts at the Diva's Concert].
Of course, these were just wild, fleeting thoughts running through Durandal's mind.
After all, there was no "lucky audience sing-along" segment on the concert setlist, so the premise didn't hold up.
Soon, a figure abruptly appeared within the circle of light.
It turned out her entrance was via a lift—the lit area was hollow. Eden had already positioned herself on the lift via a special backstage passage, and as the concert began, she greeted the audience this way—a common concert practice.
And so, Eden slowly rose into view, starting with her flowing wine-red hair, then her stunning face adorned with exquisite stage makeup, and finally, the well-tailored stage outfit that balanced fashion and grandeur.
Durandal was gazing intently when a playful voice whispered by her ear, "What's this? Can't take your eyes off her~ I never knew you liked the elegant older sister type~?"
Durandal turned to look at Elysia.
Her smile was as polished and unreadable as ever.
But wasn't that the biggest tell?
Elysia smiled like that at everyone—except her.
Not bothering to guess what was going through this woman's mind, Durandal simply shook her head.
"I'm just reflecting on how she appears under the spotlight, bathed in starlight, with countless eyes upon her."
She left the rest unspoken—"This is completely different from the Eden I remember, the one who spoke slowly, always holding a golden goblet of wine, sipping alone, wrapped in an aura of melancholy and solitary refinement."
Perhaps that was also why Eden ultimately chose to fade away along with her era.
Hearing this, Elysia's eyes flickered slightly.
In a voice soft enough that only the two of them could hear, she murmured, "So, you've known her for a long time too? Just like…"
The words that followed—whether left unspoken or simply too faint—were lost to Durandal.
Of course, not hearing didn't mean she didn't know what Elysia meant to say.
After a moment of silence, as the music swelled, Durandal seemed stirred by the passionate melody and finally let go of her reservations.
"Elysia."
Durandal called her name.
"Hmm?"
Elysia looked at Durandal, curiosity in her eyes, unsure why she was being addressed just then.
"When the time comes that you're willing to tell me everything about yourself, I'll also share everything about me. That's a promise between you and me—and the deadline is forever."
With that, regardless of Elysia's reaction, Durandal turned her attention back to the stage ahead, raising her glow stick and swaying along with those around her.
Just as Durandal had guessed, the first half of the concert featured Eden faithfully performing songs from her two previously released albums.
But after an intermission, when she returned to the stage, her makeup had changed. Even the curtain that had hung at the back of the stage since the beginning was finally drawn aside.
As the giant red curtain fell away, it revealed a set so realistic it could fool anyone.
There were physical structures, blended with virtual scenery using the latest holographic technology.
In an instant, an ancient, magnificent palace, bathed in the glow of sunset, appeared before everyone's eyes, capturing the hearts of every fan in the audience.
Now this was a surprise!
Standing at the center of the stage, Eden announced to the packed stadium that the next segment would be an opera.
She assured the audience that anyone not interested could leave early, and staff were ready to issue full refunds.
Yet, not a single person in the crowd stirred.
--+--