In the shadows of dusk, the bald-headed eagle emerged, a haunting symbol of pride and power. Its massive wingspan obscured the fading light as it ascended on a rising current of warm air, a dark spectre defying gravity. The eagle seemed almost ethereal, suspended like a sinister omen over the desolate valley below.

Yet, there was no grace in its flight. The eagle's wings barely moved, an eerie stillness betraying its unnatural abilities. It was as if the very air itself feared to disturb this ominous creature as it soared to staggering heights, three kilometres above the earth, and raced with the demonic speed at fifty kilometres an hour.

The morning brought no solace to this malevolent bird. It took pleasure in riding the strong updrafts, content to let the currents carry it effortlessly. Seven thousand feathers trapped in the layers of rising warm air granted the eagle protection from the chill of the early morning, a dark blessing for a dark entity. Later, when the scorching sun climbed higher, those same feathers would shield it from the burning heat, adding to the enigma of its existence.

The bald-headed eagle's colouring was striking but sinister. Its back and breast bore a blackish-brown, reminiscent of darkness that consumed all in its path. Yet, its head, neck, and tail were unnaturally white, like the pallid mask of death itself. Its feet and beak, a ghastly yellow, served as a warning sign of the malevolence lurking within.

With its vast wings unfurled, the eagle patrolled its home territory, a vast expanse of forty square kilometres, an empire of shadows ruled by fear and intimidation.

Nature designed it to rule the skies, but even the mightiest have weaknesses. Humanity's destruction had rendered it vulnerable, a consequence of its greed and arrogance.

Once, this land boasted half a million of these malevolent birds, but then came the settlers, bringing with them their ignorance and cruelty. Fishermen killed one hundred thousand bald eagles in Alaska alone, their misguided beliefs fueling their ruthless slaughter. To add to the tragedy, a sinister pesticide, a tool of mankind's own creation, infiltrated the eagle's world. It cracked the very foundation of life, thinning the eggshells and causing them to shatter during incubation, dooming the unborn.

Now, only seventy thousand remained, protected by mere laws that hardly matched the magnitude of their plight. Conservation efforts struggled to breathe life back into the darkness, but even with these desperate measures, the malevolent allure of the bald-headed eagle continued to draw in the hearts of greedy hunters.

As twilight descended upon the land, the sinister silhouette of the bald-headed eagle loomed large. Prideful, yes, but pride turned to arrogance, for it believed itself invincible. A harbinger of death, an embodiment of mankind's darkest shadows, this creature is about to become a chilling reminder that evil thrived in the hearts of both man and beast.

In the dying light of day, the sinister silhouette of the bald-headed eagle swooped down upon its prey. Its eyes, dark and sharp, saw far beyond human comprehension, spotting its target from great heights with deadly precision.

As the eagle descended over the shimmering river, its malevolence hidden behind a facade of natural grace, it spotted a group of juicy salmon swimming below. Its instincts took over, talons ready to snatch its unsuspecting prey from the water's surface.

However, unbeknownst to the eagle, a hunter lay in wait on the riverbank, concealed like a shadow among the trees. His rifle aimed directly at the approaching bird, fueled by greed and arrogance, he sought to claim the majestic creature for himself.

Just as the eagle prepared to strike, tragedy struck. The sharp crack of the hunter's rifle pierced the air, and the sinister bird shuddered, its body convulsing in its final moments. Mortally wounded, it plummeted to the earth, its powerful wings now rendered useless.

As the life drained from the malevolent creature, its dark feathers fluttered in the gentle breeze, a macabre dance of death that sent a shiver down the hunter's spine. But he felt no remorse; instead, a twisted sense of triumph engulfed him as he approached his fallen prize.

...................................................................................................

Away from the wilderness, people have begun to gather at the auditorium in Teitan Elementary School for one of their school play.

