Harold promised Thomas that they would go buy a bow on Sunday. Seizing the opportunity, Patrick decided to close his clinic for a day, declaring it a family day. Once the family finished breakfast, they leisurely made their way to the southern downtown area, near the Merchant's Guild.
Their first stop was a theater, located at a mall on its top, third floor. Harnessing the collective Divine Power of its shop owners and clerks, the mall's infrastructure, including lighting, air conditioning, escalators, elevators, and public bathrooms, operated seamlessly, ensuring a premier shopping experience for its patrons.
While ascending the escalator to the theater, the family was engulfed by a flurry of advertisement boards touting the latest and upcoming merchandises and shows.
Harold's excitement and anticipation got the better of him, prompting him to walk up the escalator stairs as it approached the top, "I've got our tickets. Let's go inside."
Patrick then said to the children, "Nathan, Arielle, and Ashley, thank Uncle Harold for treating us to the show."
Several days ago, Harold took a detour after work to buy the tickets, ensuring that they could watch the show on Sunday.
"Thank you, Uncle Harold!" The siblings happily said in unison.
"You're welcome! Let's go!" Harold said with a warm smile.
As they entered the lobby, the family wove past crowds of people waiting in line at the ticket counters. Suddenly, the irresistible aroma of freshly popped popcorn enveloped the family, overwhelming their senses. Unable to resist the temptation, Harold and Maya indulged, purchasing several generously sized popcorn buckets and soda cups for the entire family, despite their recent breakfast. Following a quick ticket check by the usher, the family proceeded into the theater hall with their hands full.
The spacious theater hall, with its soaring three-story high ceiling, could comfortably accommodate an audience of two hundred people. The seats were arranged in an oval shape around the stage, offering a clear view from nearly every angle, even from the side of the hall. A grand, theater-spanning red curtain obscured the stage, heightening anticipation for the performance. In the orchestra pit beneath the stage, neatly arranged seats and sheet music stands waited quietly for the musicians' entrance. The theater was divided into nine sections, categorized into one of four price tiers based on the view quality and distance from the stage. As they made their way to their seats, soft ambient lights placed beside the rows of seats provided a warm glow, guiding the family to their designated seats.
Harold bought tickets to the seats on the third floor in the middle, which was the same price as the side seats on the second floor. Having grown up in the countryside, the children had good eyesight, so the distance didn't bother them; and they preferred the middle seats.
As soon as the family settled into their seats, and made themselves comfortable with a few mouthful of popcorns, the lights faded, and the highly anticipated performance began. With the grand, crimson curtain's majestic sweep, the narrator stepped onto the stage, offering sincere, heartfelt thanks to the audience. Then, he warmly introduced the orchestra and its conductor as its members assumed their positions. Following the introduction, the narrator briefly paused, creating an expectant hush. Then, with a swing of the conductor's baton, the orchestra launched into a serene, enchanting melody that set the tone for the tale to unfold.
At the center of the tale was Aonidas, who rose from humble beginnings. With his family's unwavering support and the encouragement of his cherished childhood sweetheart, Henrietta, Aonidas dedicated years to rigorous training, balancing it with his duties as a knight. Ultimately, he claimed the title of Champion of the Kingdom with his triumphant victory in the national tournament.
With his newfound wealth, fame, and power, Aonidas the Champion was on cloud nine and he took it for granted. Day by day, the champion indulged in a luxurious lifestyle, neglecting his duties, family, and Henrietta. In a shocking turn of events, Euphias, the former Champion, seized this moment – when Aonidas the Champion forsook his duties in defense against the Demon Realm – to betray the kind Goddess and the Kingdom, plunging the land into darkness. In a sinister alliance with the malevolent Demon King, Euphias orchestrated the heart-wrenching abduction of Henrietta, Aonidas' beloved.
Driven by regret as deep as the ocean, Aonidas decided to venture into the Demon Realm to rescue his beloved Henrietta. The champion formed an unshakable alliance with a cunning rogue, a skilled hunter, and a wise spellcaster, creating a formidable team ready to face treacherous challenges. Upon the king's dignified conferment of the revered title "Aonidas the Brave," the party, now infused with unshakable resolve, set forth with valor on their treacherous quest into the heart of the Demon Realm.
