3 3 301 DialogEnable Ceres, the goddess of fertility, I am the rainbow in the sky, and I am the envoy of the Queen of Heaven;
4 4 301 The Queen of Heaven, in the clouds, sent a message to ask you to leave your supple field where wheat, barley, rye, wild beans and peas flourish;
5 5 301 Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep, and flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep;
6 6 301 Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims, which spongy April at thy hest betrims;
7 7 301 To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broomgroves;
8 8 301 Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves;
9 9 301 Being lass-lorn: thy pole-clipt vineyard; And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard, where thou thyself dost air; the queen o' the sky, whose watery arch and messenger am I;
10 10 301 Bids thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace, here on this grass-plot, in this very place;
11 11 301 To come and sport: her peacocks fly amain:
12 12 301 Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.
13 13 301 ??? In the last moment, the witch saves the piper and the champion slays the evil dragon.
14 14 301 ??? Guided by the invisible thread of destiny, the childhood friends finally get to meet each other.
15 15 301 ??? There, peonies and irises blossom on the lakeside.
16 16 301 AniZhuanchangBegin ??? They tell each other about their past, how fate has brought them together, and how joyful it is to reunite.
24 24 301 Ayla Why don't you write it down? Just like how you adapted The Tempest, you can turn it into a play on stage.
25 25 301 Ayla I'm sure your original script will be one of the greatest. I can't wait to see it!
26 26 301 Her heart is pounding, excited and exhilarated for the possibilities the future holds.
27 27 301 Selena I think this story still has a lot of room for improvement...
28 28 301 Selena clenches her fists without anyone else noticing.
29 29 301 It is a world pieced together by fragments of fantasies.
30 30 301 She knows only a little about storywriting. And she isn't that experienced in this trade either. If she was to go freestyle right now, she would tell this fantasy story like singing a poem...
31 31 301 Selena doesn't feel at ease at all.
32 32 301 Ayla But I really enjoyed your stories.
33 33 301 Ayla They are beautiful.
34 34 301 Ayla They are all so beautiful that when you told me those stories, I could see the story happening in my mind. I am going to draw those scenes right now!
35 35 301 Selena But...
36 36 301 Selena hesitates. What is it that she wants to say?
37 37 301 Is the storyline too dull? Is her idea too naive or impractical? Or, is it that she was too obsessed with the romance and beauty that she couldn't control herself but put in too many fragments of thoughts and failed to make the sentences rhetorical enough?
38 38 301 She has always known her own shortcomings.
39 39 301 The words that were to come out of her mouth get intercepted halfway as Ayla reaches out to take Selena into her arms. Selena did not see this coming at all.
40 40 301 Ayla ...That's why I think your work is very impressive, Selena.
41 41 301 Her body is warm to the touch. And her heartbeats are strong.
42 42 301 Ayla ...Will you let me design the stage and settings for this play?
43 43 301 Her pink eyes show the purest, most sincere colors.
44 44 301 Selena ...Yes.
45 45 301 Selena Thank you, Ayla.
46 46 301 Her mind is racing.
47 47 301 Yes, this is a naive fantasy. Yes, it is a mess. And yes, her story is unsophisticated and lacking flavor.
48 48 301 But everything has to start somewhere.
49 49 301 AniZhuanchangBegin She wants to write it down. She wants to give it a try.
53 53 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Before going out on the space station mission, Selena talked to Allen, the Chairman of the WGAA.
54 54 201 1 500111
55 55 301 1 Allen Your opera once took Babylonia by storm and the WGAA thought highly of your career. There was no doubt you had real talent and skills. 1
56 56 301 Allen You come from a wealthy family, and your future was incredibly bright. There was nothing compelling you to become a Construct. 1
57 57 301 Allen So why did you become a Construct and join the Archaeological Team? 1
58 58 301 Allen Don't get me wrong, members of the Archaeological Team can continue to engage in their previous pursuits. It's just that there are archaeological tasks to be performed regularly and so the amount of time you can spend on operas is much less than before. 1
59 59 301 Allen I doubt you've given up the opera... You're not the fickle sort. 1
60 60 202 1 1
61 61 301 She ponders for a while but decides not to answer the question. Instead, she changes the subject.
62 62 301 She starts talking about an original opera with Allen.
63 63 301 It isn't "The Acadia Evacuation", which is based on real events. Instead, it is a nameless fantasy story, its ending unknown and its arc incomplete.
64 64 301 It is Selena's first-ever original work since she started her career as a writer, but compared to "The Acadia Evacuation", it is only a half-finished work that is much shorter and less popular. It counts as practice at best.
65 65 301 After "The Acadia Evacuation" became successful, the theater owners and publishers flocked to her, hoping Selena would let them play or publish her work.
