Ironically, for an Ice Traited: Stealth had given him the cold shoulder for the past week.

Swift rubbed at his head, leaning against the broom as he tried to focus despite his Trill. He was about to start cleaning again but his twin nudged his shoulder and knocked his broom to the ground.

"Come on, Stealth...you gotta talk to me sometime." Swift muttered, stepping around the patch of uneven sawdust and picked up the broom.

The main tent was a buzz with anxiety, housing only a cluster of performers before showtime in an hour. While the stagehands rushed about, Swift was tasked with clearing out the main tent and making sure all necessary equipment was packed neatly away. 

"You're the one who asked me to focus on the Limelight, Swiftling. That's exactly what I'm doing." Stealth retorted, attempting to set up the different targets.

Silvera was still practicing her knife throwing, having Stealth make sure she had set up the furthest away from Swift's chores just in case. She gave Swift a wary glance, tempting him to send a gust of wind to screw with her aim but he was too tired to care. The long nights without his Degraders were worse than he had feared.

"Swift! Could you do me a favour and check on the safety lines? Your father said they'd be fine but…"

Nyxia bit her lip, tugging at her shimmering blue cape to busy herself but the stress lines on her face were more than enough of a tell. Swift smiled reluctantly, his Trill throbbing just to remind him why Nyxia wanted him to triple check. They didn't want another son to fall and screw up his debut.

Swift made his way up to the main rig, the numerous catwalks and ladders tight to the air filled tent as his Agar zoomed up to greet him. Whisper spun around in a circle, spraying him with rain water like a dog. Swift couldn't help but laugh, the soggy cloud tugging at his grey outfit.

"Not now Whispi, I'm busy."

He struggled to reach the various safety knots and cables but still the Steam Trollian tried to get into the conversation.

'But Bobble is…'

"Whisper. I tried to convince Stealth but I need to make sure this is safe. Please. Give me a few minutes, OK?"

Swift immediately recoiled at his echoing voice, the height making him dizzy but he couldn't help but think of their last argument. Whisper nodded, understanding his stress and cuddled him regardless.

'I'll find him. All by myself. Don't worry, Swifty. I trust you.'

Swift smiled, the pang of guilt lessening a little before giving his Agar a little pat, the Steam Trollian letting out a little rainstorm spray down onto the ground below.

"Thanks, Whispi. Good luck finding him."

Whisper floated away with a wave, her little cloud nubs flying towards the exit like a windmill. Swift turned his attention away from his Agar, thoroughly checking each individual component of the high wire setup. A flicker of movement caught his eye but he assumed it was nothing more than Silvera showing off for her new 'training buddy.'

Winding the winch back a little the catwalk moved closer, the grey canvas shimmering a little as Swift rubbed at his tired eyes, unsure of what he had seen near the edge of the circus tent. The ropes that held the catwalk together were fed smoothly through the mechanism, no signs of fraying or loosening even with the Trait holding it together.

The rain pelted against the taught canvas, the sun dipping behind the horizon hour by hour as Strongbow monitored the outside of the tent. Swift liked to keep a close eye on the entrance in case of any early arrivals but mostly, to avoid Strongbow's wrath if a loose rope was found nearby.

Satisfied with his checks, Swift slowly made his way down only to hear the familiar sound of a flute and violin duet playing just like they had done only a few nights ago. A spray of snow blinded him, his free hand desperately trying to clear his vision from the sudden temperature change from cold to hot.

Swift clung to the rungs of the ladder, the music whining in his ears as he struggled to make the rest of the way down. His Trill burned, his heart sinking in more ways than one as the dread of the situation made his stomach churn. 

Silvera was using his instrument to play in the Limelight with Stealth.

Silvera and Stealth finished the performance with a flourish, their Traits working in harmony to create a descending firebird that even Strongbow himself would've been jealous of.

"What's going on?"

The last note hung in the air like a noose around his neck, Swift's voice eerily warping into a tone not dissimilar to his father's. Silvera's false surprise made his Trait surge in indignation but he tried to focus on his grandmother's words and give his brother the benefit of the doubt.

