Chapter 91: La Ville Lumière

Paris. La Ville Lumière.

True to its moniker, it held up even after all these years, its sights grandiosely effulgent as the taxi Niall boarded cruised through its lamp lit streets.

Niall’s flight had happened to touchdown close to late evening.

And by the time he was done sorting out his luggage and stepping out of the Paris Orly Airport, it was already nightfall.

Niall had never been here before. Not even before his regression.

As a result, there was a palpable sense of wanderlust in his eyes, the hustle and bustle of the city’s nightlife phasing across his cool-gray irises as he leaned his head on the window of the vehicle.

At the same time, a grateful smile had touched his lips.

’I’m glad I was given a second chance...’ the words echoed in his mind with an undeniable tone of gratitude.

Never in his wildest dreams would his former self had expected life to have turned out so great.

Getting to reconcile with his parents, finding a woman he loved, actually working towards his goals the way he wanted...

All of it filled him with a genuine sense of felicity... the kind that could only come from being truly content with the life he was living and the life he hoped to live.

Soon enough, the cabbie arrived at his booked hotel, and Niall promptly stepped out after paying the man.

Luggage in hand, he looked over to the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Though he could easily walk over right now to take in a closer view, he decided against it.

Since the Grand Palais where he was set to perform in three days’ time was equally nearby--practically a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk from his hotel--he opted to do it after he was done filming.

Still, he took a picture and sent it to Camille with the caption;

Just up your alley, Red...

A response came five minutes later, just after he had checked in and was on his way to the elevator.

-

Camille:Sugah, have I told you how much I adore your thoughtfulness?

Niall: Yes, many times. But say it again, ’cause I never get tired of hearing it.

Camille: I. LOVE. YOU!!! And your thoughtfulness!

Niall: You spoil me, Red.

Camille: As I should, sugah. As I should ;).

-

To that, Niall beamed as he pocketed his phone and stepped into the elevator.

A few minutes after, he’d arrived at his room and had begun sorting his luggage out.

Interrupting his mundanity, was an e-mail notification from his phone.

Assuming it to have been from Victor regarding the contract details for [A Maddened Wonderland], Niall casually picked it up.

However, when he saw whom it was from, he blinked. Then he rubbed his eyes a bit--which was quite the irony given his almost superhuman vision.

Realizing a second after that he did in fact see clearly... his pupils dilated so much, one might have assumed his eyes was going to pop out of its sockets!

-

Dear Niall,

We hope you’re doing well.

Everyone here at Coachella has been watching your recent rise with genuine excitement and it’s been inspiring to see audiences connect so deeply with your work. Your performances carry an authenticity and energy that make you one of the most exciting emerging artists we’ve come across this year.

Although this invitation comes a little later than we typically reach out to artists, the momentum behind your music over the past year has been impossible to ignore. With that in mind we’d love to formally invite you to perform at the upcoming Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Our team would be happy to discuss scheduling, production requirements, and any other details to ensure you and your crew have the best possible experience.

Congratulations on everything you’ve accomplished so far. We hope you’ll consider this invitation, and we look forward to the possibility of welcoming you to the Coachella stage.

Warm regards,

Talent Relations Team

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

-

And just like that, Niall was set to perform at Coachella next month.

*

The next two days went by rather quickly. During that time period, Niall had been practicing his Noah’s routine at the Grand Palais.

At the same time, the entire crew had arrived and they had promptly began setting up the venue for the last performances in the movie.

Still, Niall couldn’t help but be in awe at how Murray had managed to secure such a grandiose venue.

Was it the towering glass dome?

The cathedral-like architecture with stretching balconies?

The modern installations, seating arrangements, and lighting rigs?

Or the wide 2,700 m² ice rink that had been kept maintained all this while a week longer than usual?

All of it... it exuded such an elegant sense of grandeur, it was hard to wrap one’s head around how he’d managed to bag the venue for a single movie.

Even if all their performances were set to be filmed in a single day since that was all they’d afforded him, it was still pretty impressive.

But then again, that was the sort of influence that came with being crème of the crop in the business and equally, having some of the biggest backers behind you.

In any case, the Niall was currently leaning on one of the railings of the balcony, his gaze taking in the view as a couple extras equally practiced their routines.

Soon enough, Matthew joined in, the man equally leaning on the railing as he spoke;

"I never actually got around to thanking you, Niall..."

"...you know, for setting my head straight." the veteran actor added with a light smile.

Having already turned over to look at the man, his gaze surprised, Niall soon replied with a light smile of his own;

"Thank you, but I think you’d have picked up on it eventually, Matt."

"Maybe. I mean Colonel did try to inform me in his own way..." Matthew bobbed his head from side to side.

"Still doesn’t change the fact that you fast tracked it, though." the man remarked, his ice-blue irises studying the extras below, most of whom were professional figure skaters.

"So yeah. Thank you, once again." he turned over his head and said with an appreciative smile.

To that, Niall nodded in acknowledgement to which he then playfully remarked with an arched brow;

"And they said Hollywood veterans were incapable of admitting to their faults."

"Oh, most of them are, and they suck...!" Matthew emphasized as he replied with a reminiscent gaze of mild annoyance mixed with amusement.

Niall chuckled audibly upon hearing that, one that had Matthew doing much the same.

After a while, Niall then said to the man as their chuckles subsided, his tone genuine;

"The Emmie award... I’ll be rooting for you."

"Thank you, Niall. I appreciate it." Matthew replied in appreciation, a light smile on his lips.

No sooner had he said that, Murray whom was down below with Louis and Colonel alongside his cinematographers, lightning technicians and some extras, called out the duo with a gesture of his arm;

"Matthew, Niall! Kindly come over! I need to iron out a few things with you!"

Promptly, both actors made their way over.

Given how rarely the man ever had to discuss anything with them regarding their roles and the script, they knew for a fact that it had to do with the time constraints they were working with.

Considering the director and his crew only had a day to film the final performances, it made even more sense.

In any case, the rest of the day went on and it ended with all the preparations and deets being sorted out.

Then, when the next day came, alongside a staggering number of extras whom had flocked over to the Grand Palais under an NDA to serve as spectators in the movies’ last performances, Murray and his actors, alongside the rest of the crew were ready to film.

After the scene where Noah had said his mind about what made champions, there had been a clear shift in Elias’ approach towards his skating, one that seemed to be a bit less of a perfectionist, and more of someone who seemed to be regaining his love for the sport even if he had remained unaware of it.

This change also carried through the last third of the movie as Elias’ started becoming less prickly and emotionally closed off, not just with people, but also himself.

That said, over the course of the movie, references had been made to the fact that the exhibition championships had three different brackets;

Rising Stars Bracket, featuring younger skaters, newcomers, and emerging talents looking to make a name for themselves.

Elite Exhibition Bracket, where established competitors and high-level amateurs like Noah, or professional skaters would participate in to showcase the current generation of standout athletes.

And finally...

Legends and Champions Bracket, which was reserved for veteran skaters, former champions, and iconic figures returning to the ice. This bracket was where Elias was set to perform.

That said, having shot a few brief scenes of contestants in the Rising Stars Bracket, the crew was currently filming equally brief scenes of competitors in the Elite Exhibition Bracket.

Soon enough, they were done and Niall finally glided onto the stage for Noah’s performance.

As he heaved in and let out a deep breath while closing his eyes, his eyes opened a moment after, his mind sinking so much into Noah’s persona, he subconsciously pulled on his Gift of True Aptitude.

At the same time, Murray’s voice cascaded across the venue as he spoke through megaphone;

"Begin!"

Advance Chapters are available on Patreon!

/Caer07