To someone she loved …

“Mother, are you okay?”

“W-what?”

Shirley was standing over her.

“Yes, yes … I’m fine…”

Lan looked up. She’d been sleeping at her desk again.

You don’t need her, Satomi.

That is what Shizuka tried to tell herself, as she thought of the Saturdays that they had spent together. Yes, Lan’s tales of the galaxy had been spellbinding, but what about her world?

Shizuka thought of how regularly Lan had changed the subject away from her music, away from her. How, when she did respond, it was to compliment her on the beauty of her voice … never what her voice said.

Being doubted hurts. But what hurts even worse is not being heard.

Over all these Saturdays, Lan had never stopped assuming that music was the trivial diversion of a backward planet. And if Lan felt that way about her music, then how did Lan feel about her?

What was left to explain? She was Shizuka Satomi, the Queen of Hell. Why was she even thinking about this? Why couldn’t Lan have listened? Why did she have to be so utterly dense?

“Miss Satomi?”

“Katrina? What?”

“You seemed to space out for a while. Are you all right? I can get you some water.”

“T-thank you.”

Where were they? Yes, of course, they were working on intonation. Shizuka smirked at the irony. Lan was not the only one who needed to listen.

Since the recording studio had been installed, Katrina’s playing had become remarkably lyrical, daring, and sure. It was as if those fantastical forms she now inhabited were allowing Katrina to become more relaxed, colorful, open.

However, most stages did not have holographic projectors. And even if she never toured, even if she never once played violin outside of this studio, that should be Katrina’s choice, not the logistics of alien technology.

Especially if that technology was unnecessary to begin with.

“Katrina, I notice that you’ve been using the projector quite a bit lately,” Shizuka observed.

“I’m sorry! I know … I know it’s fake.”

“There you go again. Stop apologizing. Besides, we all can benefit from a little illusion,” said Shizuka.

“Really?”

Shizuka rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry. I am not having one of those annoying conversations about keeping your vanity in check. In fact, in a way I am trying to make the opposite point.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Illusion is wonderful, but why should a star like you depend upon a projector? Shouldn’t you be able to summon dreams, inspire poetry, dreams, and wishes with your own radiance, your own light?

At first, Katrina had no idea what her teacher was talking about. Then she recalled how Miss Satomi drew her into the worlds of Axxiom and The NetherTale.

Was that what she meant? Could she learn to do it, as well?