tears of mercury | beastars

chapter 12. A RADIANT DESPOT

𖤣𖥧.𖤣𖥧𓆏𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
━━━━━━━━━━━

The feverish excitement outside the auditorium was palpable, students—males, females, carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores alike—waited in anticipation. The Drama Club's performance had become the event of the season, and there was one undeniable reason for that: Louis the red deer, as Adler.

Failure was not an option.

For Louis, failure on stage was akin to death.

(Name) sat quietly on the surface of a makeup table in the dressing room, her thoughts swirling as she observed the red deer standing by the window. Beside her was a glass of water, and in her hand, a single painkiller pill she had retrieved moments ago.

Louis's sharp figure was silhouetted against the glass as he stared out at the clusters of students milling around the auditorium. His gaze was piercing, unwavering, but his body betrayed him.

When a sudden jolt of pain visibly wracked his frame, (Name) shot to her feet in concern.

"Take the painkiller." she urged, stepping closer to him.

"I already had one this morning," Louis replied curtly, brushing her concern aside.

(Name)'s lips pressed into a thin line. She hesitated, unsure whether to argue further. She knew how much every performance meant to him. But the sight of his tense form, clearly suffering, made her heart ache.

Taking a deep breath, she asked gently, "Are you sure you can do the performance today? I know it's not ideal for you, but—"

"No." Louis snapped, cutting her off. His sharp glare pinned her in place.

(Name) met his gaze but chose her words carefully. "Louis. . . I can tell this pain has been ongoing. There's only so much you can endure before it gets worse. I'm just saying this because—"

"I know why you're saying it." he interrupted, his voice quieter now but no less stern. He didn't respond further, turning his back to her.

. . . I care.

Before the tension could escalate further, the door creaked open, and a male eagle poked his head inside. "Louis, (Name), everyone's here. They're waiting for you backstage to say a few words before the play."

Louis nodded briskly, his composure snapping back into place. Without another word to (Name), he headed toward the backstage area.

She followed him silently, her hand brushing against the painkiller bottle in her pocket as anxiety swirled within her.

Backstage, the Drama Club members stood in a semicircle, their faces a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The murmurs quieted as Louis stepped forward.

"Now then," Louis began, his voice calm and commanding, "It looks like everyone's present. Beyond that curtain. . . are the new students seeing our stage for the first time. They're waiting to see us perform. It's all right. We just have to do it like we always do."

His words were measured and deliberate, carrying the weight of his authority.

"Our rehearsals have been wonderful. It goes to show that it takes more than a bad incident to break our morale. This club is special. . . When we get onstage, we're going to show them that we're living life to the fullest. You got that?"

A resounding "Got it!" echoed from the members. Their morale was visibly boosted.

(Name) watched from the side, her eyes fixed on Louis before wearing a headset, an intercom for the stage crew.

He was always like this—stubborn to a fault, unyielding in his pursuit of perfection. Even when they were younger, his determination had been unshakable. If Louis set his sights on something, he would seize it, no matter the cost.

"Okay, ten minutes until the performance!" someone called out through the headsets.

The crew and actors scrambled to their positions, the air thick with last-minute adjustments and whispered cues. (Name) stood by the props table, her fingers brushing against Adler's mask. She watched as Louis approached, the mask waiting to transform him into the heroic reaper.

Kibi, a male red panda and the stagehand, helped her adjust the prosthetic mask on Louis's face, but (Name)'s hands lingered as she ensured it was perfectly secure. The mask, with its beastly design, symbolized Adler's burden and radiance—Louis' burden and radiance.

As the performance began, (Name) stood at the left side of the stage, peering through the curtains. She signaled the actors' cues with precision, her heart pounding with every scene.

Louis' portrayal of Adler was nothing short of mesmerizing.

His every word, every movement, captivated the audience. The heroic reaper, gasping for breath as he pushed forward, drew gasps from the crowd. His radiance filled the stage, holding everyone in awe.

The play reached its final scene. The forest backdrop glowed softly under the spotlight, roses shrouding the setting in an ethereal beauty.

"Ellen, you came back. . ." Adler whispered, kneeling in front of the shroud of roses. His voice trembled, his body wounded and weak. "Thank goodness. . . For I have no greater desire than to be with you!"

Adler's voice broke with emotion. "I am a reaper. . . Our deaths are proof of our love for each other. Ellen. . . will you understand once you've departed?"

The actress playing Ellen closed her eyes slowly, her body going limp in Adler's arms. The audience held their breath as Adler gently laid her down, his expression a mix of sorrow and longing.

Adler—Louis—stood, gazing into the spotlight that acted as the moon. The curtains began to close as thunderous applause erupted from the crowd.

But just as the curtain was fully descended, (Name)'s world slowed.

Louis' form wavered, and then, as if in slow motion, he collapsed onto the stage.

(Name)'s heart stopped. The weight of her body felt unbearable as she ran toward him, her surroundings a blur. The panicked voices of the cast and crew faded into the background as her mind raced.

All she could see was Louis lying on the ground, his radiant presence now dimmed. And for a split second, she didn't see Louis at all. Instead, a shadow of her brother from two years ago overlapped with his fallen form.

Her knees hit the stage as she reached his side.

"Louis!" she called, her voice laced a subtle hint of desperation.

The star of the Drama Club, their Adler, had pushed himself too far.

And (Name), in her after shock as she held his unconscious form, could only hope that this time, she wouldn't lose someone dear to her again.

✅ EDITED