The expectations ain't high right from the start, regarding how many people are likely to attend, since attendance had dwindled due to the lacklustre content presented on the stage. Many felt that the performances lacked creativity and is stereotyped, the storylines are rather predictable, leaving the auditorium far from reaching its full capacity. And for the past 2 months, things were rather dull.

This year, however, things were about to change.

News had spread far and wide after the first batch of viewers who watched the play came out buzzing with excitement and awe. Whispers filled the streets of Beikai, and suddenly, the school play became the talk of the town. It was as if a magical spell had been cast, drawing people back to the auditorium in anticipation of something truly special.

Originally, when the school play issued the teaser on their school page, they were not thinking that it would gain much traction. But when one of the videos they uploaded has some interesting scenes with chemistry, the auditorium is soon packed with audience members, close to a full house.

As the day of the school play approached, excitement grew exponentially as they heard rumours of fresh content, hilarious twists and turns, as well as sarcasm and wit that had never been seen before on their local stage. The anticipation was palpable, and everyone seemed eager to witness this transformative event that had the power to breathe new life into their once lacklustre school play.

The day finally arrived, and the auditorium was abuzz with energy. The school staff and students worked tirelessly to set up the stage, ensuring every detail was perfect for the evening's performance. The scent of freshly popped popcorn filled the air, adding to the festive atmosphere.

As the lights dimmed and the curtains drew open, the audience was greeted with a burst of vibrant colours and mesmerizing stage design. The story itself has a mix of realistic problems, and humour with a bit of violence, and it promised to take the viewers on a journey they would never forget.

The play's title then surfaced on the Tv which read: "House of Winter Vs The Trolls", a remake based on the fairy tale 'The Snow Queen', and it promised to take the viewers on a journey they would never forget.

The play began, and from the very first scene, it was evident that this was no ordinary school production. In an unusual school uniform the little girl at the age of 6 with red lips sitting on the sledge, playing on her smartphone 'Project Sekai' as the sledge moves on its own on the main road.

One would simply assume that the character the girl plays before them would be none other than Gerda, the fearless protagonist of the story who saved her crush, Kai, from the evil snow queen. Yet oddly, the laser lighting showed snow following the child wherever the sledge goes, implying that the child actress must be playing the villainess yet beautiful snow queen.

This scene was not quite what the audiences were expecting, since the play incorporated elements of technology. Suddenly, the smartphone rang.

As the little girl portraying the snow queen answered the call, "Hello?"

"Ranran, you didn't take out the sledge to head to school alone, did you?" It was a woman's voice, implying to be the mother.

The little girl, who was indeed named Ranran, replied playfully, "Of course not, Mommy! I have my loyal snow minions to guide me on my way!"

The audience erupted into laughter as they witnessed the young actress's charm and wit.

"Ranran, don't you lie to me, did you or did you not take the sledge out!? What have I told you about using this in the real world before heading to school?! Do you not know what is the definition of 'keeping things low profile'!?"

"Does it matter? The region Daddy ruled there knows all about our magic powers anyway. And they didn't belong to the Realm of Ethereal Mist, didn't even reveal it to outsiders"

"Only because the people there are tight-lipped, Ranran! And don't tell me you are playing music rhythm games on your phone again! What have I told you about keeping an eye on the road while using that sledge you built!?"

"But Mommy, it has auto-pilot mode! It will break if anyone stands in front of the sledge!"Ranran, still in character as the snow queen, grinned mischievously and replied.

The audience was in stitches, thoroughly enjoying the blend of fantasy and modern-day humour.

"I am telling you, as the future queen of Realm of Ethereal Mist-"

"You don't have to nag me!" Ranran groaned, "It would take decades anyway, so you are the queen in charge!"

The exchange between the young actress and her unseen mother continued to charm and amuse the audience throughout the play. After a while, the mother could be heard groaning, "Ranran, just promised me if you ever get caught by some idiot with a smartphone-"

"Brainwash their head, got it."

The audience couldn't help but laugh even harder, fully immersed in the unexpected hilarity and modern twist on the classic fairy tale. The play continued to captivate with its unique take on the characters and storyline. As the scenes unfolded, the audience found themselves drawn into a magical world where fairy tales met reality.

