𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀 | 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐨

𖤓𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟬𝟬 - 𝗔 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𖤓

Thousands of eyes peer into the stage, pupils widened in admiration, breaths held in anticipation as they gazed at the platform. Warm, golden lights were tilted as they placed the spotlight on the siren above the wooden stage. Her heels rasped above the floor while she swayed to the beat of the song, a small swing of her waist, a short pivot of her feet, then, a gorgeous smile gifted to the crowd. She held the microphone stand on the tip of her fingers, clinging gently as she allowed the lyrics of the song to fall smoothly from her lips like a sacred prayer. An ovation to the gods. To their Tsaritsa. The young woman snapped her fingers, and the musicians heeded her command like mindless soldiers. The drums ceased their thunder, the wind instruments held their breaths, the steady fingers of the guitarist froze above the strings and the piano remained silent upon her will, the vibrations barely audible as they ricocheted of the walls.

Opening the song once more with a lovely tune, the star brought forth the lyrics of the song, pieced them together for the audience to enjoy as she danced on the stage. The instruments came to life, the spell she'd casted upon them suddenly broken as they followed the rhythm of her voice, the slight twitch of her fingers that would indicate when to stop, when to repeat a verse and when to play as freely as they could. A mere singer had the power to control the stage. Just a pair of lips spewing words that would blend with the voices of the instruments, forming a delicate yet compelling symphony that would leave the crowd stunned in awe.

As she muttered the last verse of the song, the woman bowed with a tender smile on her lips, the spotlight steady on her figure as her fellow musicians bowed to the audience as well. A rupturing roar was coerced from the crowd, the people clapping maniacally as they cheered from the top of their lungs. Some of them threw coins at the stage, others would throw their arms and try to grasp at her cascading, ivory dress. The star tried to brush off their attempts with a smile, laughing stiffly at the audience as she took a few steps back and bowed once more. For the rest of the night, she would spend it on singing her heart out, enamoring the audience with her smiles and kind gestures. She would try to be a tease, her charm on display and all over the place, and the people would love her even more, sending more money towards her and her greedy pockets.

Such a glamorous star, propped up on a platform for everyone to gawk at and admire. Almost close enough to feel their humanity, to delve into their desires, yet so far away, so inhumane. A goddess with no title, no land to her a name and no power for her fingers to grasp. So high up in a pedestal, so high she might as well live in the clouds, away from the misery they earned by solely existing on this earth.

Estheria, she called herself, and the audience would scream her name in pure adoration. Of course, such fabulous name couldn't possibly be her real name, and so, people would often wonder who she really was. A mystery, really. From where did she truly come from? Who exactly were her parents? Did she come from the farthest corners of Teyvat, or had she been born within the borders of Sneznahya? Odd, some people might say, not knowing the singer's origins. Despite being a star, she couldn't have possibly fallen from the skies.

"Tell me her name," The Captain, the first of the Harbingers, the Tsaritsa's strongest and most feared soldier, questioned the bartender, metallic, gloved fingers drumming gently above the glass of fine whisky he'd been drinking for the past ten minutes. Not the first glass of the night, nor the last.

"Estheria, or so I heard," The old man replied. Turning his head towards the man, the harbinger shook his head, unsatisfied with his answer. Estheria was her stage name, a title for her to wear in order to hide who she truly was. Of course, he had to know who she really was. Curiosity was gnawing ferociously at the fibers of his flesh and bones.

"That's a false identity. A name to keep a distance from her...fans. I want to know her real name." Capitano lifted the glass in his hands, the rim of the cup disappearing into the void of his helmet as he took a sip of his drink. Knowing better than to question the logic behind such occurrence, the bartender instead opted for answering his superior's inquiry.

"Unfortunately, that's all I know, my lord." The older man inclined his head, staring down at the dirtied floor beneath the soles of his shoes. He was aware of how the harbingers functioned, and so, he awaited his punishment, not wanting to be taken by surprise if he were to be killed. Luckily for him, the Captain was not as deranged as his fellow co-harbingers.

"Is there anyone in here that might know it? One of her coworker musicians, perhaps?" He asked once more, but the bartender could only shake his head.

"Not that I know of, my lord."

Shifting his position on the stool by the bar counter, the First gazed at the woman still stuck to that suffocating stage. She was currently indulging one of the members of the crowd with their jokes, her airy laugh echoing all around them causing the audience to swoon over the beautiful star. She would place her hand on her chest, clutch her collar and throw her head back in pure laughter, muttering a few words to the members that continued to jest, an attempt to please the woman above them on the stage. Drying a few stray tears from her cheeks, the star neared her lips next to the microphone and chuckled lightly before parting her mouth to speak.

"Thank you everyone," She began, smiling softly at the audience with hearts carved on their eyes, her seemingly flawless figure imprinted right in the center of their pupils. "Thank you for having me tonight. I will keep each and every single one of you in the bottom of my heart."

The audience shouted their praises, some proclaiming their love for her, others simply cheering for her kind and gentle soul.

"A crowd like this can never be forgotten," She stated, her eyes wandering through the crowd, slowly processing their expressions, their devotion for her, their star. A grin remained plastered on her lips as she scanned the audience, every single face until her gaze landed on an empty shell, devoid of any light.

Her smile faltered, for a moment, as she racked the archives of her mind, searching for an identity to place upon the stranger without a face. Upon remembering who exactly he was, and the status that he held in this nation, the woman laughed awkwardly, trying to conceal her shocked expression. There was no reason for the Captain, the First of the harbingers, to be here tonight in this pathetic excuse of a bar. Yet, here he was, drink in hand while his hidden eyes appeared to pierce right through the crowd, right through her face. His helmet faced her direction, along with his armored figure, the thought of having a harbinger staring intently at her making her sweat despite the freezing breeze that would filter through the cracks of the windows.

How strange... having a harbinger standing in her presence. Not an imposing threat to her safety. No, no, no. Il Capitano seemed to enjoy her performance, something she would've never expected. She was supposed to be invisible within his smothering presence, just another ant for the sole of his shoe to step on as he makes his way down the roads that lead to the Zapolyarny palace. Estheria might be a star to this people, yet her splendor had never reached the corners of the nation, hell- not even the capital.

So, why? Why did he continue to eye her as if she held the very world in her hands?

"Estheria," One of the musicians, the drummer to be exact, called behind her, a crease between his brows as he appeared to look a bit concerned yet suspicious. Stepping away from the microphone (but not before sending the crowd a cheeky grin), the young woman approached the man.

"What is it? Is something the matter?" She questioned, staring at her fellow musicians, a bit cautious of their sudden, strange demeanor.

"The lord harbinger wishes to speak to you. Privately... that is." The bass player said, gripping his instrument tightly, a bit terrified of what that could possibly lead to.

Glancing back the crowd, the star searched for the soulless pit that stared into her soul, her chest twisting in worry as she met his hidden gaze. With that mask on, she would never be able to decipher his thoughts. She couldn't help but to feel a shiver trekking up her spine, weary of the harbinger's intentions.

...

I love Capitano sm so here I am with another Capitano fanfic while the other one sits in a corner collecting dust....

Thank you for reading and have a nice day/evening!!