[center][h1][B][COLOR=#4876FF]N[COLOR=#A9ACB6]oelle[/COLOR][/COLOR] [COLOR=#4876FF]N[COLOR=#A9ACB6]ichi[/COLOR][/COLOR][/B][/h1]
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Her act went better than she expected and it seems the crowd also liked it. This was all Noelle could ask for. Even better. It felt like she did better than she ever did before. Was this due to playing on such a big stage? No, that’s not it. She has played for a comparable just as many people before at another festival. And she knew she wasn’t playing much better than usual. Then why does this stage make it feel like she was? Something was not right here.

 Noelle got off the stage and went to the waiting area to watch the other acts. But not just the other acts, but also if she could notice if something was off. The stage doesn’t seem to have anything out of the ordinary. And there wasn’t anyone in the crowd who was acting more suspicious than expected during the acts. That is, until Noelle’s eyes fell on the jury. Most notably, the one with the golden mask, who was late. The guy gave her the creeps.  If anyone was scheming something, it was that guy. Well, if he was thinking he could bind her with some exclusivity contract so that he could completely control her creative endeavours, then he will be disappointed. The travelling songstress lifestyle, Noelle finds way too fun to give up for some promises of fame and glory. Especially from a creep like him

 Finally, it was time for the act of the mysterious girl Aedrianna. Noelle watched the performance with interest, and she wasn’t disappointed.
Her voice was beautiful, and how she played with the light was nothing more than stunning. Aedri’s act was the best one Noelle had seen in this round, hands down. And not just that, this was the only one she actually paid full attention to. 
 When Aedri shifted into the black haired form, something stirred in Noelle. A memory resurfacing. Not from happenings past but from a time before she was in this world. A seaside town. A girl with dark brown hair tied up in a ponytail, cycling home from her job, ear buds in her ears, listening to music. A message on a forum. An idol who died of throat cancer. A song by the idol is playing in the girl’s ears. A smile appeared on the girl’s lips.
So familiar, yet so strange. As if she had seen these scenes before.

 Aedri’s performance was over. As the last note silences and the last starlight fades, the crowd erupts in cheers. A deserved compliment for the blond girl. Unfortunately, the judges were not of the same mind as the audience. They dismissed her act as a mere play of fireworks. Show, no substance. Noelle saw how it broke the girl's pride.[b][Empathy E][/b] She was more than willing to raise her voice in protest with the judge's words, but that would bring no difference. Instead, her efforts were better placed and comforted the now depressed Aedrianna.

 When Aedrianna got offstage, Noelle instantly pulled her into a hug. [COLOR=#4876FF][B]"Don’t listen to what those stuck-up, short-sighted buffoons said. You did great,"[/B][/COLOR] Noelle said, trying to comfort Aedri [COLOR=#4876FF][B]"all that matters in the end is not what a single person thinks of your performance but yourself. You gave it your all. If you’re happy with it, that is all that matters"[/B][/COLOR] Noelle smiled genuinely [COLOR=#4876FF][B]"And if it means something. I thought you did great. And if you would listen to the crowd, you will realise I'm not the only one. And what sounds louder? The words of four bitter snobs and the cheers of the crowd?... they are just afraid of the real talent you showed that they couldn’t do do anything but envy it"[/B][/COLOR] Noelle let go of Aedri and took a step back [COLOR=#4876FF][B]"A star shines bright when nothing is around indeed. For it is the light in the darkness. Shining with hope, guidance and determination for those who see it. But it is not when the star is at its brightest. A star can truly shine its brightest when it shines with others, for a sky full of stars will always shine brighter together than a star alone… so… are you ready to show them how bright a star really can shine?"[/B][/COLOR]
 Noelle hoped that she was able to cheer the girl up a bit. Those judges were really too cruel for no good reason. Too cruel for anyone to deserve that.