[ he does become aware the first time. spark of imagination or not mattered little, when a boy like alois trancy is so certain he's seen something he won't change his mind about it. he's held out for a fairy for so long, mysterious glimmers (probably mischievous sunlight for us realists) sneaking under carnation petals immediately attract his attention.
this bit of light and chime is no different. he's looking in the direction, now, that he thought he'd seen it. round eyed and with air caught in his throat. 'Please, be a fairy,' is what he's thinking, because he always, always, thinks it.
—and, that second streak, closer this time, and it takes a lot in him not to burst across the ground toward. though he does rise up on his toes excitably, and gasps. he also has to resist temptation to run away from it, not out of fear, but to gather claude and bring him back to see it. there was definitely a fucking light. ]