"Oh, Swifty. They were just showing me their new Flamechill song you helped with. Isn't it wonderful?" Nyxia explained, her tone only confirming her naivety towards the people around her.

Flamechill. He formed the word in his mind but it caught in his throat like poison, desperate to be spat out with a hiss of disdain. Stealth had replaced him and with the very Fire Traited who had caused all this mess in the first place.

Envy. Anger. Jealousy. Regret. Betrayal.

His mind was a maelstrom of emotions, clinging to the calm like a flag in the wind, a fraying rope so close to snapping. But the reminder of the last time he lost control burned in his mind like a brand. Swift's hand brushed over his cheek, the reminder of his father's Trait doing more than enough to remain obedient.

"That's my Will' O Wisp violin. Give it back." Swift asked, his voice even as he held out his hand. 

Silvera took a wary step backwards, clutching the instrument to her chest defensively like a child. It was like negotiating with an entitled brat but Swift held firm, longing that at least his brother would defend him.

"Stealth said I could borrow it. Isn't that right, Stealthy?"

Swift's heart twisted in pain at the sight of his brother's nod. Although hesitant, there was no mistaking his twin's intentions. Silvera's nervous disposition betrayed the look of pure joy in her eyes, delight dancing like two tongues of flame poised to corner him exactly where she wanted.

Stealth merely stared at the floor in guilt as he shuffled from side to side, Agarless and alone. Swift desperately tried to catch his attention but he wouldn't even look him in the eyes. His admission of guilt was a stab in the heart but it was the absence of his partner that made his hands curl into fists.

"Where's Bobble, Stealth?"

Swift watched his brother's face crumple in shame, Silvera's arm wrapping around his shoulder like a snake. Her manipulation tactics made Stealth shiver in fear but he eventually stuttered out an answer.

"He's...he's playing with Whisper."

Swift fought the urge to scoff, eyes narrowing disbelievingly at his brother's attempts to lie. Silvera smiled thinly, her plan unravelling as Swift put the pieces together in his mind. 

"Whisper was with me up until a few seconds ago. I haven't seen Bobble all day. She was worried about him."

It was a rough guess but it was more than likely Stealth had been convinced to perform with her instead. After all, she was a Wickersmith and could handle all traditional music lessons involving the Limelight.

In exchange, he had to get Bobble to steal his Will O' Wisp violin. The timid Trollian or perhaps Stealth himself had panicked and tried to back out but Silvera had used her Agar to her advantage. Wicker could detect lies but without him present, Silvera could do as she pleased.

"I don't- I don't know what you're talking about. He's...he's fine." 

Swift had to stop himself from shaking his twin awake, Silvera's grin making him seethe. She was why Stealth had scouted him out in the first place, why Bobble was so intrigued with his violin and more importantly, Stealth had chosen to betray him long before he had refused.

"Of course, he is. Wicker is playing a game with them, that's all." Silvera exclaimed, laughing as if it was all one big joke.

Swift's carefully crafted patience snapped at the thought of his Agar, hurt and alone after all the mistakes the Grand Ringmistress had reprimanded him for. His actions had consequences and he knew that Whisper wouldn't survive without him. She was what kept him alive and that contract, that curse was what every Traited feared.

"What have you done with him, Silvera? What did you do to our Agars?"

Swift berated himself for not following her, for seeing the Silverwings movements for anything more than the trick of the light. Bobble had been lured away so Whisper would follow and Wicker, the great lummox of dragon that he was, would no doubt keep to their plans of revenge.

"Now, Swift. I know you and Silvera haven't gotten along but accusing her of…" Nyxia faltered, the side of the tent entrance flapped open in annoyance.

"What's going on here?"

Strongbow stood completely soaked from head to toe but the aura he projected, armless and without a shred of heat was far more sinister than any amount of Trait he could conjure. 

