Relationship Analysis Between La Signora and Odette

Before Snezhnaya's story, we already knew that the relationship between Odette and La Signora was subtle. With the unfolding of Odette's story, I have gained a deeper understanding and perspective on their relationship.

The witch's style and actions are just like her flames—either burning everything away or burning herself away. She is always flamboyant, always appearing indifferent.

Odette, on the other hand, is like translucent ice from the outside in. Just as she controls her limbs during dance, she precisely controls every action she takes, numbing her pain nerves with excessive suffering, covering her superfluous emotions with a thick layer of ice:

But their underlying temperaments happen to be so alike. This similarity destined them to walk the same path, yet this difference ensured that their journey together would never reach a conclusion and would inevitably leave the deepest regret at the very moment of mutual understanding. However, it must be acknowledged that Signora shaped the Odette of today and also made the Odette of today.

I do not agree with the claim that Odette and Signora share a "mother-daughter" relationship. In fact, it can be confirmed in the conversation between "Signora" and "Arlecchino" that "Signora" denies being Odette's "mother." Because a "mother" treats her child with gentleness and tolerance, most supporting and guiding their child with encouragement. What Signora gave Odette was never nurturing without expectation of return, but rather equivalent bargaining chips that Odette earned through rigorous training, dangerous missions, and wounds all over her body. Furthermore, Odette's biological mother is still alive, always supporting and teaching her to pursue her dream of ballet.

Simply put, the relationship between "Odette" and "Signora" is more like a confrontation. The former interprets the latter's words and actions as "suppression and denial" in a reactive manner. Thus, a still immature girl gradually grew up through continuous, gritted-teeth resistance: she naturally came to see her mother and ballet as a truly free life, while regarding the Fatui's missions and Signora, who led her, as "hostile" goals that needed to be constantly solved and challenged.

In subsequent story content, we learn that "Signora" does not dislike ballet, nor does she actually oppose "Odette" dancing. However, she became the enemy of "Odette's" dancing. She wanted to teach this girl, who yearned to grow up and shoulder the burden of her family, a reality: to support what you love, you must pay a price.

"Signora" certainly knew that "Odette" loved ballet and possessed the talent and guidance to become a ballet prodigy. But from a calm, objective perspective, being a ballet dancer is not a stable path to support a family. It involves many uncertainties internally and externally—for instance, the injury of "Odette's" mother prevented her from continuing to perform and earn enough income to support the household.

The soldiers of the [Fatui]—this was the career that "Odette" should focus on if she wanted to support her family as an "adult." A stable source of income, official welfare benefits, plus the favour and specialized training from high-ranking Harbingers. A "mature" adult should know what to do and what to give up in order to bear the responsibilities they have chosen.

The soldiers of the [Fatui]—this was the career that "Odette" should focus on if she wanted to support her family as an "adult." A stable source of income, official welfare benefits, plus the favour and specialized training from high-ranking Harbingers. A "mature" adult should know what to do and what to give up in order to bear the responsibilities they have chosen.

"Odette's" rebellion is also her persistent effort to transcend. Through her unwavering dedication to both life and her passion, she ultimately succeeded in forging a path that broke the rules and conventions. With the achievement of finally performing on stage at the Korolevsky Theater, she proved to "Signora" that the path written by the rules is never the only one.

At the end of the story, the arrogant and domineering witch controlled many with her flames, but that sharpest blade ultimately became the sole exception:

She gave Odette a kind of "respect"—respect for her becoming an individual free from her coercion and free from her surveillance.

She gave Odette a kind of "freedom"—burning away the painful past and memories that oppressed her, allowing her to return to the self that danced freely.

She also gave Odette a "choice"—letting her decide for herself who she wanted to become in the future.

This is the greatest tenderness and love that the Witch of Flame, who sang no songs and shed no tears, could offer to Odette.

Odette made her own choice. She burned the letter and the Two Worlds' Flames together at Signora's grave. Because "Odette" had already proven that she could achieve what she sought without remaining within the curse of the rules. With her perseverance and accomplishments, she successfully defied the iron laws and decrees that Signora had tried to impose on her.

Since that was the case, "Odette," who had already found a better path, no longer needed to carry or remember this painful organization. To let go through forgetting, to abandon in order to declare that these rules were decayed and obsolete—naturally, they should be severed in favour of something newer and better.

In fact, the rules taught by "Signora" were also the starting point of "Odette's" transcendence. What made her the Prima Ballerina of the Korolevskiy Troupe today was not only her traditional love for ballet but also the scars and experiences gained from striving for life.