Badum Badum Badum, he felt the beating of his heart against his ribcage. He looked at the platform, at the shining Vulen, she smiled with euphoria and pride as she waved at the crowd.

Slowly she returned to the platform entrance and stood before Wilwarin who was next. Vulen looked him in the eyes, he could see shame when she looked at him. She closed them and breathed in and out, before opening her eyes again, "I wish you luck, and don't spare me. Give it your all."

With that, she walked past him touching his shoulder with her hand for a brief moment. Not it was his turn, never was he so nervous. If he was he couldn't remember, a deep breath in and shakey legs, that brought him up to the platform. He didn't know what song would play, as he never knew the real Wilwarin. Soon everyone will know that he is a fake, he thought to himself.

When he looked into the crowd he saw his mother, and then even his mama squeezed to his mother's side. He couldn't disappoint the only people that ever since this journey believed in him. He already disappointed enough people in the last world, if not his original world.

His feet felt heavy as he reached the middle of the platform, half the people in the crowd looking at him like he would perform a miracle. They didn't know, they didn't know that he was not the same as the one that danced before, nor did they know that he was only a freshling.

He heard as the music began to play, it was different from the tune that was played with Vulen's dance. The first tone of the music was accompanied by calmness, relaxation, and peace. His body moved on his own, Wilwarin's muscle memory accompanied the gentle movements he made on his own.

Gentle movements that made his legs feel like melting butter and his arms feel graceful but lazy, strong but weak.

The music sped up just a little as if waking up, and there Wilwarin could feel the music and the vision.

'A dance for his parents,' he thought to himself.

A caterpillar growing inside an egg and slowly waking up, enjoying the morning sun as it walks from leaf to leaf. A journey, bowing playfully to non-existent animals and insects. Soon the caterpillar felt heavy and so tired, the music slowed and stopped for a second. Wilwarin the slowly moved his arms with his clothes, the fabric looking like the wings of a butterfly in the sunlight. The sunlight that shone sporadically through the blankets of leaves from the mothertree. The music stopped and Wilwarin stood there, his arms stretched out, and then the music started again. Playful, funny, and Wilwarin danced like he did with the little kid in the space thing. Free from responsibility, free from everything, this was a dance only for his enjoyment. Playfulness of a butterfly, he ended the dance with his arms wide and his head high as if searching for the next place to play at.

The music stopped for good and the people around him clapped and whistled. Only then did he notice the crowd, the people he blended out while dancing. A shy smile made his way onto his face as he bowed and waved back. Sweat rolling down his face, he watched the crowd with bright eyes and a real smile.

He saw his two mothers with tears in their eyes and they clapped. Tears came into Wilwarin's eyes but he didn't let them fall. He nodded and when he walked off the platform, ice-blue eyes stared at him. Eyes full of fascination and wonder, the owner of these eyes smiled at him gently.

Wilwarin stepped down and Ardon stood before him exited, "You were amazing, that girl before you couldn't even dream of reaching you."

Wilwarin frowned as he looked away, his face neutral, "Don't say that she has much more passion than I could ever have."

"You are humble and sad. Why are you sad? You just danced with the most magic I've ever seen," Ardon asked him his brows frowning.

Wilwarin shook his head, his face was still neutral, but it had a kind flair, "I am not sad, I am happy. I am proud of myself for performing so well, but I won't cry either if Vulen wins. She deserves it."

Ardon rolled his eyes and grabbed Wilwarin's shoulders with both hands, "You are worthy of deserving it too. What you performed was magical, a miracle to say the least and it was... it was..."

Wilwarin laughed, "The most magical thing you ever came to witness, I think you mentioned that."

"No, it was the most enchanting and beautiful dance I've ever gone to witness. I think I am falling for you first dance," Ardon said, it sounded like a joke, but also very sincere.

Hwarwa interrupted our talk as she walked to her son, engulfing him in a big hug, "You did amazing son, you looked like your mama when I first saw her."

Elanor walked up behind her wife, "No need to unpack our love story every turn you get. Wil you were amazing, and the song..."

Even in Hwarwa's hug, he could see the tears of Elanor glistening, she was proud, they were both proud. It wasn't even known who won, but they were happy just because he performed well.

For the first time, it actually hit him and his tears ran down his face, "I am so happy to have you as my parents. Thank you."

Hwarwa was a bit overwhelmed at her son breaking down again, and Elanor took over and hugged him, "Of course my sweet. We are your parents, we care and love you. We will always love you."

Wilwarin just hugged his mama as he cried into her shoulder, the endless burden of the perfect son and having a plan at hand always. Performing for perfect results, never getting to play, and going out with friends like other kids, poured into this hug with Elanor.

He cried for what felt like hours, but was only ten minutes. Emberessed Wilwarin leaned back and wiped his tears with the fabric of his sleeve.

Elanor put her hand on his cheek wiping under his eyes, "I never knew you could cry so much, today is the first day where I've seen you cry so much. But I am glad, that you don't cry far away from us, that you trust us enough to cry in front of us. Now let's get you back to hear the announcement."

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Wilwarin nodded and felt the ice-blue eyes burning into his skull, "Mama, Mother, this is Ardon I met him walking back."

The blue-eyed man smiled charmingly as he bowed a little, "Ardon Etmes my name, indeed I've met your son on the way here. I am new you see."