66 66 301 But Selena said that, other than "The Acadia Evacuation", the only work she had was an incomplete story she wrote when she was still inexperienced. To her surprise, the want-to-be partners didn't lose interest in her upon learning this.
67 67 301 Some people told her how valuable a writer's early books could be, some offered to publish that story, and some were amazed by the brilliant ideas behind her story and even wanted to read it whether it could be published or not.
68 68 301 Selena turned them all down.
69 69 201 1 500111
70 70 301 1 Allen Were you distressed by the recognition and attention that your work brought to you? 1
71 71 301 Selena shakes her head.
72 72 202 1 1
73 73 201 1 500111 -450
74 74 201 2 500282 450
75 75 301 AniZhuanchangBegin 1 Selena After "The Acadia Evacuation" went live in the theater, a soldier who had actually been in war gave me his criticizing opinion. I can never forget what he said. 2
80 80 301 AniZhuanchangEnd The soldier's words lash her and judge her.
81 81 301 She was arrogant for portraying an era with which she was completely unfamiliar and taking the liberty to speculate how the people were struggling and feeling in that world. She had described a war filled with pain and sorrow as a story that was magnificent and glorious.
82 82 301 How foolish that was. Shame, confusion, anxiety, and many other mixed feelings haunted her like ghosts, forcing her to face the crimes she had committed and blaming her for the awful plays.
83 83 301 She could not be forgiven. She could not forgive herself.
84 84 301 AniZhuanchangBegin She was not going anywhere. Her work was not going anywhere.
87 87 301 AniZhuanchangEnd AniZhuanchangBegin 1 Selena During that time, I noticed I couldn't write any stories at all. I was struggling to piece together a meaningful paragraph. 1
95 95 301 AniZhuanchangEnd She finds the very first story she wrote. It was papers filled with fantasies.
96 96 201 1 500282 4
97 97 301 1 Selena I returned to the virtual exhibition center, where I first used my little robot to act out The Tempest. 1
98 98 202 1 1
99 99 301 The exhibition center had had its technologies renewed. It even had a new manager to look after things.
100 100 301 AniZhuanchangBegin The holographic games centered around war are as popular as always. The more casual sections were replaced with exhibition stalls of that theme.
102 102 301 AniZhuanchangEnd That day, when Selena returned home, she made a choice.
103 103 201 1 500282 4
104 104 301 1 Selena I sent an email to the new manager and requested to set up a stall for virtual plays. 1
105 105 202 1 1
106 106 301 She didn't send the email as Selena, the famous playwright of Babylonia. Instead, she put an anonymous signature.
107 107 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Just like back when she was a young, inexperienced writer with no reputation or resource but a heartful of passion, she nervously waited for a chance to make herself seen.
109 109 301 AniZhuanchangEnd AniZhuanchangBegin But Selena's email was like a rock that sank to the bottom of the sea and caused no ripples.
110 110 301 AniZhuanchangEnd AniZhuanchangBegin She waited three more days and decided to send another email. This time, she attached her work and pleaded to tell the recipient about her dream and plan for the exhibition.
115 115 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Selena filed a request to the exhibition center's online system and asked to meet the new manager. She arrived early at the meeting room, but the manager never came until the center was almost about to close.
116 116 201 1 500282 4
117 117 301 1 Selena The manager didn't recognize me. That... calmed me somehow. 1
118 118 202 1 1
119 119 301 The manager was impatient with Selena's persistence. He took the documents and files, which Selena carefully put together, only to take a quick glance at them.
120 120 301 Exhibition Manager Every stall in this exhibition center displays only the most valuable works. I don't know where you got the idea that you could request a stall for free, but... we simply cannot spare any stall for your work, not even the stalls in the corner.
121 121 301 The manager accented on the word "free."
122 122 301 Selena immediately said she would be willing to rent a stall and sign an insurance contract in case the stall was damaged in any way.
123 123 301 But the manager didn't take the offer.
124 124 301 Instead, he waved his hand, turned around, and turned on his communication device.
125 125 301 Selena kept a polite distance and waited patiently.
126 126 301 Selena was persistent and not about to give up anytime soon. The manager realized she would not let him be if they didn't draw a conclusion to this discussion.
127 127 301 So, he turned off his communication device and took a deep breath as if he was making a big decision.
128 128 301 Exhibition Manager I cannot give you a stall of your own. You said your story is about a champion and an evil dragon, right? That theme is a cliche, but...
129 129 301 Exhibition Manager ...At least it involves fighting. You have one day to use the exhibition stall. And you can pick one of our partners' gaming samples to create a package, so that you can show your play during the in-game loading screen.
130 130 301 Her heart was racing. After the manager left and she could no longer hear his footsteps, she placed her hand on her heart and crouched slowly.