Suddenly, after hanging up as she went back to gaming as she is having the time of he life, the tv showed to the obvious revealed she almost scored full combo score on her smartphone, only for the sledge to abruptly halt on its own as her head hit the protective invisible barrier she cast onto herself for protection. Even her smartphone hit the barrier before landing on top of the sledge upon bouncing.

The audience gasped in surprise as the unexpected halt of the sledge caught them off guard. Ranran, still in character as the snow queen, turned to face the audience with a sheepish grin.

"What the hell!?" Ranran rubbed her forehead in agony before searching for the smartphone she dropped, upon discovering it, she took it up only much to her horror, the screen reads 'live complete', not 'full combo', which later add another layer of humour to the play for the audience since the game she played was widely popular in Japan.

Furious, Ranran went to check what made her sledge stop moving, only to spot the blue eye boy who strongly resembled her, wincing in agony while forming a painful expression in front of her as he groaned"You hit me! You idiot!"

The audience erupted into laughter once again, since it was evident that the boy intentionally stood before the sledge.

The red lip girl gave the boy a sceptical and hard look, nothing that the clothes he was wearing looked worn off, indicating he must have been a village boy who lives in the countryside. Also, why does this boy look vaguely familiar-

Her eyes then drifted to the right, spotting the familiar house in the background and then realization hit her. It didn't take long for her to put two and two together when she realize who that boy was. Outraged, she confronts him. "Were you the idiot who threw rocks at my sledge 4 months ago!?"

"Hah!?" That boy suddenly jumped in response to her lack of sympathy, no 'Are you alright' or 'Where did I hit you' of that sort.

The audience burst into laughter again, thoroughly amused by the snow queen's straightforward and sassy response. Deciding he wasn't going to answer her question, he confronted, "How dare you!? You ran me over with a sledge! You should be taking me to the hospital and paying up for my injuries that you had caused!"

The speakers in the auditorium play out the snow queen's inner thoughts.

"What the hell...is this boy serious!? First, he threw rocks at me while heading to school, now he is demanding money!? From me!? Even though I barely hit him!?"

The camera that is connected to the tv then zoomed in onto the row of houses not far from the road the two were on, by all accounts, it looks very poorly constructed.

She looked at the 6-year-old boy before him, then at the houses, then at the clothes he was wearing. It then grew obvious where things are heading.

"You bloody scammer! You are attempting to insurance scam me, aren't you!?"

The audience erupted into laughter once again, delighted by the snow queen's sharp wit and ability to see through the boy's scheme.

The little boy's heart jump out of his throat as he quickly recovered, "W-what are you talking about!?"

Chanting a silent spell, a portal on the TV opened to reveal multiple footage of the road.

"Wait, I am going to show you something really interesting," Ranran reassured him before rewinding the footage several hours ago.

Everyone's jaw dropped when he sees the footage of him rolling on the road whenever a car is about to come and hit him, then he comes up to them and hit the driver's window on every cart he scammed, demanding compensation if they didn't want him to take them to the police station.

"That's you, right?" She grins in a menacing tone, giving a dangerous aura to a horrified little boy for being exposed as she approached him, "You do know that I have this all caught on recording, right!? Watch this portal, that is you pretending to get hit, right!? Alright, then let's go to the police station! We will see what they have to say about your insurance scamming so many drivers!"

It was at this point the little country bumpkin did the only thing logical in anyone's shoes when one is exposed.

He fled while the witch chased after him. "Hey! Get back here! You tried to insurance scam me!?"

As the audience watched the hilarious chase unfold on the stage, they were in stitches, thoroughly entertained by the unexpected turn of events. The school play had transformed from a lacklustre performance to an unforgettable and side-splitting experience. The audience was on the edge of their seats, laughing uproariously at the unexpected turn of events.