Elanor smiled kindly, "Well, a friend from Wil is our friend why don't you come with us? Maybe after the announcement we can talk further?"

Ardon smiled and nodded.

Hwarwa looked at him with scrutiny in her eyes.

Wilwarin took his mama's arm and walked back to the crowd that was also waiting for the results. They stood relatively in the back, not to be squashed by the people up front.

The elf that was rude to them before announced the result, a sneer gracing their face as they read the paper they held out loud, "This year we had great talents among us, some of which had trained days and nights for this dance. Some of which had the help of parents, friends, or teachers. The inspiration of idols, historical figures, and dancers. Now you have all shown us what you feel, what your dance entails so here are the ones that have brought the most magic into our mists. The third place shall be rewarded to the dance that was strong and furious, a dance was it not on stage it could have been on a battlefield. Congratulations, Gefrald Herndel."

The people around clapped as a dark-haired elf stepped onto stage, his hair was dark, like a burned log, but his eyes had the color of the forest. He bowed and smiled, wet eyes as he looked at the crowd. The dwarf for organizing gave Gefrald a pot with a bronze tree growing inside. Wilwarin looked at the trophy and thought, 'Very elfish, giving a tree as a prize.'

The elf took his trophy bowed and said a few words of thanks before, getting off the platform.

The rude elf cleared his throat, "The second and first place started almost the same, lethargic and waking up. The second place showed a dance of depression whereas the first dance showed one of transformation. The second place as you can all guess by now is, Vulen Daetumal. Congratulations!"

The crowd cheered, a lot of sad and encouraging voices drifted through the air. Sentences like "you get it next time" or "You were better than that brat", echoed through the people.

Vulen walked up the platform, smiled lightly as she waved to the crowd, this year would have been her tenth year to win. Wilwarin took that, the feeling of not deserving this sank in again.

Vulen took the silver tree and spoke to the crowd, "This would have been my tenth year, I was going after my idol Elanor Varta. It is even more so an honor to have been beaten by her son, this dance he showed was what got me into dancing. The last part was a freedom and an immersion into the song, unlike anything I've ever felt. Wilwarin made me realize what I lack, and that was the ability to let myself completely loose. Letting myself drown in the music as I dance. Thank you for supporting me until now and thank you for showing me what I lack."

She bowed as she left the platform.

"Now the winner of this year is, Wilwarin Varta. The son of the famous Elanor Varta, he has shown today what it means to breathe the music like it is part of your body. Congratulations," the elf said and looked at the crowd. Wilwarin was not sure if he deserved that, yes he did lose himself, but that was a personal issue. Not the musical dance genius they were expecting, he made his way back to the platform and walked up. He heard the crowd cheering for him and he smiled happily, he looked like the happiest person on earth. He bowed to the crowd, and took the golden tree, "I could have never imagined the day I would stand up here. The most thanks are to my mothers, who have always believed in me and would even be proud of me if I was shoveling dirt."

The people laughed and Wilwarin smiled, "As a child, people had always expectations. Is he going to be as great a warrior as his mother? Is he going to be a dancer like his mother? Lucky me, I didn't get an ounce of talent in being a warrior. So my mama, Elanor, taught me how to dance. Dancing charmed me, it made me feel more alive than anything. Thank you to my parents for giving me the opportunity to grow."

Wilwarin bowed deep, smiled, and walked off stage. His mothers hugged him with tears in their eyes, Wilwarin enjoyed that hug. He didn't know what he was supposed to say, but he had seen the original's room. He had interacted with his parents, he had danced for his sake in this competition as he would in the next. Wilwarin knew he wasn't living for himself, right now he was living for the original Wilwarin so he could go into the afterlife with no regrets. If the wishes were fulfilled, maybe he could live for himself.

Maybe.

...

Back at their willow home, Wilwarin walked in the back as he watched his mothers cuddle and walk inside in a very happy mood. Next to him was Ardon, Wilwarin looked at him and smiled.

Ardon raised a brow, "You don't have to smile if you don't feel like smiling."

"Of course, I am happy I won the dance competition. What in my face is unhappy?" Wilwarin asked laughing at him his brows slightly furrowing. His hands, grasp the pot with the golden tree harder.

Ardon looked Wilwarin right in the eyes, "The way your face feels?"

"The way my face feels?" Wilwarin laughed. "What a joke."

Ardon smiled, "I can't exactly describe it, but I feel the way you feel. Like I've known and studied your facial expressions all my life."

Wilwarin shook his head and walked inside, he saw his mothers around the table, and on the table was a present. Or at least that's what it looks like. It was a box-like shape, with colorful paper around it and a beautiful cotton band.

His mothers smiled at each other and Elanor took the pot out of Wilwarin's hands, "Go on. It's your present for your win."

Wilwarin walked up to it and asked jokingly, "What if I didn't win?"

Hwarwa shrugged her shoulders, "We would have given you this as a consolation prize."

He laughed, he was right above his present, when he looked at his mothers he saw Ardon watching him softly. Wilwarin took the ribbon and opened the present, he looked inside and saw a dead deer head. With a paper-written message, 'We'll get you next time!'

Horrified he stepped back and looked at his mothers in confusion, 'Could they have killed their own son?'