Vanora tapped her lip in contemplation, "I wonder if this is the right place?"

Beside her, Vivienne took a look at the piece of paper they had acquired from city hall, and read it aloud: "Cirque ad Infinitum is looking for willing and able bodies to help with setting up our attractions. If you wish to lend your time and energy, seek the colored tents to the back of the fairgrounds." She glanced up and tilted her head, "I think so, Van! This tent is a pretty shade of blue, isn't it?"

"True, there's not much cause for concern. If anything, we can ask whoever's inside for details," Vanora nodded to herself and held the flap open for Vivi and you.

Vivi gasped at what she saw once inside. Tied around one of the support beams overhead was a ribbon, and attached to the ribbon near its bottom was a colored ring. And inside the ring was a small female form sitting impossibly on the thin ring, back against it with one foot braced on the opposite side. One leg dangled freely while both hands gripped the ring behind her head.

The young woman glanced at Vivi and smiled, releasing the ring to cross her arms. "You must be the hel-helpers," she let herself fall backwards and the ring swayed, but she had both feet hooked to maintain an upside down pose. "Hello! My name's Ran. It's ve-very nice to meet you all."

"Incredible," Vanora whistled and Vivi clapped enthusiastically. "A pleasure, Ran. My name is Vanora, this is Vivienne, and we brought some friends to serve as... carnival hands, was it?"

Ran smiled with her eyes, "Right you are! Though... my re-request is a bit different."

Vivi piped in at that point, "Oh? But we'll be happy to do whatever we can!"

"Tru-truly?" The girls offered affirmation in unison and the acrobat gave a sigh of relief, "Well then! Let's sh-share the deets for you good people."

"A few days ago, I held a little per-performance in the city to adver-advertise for our show, you see," Ran began. "So many fa-families came to see me, and it was... well, sur-surprising! I never thought soo many people could enjoy what I do, but all the kids seemed to be having a blast! I was be-beyond happy..." She twiddled her fingers with a shy smile, but it quickly fell - or in her unorthodox position, lifted - to a frown.

"Unfor-unfortunately, one of the kids wasn't doing so well. Emily was her name. Oh, but she was def-definitely excited! It's just, uhm... her body was so frail and she'd break into cou-coughing fits that really broke my heart." She shook her head and the momentum caused the lyra to sway, "Wha-whatever happens, I have to show her Cirque ad Infinitum! If-if she's distracted here, forced out of her cir-circumstances, then maybe... maybe she'll get just a bit better! So please - I know it's sel-selfish, but you have to find her. Convince her parents to, to bring her here, and I'll put on the best performance I can!"

Vivi held up a clenched hand, "Don't you worry, Ran! We'll find her and make doubly sure she can come!"

Vanora smiled, "Yes, I'm sure we'll be able to locate her in time especially with their help," she motioned to you all. "You can count on us!"

"That's what I wanted to hear!" Ran grinned and for the first time since the conversation began, didn't seem to stammer. "Now you might be wor-worried thinking... welp, she's se-sending us off on our own without any leads or anything, but I act-actually snagged her phone number!" Still in her upside down position, she slid a mobile device out of her costume which made the two girls look at each other in brief astonishment. How did anything fit there?

"It should be right here under my co-co-contacts?!" Her voice rose and she fell from the lyra suddenly, but landed on her feet without tearing her eyes away from the screen. "It looks like so-someone messed with my phone and now ever-everything's scrambled!" She glanced up with a sigh, "Well, I say so-someone but I know it was Connie - er well, Constance that is. Little sh- I mean..." Trailing off, she chuckled. "Da-darling girl really. SO! About that help?"

As Vanora and Vivienne made their way up the drive of Emily's home, someone else was leaving.

"Ah, excuse me sir?" Vivi waved to him with a smile.

The older man stopped and seemed to take a second longer than necessary to answer, "Hello there, miss! What is it that you require?"

"Oh, uhm! Is this where... Emily lives?" Vanora walked up at that point but didn't interrupt. Merely tilted her head at the man's unorthodox glasses.

"Ah, yes, yes indeed! Are you friends of hers?"

"Sort of," Vanora answered. "We have some tickets for her to see Cirque ad Infinitum, the circus that just got into town."

"Ooh, I see, I see!" The well-dressed man held his hat with a nod, "Splendid, splendid. A good show will surely lift the girl's spirits, hm? I'm a traveling hypnotherapist, you see, and while my methods seemed to have helped, I do believe a high dosage of fun is in order." He shook his head, "Ah, but you didn't come to hear ole Smolkie ramble on! Don't keep the poor girl waiting, hm?" Smolkie took a bow and turned to leave.

"Oh, it was a pleasure meeting you Smolkie! I'm Vivienne Harper and this is Vanora Aria. If you're new to Voltra and need any help, don't hesitate to ask for us!"

He glanced over his shoulder, "Thank you, miss! I'll be sure to keep that in mind. You two be safe now, hm?"

The hypnotist left them to their own devices and took out his pocket watch. "Vivienne Harper, is it? I wonder..."