131 131 301 Her mixed feelings were overwhelming. She was incredibly excited and exhilarated, even more so than she was right before "The Acadia Evacuation" debuted. She could hear her veins pulsing and her heart pounding.
132 132 301 It was probably because her blood was coursing faster, which gave more pressure to the blood veins. She felt a bit sad somehow. The suffocating feeling came rushing in just as quickly as it vanished. She breathed gently.
133 133 201 1 500282 4
134 134 301 1 Selena I realized back then how lucky I was to build that makeshift stage and make the play happen. 1
135 135 301 AniZhuanchangBegin I was also lucky to meet audiences that knew to appreciate the play and like-minded friends.
138 138 301 AniZhuanchangEnd After that, it was a stressful preparation.
139 139 301 Selena didn't tell anyone about this and didn't share her feelings and thoughts with anyone either.
140 140 301 It was a 1-on-1 duel between her and herself only. She wouldn't let anyone help. Selena prepared alone and made sure to follow the guidelines given by the manager: breaking down the story, replacing unnecessary parts with interactive gaming content... She worked hard to mix the play with games.
141 141 301 "Mix" might not be the most accurate word for it, but the partner's gaming sample is centered around combat and doesn't really leave any room for storytelling.
142 142 301 If she forced her stories into the game, it would be too awkward and out of place. The players who came to enjoy the combat would likely lose their patience. But if she omitted too many parts of the story, the play would be confusing to the audience who had an interest in exploring the story.
143 143 301 Facing all these challenges, she wasn't planning to back down. She had something to show in its most original form. This was her only chance.
144 144 301 Introduction, connection, transition, and ending. The most important part was to bring an immersive experience to the audience and prevent them from distracting them.
145 145 301 An idea came to Selena's mind. What if she used the windows between battles to bring everyone a vintage, calming fantasia in the form of recitative?
146 146 301 AniZhuanchangBegin That would fill the blank in this gaming sample with colors and hopefully make everything lively.
148 148 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Then, on the exhibition day, she sent the software to the manager and arrived at the center early, waiting.
149 149 301 The staff started to get things ready in the exhibition center. This was the first time they demonstrated gaming samples. There were comment systems set up next to the exhibition stalls, so that the audience could leave their comments after experiencing something.
150 150 301 The moment the exhibition machine lit up, Selena felt like her heart was going to burst.
151 151 201 1 500111
152 152 301 1 Allen You are very good at designing plays. I'm sure people liked your innovative work at that exhibition. 1
153 153 202 1 1
154 154 301 Selena gives a very faint smile and shakes her head.
155 155 301 It didn't end well at all.
156 156 301 The combat was all about real-time experience. It was nothing like stories, which would take time to read. No one was patient enough to bear with the storytelling part.
157 157 301 The two things just weren't meant to be presented together.
158 158 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Most people didn't want to visit her stall. And for those who did, they got distracted by the other cooler, more awesome games pretty quickly.
176 176 301 The romance isn't romantic enough. And the tragedy isn't tragic enough.
177 177 301 This isn't worth my time.
178 178 201 1 500282 4
179 179 301 1 Selena Those were the comments I received. 1
180 180 301 Selena ...At first, I was in pain. 1
181 181 202 1 1
182 182 301 It was like the sting of a needle.
183 183 301 Selena is stone-faced when she says it.
184 184 301 Sure, the audience was critical, but they were not just haters. The comments were genuine and honest.
185 185 301 So, after the exhibition was over, she asked the manager to get the data of the exhibition comment system. She collected the comments the audience left and reviewed every single one of them.
186 186 301 They were the genuine comments she was hoping for. It was hard but also the way it was meant to be.
187 187 301 Selena knew she had to look at things from an unbiased perspective. That was how she could really understand how the audience felt about her work and improve it accordingly.
188 188 301 AniZhuanchangBegin She knew no matter how critical the comments were, they should be respected and valued. The comments were the truth she had always wanted to know.
241 241 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Selena The best me, huh... 1
242 242 204 1
243 243 301 Selena Many people, including myself in the past, thought I never doubted my own talents. They thought I had absolute confidence in myself. 1
244 244 202 1 1
245 245 301 Even when she is lost, she still makes decisions and takes action.
246 246 301 She wants to try it and prove it. She wants a chance at redemption. And she is constantly moving forward.
247 247 301 AniZhuanchangBegin The moment her new frame is configured, in the illusory space of M.I.N.D., Selena sees the beast in herself clearly as if looking in a mirror.
257 257 301 1 Selena I knew all too well the fantasy was an incomplete play. 1
258 258 301 Selena But it still had some merits. 1
259 259 202 1 1
260 260 301 Her arrogance doesn't come from her presumptuous attempt to portray reality.