The snow queen conjured icy obstacles in the scammer's path, causing him to stumble and trip comically. Each time he attempted to escape, he found himself facing yet another obstacle, much to the delight of the audience.

Meanwhile, Ranran, with her magical prowess, seemed to have the upper hand. The snow minions, who were originally part of the scenery, came to life and playfully hindered Shinichi, much to the amusement of the audience. The combination of the snow queen's determination and Shinichi's desperate attempts to escape created an electrifying and entertaining dynamic.

As the chase continued, Ranran managed to catch up to the country bumpkin. With a theatrical flair, she pointed her finger dramatically at him, pretending to cast a spell that would bring him to justice. "By the powers vested in me as the snow queen of the Realm of Ethereal Mist, I hereby summon the authorities to apprehend the scammer!" she declared dramatically.

.............................................................................

Soon, as the story progresses, the twist took them by surprise, as the scammer was seemingly thrown with invisible forces against a tree, rendering him unconscious.

As the audience gasped, he was soon woken up by a splash of cold water conjured by the snow queen.

The little boy groaned and blinked rapidly as the cold water jolted him back to consciousness. He found himself lying on the ground, surrounded by the snow queen and her snow minions, who were looking down at him with amused expressions.

"Wh-what just happened?" The scammer stammered, still trying to gather his bearings.

"Hey you, we need to talk about what you did several minutes earlier," Ranran spoke coldly as if he wronged her.

"Me?"He pointed to himself in confusion as she nodded, "What did I do!?"

"First you threw rocks at my sledge, and now you are going to deny the fact that you tried to insurance scam me!?"

"R-rocks!? What do you mean-" As soon as his eyes laid on her, he recognized who she is."Hey! Were you, not the one who threw 40 rocks and broke my window 4 months ago!?"

"Oh good, so you do remember," That's when Ranran balled up a couple of spells she has in mind, "I can't wait to continue hitting you for the insurance scamming thing you did earlier-"

"Wait, insurance scamming!? What is that!?" The little boy who had lived in the countryside has no idea what insurance is, though he roughly knows what the word 'scam' is.

"Are you going to play this game of denial again? Alright, let me refresh your memory."

Once more, she opened a portal and replayed the footage of what had happened minutes earlier while she pointed it again once more. Again, the bumpkin watched, but as she observed his expression, instead of horror was a shock.

Pure shock, plus disbelief as he placed both his hands on both his head. "What the hell is this!?" He pointed at himself in the footage while trying to seek answers from the royal witch.

"What, you can barely recognize yourself!? Are you that poor to a point you can't even afford a mirror!?" Ranran scoffed before pointing at the footage, "It's you! You stood in front of my sledge earlier, demanding money since you claimed I run over you with the sledge I was on while heading to school!"

As the little boy continued to watch the footage, he then witness the part where Ranran cast a couple of ice-like magic before tossing him over like a bag of potatoes against the tree he passed out on. It then showed her holding the shard that fell out of him before she said something incoherent, only then she conjured a couple of ice and poof, it instantly melt thanks to the summer heat as it transform to water and splashed on him.

"Hey!" The country boy gave her a glare after witnessing her antics.

"Scammers have no right to argue," Ranran shuts off the footage before the bumpkin rubbed his face with his hands, struggling to digest all of what he had witnessed.

The same couldn't be said for the audience, as they snickered and laughed at the scammer's reaction and Ranran's no-nonsense attitude. The unexpected turn of events had the entire auditorium in stitches.

As the school play later progressed, it turns out that this unfortunate scammer had a shard lodged in his eyes for over 4 months plus fell from the school the snow queen attends, which is coincidentally above the village where the scammer lives. The country bumpkin then listens to the snow queen about the origin of the shards, anyone who came into contact with it will lead to a drastic change in personality, including his scamming antics earlier. Upon removal, it was evident that if one removes it, one would not remember the things that had transpired.