The broiling amber of his flame began to flicker, his black and red coat sending off waves of steam as Swift's stomach began to do backflips. The Ringmaster of the Silver Strings had arrived and they were already late for the Limelight.

"Ringmaster. Silvera and Stealth were showing me their new Founder's tribute performance. I thought Swift helped them but...he says Silvera stole his violin." Nyxia said, her voice much quieter than before.

Strongbow gave Swift a withering glare, raising an eyebrow before turning away from him and turned towards his son. Silvera sidled away from his twin, holding the Will O' Wisp to her side and attempted to hide the numerous scorch marks on the base.

"Is this true, Stealth?"

Strongbow knelt down to his son's level, trying to coax his son into talking to him while Swift fought the urge to roll his eyes, half tempted to mimic throwing up. Of course that hypocrite decided to be a competent father now. Stealth however, remained silent and continued to look towards his new Limelight partner for answers.

"Then...who do you want to perform with?" Strongbow asked, his Agar barely able to keep afloat and drooped on his shoulder.

Flicka was shivering, the Smoke Trollian struggling to stay awake and shivering due to being stuck in a rainstorm and Swift couldn't help but be reminded by Bobble's close call with hypothermia. 

He couldn't help but be frustrated about his father's treatment of Flicka but Swift kept his mouth shut, enjoying Strongbow getting more and more stressed with how little time they had left. 

Strongbow checked his stopwatch, the heat haze of the Timekeeper surrounding Swift in a cloying wave of nausea. He tried to focus on the current issue but the fear gripping his heart was stronger than any Trill pulling him forwards. Strongbow was changing the outcome to suit himself.

"I don't know." Stealth answered at last, not quite sure of how the words sounded in his mouth.

Swift could feel how worried his brother was, the childlike nature of his response proving how dire Silvera's threats were to him. To them both. His stare burned into Silvera's skull but Stealth reciprocated, startling him for a moment as if mocking him. 

He had used the same words to describe his Traits shortcomings and Stealth had thrown them right back in his face. Swift was wrong. It wasn't them against Silvera. There was a standoff between the three of them gunning for the same position and the anger in Stealth's eyes told him that Bobble going missing was squarely on Swift's shoulders.

"But she isn't-"

"Why don't we have them both rehearse? That might help him to decide, sweetie. Is that alright with you, Silvera?" Nyxia intervened, trying to lighten the mood by resolving the situation as quickly as possible.

His mother's joyous but innocent smile soured his twins' choice to lie to not only him but Nyxia too. All because he said no. All because he didn't want to use his Trait. All because he had a Trill.

"Of course. I don't mind if little Swiftling goes first."

Silvera smiled goodnaturedly and purposefully making her way past Stealth and towards Strongbow to hand him the Will O' Wisp. He was the arbiter of all disputes and Silvera knew how important the Ringmaster's favour was when the Limelight was at stake.

Nyxia ushered the young knife thrower to the side, smiling at both her sons but her gaze was still transfixed on the safety rig above them. Swift bit his lip, his Trill pounding a warning in his head like a rising war drum beat.

"Father...I think Bobble is in trouble. Please, let me find him first."

Strongbow's eyes seemed to drift off into the distance, glassy and unfocused as if wondering about something that wasn't quite visible. Swift's heart lightened at the sight of his father's expression and for a moment he saw a glimmer of hope. Until his violin was unceremoniously shoved into his hands.

"You wanted to perform in the Limelight, Swift. This is your last warning. The High Ringmistress won't wait anymore. Neither will I."

The vulnerability Swift heard in his father's voice was shattered in an instant, worry turning into indifference at the drop of a hat. Stealth had already chosen a spot a few metres away, his Trait spinning circles of pure ice before disappearing as soon as the notes did.

Not even his mother would catch his eye, too enamoured in conversation by the snakelike charms of an apprentice hungry for power. Swift strung his bow, scurrying a few test notes in a blur of sound and watched for his twin's cue.

Stealth raised his flute to his lips and the Will O' Wisp violin began to sing.