261 261 301 She reflects on her naivety.
262 262 301 But she cannot blame it on her very first work.
263 263 301 She cannot blame it on herself in the past.
264 264 301 This is because she understands it better than anyone else that herself in the past tried to portray a fantasy world using her utmost genuine feelings.
265 265 301 Her arrogance is part of the reality.
266 266 301 Her naivety is part of the reality.
267 267 301 Treating naivety as a mistake and erasing it, refusing to admit her very first work, and refusing to accept who she once was, those are the real arrogance.
268 268 301 If her arrogance is a ferocious wolf, a lion, a leopard, a beast within her, and the sins she cannot leave behind, it is all the more reason why she must bear this burden and move on.
269 269 201 1 500282 4
270 270 301 1 Selena I think no thought or action that can be called progress or improvement is built upon the elimination of something that came before. 1
271 271 204 1 1
272 272 301 Selena I really like that fantasy story. 1
273 273 202 1 1
274 274 301 She likes the play, the way she tried to create stories, the incomplete fantasy story, all her wildest imaginations that she put into it, and how she gave it her all to perfect the story. She went all out and even more than that.
275 275 301 She knows there is still a very long way to go. She once doubted herself. She was once rejected. But despite all that...
276 276 301 ...The path she treads leads her to where she is now, whether that path is a winding trail or an easy road. All that happened to her made her who she is.
277 277 301 She is naive and innocent but also constantly making progress. She made mistakes but also atonement. She was a human and then a Construct. She was a writer and then a fighter.
278 278 301 It is without doubt and undeniable that she is herself whether she likes it or not. The pieces of the past complete her. All the wrong and right decisions and all her behaviors and thoughts are part of Selena.
279 279 201 1 500111 -450
280 280 201 2 500282 4 450
281 281 301 1 Selena After this operation is done, I am going to do two things. 2
282 282 301 Selena I will attend the next WGAA party with my new frame. 2
283 283 301 Selena And I will reimagine the original story in the most perfect way possible using Hamlet. It will include the new ending. I want everyone to see it. 2
284 284 301 Allen Are you doing this to prove something or to get a new verdict? 1
285 285 301 Selena I'm doing this to express myself and relive the past. 2
286 286 301 She is doing it to make progress and move on.
287 287 301 Allen Even if the audience is going to mistake your message? 1
288 288 301 Selena There is no such thing, Allen. 2
289 289 301 Selena Why did you name the play machine Hamlet? 2
290 290 301 Selena There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes. 2
291 291 204 1 1
292 292 301 Allen There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes. 1
293 293 301 Allen pauses.
294 294 204 1
295 295 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Allen Legend says the author said the exact same thing to comment on the feedback he received from the audience, but we don't know if that's true. The majority of scholars who study the art of the Golden Age believe that quote is made up by some commentators. 1
305 305 302 I'm awake. 306 I recorded that melody. 306
306 306 301 Ayla looks at you nervously. One can only imagine how much anxiety she has gone through during this time.
307 307 301 You wonder if you went missing, would someone try to find you and hope for your return as desperately as Ayla wants to find her.
308 308 301 This thought in your mind quickly fades away like mist because there is a more important matter to attend to right now.
309 309 302 I'm sure that's the second half of the whale song. 310 I have recorded the message. We can use the machine to analyze it. 312
310 310 301 Ayla ...That means... 1
311 311 302 That means Selena might still be alive. 316
312 312 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Ayla ...Okay. 1
313 313 301 AniZhuanchangEnd The system's analysis proves your theory.
314 314 301 Ayla ...That means... 1
315 315 302 That means Selena might still be alive. 316
316 316 302 AniZhuanchangBegin Do you remember what you said? 317 Do you remember I told you the side effect would be more severe than the Remote Connection Technology? 318
317 317 319 504 0.7
318 318 322 504 0.7
319 319 301 AniZhuanchangEnd AniZhuanchangBegin Ayla I think the nature of this technology is similar to that of a remote connection as they both allow a commandant to synchronize with a Construct. 1
320 320 504 0
321 321 325 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Ayla The theater play experience is, in fact, another type of emotional connection that allows more people to connect together. Connections no longer exist only among characters. The audience and creators can become part of it as well. 1
322 322 301 AniZhuanchangEnd AniZhuanchangBegin Ayla I think the nature of this technology is similar to that of a remote connection as they both allow a commandant to synchronize with a Construct. 1
323 323 504 0
324 324 327 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Ayla The theater play experience is, in fact, another type of emotional connection that allows more people to connect together. Connections no longer exist only among characters. The audience and creators can become part of it as well. 1
325 325 301 Ayla It was... just a metaphor. 1
326 326 302 What if they did use the same technology? 329