The audience was soon hooked on the play, as they later learn the origin of it came from a group of irresponsible children in that same academy Ranran attended, their group is known as 'The Trolls'. Apparently, they had been playing a magical ball game that was strictly forbidden, when the ball burst, the shard fell from the academy above the village and ended up striking the unfortunate little boy who later became a scammer.

Outraged, the little boy demanded that the girl took him to her school to confront 'The Trolls', since he is certain it was thanks to those buffoons, the unfortunate bumpkin is certain he has become a social pariah thanks to the influence of the shard.

It was when the future snow queen asked what is his name, he goes, "Shinichi, Kudo Shinichi. I lived with a childhood friend right there. We grow roses for a living." That the audience knew that boy name Shinichi plays the role of Kai.

.............................................................................

While the play continued to unfold, the audience was captivated by the enthralling plot and the unexpected twists that kept them on the edge of their seats. Ranran, as the snow queen, and Shinichi, as Kai, led the charge in their quest to confront the group of mischievous students known as 'The Trolls' and find a way to break the spell of the shard.

However, the elements of reality in the play were evident when it was revealed that Shinichi who played the role of Kai was an unusually intelligent little 6-year-old, who had dreams of getting into a school in the city to escape the village mentality he was living in through the scholarship programme, lost his place due to a case of identity theft thanks to the village leader's son stealing his spot.

The story took a darker turn when it was also revealed that upon having the shard removed from his eye, although he didn't turn into a corrupted child like the original fairy tale, he would be permanently stuck with being able to see the lies people tell him.

Soon, the audience became emotionally invested in Shinichi's character. They witnessed the struggles he faced as a young boy, trying to navigate through the complexities of life in the village while dealing with the burden of seeing people's lies.

But then the turning point came when another child actress, a little girl with long brown hair, whom the audience suspected played the role of Gerda, didn't appear to be as good as they expected her to be.

"I don't see why he bothers to keep going after this scholarship thing, I mean what is wrong with studying here in this school in this village? Sure it doesn't have over-the-top facilities like the academies in the big city, but it is near his home at walking distance."

The inner thoughts of Mouri Ran, who played Greda, the main female lead, were utterly shocking. When the scene whereby Shinichi is now granted magic powers thanks to the shard, showed Ran's true thoughts about Shinichi's stolen scholarship.

"I know the syllabus here is limited unlike normal standards, but why must he overcomplicate matters in his life? In this village here, you don't need to use that much brain to get a simple job here as a doctor, farmer or even a police detective if he wants to. Why can't he just look me in the eye and say this is meaningless and focus on other things like me for example? He is happy with me, no? He doesn't need such useless things like education from some rich school anyway, since education is useless here. Just marry me like everyone expected them to and move on in life, there are things in life far more valuable than this thing called education."

The audience found themselves empathizing with his desire for education and the dream of a better future, despite the limitations and expectations of the village. At the same time, it was evident although that this is a play, there is direct anger at Greda's thoughts in their eyes.

Soon, after that scene, it was then decided what Shinichi's character needed to do.

The tone of the children's play took a darker turn when he stood on the same main road in the middle of the night, hoping to meet the snow queen to announce a plan unlike any other.

"I want to sue them! The boys who are known as 'The Trolls', for ruining my life!"

The audience was drawn into the intensity of the moment, as the young boy portrayed a mix of anger, frustration, and vulnerability.

Ranran, in her role as the snow queen, listened attentively to him before asking, "Are you sure you want to do this? Follow me and become a student in the same academy where those boys are. You have no backer to even hire a lawyer there, and your only talent of magic was all through the shard."

"Then be my benefactor!" Shinichi's character pleaded, "Sponsor me in the school you study, I will take them down!"

The audience was riveted by the emotional plea, witnessing the determination in Shinichi's eyes as he begged the snow queen to become his benefactor. Ranran, as the snow queen, looked at him with a mix of amusement and admiration. "Also...would your parents even agree with this idea? To live above the Realm of Ethereal Mist? It wouldn't be convenient for you to simply stay here and travel to the school above back and forth!"