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From village to village, Aonidas the Brave and his companions brought hope and solace to the people, freeing them from the Demon King's tyranny. As their quest reached its climax, Aonidas the Brave and his party confronted the formidable Four Generals of the Demon King's Army. The courageous and indomitable party of the Brave vanquished the Four Generals one by one in a flurry of clashing blades and relentless spells. At the end of their arduous journey, the foreboding Demon King's Castle loomed before them.
Seated high upon his throne, the Demon King gazed down upon Aonidas the Brave and his companions. With a voice dripping with malice, the Demon King let out a menacing laugh, before he spoke in blend of admiration and malice, "Well done, Aonidas the Brave, on defeating my Four Generals. Your arrival at the grand entrance of my throne room is... well-timed."
"Your reign of terror ends now, Demon King!" Aonidas thundered, pointing his sword accusingly at the Demon King. "Where is Henrietta?"
With a scornful smile, the Demon King retorted, his voice dripping with evilness, "Ha! Aonidas the Brave, your quest has been in vain. Henrietta's life has been lost. Don't worry, I'll soon reunite you with your dear love... in the depths of Hell."
Aonidas the Brave and his companions then gallantly engaged the Demon King in a flurry of clashes. However, exhausted from the grueling clash with the Four Generals, they soon succumbed to the Demon King's crushing power, their defenses crumbling beneath his relentless onslaught. The Demon King then proceeded, with calculated cruelty, to dispatch Aonidas' companions one by one, saving the final, decisive blow for Aonidas the Brave.
The Demon King slowly approached the helpless Aonidas, who struggled to stand up. Then, with a deafening roar, the King of Malice proclaimed with a satisfying smile, "This is the end, Aonidas!" as he raised his dark, sinister blade, ready to deliver the final blow.
In a heart-stopping, split-second intervention, a mysterious woman suddenly appeared, crying out "No!" in distress as she stepped between Aonidas and the Demon King's falling blade.
Aonidas' anguished cry shattered the air: "Henrietta!!" Heartbroken, with regret, the brave wailed with a torrent of grief, anger, and desperation, gazing upon the lifeless form of his rescuer,
As Aonidas struggled to rise, a resplendent silver aura enveloped him, and with unwavering resolve, he proclaimed, "For the sake of the innocent, in eternal reverence of Henrietta, and in unyielding pursuit of justice!" A surge of revitalized energy then burst forth from within Aonidas. With a thunderous bellow, Aonidas the Brave unleashed "Aonidas' Flash!", a dazzling, blinding assault that obliterated the Demon King in a blaze of righteous vengeance, ending his reign of terror.
Upon the Demon King's downfall, Aonidas the Brave returned to the Kingdom, his heart burdened by the weight of sorrow and isolation. The haunting echo of his solitary footsteps resonated through the otherwise silent, victorious landscape. In a solemn, reverent ceremony, the Goddess conferred upon Aonidas the revered title of "Hero," in recognition of his unwavering courage and valor. Though his heart remained heavy with the ache of his irreplaceable losses, Aonidas humbly accepted the honor, presenting a moving, introspective oration that poignantly emphasized the indelible significance of loyalty, duty, and the ultimate sacrifice; his voice was tinged with the melancholy that now forever accompanied his triumph.
"Thus concludes the legend of Hero Aonidas, the fearless warrior who, a century ago, bravely defied the darkness and emerged triumphant against the formidable Demon King." With that, the narrator wrapped up the tale, and began introducing the cast to the audience, who applauded in enthusiasm for the captivating performance.
Finally, with a bow by the whole cast, the majestic red curtain was brought to a close, and the theater's lights brightened up. As the theater bustled with the audience's departure, the narrator's warm, appreciative voice spoke out once more: "To each of you, our heartfelt thanks for your loyal support. Please exit the theater in an orderly manner through the rear doors, and we bid you a warm farewell."
As the theater bustled with the audience's departure, the narrator's warm, appreciative voice spoke out once more, "If you wish to find out what happened to Euphias, we have the Hero Aonidas' manga series for sale outside. For a limited time, you can enjoy a 20% discount by using the show's ticket, while supplies last. Thank you again and have a nice day!"