"Shinichi, your determination is commendable, but suing 'The Trolls' will not erase the shard's effects on you or change what happened in the past. Moreover, seeking revenge may not bring the fulfilment you seek. If you want revenge, go ahead and sue that village leader's son who stole your scholarship then."

"It ain't possible anymore, Ranran. They stole my future, my dreams to live in the city. If there is anywhere to start from ground zero, it would have to be with the clouds. If...I win the lawsuit, I would get compensation, then I would use that money to sue that idiot back on land for stealing my scholarship."

The audience was moved by Shinichi's unwavering determination and his desire to seek justice for the injustice he had faced. As the snow queen, Ranran could see the fire in his eyes and realized that there was more to this young boy than meets the eye. She saw his potential, his passion, and his intelligence.

"Alright, I'll become your benefactor," Ranran finally agreed, "But would your parents agree to this idea?"

"I will make them, they will understand."

.............................................................................

An hour had passed since the play began, and so far, neither of the audience had bothered to leave to go to the washroom.

The spellbinding performance of "House of Winter Vs The Trolls" held the audience in its captivating grasp for the entire hour. As the play progressed, the laughter, gasps, and tears of the viewers filled the auditorium, creating an electric atmosphere.

With each scene, the story deepened, and the characters evolved, leaving the audience fully engrossed in the world of the snow queen and Kai. The unexpected twists and turns, the emotional moments, and the powerful message of the play kept everyone glued to their seats.

Things came to a head still, when out of the blue, months later in the scene, Mouri Ran who played Greda after having parted ways with Shinichi's character on bad terms, misunderstood Ranran for kidnapping Shinichi, hence, teamed up with a group of exiles from the Realm of Ethereal Mist, and snuck illegally into that magical realm. Unfortunately, sneaking into the royal palace of the Snow Queen was considered an illegal break-in with the intention to murder royalty, so she and the others ended up getting thrown into the dungeon.

As the play delved into this unexpected twist, the atmosphere in the auditorium grew tense. The audience was taken aback by Mouri Ran's sudden turn as the antagonist, teaming up with exiles to break into the royal palace. It was a stark contrast to the character they had known her to be throughout the play.

Shinichi's character who soon heard of this wasn't pleased to see his former friend, and neither was Ranran the snow queen, whom she deemed Ran's character as a lost cause.

"Why did you do this? Why won't you leave me alone!?" Shinichi's character asked, his voice tinged with sadness and disappointment.

"You don't understand. I did it for you!" Mouri Ran sobbed, "I didn't want to lose you to her. You were supposed to be with me, not her. She's just using her magic to manipulate you."

"Manipulate me!? You were the true manipulator! Which is why I had Ranran faked my death so I never want to see you again!" Shinichi blasted in anger.

The scene was charged with raw emotion as the two former friends confronted their feelings of betrayal and hurt. Meanwhile, Ranran, as the snow queen, stepped forward to defend herself against the accusations.

"I have never sought to manipulate or control him," Ranran's voice rang with authority, "I only sought to empower him and support his pursuit of education and justice. If you truly cared for him, you would understand that rather than downplay his stolen scholarship. Mouri."

The audience was held spellbound by the powerful performances of the young actors. They were far more emotionally invested in the conflict, especially when Shinichi seemingly sobbed in the dining room in the palace while Ranran quietly listened to him. "Ranran, what am I going to do with this Mouri!?"

There were eyes of sympathy cast on the blue-eyed boy while Ranran didn't know what to make of it.

"I was living happily here for months, Ranran. I didn't think she would....go this far. Now I ain't even sure what to make of this."

The emotional turmoil in Shinichi's character was palpable, and the audience couldn't help but feel for him. The betrayal and hurt he experienced from his former friend, Mouri Ran, were evident in his tear-streaked face.

The red lip girl then placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Do you want me to tell her off?"

The audience was on the edge of their seats, waiting to see how Shinichi's character would respond to the snow queen's offer to confront Mouri Ran. They could feel the tension in the air as emotions ran high in the scene.

Shinichi's character looked torn, his face contorted with conflicting emotions. On one hand, he was hurt and angry at Mouri Ran's betrayal, but on the other hand, he still held a lingering attachment to their past friendship.

"No...I don't want you to do anything," Shinichi's character finally spoke, his voice wavering, "I just need some time to sort things out."

Ranran, as the snow queen, nodded understandingly, "Take all the time you need. I will be here to support you, no matter what you decide."

The audience could feel the depth of the snow queen's compassion and her genuine concern for Shinichi's character. It was evident that their bond had grown stronger over time, and she truly cared for him.

...............................................................................

Soon, the scenes of Mouri Ran gradually mellowed and she was rather apologetic towards the things she said to Shinichi, as well as Ranran. Gradually, she too aided in building a case against 'The Trolls'.

But then, as the climax approached, the stage was set for a dramatic showdown between the snow queen, Shinichi, and 'The Trolls'. Shinichi, who after finally amassing his own wealth, brought the lawsuit to court.

The courtroom scene was set, and the audience could feel the anticipation building as the final confrontation neared. The snow queen, Shinichi, and 'The Trolls' stood before the judge, ready to present their cases.

The tension in the auditorium was palpable as the courtroom scene unfolded. The young actors' performances were exceptional, and the audience was completely immersed in the trial.

Shinichi, now a confident and determined young boy, presented his case with eloquence and conviction. He recounted the events that had led to the loss of his scholarship and the influence of the shard on his life. With every word, he held the attention of everyone in the room, including 'The Trolls', who squirmed uncomfortably in their seats.

"The shard caused me to lose my chance at a better education and a brighter future," Shinichi declared, "But I won't let that define me. I have overcome the challenges it brought upon me, and I am here today to seek justice for what 'The Trolls' have done."

The audience couldn't help but be inspired by Shinichi's determination and resilience. The young boy had grown into a strong and courageous individual, ready to face the consequences of his actions and fight for what he believed was right.

Ranran, as the snow queen, provided supporting evidence and magic-based testimonies from witnesses, including some of 'The Trolls' former victims. Her powerful and unwavering presence added credibility to Shinichi's case.

The trial also showcased Mouri Ran's character, Greda, who had now transformed into a remorseful and apologetic friend. She testified in favour of Shinichi, admitting her past mistakes and expressing her regret for ever doubting him, and that she was too ignorant to understand the world till the dungeon incident took place.

"I was blinded by jealousy and couldn't see the truth," Mouri Ran's character said tearfully, "But now, I stand here to support Shinichi and to seek forgiveness for my actions."

The audience was moved by Mouri Ran's character growth and redemption arc. They could see the power of friendship and forgiveness as she reconciled with Shinichi and the snow queen.

'The Trolls', on the other hand, tried to defend themselves, but their arguments crumbled under the weight of evidence and witness testimonies. The truth was exposed, and it became evident to everyone present that they had indeed ruined Shinichi's life in the worst way unimaginable.

As the trial progressed, the tension in the courtroom reached its peak. The audience was hanging on every word and action, anxious to see how the case would unfold. Applauses and cheers erupted when the judge finally declared a guilty verdict for 'The Trolls', ordering them to compensate Shinichi for his stolen scholarship.

Shinichi's character, with newfound confidence and determination, represented himself in court. He eloquently presented the evidence of 'The Trolls' mischievous deeds and their role in stealing his scholarship. The audience watched in awe as the young boy, once a country bumpkin, now stood tall and resolute, fighting for justice.

'The Trolls', on the other hand, tried to defend themselves with lies and deceit, but Shinichi's character was not swayed. He calmly and cleverly exposed their lies, using his ability to see through deception, a gift from the shard that was now a part of him.

The courtroom drama was intense, with emotions running high. The audience was fully immersed in the unfolding events, cheering for Shinichi's character as he dismantled 'The Trolls' false claims.

At the same time, Ranran, as the snow queen, used her magical prowess to support Shinichi. She conjured evidence and witnesses, ensuring that justice would prevail. Her presence and support were a constant reminder that Shinichi was not alone in his fight.

The audience could feel the tension building, eager to see how the story would unfold.

The confrontation with 'The Trolls' was both intense and emotional. Ranran's portrayal of the snow queen's righteous fury, demanding accountability and understanding from the group, left a powerful impact on the audience. Shinichi's portrayal of Kai's inner turmoil, grappling with the burden of truth, showcased his remarkable talent as a young actor.

In the end, the power of friendship and understanding triumphed, as 'The Trolls' realized the gravity of their actions and agreed to help break the spell of the shard. Through a combination of magic and heartfelt revelations, the spell was lifted, and the village was restored to a place of harmony and honesty.

As the young actors took their final bows, they were met with a standing ovation from the audience. The success of "House of Winter Vs The Trolls" surpassed all expectations, leaving a lasting impact on the school and the community.

After the play, there was a buzz of excitement among the students and teachers. The play had been a huge success, not just in terms of entertainment but also in conveying important messages about justice, friendship, and the power of dreams.

The cast and crew were praised for their outstanding performances, and the teachers felt a sense of pride in their student's achievements. The principal announced that the play would be performed again for the parents and other schools in the area due to its positive impact.

As the students celebrated their success, Shinichi and Ranran were surrounded by their peers, who showered them with compliments and admiration.

"It's impressive, right?" One of the children said as they observed this from afar.

"Yeah! I mean not long ago, someone broke into the main HQ of Tantei Association when Ranran was in. When I heard she was knocked in the head with a weapon, I thought this play is doomed."

"Right? No Ranran, no play. Though I am actually impressed that after she was attacked not long ago by some thief in the association, although she was hospitalized shortly after, she still found the time to memorize the script and did a good job as the Snow queen."

"Shinichi is talented too."

"Oh yes, definitely. I didn't think I would get hooked by his performance!"

"Didn't think I would see the day where his character would mirror his real-life drama with that Mouri."

The children continued to chatter excitedly, sharing their thoughts and admiration for Shinichi and Ranran's performances. They were in awe of how the play had turned out, especially considering the challenges they had faced during rehearsals.

Though, not everyone is truly happy seeing this view.

When the school drama club's leader said she would be handing over the writing privileges to Ranran instead of 6-year-old Suzuki Sonoko, the leader was not joking.

It was a mocking blow to Sonoko, that her script-writing days were over when the entire school found out about her breaking into Ranran's house and attacking her. As part of the agreement to restore Sonoko's reputation back to the way, things were, forfeiting that part of Sonoko was the last thing she ever wanted to do.

But what choice did she have back then? With her back against the wall, Sonoko was losing it miserably compared to the cunning Kudo Ranran. The worst part of all of this was that Sonoko's leader agreed with Ranran about this settlement.

Of course, not all of her scriptwriting privileges were completely forfeited. To summarize shortly, Ranran's duties as the founder of Tantei Association make her a busy child, so Sonoko had to end up doing editing work and stuff. Still, the unhappiness is evident in Sonoko's expression.

So much so, that when Ranran wrote "House of Winter Vs The Trolls", the first thing that came out of the leader's mouth was, "Finally, a good quality script!"

As "House of Winter Vs The Trolls" continued to receive praise and accolades from the school and community, the contrast between Ranran's successful script and Sonoko's previous work was evident to everyone, including the drama club leader. The decision to hand over the writing privileges to Ranran had indeed proven to be the right one.

The drama club leader's comment about the quality of Ranran's script stung Sonoko deeply. She felt a mix of frustration, jealousy, and bitterness towards Ranran. It was a blow to her ego and reputation as the former scriptwriter for the club.

But her petty jealousy didn't really do much to Sonoko, compared to what it did to her best friend, Mouri Ran.